英语散文欣赏:一棵小苹果树

 　　A poor farmer had¹ a friend who was² famous³ for the wonderful apple he grew.

　　One day, his friend gave⁴ the farmer a young apple tree and told him to take it home and plant it.

　　The farmer was pleased⁵ with the gift, but when he got⁶ home he did⁷ not know where to plant it.

　　He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers⁸ would⁹ steal¹⁰ the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his field¹¹, his neighbors¹² would come at night and steal some of the apples. If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit.

　　Finally¹³ he planted the tree in his wood where no one could¹⁴ see it. But without sunlight¹⁵ and good soil¹⁶, the tree soon died¹⁷.

　　Later¹⁸ the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such¹⁹ a poor place.“What’s the difference²⁰?” the farmer said²¹ angrily. “If I had planted the tree near the road, strangers would have stolen²² the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my field, my neighbors would have come at night and stolen some of the apples. If I had planted it near my house, my own²³ children would have taken the fruit.”

　　“Yes,” said the friend, “but at least²⁴ someone²⁵ could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed²⁶ everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed²⁷ a good apple tree!”

　　一个穷困的农夫有一个朋友，这个朋友因为种了神奇的苹果树而远近闻名。

　　有一天，农夫的这个朋友送给他一棵小苹果树。农夫对这个礼物非常高兴。但当他回到家时，却不知道将它栽在什么地方。

　　他担心他把苹果树栽在路边，陌生人会偷树上的苹果，他把树种在自己的一块地里，邻居们夜里就会过来偷苹果。他把树栽在自己的房子边，他的孩子们就会摘苹果。

　　最后，他把那棵树栽在了林子里，那里没人能看见。但没有阳光和泥土，树不久就死了。

　　后来，朋友问农夫他为什么把树栽在那样贫瘠的地方。

　　“那有什么不一样？”农夫生气地说， “我把苹果树栽在路边，陌生人就会偷树上的苹果，我把树栽在自己的一块地里，邻居们夜里就会来偷苹果。我把树栽在自己的房边，我自己的孩子们就会摘苹果。”

　　“是的，”他的朋友说. “但至少可能有人来分享这些果实。现在你不仅剥夺了每个人的果实，也毁了一棵好苹果树！”

1 had   

vbl.have的过去式和过去分词；conj.有

参考例句：

• I just had a good idea!我有个好主意！
• The boy had a small branch of a tree in his hand.这个男孩手上拿一条小树枝。

2 was   

v.(is,am的过去式)是，在

参考例句：

• He said he was right.他说他是正确的。
• He was cold and hungry.他又冷又饿。

3 famous   

adj.著名的，驰名的，闻名遐迩的；极好的；擅长的

参考例句：

• The hotel is famous for its suppers.那个酒店以晚餐而著称。
• He is famous for his learning.他以有学问而出名。

4 gave   

vbl.（give的过去式）给予，产生，发表

参考例句：

• He asked for money and I gave him some.他要钱，我给了他一些。
• I gave you a map so you wouldn't get lost. 我给你一张地图，这样你就不会迷路了。

5 pleased   

adj.高兴的，快乐的，喜欢的，满意的

参考例句：

• She was pleased to hear good news about him.听到他的好消息，她很高兴。
• Whichever day you come,we will be pleased to see you.无论你哪一天来，我们都很高兴。

6 got   

v.(get的过去式)得到，猜到，明白

参考例句：

• I just got some bad news.我刚得到一些坏消息。
• I have got far too much work to do.我要做的事太多了。

7 did   

v.动词do的过去式

参考例句：

• How many goals did you score in the last game?上一场比赛你们进了几个球？
• Why did you choose basketball in the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢？

8 strangers   

陌生人( stranger的名词复数 )； 外地人，初到者

参考例句：

• The local people are very hospitable to strangers. 当地人对外来客人十分友好热情。
• He was a paradox—a loner who loved to chat to strangers. 他真是个矛盾人物，生性孤僻却又喜欢和陌生人闲聊。

9 would   

aux.will的过去式；愿，要；常常；大概；将要，会

参考例句：

• Why would you say that?为什么你会这么说？
• Would you please help me?你能帮帮我吗？

10 steal   

vi.偷，偷偷行动，(棒球等)偷垒；vt.偷，走私，偷垒；n.偷东西，诈取，砍价

参考例句：

• Would you steal from your own family?你会从自己家里偷东西吗？
• He didn't actually steal the money.他实际上没偷那笔钱。

11 field   

adj.野外；n.地，田地

参考例句：

• Go into the field and clear those boys off.到田里去把那些男孩赶走。
• He is going across the field.他正穿越田野。

12 neighbors   

n.邻居，邻国( neighbor的名词复数 )v.邻居，邻国( neighbor的第三人称单数 )；邻近的，邻接的

参考例句：

• They don't think they must keep up with their neighbors. 他们认为不必和邻居比排场。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The rich man looked down on his poorer neighbors. 那个有钱人看不起比他穷的邻居们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 finally   

adv.最后地；最终

参考例句：

• We can finally take a rest.总算是可以休息了。
• Finally,they won the game.结果他们打赢了。

14 could   

v.能，可能(can的过去式)；aux.v.(can的过去式)能；可以

参考例句：

• Could I open the window?我可以打开窗子吗？
• I could wait ten minutes.我可以等十分钟。

15 sunlight   

n.日光，阳光，日照

参考例句：

• The room was flooded with warm and golden sunlight.房间充满着温暖、金色的阳光。
• In the bright sunlight she had to narrow her eyes.在强烈阳光下她必须眯着双眼。

16 soil   

n.土壤；土地

参考例句：

• The soil here is very loose.这里的土质很松。
• The soil has been washed down into the valley.泥土流入了山谷。

17 died   

vbl.死亡，消逝v.死亡，枯萎( die的过去式和过去分词 )；死时处于（某种状态）或具有（某种身份）adj.死亡的，消逝的

参考例句：

• He was banished to Australia, where he died five years later. 他被流放到澳大利亚，五年后在那里去世。
• He was utterly bereft when his wife died. 他的妻子去世时，他十分凄凉。

18 later   

adv.过后，后来；adj.以后的，更后的，较晚的

参考例句：

• He didn't turn up until half an hour later.半小时后他才出现。
• This part of the hospital was built on later.医院的这个部分是后来增建的。

19 such   

adj.如此的，这样的；pron.这样的；adv.如此地

参考例句：

• He is such a man.他是这样一个人。
• He spent all his money,he is such a fool.他这样傻，花光了所有的钱。

20 difference   

n.不同；差异；区别

参考例句：

• He doesn't know the difference between right and wrong.他是非不分。
• The difference is so slight,that I can hardly see it.差别很小，我几乎看不出来。

21 said   

v.动词say的过去式、过去分词

参考例句：

• He said to me that he could not come.他对我说他不能来。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

22 stolen   

v.偷( steal的过去分词 )；悄悄地做，悄悄地走

参考例句：

• A girl was killed yesterday in a crash involving a stolen car. 昨天有一女孩在一桩涉及窃车的撞车事故中丧生。
• The stolen car was returned to its rightful owner . 被盗的汽车还给了其合法的主人。

23 own   

v.拥有，持有；adj.(属于)自己的，特有的

参考例句：

• I need my own space.我需要自己的空间。
• Everything I own is yours.我所有的一切都是你的。

24 least   

adj.最小(少)的；adv.最少(小；不)；n.最小(少)

参考例句：

• He spends at least a part of his time in reading. 他至少有一部分空闲时间看书。
• The trip will take ten days,at least.这趟旅行顶少得10天时间。

25 someone   

pron.某人，有人

参考例句：

• I can hear someone knocking.我听到有人敲门。
• Someone wants to see her.有人找她。

26 robbed   

v.抢夺( rob的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫；掠夺；使丧失

参考例句：

• Would you be able to identify the man who robbed you? 你能够认出那个抢你东西的人吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They stood looking on while the man was robbed. 正当那个人被抢劫时，他们却站在那儿袖手旁观。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 Destroyed   

adj. 遭破坏的 动词destroy的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• alpine villages destroyed in an avalanche 在一场雪崩中被摧毁的高山村庄
• The building was completely destroyed by fire. 这栋建筑物被大火彻底焚毁了。