1.Onceafoxinvitedastorktodinner.Heputnothingonthetableexceptsomesoupinaveryshallowdish.

　　Thefoxcouldeasilylapupthesoup,butthestorkcouldonlywettheendofherlongbillinit.Whensheleftthemeal,shewasstillveryhungry."Iamsorry,"saidthefox,"thesoupisnottoyourtaste."

　　"Pleasedonotapologize,"saidthestork."Ihopeyouwillcometomyhouse,anddinewithmesoon."

　　Afewdayslaterthefoxvisitedthestork.Hefoundthathisfoodwasputinalongbottle,andthemouthofthebottlewasverynarrow.Hecouldnotinserthisbigmouthintoit,soheatenothing.

　　"Iwillnotapologize,"saidthestork."Onebadturndeservesanother."

　　一次,狐狸请鹳来吃饭.他除了浅盘子中的一点汤以外,什么也没有准备.

　　狐狸可以轻而易举地喝到汤,但是鹳只够蘸湿他长长的嘴尖.吃完饭后,鹳仍旧很饥饿."很抱歉!"狐狸说,"这汤不合你的口味".

　　"别客气,"鹳说,"过几天请到我家来和我一起吃饭吧."

　　几天后,狐狸应邀而至,他发现食物都装在一个长长的瓶子里,而瓶口很细,他无法将他的大嘴伸进去,什么也吃不到.

　　"我不想道歉,这是你应得的回报."鹳说.

　　2.Awomanwassinging.Oneofthegueststurnedtoaman

　　byhissideandcriticizedthesinger.

　　"Whataterriblevoice!"hesaid."Doyouknowwhosheis?"

　　"yes."wastheanswer,"sheismywife."

　　"Oh,Ibegyourparden,"themansaid."Ofcoursehervoice

　　isn'tbad,butthesongisverybad.Iwonderedwhowrotethatawfulsong?"

　　"Idid,"wastheanswer.

　　有一个妇女在唱歌.一个宾馆的客人对旁边的男人问道：“这是多么可怕的歌声啊,你知道她是谁?”

　　“是的”,男人回答到“他是我妻子”.

　　“OH,我的兄弟,其实她的声音并不难听,主要是这歌词写的不好,是谁写的这么可怕的歌词?”

　　3.塞翁失马焉知非福(BlessingorBane)

　　Onceuponatime,therewasamannamedSaiweng.HelivednearChina'snorthernborders.Hishorsewentintothelandofnorthernpeople.Hisneighborsallfeltsorryforhim.

　　"Perhapsthiswillsoonturnouttobeablessing,"saidSaiweng.

　　Afterafewmonths,hishorsecamebackwithanotherfinehorsefromthenorth.Everyonecongratulatedhim.

　　"Perhapsthiswillsoonturnouttobeabadluck,"saidSaiweng.

　　Beforelong,hissonbecamefondofriding.Onedayhefellfromahorseandbrokehisleg.Again,hisneighborsallfeltsorryforhim.

　　"Perhapsthiswillsoonturnouttobeablessing,"saidSaiweng.

　　Oneyearlater,thenorthernpeoplestartedawaralongtheborder.Allthestrongyoungmentookuparmsandfoughtagainsttheinvaders.Mostofthemdied.ButSaiweng'ssondidnotjoininthefightingbecausehewaslamesobothofthemsurvived.

　　很久以前,有个人叫塞翁.他住在北部边疆.塞翁养的马跑进了北边民族的地盘.他的邻居们都为他感到难过.

　　“也许这会是件好事呢!”塞翁说.

　　几个月后,塞翁的马自己跑回了家,还带了一匹好马回来.人们都去向他道贺.

　　塞翁却说：“也许这不是什么好事呢!”

　　没多久,塞翁的儿子就喜欢上了骑马,一天他从马上掉了下来,摔断了腿.邻居们都替塞翁难过.

　　“也许这会是件好事呢!”塞翁却说.

　　一年后,北方的民族大举入侵,年青人都被征集参军去打仗.死了很多人.塞翁的儿子却因为摔断了腿不能去当兵,从而保住了性命.

　　“我写的”男人回答道.