武太白·白话英语2016-2021文章总目录
上图是用Word 2019检测出来的本故事文本适用年级信息，其中Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level=2.2。一般来说，中国学生的阅读能力比英美学生落后4-6年。按照中位值，2.2+5=7.2年级，相当于国内使用人教版统编英语教材的七年级学生。上海地区的小朋友五年级即可试读本故事。
内容提要：一只战胜了森林之王的蚊子，在兴高采烈凯旋而归的时候撞上了蜘蛛的网，被一只不起眼的蜘蛛消灭了。
Far, far away in a hot land called Africa, lived a Gnat and a Lion. These two creatures were complete opposites. One was weak and one was strong. One was huge and one was tiny. One was fierce and one was timid. They met one dark night, and this is what happened.
The Gnat had gone to sleep. He had made himself a swinging hammock on a blade of grass and he was snoring gently.
The Lion was awake. He was hunting - and his roar could be heard in the distance.
It woke the Gnat.
‘What is that?’ he asked.
The Lion roared again. The sound was even louder.
‘It’s getting closer,’ thought the Gnat, holding his breath. A minute later the Lion came into view.
When the Gnat saw who it was he felt relieved.
‘Oh!’ he said. ‘It’s only you.’
This annoyed the Lion.
‘Only me!’ he murmured sulkily, narrowing his yellow eyes. Are you aware I am the King of the Beasts.’ When Lions narrow their eyes and murmur sulkily, they are at their most dangerous. But the Gnat wasn’t worried.
He opened his tiny mouth and yawned.
‘You may be the King of the Beasts,’ he said, ‘but I can outwit you anytime.’
The Lion snorted.
‘Ha!’ he said. ‘I could flatten you with one swipe of my paw.’
The Gnat stood up on his spindly legs.
‘Go on then,’ he said.
The lion raised his paw above his head and brought it down as hard as he could.
The Gnat jumped out of the way.
‘Missed,’ he said.
Humming a little tune he began buzzing round the Lions head.
'Zzzz, Zzzz, Zzzz, Diddly, Diddly, Dee. Zzzz, Zzzz, Zzzz, Try And Catch Me.'
The Lion was furious. He twisted his head this way and that. He snapped, he snarled, he swirled his tail, he swiped with his paws. But the Gnat was too nimble.
A thought came into the Lion’s head.
‘If I keep perfectly still, the Gnat will settle down, and I can pounce.’
But the Gnat didn’t settle down. He acted quickly.
He flew straight up the lions nose! And began to bite.
Roaring with pain the Lion shook his head. He stuffed his claws up his nose.
The Gnat pulled the hairs inside the Lion’s nostrils.
‘Make me the King of the Beasts,’ he called.
‘Never,’ roared the Lion.
The Gnat bit him again. The Lion’s nose began to swell. He could hardly breath.
‘Say it,’ said the Gnat. ‘Say - The Gnat is the King of the Beasts.’
The Lion could bear it no longer. ‘The Gnat is King of the beasts,’ he muttered.
His face hurt. His nose was running. His eyes were watering. Without saying another word the once proud Lion turned and disappeared into the long grass.
The Gnat was full of glee. ‘I am the smartest creature that ever lived,’ he boasted.
He began looking for a new place to make his home. He wanted something soft and comfortable.
Ahead, draped over a bush was what looked like a white, lacy shawl.
‘That’s perfect,’ said the Gnat. And he wrapped himself in it.
At first, the Gnat didn’t notice a small creature moving swiftly towards him, climbing delicately over the lacy threads. When he did, it was too late.
‘Hello, Gnat,’ said the Spider.
The Gnat tried to fly away, but he was stuck.
‘You can’t harm me,’ he said, ‘I’m the new King of the Beasts.’
‘We’ll see about that,’ said the Spider.
And he ate the Gnat for his supper.
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