中国故事 43 The Forest of Plum Trees 望梅止渴 | 传播传统文化（音频版）_中考英语考试技巧

43、The Forest of Plum Trees

望梅止渴

在一个炎炎夏日，曹操领兵行军。士兵们都负重行进，十分缺水，两眼无神，行军速度缓慢。曹操询问附近是否有水源时却得到否定的答案：如果要去最近的水源，会延迟整整一个小时达到目的地。曹操忽然灵机一动，他告诉士兵们：“前面有一个梅子树林，就在山后，梅子甘甜可口，可以缓解大家的饥渴！”曹操的计谋能奏效吗？

A long, long time ago, there was a Chinesewarlordnamed Cao Cao. He was a good fighter, and an even better leader. His army knew he was wise and knowledgeable, so they trusted him.

One summer day, Cao Cao was leading his army to battle with hisrival, Zhang Xiu. It was a truly hot day. The sun burned brightly.

The soldiers struggled in the heat. It didn’t help that they were walking up and down hills. Even worse, they had no water. They were already carrying heavymilitarysupplies, so there was no room for water.

Cao Cao looked out across the crowd of soldiers. He saw tired faces staring back. Their eyes were blank, their faces shiny with sweat. They were slowing down. They looked like theywere about tofall over!

Cao Cao knew if the soldiers walked slowly, it might make them lose the battle. He quickly called over his headnavigator.

“Is there any water nearby?” Cao Cao asked quietly. He didn’t want the soldiers to hear him and worry.

“No sir,” the navigator replied. “The nearest water is a lake on the other side of that mountain. It is many miles out of our way. If we go to the lake, it will take at least an hour longer to reach the battle.”

An hour? An hour was much too long! By that time his rival Zhang Xiu would have already set up his army. Cao Cao couldn’t let his enemygain the upper hand. He knew his own army could win the battle if they were prepared.

Cao Cao thought for a moment. What else could he do? Giving up was not anoption. But getting drinking water wasn’t an option either. So what’s almost as good as drinking water?

And that’s when he had an idea. Of course! He needed to give his soldiersmotivationto continue! And he knew just how to do that.

“Soldiers,” he yelled, “I know it has been a hard day. But there will be an end to your thirst soon! There is a forest ofplumtrees ahead. The trees are full of ripe, juicy, fat, delicious plums. And they are just waiting to be eaten! The forest is just beyond that hill. Think of the plums and how happy you’ll be when we get there!”

Hearing this, the soldiers’ mouths began towater. They all imagined the sweetness of the plums. Wanting to get to the plums quickly, the army quickened its pace.

Of course, there was no forest of plum trees. But because Cao Cao had given them something to strive for, the soldiers were able to carry on.

The End

Today, Chinese people use the idiom “Ending Thirst by Wishing for Plums” to mean wishful thinking, or to make decisions based on hope instead of logic.

Question:Why couldn’t Cao Cao bring his army to the lake?

1. Because the lake was on the other side of a desert.

2. Because the lake was on the other side of a mountain. [Answer]

3. Because the soldiers were too tired to walk to the lake.

4. Because the enemy was waiting for them at the lake.

核心词汇

warlord n. 军阀

rival n. 对手; 竞争者

military supplies 军资；军需；军需品

be about to do 即将做某事

navigator n. 领航员; 航海家，航行者，航海者; 驾驶员

gain the upper hand 占上风; 处于有利地位; 占优势