10 The Ant And the Grasshopper

On a warm summer day, a grasshopper was dancing, singing, and fooling around. He saw an ant pass bypass by 经过.The ant was carrying food on its back.

“Why don't you come and have fun with me?” asked the grasshopper.“Put down your heavy things and relaxrelax v.放松 a little.”

The ant stopped and said,“I am gatheringgather v.收集;聚集 food for the winter. I have much more to gather after this. I suggest that you gather food, too. Winter is coming.”

The grasshopper laughed. “Why worry about winter? It's summer now. We have lots of food for summer. It is time to have fun! ”

Winter came, and it was a cold winter. It snowed every day and it was hard to find food.

The grasshopper grew hungry. The ant and his family, however, were happy. They ate the food that they had gathered during the summer. The ants passed by the grasshopper one windy day and noticed he was starvingstarve v.挨饿;饿死.

The grasshopper beggedbeg v.乞讨;乞求 the ants for a little food.

“Why didn't you gather food during the summer?” they asked.

“I was having too much fun, ” said the grasshopper.

And the ants said, “If you play all summer, you will be hungry all winter.”

The grasshopper learned that you must work hard and prepare for the future.