① 3分钟左右的英语故事
这个故事又经典又幽默，我觉得不错的
华文版本
皇帝的新衣
从前有一个国王很喜欢穿新衣服，差不多每过一个钟头就要换一件。因为这个缘故，他差不多把所有的钱都花在买衣服上了。他不关心他的士兵，也不愿意到哪儿去玩儿，成天地的催着大臣去给他找最新奇的衣服，想着怎么夸耀他的新衣服。别国的人民谈到他们的国王，都是说：“他在开会。”可是在这个国家里，大家总是说：“他在换衣服。”
有一天，有两个骗子来到这个国家。这两个骗子化装成织布匠去见国王，说他们能织出世界上谁也没见过的一种布。
“国王”，一个骗子说：“这种布不但是图案非常美丽，而且有一个特色，就是非常愚蠢的人，或能力跟他的职位不相配的人看不见。”
“织这种布很费事。”另一个骗子说：“不过，我们愿意替你织。”
过了一些日子，国王心想：“不知道他们两个把布织得怎么样了？”
他很想去看看，可是他一想到愚蠢的人或才能跟职位不配的人看不见这种布的事，心里又有点不安。“对了，”国王自言自语地说：“最好先派我的宰相去看看。他的学问和才能都比别人高。此外他对我又是最诚实的，从来没说过谎话。派他去看，是再可靠也没有了。”
忠诚的宰相走进了织布机房。两个骗子指着空空的织布机，问他这种花样儿好看吗？那种颜色美丽吗？
宰相看不见织布机上有什么，但是他不愿意让国王认为他是个愚蠢的人，不配做宰相。所以他说：“嗯，好极子，这种花样儿太美了，那种颜色真好看。我要告诉国王，说你们织的这种布是我从来没见过的，最新奇的布！”
又过了些日子，国王派了他的侍从官到织布房去看。
侍从官所看到的情形跟宰相看到的一样，织布机上连一根丝也没有。“啊，我一定是不配做侍从官。”他想，“真糟糕！不过我不能让国王知道我的能力不够。”因此他也称赞这两个骗子织的布非常好看，回去以后就对国王说：“国王，你见了一定会喜欢。那种布太美丽了！”
布终于织好了。两个骗子把布拿来给国王看。国王张大了眼睛也看不见布，只能看到装布的空盒子。“是怎么回事儿？”国王想，“我什么也看不见。难道我是愚蠢的人，不配做国王？…….”他想了一会儿，高兴地宣布说：“这块布真是好看极了，是世界上最新奇的布！”他的侍从官和宰相也表示同意他的说法，并且建议他做成衣服来穿。
国王高兴地给了骗子许多钱，要他们用这块布给他做一套衣服，准备在举行游行大会的那一天穿。两个骗子日夜赶工，把衣服做好了。
他们请国王脱光衣服，然后做出拿着新衣服给国王穿的样子，说：“看，这是内衣。这是衬衫。这是外套。这种美丽的布像蜘蛛网一样轻巧。穿了就跟没穿一样儿。不过，这正是这种布的特点。”
游行的时侯到了，全城的人都争着来看国王的新衣服。他们个个都说：“我们国王的新衣服好漂亮啊！世界上再也没这种漂亮、高贵的衣服了！”
国王越来越高兴。可是就在他最得意的时后，人群突然有一个小孩儿叫了起来：“国王明明光着屁股嘛！他身上什么都没穿！”小孩儿一直跟妈妈吵闹着：为什么你们都没看见吗？明明就是没穿衣服，为何一直称赞国王的衣服呢？
大家听了这个小孩儿的话会怎么想呢？
最后，就是大家哄堂大笑了起来～～猜到了没有？
英文版本
Long ago and far away, there lived an Emperor. This Emperor was very vain and could think about nothing but his clothes. He had wardrobes and cupboards full of clothes. They filled his spare bedrooms and upstairs corridors of the palace.
The courtiers were worried that the wardrobes would begin to appear downstairs and in their chambers.
The Emperor spent hours every morning getting dressed. He had to choose his outfit, preferable a new one, and the shoes and wig to go with it. Mid-morning, he invariably changed into something more formal for his short meetings with his councillors and advisors. He would change again for lunch, and then again for a rest in the afternoon. He just had to change for dinner and them again for the evening!
He kept all the weavers, tailors, cobblers and silk merchants of the city very busy and very happy! News of the Emperor spread to distant kingdoms and finally came to the ears of two very shady characters.
"Could we?" they asked themselves. "Could we fool the Emperor who loves new clothes?" "Let‘s try," they decided.
They left their homes and traveled to the Emperor‘s city. there they saw the many shops selling clothes, shoes and fabrics. For, if the Emperor dressed finely, so too did his couriers.The two travelers went to the palace along with many other tradesmen hoping to sell their wares to the Emperor. They asked to meet the Emperor. "We have something very special to show him," they told the Chamberlain. "That‘s what everyone says," said the Chamberlain. "Ah, but his is magical," said one, "We have invented a new cloth by using a very special and secret method."
The Chamberlain felt that it was his ty to bring new items to the Emperor‘s attention and he went to tell him. "Something magical?" said the Emperor, who was changing for lunch and admiring himself in the mirror. "Oh, I love new things, Show the two weavers in."
The two weavers were shown in, and began to describe their cloth to the Emperor. "It is gold, silver and rainbow colored, all at the same time," said one. "It shimmers." "It feels like silk, but is as warm as wool," said the second. "It is as light as air," said the first. "A most wonderful fabric."
The Emperor was enchanted. He must have an outfit from this new cloth. "There is a grand parade in the city in two weeks time," he said. "I need a new outfit for it. Can one be ready in time?" "Oh yes, your Majesty," said the weavers. "But there is a problem. The cloth is very expensive to make." "No matter," said the Emperor, waving his hand. "Money is no object. I must have an outfit. Just see the Chamberlain and he‘ll sort it out. Make it here in the palace."
The Chamberlain showed the two weavers to a large airy room and they set to work. They asked for a loom, and a sack of gold to start buying materials. The Chamberlain followed the Emperor‘s orders and they were denied nothing. The weavers worked away behind closed doors. The loom could be heard clattering away. Every now and then a courtier would stand and listen at the door. News of the magic cloth had spread.
Finally, the Emperor could stand it no more. "Chamberlain, go to the weavers and see how the cloth is processing. The parade is only a week way." The Chamberlain knocked at the door and waited. "Enter!" said the weavers. They had been expecting someone soon! "The Emperor has sent me to check on the progress of the cloth," said the Chamberlain, staring at the empty loom. "Is it not beautiful?" said one of the weavers, holding out nothing to the Chamberlain. "See the lustre, feel the softness!" "Um," said the Chamberlain, not quite sure what to say. "Oh wise Chamberlain," said the other weaver.
"Now you can see why it is magical. Only the truly clever and brilliant can see the cloth. Most people would see an empty loom, but a clever man like you will see our wonderful cloth." "Of course," said the Chamberlain, not wanting to look stupid. "It really is quite marvelous. Those colors, that shimmer of the gold and silver threads. Marvelous." "Oh, you are so wise," said the weavers.
The Emperor was very impatient and couldn‘t wait for the Chamberlain to return. After ten minutes of pacing up and down, he went to the weavers‘ room, followed by half of his court. He threw the doors open, and saw the empty loom. "Why!" he cried in a surprised voice. "Your Majesty," said the Chamberlain quickly. " A wise man such as yourself can surely see the colors and sheen of this magical cloth." "Of course I can," said the Emperor, wondering why he could not. "It‘s beautiful. Simply enchanting. When can my outfit be made? Send for the royal tailors!" "Your Majesty," said the two weavers. "We would be delighted to make your outfit for you. There is no need to trouble your hard-working tailor. It is such a difficult fabric to cut and sew. We will make the suit." "Very well," said the Emperor. "First fitting tomorrow."
The courtiers had followed the Emperor, and they now came into the room. Of course, they could see nothing on the loom for there was nothing to see. "Is it not beautiful?" said one of the weavers. "Of course, only the wise and very clever can see the beauty of the cloth. Look at the colors, feel the weight." The courtiers queued up to look at the colors and feel the weight, and each went away exclaiming over the marvelous cloth which was indeed as light as air. But each courtier secretly wondered if they were really stupid, as they had seen nothing at all. The two weavers then set to work as tailors. They muttered and discussed at the Emperor‘s fittings, stitching here, cutting there until at last the suit was made.
The following day was the day of the parade. "Am I not the handsomest of men in my marvellous suit?" said the Emperor to the Chamberlain, as he showed off his new outfit. "Just look at the tiny stitches and the lacework. Truly marvelous." "Undoubtedly, sir," said the Chamberlain. "There is no outfit on earth to equal this one."
The Emperor was dressed in his new suit and ready for the parade. News of his amazing outfit had reached the people of the town and all wanted to see him. There were people crowded along the sides of the streets.
The parade began!
People gasped. "What a suit!" they cried. "What suit?" asked a small boy, who had not heard of the magical cloth. "The Emperor has no clothes on at all!" "It‘s true! No clothes! The Emperor is naked!" the people cried. And the Emperor was very ashamed. He had been so vain, and now he had been made to look a fool. As for the two tailors -- they were in fact thieves, and had long since left the town with their bags of gold. Probably laughing all the way! But the Emperor is a wiser man now, and spends a lot more time with his advisors and far less with his tailors.
② 2-3分钟英语小故事（带中文翻译）
少儿英语小故事--猴子捞月(中英文对照)
One day,a little monkey is playing by the well.
一天，有只小猴子在井边玩儿。
He looks in the well and shouts :
它往井里一瞧，高喊道：
“Oh!My god!The moon has fallen into the well!”
“噢！我的天！月亮掉到井里头啦！”
An older monkeys runs over, takes a look,and says,
一只大猴子跑来一看，说，
“Goodness me!The moon is really in the water!”
“糟啦！月亮掉在井里头啦！”
And olderly monkey comes over.
老猴子也跑过来。
He is very surprised as well and cries out:
他也非常惊奇，喊道：
“The moon is in the well.”
“糟了，月亮掉在井里头了！”
A group of monkeys run over to the well .
一群猴子跑到井边来，
They look at the moon in the well and shout:
他们看到井里的月亮，喊道：
“The moon did fall into the well!Come on!Let’get it out!”
“月亮掉在井里头啦！快来！让我们把它捞起来！”
Then,the oldest monkey hangs on the tree up side down ,with his feet on the branch .
然后，老猴子倒挂在大树上，
And he pulls the next monkey’s feet with his hands.
拉住大猴子的脚，
All the other monkeys follow his suit,
其他的猴子一个个跟着，
And they join each other one by one down to the moon in the well.
它们一只连着一只直到井里。
Just before they reach the moon,the oldest monkey raises his head and happens to see the moon in the sky,
正好他们摸到月亮的时候，老猴子抬头发现月亮挂在天上呢
He yells excitedly “Don’t be so foolish!The moon is still in the sky!”
它兴奋地大叫：“别蠢了！月亮还好好地挂在天上呢！”
③ 要3分钟左右的 英语小故事
A Brother Like That
A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile
from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve
when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin[1] was
walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.
"Is this your car, Mister?" he said.
Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas."
The boy was astounded[2]. "You mean your brother gave it
to you and it didnt cost you nothing? Boy, I wish . . ."
He hesitated.
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He
was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the
lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.
"I wish," the boy went on, "That I could be a brother
like that."
Paul looked at the boy in astonishment[3], then
impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my
car?"
"Oh yes, Id love that."
After a short ride, the boy turned with his eyes aglow
[4], said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my
house?"
Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad
wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride
home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again. "Will
you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked.
He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard
him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was
carrying his little crippled[5] brother. He sat him down
on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him
[6] and pointed to the car.
"There she is, Buddy[7], just like I told you
upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it
didnt cost him a cent. And some day Im gonna give you
one just like it . . . then you can see for yourself all
the pretty things in the Christmas windows that Ive been
trying to tell you about."
Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of
his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside
him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when
he said: "It is more blessed to give[8] . . . "
－－Dan Clark
注释：
1．urchin：淘气鬼，顽童，尤其是指男孩子。比如，a street
urchin，街头流浪儿。
2．astounded：astound，使（人）大吃一惊，但它一般多用于被动
语态。He was astounded at the news.那消息让他大吃一惊。
3．in astonishment：和in surprise意思差不多，表示很惊讶。但
吃惊的程度要深一些。
4．aglow：这是一个形容词，它的意思是“炽热的，脸上发热
的”。
5．crippled：cripple即可作名词，也可作动词，意为跛子，或使
跛足。在这里用crippled，是用分词做形容词，跛足的。
6．squeezed up against him：squeeze是挤压的意思，在这里，很
形象地说明小男孩紧紧抱着跛脚的弟弟，怕他摔倒了。
7．buddy：老兄，老弟。这是美国俚语中常见的说法，一般只用于
打招呼。
8．It is more blessed to give：施比受更有福。给予是一种幸
福，因为你是富有的，这种富有通常跟财富无关，更主要的是精神
上的富有。
内容：
哥哥的心愿
圣诞节时，保罗的哥哥送他一辆新车。圣诞节当天，保罗离开办公室时，一个男孩绕着那辆闪闪发亮的新车，十分赞叹地问：
"先生，这是你的车？"
保罗点点头："这是我哥哥送给我的圣诞节礼物。"男孩满脸惊讶，支支吾吾地说："你是说这是你哥送的礼物，没花你一分钱？天哪，我真希望也能……"
保罗当然知道男孩他真想希望什么。他希望能有一个象那样的哥哥。但是小男孩接下来说的话却完全出乎了保罗的意料。
"我希望自己能成为送车给弟弟的哥哥。"男孩继续说。
保罗惊愕地看着那男孩，冲口而出地说："你要不要坐我的车去兜风？"
"哦，当然好了，我太想坐了！"
车开了一小段路后，那孩子转过头来，眼睛闪闪发亮，对我说："先生，你能不能把车子开到我家门前？"
保罗微笑，他知道孩子想干什么。那男孩必定是要向邻居炫耀，让大家知道他坐了一部大轿车回家。但是这次保罗又猜错了。"你能不能把车子停在那两个台阶前？"男孩要求道。
男孩跑上了阶梯，过了一会儿保罗听到他回来了，但动作似乎有些缓慢。原来把他跛脚的弟弟带出来了，将他安置在第一个台阶上，紧紧地抱着他，指着那辆新车。
只听那男孩告诉弟弟："你看，这就是我刚才在楼上对你说的那辆新车。这是保罗他哥哥送给他的哦！将来我也会送给你一辆像这样的车，到那时候你就能自己去看那些在圣诞节时，挂窗口上的漂亮饰品了，就象我告诉过你的那样。"
保罗走下车子，把跛脚男孩抱到车子的前座。兴奋得满眼放光的哥哥也爬上车子，坐在弟弟的身旁。就这样他们三人开始一次令人难忘的假日兜风。
那个圣诞夜，保罗才真正体会主耶稣所说的"施比受更有福"的道理。
④ 三分钟英语故事
The Old Cat
An old woman had a cat. The cat was very old; she could not run quickly, and she could not bite, because she was so old. One day the old cat saw a mouse; she jumped and caught the mouse. But she could not bite it; so the mouse got out of her mouth and ran away, because the cat could not bite it.
Then the old woman became very angry because the cat had not killed the mouse. She began to hit the cat. The cat said, "Do not hit your old servant. I have worked for you for many years, and I would work for you still, but I am too old. Do not be unkind to the old, but remember what good work the old did when they were young."
【译文】
老猫
一位老妇有只猫，这只猫很老，它跑不快了，也咬不了东西，因为它年纪太大了。一天，老猫发现一只老鼠，它跳过去抓这只老鼠，然而，它咬不住这只老鼠。因此，老鼠从它的嘴边溜掉了，因为老猫咬不了它。
于是，老妇很生气，因为老猫没有把老鼠咬死。她开始打这只猫，猫说：“不要打你的老仆人，我已经为你服务了很多年，而且还愿意为你效劳，但是，我实在太老了，对年纪大的不要这么无情，要记住老年人在年青时所做过的有益的事情。”
A man was going to the house of some rich person. As he went along the road, he saw a box of good apples at the side of the road. He said, "I do not want to eat those apples; for the rich man will give me much food; he will give me very nice food to eat." Then he took the apples and threw them away into the st.
He went on and came to a river. The river had become very big; so he could not go over it. He waited for some time; then he said, "I cannot go to the rich man's house today, for I cannot get over the river."
He began to go home. He had eaten no food that day. He began to want food. He came to the apples, and he was glad to take them out of the st and eat them.
Do not throw good things away; you may be glad to have them at some other time.
【译文】
一个人正朝着一个富人的房子走去，当他沿着路走时，在路的一边他发现一箱好苹果，他说：“我不打算吃那些苹果，因为富人会给我更多的食物，他会给我很好吃的东西。”然后他拿起苹果，一把扔到土里去。
他继续走，来到河边，河涨水了，因此，他到不了河对岸，他等了一会儿，然后他说：“今天我去不了富人家了，因为我不能渡过河。”
他开始回家，那天他没有吃东西。他就开始去找吃的，他找到苹果，很高兴地把它们从尘土中翻出来吃了。
不要把好东西扔掉，换个时候你会觉得它们大有用处。
The City Mouse and the Country Mouse
Once there were two mice. They were friends. One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went. The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city."
The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse. It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat. But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. The City mouse cried, " Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid.
After some time they came out. When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to be poor and happy, than to be rich and afraid."
【译文】
城里老鼠和乡下老鼠
从前，有两只老鼠，它们是好朋友。一只老鼠居住在乡村，另一只住在城里。很多年以后，乡下老鼠碰到城里老鼠，它说：“你一定要来我乡下的家看看。”于是，城里老鼠就去了。乡下老鼠领着它到了一块田地上它自己的家里。它把所有最精美食物都找出来给城里老鼠。城里老鼠说：“这东西不好吃，你的家也不好，你为什么住在田野的地洞里呢？你应该搬到城里去住，你能住上用石头造的漂亮房子，还会吃上美味佳肴，你应该到我城里的家看看。”
乡下老鼠就到城里老鼠的家去。房子十分漂亮，好吃的东西也为他们摆好了。可是正当他们要开始吃的时候，听见很大的一阵响声，城里的老鼠叫喊起来：“快跑！快跑！猫来了！”他们飞快地跑开躲藏起来。
过了一会儿，他们出来了。当他们出来时，乡下老鼠说：“我不喜欢住在城里，我喜欢住在田野我的洞里。因为这样虽然贫穷但是快乐自在，比起虽然富有却要过着提心吊胆的生活来说，要好些。”
Teacher:Why are you late for school every morning?
Tom:Every time I come to the corner,a sign says,"School-Go slow".
老师:为什么你每天早晨都迟到?
汤姆:每当我经过学校的拐角处,就看见一个牌子上写着"学校----慢行".
A Good Boy
Little Robert asked his mother for two cents. "What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?"
"I gave it to a poor old woman," he answered.
"You're a good boy," said the mother proudly. "Here are two cents more. But why are you so interested in the old woman?"
"She is the one who sells the candy."
好孩子
小罗伯特向妈妈要两分钱。
“昨天给你的钱干什么了？”
“我给了一个可怜的老太婆，”他回答说。 “你真是个好孩子，”妈妈骄傲地说。“再给你两分钱。可你为什么对那位老太太那么感兴趣呢？”
“她是个卖糖果的。”
Drunk
One day, a father and his little son were going home. At this age, the boy was interested in all kinds of things and was always asking questions. Now, he asked, "What's the meaning of the word 'Drunk', dad?" "Well, my son," his father replied, "look, there are standing two policemen. If I regard the two policemen as four then I am drunk."
"But, dad," the boy said, " there's only ONE policeman!"
醉酒
一天，父亲与小儿子一道回家。这个孩子正处于那种对什么事都很感兴趣的年龄，老是有提不完的问题。他向父亲发问道：“爸爸，‘醉’字是什么意思？” “唔，孩子，”父亲回答说，“你瞧那儿站着两个警察。如果我把他们看成了四个，那么我就算醉了。” “可是，爸爸， ”孩子说，“那儿只有一个警察
⑤ 三分钟英语小故事
少儿英语小故事--猴子捞月(中英文对照)
One day,a little monkey is playing by the well.
一天，有只小猴子在井边玩儿。
He looks in the well and shouts :
它往井里一瞧，高喊道：
“!My god!The moon has fallen into the well!”
“噢！我的天！月亮掉到井里头啦！”
An older monkeys runs over, takes a look,and says,
一只大猴子跑来一看，说，
“Goodness me!The moon is really in the water!”
“糟啦！月亮掉在井里头啦！”
And olderly monkey comes over.
老猴子也跑过来。
He is very surprised as well and cries out:
他也非常惊奇，喊道：
“The moon is in the well.”
“糟了，月亮掉在井里头了！”
A group of monkeys run over to the well .
一群猴子跑到井边来，
They look at the moon in the well and shout:
他们看到井里的月亮，喊道：
“The moon did fall into the well!Come on!Let’get it out!”
“月亮掉在井里头啦！快来！让我们把它捞起来！”
Then,the oldest monkey hangs on the tree up side down ,with his feet on the branch .
然后，老猴子倒挂在大树上，
And he pulls the next monkey’s feet with his hands.
拉住大猴子的脚，
All the other monkeys follow his suit,
其他的猴子一个个跟着，
And they join each other one by one down to the moon in the well.
它们一只连着一只直到井里。
Just before they reach the moon,the oldest monkey raises his head and happens to see the moon in the sky,
正好他们摸到月亮的时候，老猴子抬头发现月亮挂在天上呢
He yells excitedly “Don’t be so foolish!The moon is still in the sky!”
它兴奋地大叫：“别蠢了！月亮还好好地挂在天上呢！”
⑥ 英语三分钟故事
你要长的，那就这个吧
The Thirsty Pigeon口渴的鸽子
A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.
Zeal should not outrun discretion.
有只鸽子口渴得很难受，看见画板上画着一个水瓶，以为是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飞过 去，不料一头碰撞在画板上，折断了翅膀，摔在地上，被人轻易地捉住了。
这是说，有些人想急于得到所需的东西，一时冲动，草率从事，就会身遭不幸。
The Raven and the Swan乌鸦和天鹅
A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan's splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
乌鸦非常羡慕天鹅洁白的羽毛。他猜想天鹅一定是经常洗澡，羽毛才变得如此洁白无 瑕。于是，他毅然离开了他赖以生存的祭坛，来到江湖边。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一 点都没洗白，反而因缺少食物饥饿而死。
这故事是说，人的本性不会随着生活方式的改变而改变。
The Goat and the Goatherd 山羊与牧羊人
A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, "Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent."
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.
很多山羊被牧羊人赶到羊圈里。有一只山羊不知在吃什么好东西，单独落在后面。牧羊 人拿起一块石头扔了过去，正巧打断了山羊的一只角。牧羊人吓得请求山羊不要告诉主人， 山羊说：“即使我不说，又怎能隐瞒下去呢？我的角已断了，这是十分明显的事实。”
这故事说明，明显的罪状是无法隐瞒的。
The Miser守财奴
A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it."
有个守财奴变卖了他所有的家产，换回了金块，并秘密地埋在一个地方。他每天走去看 看他的宝藏。有个在附近放羊的牧人留心观察，知道了真情，趁他走后，挖出金块拿走了。 守财奴再来时，发现洞中的金块没有了，便捶胸痛哭。有个人见他如此悲痛，问明原因后， 说道：“喂，朋友，别再难过了，那块金子虽是你买来的，但并不是你真正拥有的。去拿一 块石头来，代替金块放在洞里，只要你心里想着那是块金子，你就会很高兴。这样与你拥有 真正的金块效果没什么不同。依我之见，你拥有那金块时，也从没用过。”
这故事说明，一切财物如不使用等于没有。
The Wolf and the Lamb 狼与小羊
WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him:"Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf , "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations."
The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.
一只小羊在河边喝水，狼见到后，便想找一个名正言顺的借口吃掉他。于是他跑到上游，恶狠狠地说小羊把河水搅浑浊了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答说，他仅仅站在河边喝水，并且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水搅浑。狼见此计不成，又说道：“我父亲去年被你骂过。”小羊说，那时他还没有出生。狼对他说：“不管你怎样辩解，反正我不会放过 你。”
这说明，对恶人做任何正当的辩解也是无效的。
The Bat and the Weasels蝙蝠与黄鼠狼
A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.
It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
蝙蝠掉落在地上，被黄鼠狼叼去，他请求饶命。黄鼠狼说绝不会放过他，自己生来痛恨鸟类。蝙蝠说他是老鼠，不是鸟，便被放了。后来蝙蝠又掉落了下来，被另一只黄鼠狼叼住，他再三请求不要吃他。这只黄鼠狼说他恨一切鼠类。蝙蝠改口说自己是鸟类，并非老 鼠，又被放了。这样，蝙蝠两次改变了自己的名字，终于死里逃生。
这故事说明，我们遇事要随机应变方能避免危险。
The Ass and the Grasshopper 驴子与蚱蜢
AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.
驴子听见蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙动听的歌声所打动，自己也想能发出同样悦耳动听的声音，便 羡慕地问他们吃些什么，才能发出如此美妙的声音来。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”驴子便也只吃露水，没多久就饿死了。
这个故事告诉人们不要企望非份之物。
The Lion and the Mouse 狮子与报恩的老鼠
A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth and set him free, exclaiming:
"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion."
狮子睡着了，有只老鼠跳到了他身上。狮子猛然站起来，把他抓住，准备吃掉。老鼠请求饶命，并说如果保住性命，必将报恩，狮子轻蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，狮子真的被老鼠救了性命。原来狮子被一个猎人抓获，并用绳索把他捆在一棵树上。老鼠听到了他 的哀嚎，走过去咬断绳索，放走了狮子，并说：
“你当时嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的报答， 现在可清楚了，老鼠也能报恩。” 这故事说明，时运交替变更，强者也会有需要弱者的时候。
⑦ 小学英语口语大赛用的英语故事（3分钟左右）
Never too old to learn, never too late to turn.亡羊补牢，为时未晚。
There was once a shepherd to the sheep and found that the sheep pen was broken, someone advised him to fill the hollow as soon as possible, he did not listen, the next day the sheep indeed stolen. So he finally sheep pen good repair.
从前有一个人他家里养了许多羊。
一天，羊圈上的栏杆上塌了一个洞，邻居看见了，就提醒他赶快修羊圈，他呢，摇摇头说：“只有一个小小的洞，没关系的，过几天再修吧。”邻居没办法，只好走开了。
当他准备修补羊圈的栏杆，顺便看看小宝贝羊羔长的怎么样时，发现羊跑掉了不少，没剩几只了，他看到这番景象，不禁伤心地大哭起来：“我的羊儿呢？哇……哇……”
羊儿不见了，是因为羊圈上栏杆的洞修得太迟了。你一旦发现，就要及时修补，否则羊就一只一只地跑走了，你现在修补还不算晚，还能挽救剩下的羊只