An elephant and a monkey were arguing (争论).

    “Look, how big and strong I am!” The elephant said.

    The monkey didn't agree, “Look, how fast I can run and climb! Can you?”

    At last they asked a clever tiger, “Which is better—to be strong or to be quick?”

    The tiger said, “Go across the river and pick the fruit on that tree for me, then I can tell.”

    So they went to the river, but the water ran fast and the monkey was afraid.

    “Get on my back,” said the elephant proudly (自豪地), “I shall carry you.”

    Soon they crossed the river. There stood the tree. But the fruit was too high for the elephant to reach. He tried to pull the tree down, but failed.

    “Don't worry.” The monkey climbed quickly up the tree, and picked the fruit.

    Then they came back and gave the tiger the fruit. “Which is better — to be strong or to be quick?”

    The tiger smiled, “Both of you could not get the fruit alone. It took both the elephant's strength and the monkey's quickness to get it.”

A Trip to the Forest

    One day Bob took two of his friends into the mountains. They put up their tents and then rode off to a forest to see how the trees were growing.

    In the afternoon when they were about ten kilometers from their camp（营地）, it started to snow. More and more snow fell. Soon Bob could hardly see his hands before his face. He could not find the road. Bob knew there were two roads. One road went to the camp, and the other went to his house. But all was white snow. Everything was the same. How could he take his friends back to the camp?

    Bob had an idea. The horses! Let the horses take them back! But what would happen if the horses took the road to his house? That would be a trip of thirty-five kilometers in such cold weather!

    It was getting late. They rode on and on. At last the horses stopped. Where were they?

    None of them could tell. John looked around. What was that under the tree? It was one of their tents!

    Lao She wrote Teahouse in 1957. The play shows audience life in China between 1898 and 1945. It takes place in a teahouse in old Beijing and it tells us the story of Wang Lifa and customers. It asks us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighborhood. Finally, it says good bye to old Beijing and its people.

    The story starts in 1898 during the Qing Dynasty. It continues in 1916, and finally, it brings the audience to the end of the Anti-Japanese War, in 1945. After the war, Wang loses the teahouse and dies.

    Lao She was born in Beijing in 1899. His parents sent him to the Teacher's School in Beijing arid he learned to teach. From 1924 to 1929 he taught Chinese to the English in London. He wrote many plays, novels and short stories. He was named a "People's Artist" and a "Great Master of Language". He was one of the greatest Chinese writers of the 20th century.

    In Lao She's Teahouse today, waiters bring tea to the customers and sell them delicious Chinese food. If you like Beijing Opera, folk music, acrobatics, or magic shows, you can enjoy them in the teahouse. Lao She's Teahouse gives a wonderful welcome to everyone from China and from all over the world.

    Wonder what it is like to be a chef(厨师)? This weekend you will have your chance to find out. Two local chefs, Monica Sallier and Andrew Gleason, will hold an "open kitchen" at their restaurants this Saturday.

    Monica's restaurant, The Blue Hen, is small but comfortable. Wooden tables and chairs cover the dining area, and sweet music is always on. "I like to laugh and always tell jokes while I cook," Monica said. "Cooking brings people together. The cooks who work with me have become my best friends."

    At Monica's "open kitchen", she plans to teach her guests how to prepare country­style fried chicken. For it, she will use her family's secret spice(香料). She learned how to make it from her father. Monica seldom uses a measuring cup(量杯)when cooking. By doing so, she hopes to offer her guests a special dining experience. "If you come to my restaurant, you'll never get the same dish twice, "she said.

    Also opening his kitchen this Saturday in Shreveport is Andrew Gleason. He is the head chef at Quarter Bistro. "I am not the most talkative chef in the business," Andrew said. "Mostly because I prefer to give my full attention to the food. Every ingredient(食材)must be carefully measured. "

    Andrew's food also makes the dining experience special. He makes every dish look like a piece of art. At his "open kitchen", Andrew plans to teach his visitors how to prepare blackened catfish, a dish of his that has won much praise throughout the city.

    Four beggars (乞丐) usually met at an old shack (小窝棚) at the end of the day. One day, they were very upset because none of them had got much in their begging bowls.

    "I only got this piece of meat today," the first said. "I hardly got anything," the second said. "I just picked up these few vegetables outside the fruit and vegetable store." The third complained that all he was given was a handful of herbs(香草) that he couldn't eat on his own. The fourth beggar didn't do much better. "I only got the handful of old, dried beans, but they aren't very nice!"

    As they sat around the fire, one of them had a great idea. "Let's put all our bits together and boil them. In this way, we can make a tasty dish and share it." They all agreed.

    However, the first beggar thought, "I don't want to share. I'll just pretend (假装) to throw my meat into the pot. They'll never know and I'll eat my meat later." So he pretended to put the meat into the pot. Now the same idea had also hit the other beggars and the shack was so dark that no one could see what the others were doing.

    Finally, one of them suggested that the dish should now be ready and, in turn, each of them helped himself to a bowl. They drank the hot water in absolute(绝对) silence, learning that selfishness doesn't taste all that good.