The Fox and the Grapes
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A thirsty fox spots a tempting bunch of grapes just out of reach — and tries again and again before giving up.
One warm summer day, a Fox was walking through an orchard. He came to a bunch of grapes ripening high on a vine.
一个温暖的夏日，一只狐狸走过一片果园。它来到一株葡萄藤前，只见一串葡萄高高地挂在藤上，正在成熟。
"Just the thing to quench my thirst," he said.
“正好解解我的渴，”它说。
Backing up a few paces, he took a run and a jump at the grapes, but missed. Turning round again, he ran faster and leaped once more. Still he could not reach them.
它往后退了几步，助跑几下，朝葡萄跳去，却没有够到。它转身回来，跑得更快，又跳了一次，仍然够不着。
Again and again he tried, but at last he had to give up. He walked away with his nose in the air, saying, "I am sure they are sour anyway."
它一次又一次地尝试，最后只好放弃。它昂着头走开，嘴里说道：“我敢肯定这些葡萄反正是酸的。”
It is easy to hate what you cannot have.
得不到的东西，人总是很容易看轻它。
