The Empty Pot
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
A long time ago in China, there was a boy named Chen.
很久以前在中国,有一个叫"陈"的男孩.
He lived with his mother in a wooden house in a countryside village.
他和他的母亲住在一个农村的一栋木屋里。
Their house was very small, but their garden was always full of beautiful flowers and other plants.
他们的房子非常小,但是他们的花园总是充满了美丽的花卉和其他植物.
Chen’s mother had planted the garden before Chen was born.
陈氏的母亲在陈氏出世前就已经种植了花园.
She taught him everything she knew about gardening.
她教他所有关于园艺的知识
The emperor of China was a very old man who had no children of his own.
中国的皇帝是一个非常古老的人,没有自己的孩子.
He worried about who would become the next emperor and what would happen to his country.
他担心谁会成为下一位皇帝 以及他的国家会怎样
He decided to choose the next emperor from among the children of his empire.
他决定从他帝国的子孙中选择下一位皇帝.
One day, the emperor announced that the people of China should bring their children to his palace.
一日,皇帝宣布中华民国将子女送入皇宫.
The emperor revealed his plan to the crowd that had gathered.
皇帝向聚集的人群透露了他的计划.
He declared, “I will provide a flower seed to any child who wants one.
他说:“我将向任何想要花子的孩子提供花籽。
Take your seed home and plant it in a pot.
取出出家种子入一盆栽入.
In a year’s time, come back to the palace with your pot, and I will select the next emperor.”
一年后,用你的锅回宫去,我会选下一任皇帝. “
Chen lined up with the other children to get a seed.
陈排起其他孩子去取出种子.
He could hardly contain his excitement.
他几乎控制不了他的兴奋
Chen treated his seed with great care.
陈氏对种子的处理非常小心.
He carried it home in a silk pouch.
他用丝袋把它带回家。
He planted the seed in a little clay pot in his garden, covered it with soil, and gave it water.
他把种子植入他园地的一个小粘土锅中,用土壤覆盖了种子,并给种子取出水来.
Days passed, but the little seed didn’t sprout.
但小种子并没有发芽。
Chen put the seed in a bigger pot made of fine china.
陈将种子放入由精细瓷器制成的大锅中.
He moved the pot to the sunniest corner of the garden.
他把锅搬到了花园最阳光的角落.
Weeks passed, but the little seed didn’t sprout.
但小种子并没有发芽。
Chen carried his pot five miles to a well that was famous for having sweet, fresh water.
陈 his将自己的锅抬到一口以有甜,清水而出名的井上.
Months passed, but the little seed didn’t sprout.
几个月过去了,
He kept his pet cricket next to the pot so the seed could hear its sweet nighttime chirps.
他把宠物板球放在锅边 这样种子就能听到它甜美的夜鸣叫声
Seasons passed, but the little seed still didn’t sprout.
但小种子仍未发芽。
A year went by.
一年过去了。
It was time to bring the pot back to the emperor’s palace.
是时候把锅运回皇帝的宫殿了。
Chen felt downcast and glum.
陈先生很沮丧
His seed hadn’t sprouted at all.
他的种子完全没有出产。
His wise mother found him weeping in the garden.
他明智的母亲发现他在花园中哭泣.
“You did your best,” she said to Chen with encouragement.
“你尽了最大努力,”她鼓励陈 Chen。
“I am very proud of you.
“我为你感到非常骄傲。
Bring your pot to the emperor and tell him what happened.”
把你的大麻带到皇上面前 告诉他发生了什么 “
Children arrived at the emperor’s palace with their pots full of flowers.
孩子们带着满是花的盆子来到了皇帝的宫殿.
Each pot seemed to hold flowers more beautiful than the last.
每个锅似乎都比上个锅更美
Chen looked down at his own empty pot and wanted to run back home.
陈 down自取空壶而下视之想出家出走.
He calmed himself down, remembering his mother’s words.
他冷静下来,记得母亲的话。
He decided to stay where he was.
他决定留在原地
The emperor walked slowly through the crowd of children and flowers, studying each child and pot as he went.
皇帝缓慢地走过儿童和花卉的人群,在走去的时候学习每个孩子和锅.
Something was wrong.
有点不对劲
The emperor didn’t look pleased.
皇帝似乎并不高兴。
In fact, it seemed as though the prettier the flower, the angrier he became.
事实上,似乎花越漂亮,他就越愤怒
At last he came to Chen and his empty pot.
终于来到了陈和自己的空壶.
“What’s this?”
" 这是什么? “
the emperor demanded.
皇帝要求我们
“Why is your pot empty?”
“为什么你的锅是空的? “
Chen hung his head in shame.
陈公羞而吊之.
“I’m sorry.
" 对不起。
I put the seed in a pot, but it didn’t grow.
我将种子放入锅中,
I put it in a bigger, fancier pot, but it still didn’t grow.
我把它放入一个更大更活泼的锅里,
I made sure it had plenty of sunlight.
我确保它有足够的阳光。
I gave it the freshest water.
我给了它最新鲜的水。
I even let my cricket keep it company at night!
我甚至让我的板球 保持它的夜晚!
Still, it would not grow.
不过,它不会增长。
I tried my best.”
我尽力了 “
Suddenly, to his surprise, Chen heard the emperor shout, “I’ve found him!
突然,令人惊讶的是,陈 Chen听到皇帝大叫道:"我找到他了!
I’ve discovered the child worthy of becoming the next emperor!
我发现这个孩子值得成为下一个皇帝!
I don’t know how the rest of you grew your flowers.
我不知道其他人是怎么养花的。
The seeds I gave everyone were boiled.
我给大家的种子被煮了
They could never have sprouted.
他们不可能出现。
But this honest, brave child told me the simple truth.
但是这个诚实勇敢的孩子告诉我一个简单的事实.
He used his best effort to try to grow the seed.
他尽了最大努力去种下种子.
These are the qualities I want to see in the next emperor.”
这些就是下个皇帝想要看到的品质. “
Chen and his mother went to live in the palace.
陈和母亲去入宫住.
Every day, the emperor and Chen worked in the palace garden together.
每天,皇帝和陈 Chen一起在宫廷花园工作.
When Chen became emperor, he cared for China just as he had always cared for his own garden.
陈 became出任皇帝后,他一直关心自己的花园,同样关心中国.