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=2.7。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，2.7+5=7.7年级，相当于国内使用人教版统编英语教材的六七年级学生。上海地区的小朋友四五年级即可试读本故事。
内容提要 : 狐狸邀请鹤到她家吃饭，但食物是浅盘子中的一点汤，鹤什么都不能吃到。第二天鹤邀请狐狸来她家，以其人之道还治其人之身，教育了狐狸。
A rather large bird was wandering round the wood, looking a bit lost. It had long legs, a long thin neck and a very long bill for eating, that clattered away as it searched for nice things to eat.
‘Hey there, big bird!’ cried the little birds in the trees above. ‘You’re new round these parts, aren’t you?’
‘Indeed I am,’ replied Stork. ‘And I’d like to make some friends.’
‘I’ll be your friend,’ purred a soft voice from behind a bush. Out slunk Fox with his shiny red coat and soft paws.
‘Oooo, we wouldn’t make friends with old Foxy if we were you,’ chorused the birds. ‘He’s a bit of a joker.’
‘Oh, ignore them’, Fox purred reassuringly. ‘Please, allow me to show you round the woods...’
Fox and Stork were soon laughing and chatting as if they’d known each other forever...
‘What do you like to eat, Stork?’ asked Fox. ‘Frogs, fish, insects and earthworms are my favourites,’ replied Stork. ‘Mine too – oh, leaving aside frogs,’ said Fox. ‘I eat nuts and berries too and I’m very partial to the occasional little bird.’
‘Boo, hiss!’ cried the birds from above.
‘Only joking,’ said Fox rather too quickly. ‘Would you like to come around my house tomorrow for supper, Stork?’
‘It’s a trick, it’s a trick!’ chorused the birds.
‘Thank you, Fox, I’d love to!’
That night, Stork flew over to Fox’s house.
‘Come in!’ cried Fox as he showed Stork into the dining room. ‘I hope you like the soup with mashed earthworms.’
Stork was expecting to see two bowls full of lovely steaming soup but instead, two flat plates covered in a thin layer of liquid lay on the table.
Stork tried her hardest to eat the soup with her bill, but it was impossible.
Fox meanwhile was already licking his bowl clean. ‘Oh, dear, is there a problem?’ he asked with a smirk.
‘Not at all,’ replied Stork. ‘It’s just– well, I had rather a large tea before I came and my tummy’s full.’
‘Tea – I like the sound of that,’ purred Fox. ‘Well, why don’t you come to my home tomorrow and join me?’ suggested Stork. ‘I shall look forward to it,’ replied Fox.
Stork flew home that night with a heavy heart. ‘We warned you, we warned you!’ chorused the birds.
‘I know, my so-called friend tricked me,’ replied Stork. ‘But I may yet have the last laugh.’
The next day, Fox set off for Stork’s house. ‘Shame on you!’ cried the birds as he slunk under their tree.
‘Stork can take a joke,’ Fox replied. ‘And after all, she’s invited me over for tea.’
‘Hee, hee!’ sniggered the birds.
‘Come in!’ said Stork to Fox. ‘I’ve cooked roast rabbit on a bed of grass with berry and nut sauce. ‘Mmm, my favourite,’ said Fox as Stork carried in a tray.
He stared at the tall jar Stork had placed in front of him. It was long and thin and the food lay right at the bottom.
Fox watched in frustration as Stork stuck her long bill into her jar and gobbled up the meal. ‘Oh dear,’ said Stork. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘None at all,’ growled Fox. He stuck his nose as far down the jar as he could, but he still couldn’t reach his dinner.
And now there really was a problem. ‘Yowl! The jar’s stuck to my face!’ came Fox’s muffed cries.
‘Hee hee! Serves you right, Foxy,’ chorused the birds who were watching on the window sill. For once, Fox couldn’t answer back. ‘I’ll pull it off with my wings,’ offered Stork kindly.
‘Hmmm, I guess I deserved that after the joke I played on you,’ said Fox sheepishly. ‘Never mind,’ said Stork. ‘I’ve got plenty of food in the kitchen. This time we’ll have it on proper plates – and our little feathered friends can have some too.’
‘Wee, hee!’ cried the birds.
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