苍鹭与蜂鸟 Heron1) and Hummingbird2)
为了全天下所有的鱼，蜂鸟与苍鹭决定进行一场飞行比赛。瞧，一个小巧玲珑，一个瘦长笨拙；一个轻盈快速，一个不慌不忙。到底谁会赢得“吃鱼权”呢？嘘……这可不是一个简单的“龟兔赛跑”的故事，因为它关乎的不仅仅是输赢，更是最后的得失。
Heron and Hummingbird were very good friends, even though one was tall and gangly3) and awkward and one was small and sleek4) and fast. They both loved to eat fish. The Hummingbird preferred small fish like minnows5) and Heron liked the large ones.
One day, Hummingbird said to his friend: "I am not sure there are enough fish in the world for both of our kinds to eat. Why don't we have a race to see which of us should own the fish?"
Heron thought that was a very good idea. They decided that they would race for four days. The finish line was an old dead tree next to a far-away river. Whichever of them sat on top of the tree first on the fourth day of the race would own all the fish in the world.
They started out the next morning. The Hummingbird zipped6) along, flying around and around the Heron, who was moving steadily forward, flapping his giant wings. Then Hummingbird would be distracted by the pretty flowers along the way. He would flit7) from one to the other, tasting the nectar8). When Hummingbird noticed that Heron was ahead of him, he hurried to catch up with him, zooming9) ahead as fast as he could, and leaving Heron far behind. Heron just kept flying steadily forward, flapping his giant wings.
Hummingbird was tired from all his flitting. When it got dark, he decided to rest. He found a nice spot to perch10) and slept all night long. But Heron just kept flying steadily forward all night long, flapping his giant wings.
When Hummingbird woke in the morning, Heron was far ahead. Hummingbird had to fly as fast as he could to catch up. He zoomed past the big, awkward Heron and kept going until Heron had disappeared behind him. Then Hummingbird noticed some pretty flowers nearby. He zip-zipped over to them and tasted their nectar. He was enjoying the pretty scenery and didn't notice Heron flap-flapping passed him with his great wings.
Hummingbird finally remembered that he was racing with Heron, and flew as fast as he could to catch up with the big, awkward bird. Then he zipped along, flying around and around the Heron, who kept moving steadily forward, flapping his giant wings.
For two more days, the Hummingbird and the Heron raced toward the far-distant riverbank with the dead tree that was the finish line. Hummingbird had a marvelous time sipping nectar and flitting among the flowers and resting himself at night. Heron stoically11) kept up a steady flap-flap-flapping of his giant wings, propelling12) himself forward through the air all day and all night.
Hummingbird woke from his sleep the morning of the fourth day, refreshed and invigorated13). He flew zip-zip toward the riverbank with its dead tree. When it came into view, he saw Heron perched at the top of the tree! Heron had won the race by flying straight and steady through the night while Hummingbird slept.
So from that day forward, the Heron has owned all the fish in the rivers and lakes, and the Hummingbird has sipped from the nectar of the many flowers which he enjoyed so much during the race.
1. heron [5herEn] n. 苍鹭，鹭科鹭属的一种涉禽，稳定性极佳。
2. hummingbird [5hQmINb\:d] n. 蜂鸟，属雨燕目的蜂鸟科，体型很小，飞行本领高超，时速可达90公里，能通过快速拍打翅膀而悬停于空中，也是唯一一种可以向后飞的鸟。
3. gangly [5^AN^lI] adj. 瘦长得难看的；又高又瘦而动作笨拙的
4. sleek [sli:k] adj. 线条明快的，造型优美的
5. minnow [5mInEu] n. 【鱼】米诺鱼
6. zip [zIp] vi. 以尖啸声行进
7. flit [flIt] vi. (鸟、蝙蝠等)轻快地飞，作短距离飞行
8.nectar [5nektE(r)] n. 【植】花蜜
9. zoom [zu:m] vi. 嗡嗡地疾行
10. perch [p\:tF] vi. (鸟)飞落，暂栖
11. stoically [5stEuIkElI] adv. 坚忍地
12. propel [prEU5pel] vt. 推进；激励，驱策
13. invigorated [In5vI^EreItId] adj. 生气勃勃的；精力充沛的