① 3分鍾左右的英語故事
這個故事又經典又幽默，我覺得不錯的
華文版本
皇帝的新衣
從前有一個國王很喜歡穿新衣服，差不多每過一個鍾頭就要換一件。因為這個緣故，他差不多把所有的錢都花在買衣服上了。他不關心他的士兵，也不願意到哪兒去玩兒，成天地的催著大臣去給他找最新奇的衣服，想著怎麼誇耀他的新衣服。別國的人民談到他們的國王，都是說：「他在開會。」可是在這個國家裡，大家總是說：「他在換衣服。」
有一天，有兩個騙子來到這個國家。這兩個騙子化裝成織布匠去見國王，說他們能織出世界上誰也沒見過的一種布。
「國王」，一個騙子說：「這種布不但是圖案非常美麗，而且有一個特色，就是非常愚蠢的人，或能力跟他的職位不相配的人看不見。」
「織這種布很費事。」另一個騙子說：「不過，我們願意替你織。」
過了一些日子，國王心想：「不知道他們兩個把布織得怎麼樣了？」
他很想去看看，可是他一想到愚蠢的人或才能跟職位不配的人看不見這種布的事，心裡又有點不安。「對了，」國王自言自語地說：「最好先派我的宰相去看看。他的學問和才能都比別人高。此外他對我又是最誠實的，從來沒說過謊話。派他去看，是再可靠也沒有了。」
忠誠的宰相走進了織布機房。兩個騙子指著空空的織布機，問他這種花樣兒好看嗎？那種顏色美麗嗎？
宰相看不見織布機上有什麼，但是他不願意讓國王認為他是個愚蠢的人，不配做宰相。所以他說：「嗯，好極子，這種花樣兒太美了，那種顏色真好看。我要告訴國王，說你們織的這種布是我從來沒見過的，最新奇的布！」
又過了些日子，國王派了他的侍從官到織布房去看。
侍從官所看到的情形跟宰相看到的一樣，織布機上連一根絲也沒有。「啊，我一定是不配做侍從官。」他想，「真糟糕！不過我不能讓國王知道我的能力不夠。」因此他也稱贊這兩個騙子織的布非常好看，回去以後就對國王說：「國王，你見了一定會喜歡。那種布太美麗了！」
布終於織好了。兩個騙子把布拿來給國王看。國王張大了眼睛也看不見布，只能看到裝布的空盒子。「是怎麼回事兒？」國王想，「我什麼也看不見。難道我是愚蠢的人，不配做國王？…….」他想了一會兒，高興地宣布說：「這塊布真是好看極了，是世界上最新奇的布！」他的侍從官和宰相也表示同意他的說法，並且建議他做成衣服來穿。
國王高興地給了騙子許多錢，要他們用這塊布給他做一套衣服，准備在舉行遊行大會的那一天穿。兩個騙子日夜趕工，把衣服做好了。
他們請國王脫光衣服，然後做出拿著新衣服給國王穿的樣子，說：「看，這是內衣。這是襯衫。這是外套。這種美麗的布像蜘蛛網一樣輕巧。穿了就跟沒穿一樣兒。不過，這正是這種布的特點。」
遊行的時侯到了，全城的人都爭著來看國王的新衣服。他們個個都說：「我們國王的新衣服好漂亮啊！世界上再也沒這種漂亮、高貴的衣服了！」
國王越來越高興。可是就在他最得意的時後，人群突然有一個小孩兒叫了起來：「國王明明光著屁股嘛！他身上什麼都沒穿！」小孩兒一直跟媽媽吵鬧著：為什麼你們都沒看見嗎？明明就是沒穿衣服，為何一直稱贊國王的衣服呢？
大家聽了這個小孩兒的話會怎麼想呢？
最後，就是大家鬨堂大笑了起來～～猜到了沒有？
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分鍾英語小故事（帶中文翻譯）
少兒英語小故事--猴子撈月(中英文對照)
One day,a little monkey is playing by the well.
一天，有隻小猴子在井邊玩兒。
He looks in the well and shouts :
它往井裡一瞧，高喊道：
「Oh!My god!The moon has fallen into the well!」
「噢！我的天！月亮掉到井裡頭啦！」
An older monkeys runs over, takes a look,and says,
一隻大猴子跑來一看，說，
「Goodness me!The moon is really in the water!」
「糟啦！月亮掉在井裡頭啦！」
And olderly monkey comes over.
老猴子也跑過來。
He is very surprised as well and cries out:
他也非常驚奇，喊道：
「The moon is in the well.」
「糟了，月亮掉在井裡頭了！」
A group of monkeys run over to the well .
一群猴子跑到井邊來，
They look at the moon in the well and shout:
他們看到井裡的月亮，喊道：
「The moon did fall into the well!Come on!Let』get it out!」
「月亮掉在井裡頭啦！快來！讓我們把它撈起來！」
Then,the oldest monkey hangs on the tree up side down ,with his feet on the branch .
然後，老猴子倒掛在大樹上，
And he pulls the next monkey』s feet with his hands.
拉住大猴子的腳，
All the other monkeys follow his suit,
其他的猴子一個個跟著，
And they join each other one by one down to the moon in the well.
它們一隻連著一隻直到井裡。
Just before they reach the moon,the oldest monkey raises his head and happens to see the moon in the sky,
正好他們摸到月亮的時候，老猴子抬頭發現月亮掛在天上呢
He yells excitedly 「Don』t be so foolish!The moon is still in the sky!」
它興奮地大叫：「別蠢了！月亮還好好地掛在天上呢！」
③ 要3分鍾左右的 英語小故事
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
注釋：
1．urchin：淘氣鬼，頑童，尤其是指男孩子。比如，a street
urchin，街頭流浪兒。
2．astounded：astound，使（人）大吃一驚，但它一般多用於被動
語態。He was astounded at the news.那消息讓他大吃一驚。
3．in astonishment：和in surprise意思差不多，表示很驚訝。但
吃驚的程度要深一些。
4．aglow：這是一個形容詞，它的意思是「熾熱的，臉上發熱
的」。
5．crippled：cripple即可作名詞，也可作動詞，意為跛子，或使
跛足。在這里用crippled，是用分詞做形容詞，跛足的。
6．squeezed up against him：squeeze是擠壓的意思，在這里，很
形象地說明小男孩緊緊抱著跛腳的弟弟，怕他摔倒了。
7．buddy：老兄，老弟。這是美國俚語中常見的說法，一般只用於
打招呼。
8．It is more blessed to give：施比受更有福。給予是一種幸
福，因為你是富有的，這種富有通常跟財富無關，更主要的是精神
上的富有。
內容：
哥哥的心願
聖誕節時，保羅的哥哥送他一輛新車。聖誕節當天，保羅離開辦公室時，一個男孩繞著那輛閃閃發亮的新車，十分贊嘆地問：
"先生，這是你的車？"
保羅點點頭："這是我哥哥送給我的聖誕節禮物。"男孩滿臉驚訝，支支吾吾地說："你是說這是你哥送的禮物，沒花你一分錢？天哪，我真希望也能……"
保羅當然知道男孩他真想希望什麼。他希望能有一個象那樣的哥哥。但是小男孩接下來說的話卻完全出乎了保羅的意料。
"我希望自己能成為送車給弟弟的哥哥。"男孩繼續說。
保羅驚愕地看著那男孩，沖口而出地說："你要不要坐我的車去兜風？"
"哦，當然好了，我太想坐了！"
車開了一小段路後，那孩子轉過頭來，眼睛閃閃發亮，對我說："先生，你能不能把車子開到我家門前？"
保羅微笑，他知道孩子想干什麼。那男孩必定是要向鄰居炫耀，讓大家知道他坐了一部大轎車回家。但是這次保羅又猜錯了。"你能不能把車子停在那兩個台階前？"男孩要求道。
男孩跑上了階梯，過了一會兒保羅聽到他回來了，但動作似乎有些緩慢。原來把他跛腳的弟弟帶出來了，將他安置在第一個台階上，緊緊地抱著他，指著那輛新車。
只聽那男孩告訴弟弟："你看，這就是我剛才在樓上對你說的那輛新車。這是保羅他哥哥送給他的哦！將來我也會送給你一輛像這樣的車，到那時候你就能自己去看那些在聖誕節時，掛窗口上的漂亮飾品了，就象我告訴過你的那樣。"
保羅走下車子，把跛腳男孩抱到車子的前座。興奮得滿眼放光的哥哥也爬上車子，坐在弟弟的身旁。就這樣他們三人開始一次令人難忘的假日兜風。
那個聖誕夜，保羅才真正體會主耶穌所說的"施比受更有福"的道理。
④ 三分鍾英語故事
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."
【譯文】
老貓
一位老婦有隻貓，這只貓很老，它跑不快了，也咬不了東西，因為它年紀太大了。一天，老貓發現一隻老鼠，它跳過去抓這只老鼠，然而，它咬不住這只老鼠。因此，老鼠從它的嘴邊溜掉了，因為老貓咬不了它。
於是，老婦很生氣，因為老貓沒有把老鼠咬死。她開始打這只貓，貓說：「不要打你的老僕人，我已經為你服務了很多年，而且還願意為你效勞，但是，我實在太老了，對年紀大的不要這么無情，要記住老年人在年青時所做過的有益的事情。」
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.
【譯文】
一個人正朝著一個富人的房子走去，當他沿著路走時，在路的一邊他發現一箱好蘋果，他說：「我不打算吃那些蘋果，因為富人會給我更多的食物，他會給我很好吃的東西。」然後他拿起蘋果，一把扔到土裡去。
他繼續走，來到河邊，河漲水了，因此，他到不了河對岸，他等了一會兒，然後他說：「今天我去不了富人家了，因為我不能渡過河。」
他開始回家，那天他沒有吃東西。他就開始去找吃的，他找到蘋果，很高興地把它們從塵土中翻出來吃了。
不要把好東西扔掉，換個時候你會覺得它們大有用處。
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."
【譯文】
城裡老鼠和鄉下老鼠
從前，有兩只老鼠，它們是好朋友。一隻老鼠居住在鄉村，另一隻住在城裡。很多年以後，鄉下老鼠碰到城裡老鼠，它說：「你一定要來我鄉下的家看看。」於是，城裡老鼠就去了。鄉下老鼠領著它到了一塊田地上它自己的家裡。它把所有最精美食物都找出來給城裡老鼠。城裡老鼠說：「這東西不好吃，你的家也不好，你為什麼住在田野的地洞里呢？你應該搬到城裡去住，你能住上用石頭造的漂亮房子，還會吃上美味佳餚，你應該到我城裡的家看看。」
鄉下老鼠就到城裡老鼠的家去。房子十分漂亮，好吃的東西也為他們擺好了。可是正當他們要開始吃的時候，聽見很大的一陣響聲，城裡的老鼠叫喊起來：「快跑！快跑！貓來了！」他們飛快地跑開躲藏起來。
過了一會兒，他們出來了。當他們出來時，鄉下老鼠說：「我不喜歡住在城裡，我喜歡住在田野我的洞里。因為這樣雖然貧窮但是快樂自在，比起雖然富有卻要過著提心吊膽的生活來說，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".
老師:為什麼你每天早晨都遲到?
湯姆:每當我經過學校的拐角處,就看見一個牌子上寫著"學校----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
小羅伯特向媽媽要兩分錢。
「昨天給你的錢干什麼了？」
「我給了一個可憐的老太婆，」他回答說。 「你真是個好孩子，」媽媽驕傲地說。「再給你兩分錢。可你為什麼對那位老太太那麼感興趣呢？」
「她是個賣糖果的。」
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，父親與小兒子一道回家。這個孩子正處於那種對什麼事都很感興趣的年齡，老是有提不完的問題。他向父親發問道：「爸爸，『醉』字是什麼意思？」 「唔，孩子，」父親回答說，「你瞧那兒站著兩個警察。如果我把他們看成了四個，那麼我就算醉了。」 「可是，爸爸， 」孩子說，「那兒只有一個警察
⑤ 三分鍾英語小故事
少兒英語小故事--猴子撈月(中英文對照)
One day,a little monkey is playing by the well.
一天，有隻小猴子在井邊玩兒。
He looks in the well and shouts :
它往井裡一瞧，高喊道：
「!My god!The moon has fallen into the well!」
「噢！我的天！月亮掉到井裡頭啦！」
An older monkeys runs over, takes a look,and says,
一隻大猴子跑來一看，說，
「Goodness me!The moon is really in the water!」
「糟啦！月亮掉在井裡頭啦！」
And olderly monkey comes over.
老猴子也跑過來。
He is very surprised as well and cries out:
他也非常驚奇，喊道：
「The moon is in the well.」
「糟了，月亮掉在井裡頭了！」
A group of monkeys run over to the well .
一群猴子跑到井邊來，
They look at the moon in the well and shout:
他們看到井裡的月亮，喊道：
「The moon did fall into the well!Come on!Let』get it out!」
「月亮掉在井裡頭啦！快來！讓我們把它撈起來！」
Then,the oldest monkey hangs on the tree up side down ,with his feet on the branch .
然後，老猴子倒掛在大樹上，
And he pulls the next monkey』s feet with his hands.
拉住大猴子的腳，
All the other monkeys follow his suit,
其他的猴子一個個跟著，
And they join each other one by one down to the moon in the well.
它們一隻連著一隻直到井裡。
Just before they reach the moon,the oldest monkey raises his head and happens to see the moon in the sky,
正好他們摸到月亮的時候，老猴子抬頭發現月亮掛在天上呢
He yells excitedly 「Don』t be so foolish!The moon is still in the sky!」
它興奮地大叫：「別蠢了！月亮還好好地掛在天上呢！」
⑥ 英語三分鍾故事
你要長的，那就這個吧
The Thirsty Pigeon口渴的鴿子
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.
有隻鴿子口渴得很難受，看見畫板上畫著一個水瓶，以為是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飛過 去，不料一頭碰撞在畫板上，折斷了翅膀，摔在地上，被人輕易地捉住了。
這是說，有些人想急於得到所需的東西，一時沖動，草率從事，就會身遭不幸。
The Raven and the Swan烏鴉和天鵝
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.
烏鴉非常羨慕天鵝潔白的羽毛。他猜想天鵝一定是經常洗澡，羽毛才變得如此潔白無 瑕。於是，他毅然離開了他賴以生存的祭壇，來到江湖邊。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一 點都沒洗白，反而因缺少食物飢餓而死。
這故事是說，人的本性不會隨著生活方式的改變而改變。
The Goat and the Goatherd 山羊與牧羊人
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.
很多山羊被牧羊人趕到羊圈裡。有一隻山羊不知在吃什麼好東西，單獨落在後面。牧羊 人拿起一塊石頭扔了過去，正巧打斷了山羊的一隻角。牧羊人嚇得請求山羊不要告訴主人， 山羊說：「即使我不說，又怎能隱瞞下去呢？我的角已斷了，這是十分明顯的事實。」
這故事說明，明顯的罪狀是無法隱瞞的。
The Miser守財奴
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."
有個守財奴變賣了他所有的家產，換回了金塊，並秘密地埋在一個地方。他每天走去看 看他的寶藏。有個在附近放羊的牧人留心觀察，知道了真情，趁他走後，挖出金塊拿走了。 守財奴再來時，發現洞中的金塊沒有了，便捶胸痛哭。有個人見他如此悲痛，問明原因後， 說道：「喂，朋友，別再難過了，那塊金子雖是你買來的，但並不是你真正擁有的。去拿一 塊石頭來，代替金塊放在洞里，只要你心裡想著那是塊金子，你就會很高興。這樣與你擁有 真正的金塊效果沒什麼不同。依我之見，你擁有那金塊時，也從沒用過。」
這故事說明，一切財物如不使用等於沒有。
The Wolf and the Lamb 狼與小羊
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.
一隻小羊在河邊喝水，狼見到後，便想找一個名正言順的借口吃掉他。於是他跑到上游，惡狠狠地說小羊把河水攪渾濁了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答說，他僅僅站在河邊喝水，並且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水攪渾。狼見此計不成，又說道：「我父親去年被你罵過。」小羊說，那時他還沒有出生。狼對他說：「不管你怎樣辯解，反正我不會放過 你。」
這說明，對惡人做任何正當的辯解也是無效的。
The Bat and the Weasels蝙蝠與黃鼠狼
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，被黃鼠狼叼去，他請求饒命。黃鼠狼說絕不會放過他，自己生來痛恨鳥類。蝙蝠說他是老鼠，不是鳥，便被放了。後來蝙蝠又掉落了下來，被另一隻黃鼠狼叼住，他再三請求不要吃他。這只黃鼠狼說他恨一切鼠類。蝙蝠改口說自己是鳥類，並非老 鼠，又被放了。這樣，蝙蝠兩次改變了自己的名字，終於死裡逃生。
這故事說明，我們遇事要隨機應變方能避免危險。
The Ass and the Grasshopper 驢子與蚱蜢
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.
驢子聽見蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙動聽的歌聲所打動，自己也想能發出同樣悅耳動聽的聲音，便 羨慕地問他們吃些什麼，才能發出如此美妙的聲音來。蚱蜢答道：「吃露水。」驢子便也只吃露水，沒多久就餓死了。
這個故事告訴人們不要企望非份之物。
The Lion and the Mouse 獅子與報恩的老鼠
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."
獅子睡著了，有隻老鼠跳到了他身上。獅子猛然站起來，把他抓住，准備吃掉。老鼠請求饒命，並說如果保住性命，必將報恩，獅子輕蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，獅子真的被老鼠救了性命。原來獅子被一個獵人抓獲，並用繩索把他捆在一棵樹上。老鼠聽到了他 的哀嚎，走過去咬斷繩索，放走了獅子，並說：
「你當時嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的報答， 現在可清楚了，老鼠也能報恩。」 這故事說明，時運交替變更，強者也會有需要弱者的時候。
⑦ 小學英語口語大賽用的英語故事（3分鍾左右）
Never too old to learn, never too late to turn.亡羊補牢，為時未晚。
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.
從前有一個人他家裡養了許多羊。
一天，羊圈上的欄桿上塌了一個洞，鄰居看見了，就提醒他趕快修羊圈，他呢，搖搖頭說：「只有一個小小的洞，沒關系的，過幾天再修吧。」鄰居沒辦法，只好走開了。
當他准備修補羊圈的欄桿，順便看看小寶貝羊羔長的怎麼樣時，發現羊跑掉了不少，沒剩幾只了，他看到這番景象，不禁傷心地大哭起來：「我的羊兒呢？哇……哇……」
羊兒不見了，是因為羊圈上欄桿的洞修得太遲了。你一旦發現，就要及時修補，否則羊就一隻一隻地跑走了，你現在修補還不算晚，還能挽救剩下的羊只