passage13

13. A Competition of Lying A certain old gentleman was very unhappy about modern education, and thought that young people didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. One day he was taking a walk near the church when he saw some young boys standing around a small cat The old gentlemen went up to the boys and asked them what was happening. One of the boys said to him“We're having a competition. We're telling lies, and the one who tells the biggest lie will keep the cat.” The old gentleman thought this was a good chance to teach the boys a useful lesson, so he said to them,“I've never told a lie in my life”. At once there was a great shout from all the boys, and they said,“You've won! The cat belongs to you!” 13．说谎比赛 某个(a certain)老年绅士(gentleman)对现代教育(modern education)颇为不满(unhappy)，他认为年轻人不知道是非(right and wrong)之间的差异(difference)。 有一天，他在教堂(church)附近散步(take a walk)时，看到一些小男孩围着一只小猫(cat)。这位老绅士凑上前去问孩子们发生(happen)什么事了。有个男孩告诉他：“我们正在进行一场竞赛(competition)。我们在比赛说谎(tell ties)，谁说的谎最大，这只猫就是谁的。” 老绅士觉得这是教育孩子们的一个好机会。于是他就对孩子们说：“我这辈子从未说过谎话。”立刻(at once)所有孩子异口同声地大喊(shout)：“你赢(win)了！这只猫属于你了(The cat belongs to you)!”