Two Grains

by Author Unknown

翻譯：Jasmine

Two1)grains were lying side by side on the2)soil.

The first grain said, “I want to grow up! I want to put down3)roots deep into the ground and come up from the ground. I dream to4)blossom in soft5)buds and remind people of the coming of spring. I want to feel the warm rays of sun and the6)dew drops on my7)petals!”

This grain grew up and became a beautiful flower.

The second grain said, “I’m afraid. If I put down my roots into the ground, I don’t know what they will face there. If I grow soft8)stems,they can be broken by wind. If I grow flowers, they may be9)bitten by insects. So I’d rather wait for the safer time.”

So the second grain was waiting, and then a chicken passed by and10)pecked it.

1) grain [gre?n] n. 谷物，谷粒

2) soil [s??l] n. 土壤，土地

3) root [ru?t] n. 根，根部

4) blossom ['bl?s?m] v. 開花

5) bud [b?d] n. 芽，蓓蕾

追求夢想的路上，有兩種人：一種人，任何時候都樂觀積極，無懼風雨，努力長成自己想要的樣子；另一種人，時時恐懼失敗，不肯越雷池一步，坐等機會流失。

你希望成為哪種人呢？

6) dew [dju?] n. 露，露水

7) petal ['petl] n. 花瓣

8) stem [stem] n. 莖，干

9) bite [ba?t] v. 咬，咬傷

10) peck [pek] v. 啄食

詞組加油站

★side by side

肩并肩，并排

★come up

發芽，上升

參考譯文

兩粒谷子并肩躺在泥土上。

第一粒谷子說：“我想要長大。我想將根須深深扎入土地，然后破土而出。我夢想開出嬌柔的花骨朵兒，提醒人們春天來了。我想感受太陽的溫暖光線和露珠落在我的花瓣上。”

后來，這粒谷子長成了一株美麗的花。

第二粒谷子說：“我害怕。要是我將根須深入地下，我不知道它們會有何等遭遇。要是我長出柔軟的莖兒，風會折斷它們。要是我長出花朵，蟲兒會撕咬它們。因而，我寧愿等待更安全的時機。”

于是，第二粒谷子一直等啊等，等到了一只雞，而它卻被這只過路的雞啄食掉了。

名師考點小結

1. grow up 意思是“成長；長大”，是不及物動詞短語。例如：

My brother is growing up fast. 我弟弟長得很快。

He wants to be a doctor when he grows up. 他長大想當一名醫生。

Tony was born in the city, but grew up in the country. 托尼生于城市，長于農村。

2. would rather 常簡寫為’d rather，意為“寧愿……；最好……”，后接不帶to的動詞不定式，表示優先選擇的一種方式。短語would rather沒有人稱和數的變化，常與than連用，表示“寧愿……而不愿……；與其……倒不如……”，連接平行的兩個并列成分，即在than的前后要用兩個同類的詞或詞組，如名詞、不帶to的不定式、介詞短語等，而且would rather...than...也可寫作would...rather than...。例如：

You would rather do some reading in the library this evening. 今晚你最好在圖書館讀點兒書。

Mr. Li would rather listen to rock music. 李先生寧愿聽搖滾樂。

He would rather drink wine than beer. 他寧愿喝葡萄酒而不是啤酒。

I would go to work by bike rather than by bus. 我寧愿騎自行車也不愿乘公共汽車去上班。