The Carabao and the Shell

 One very hot day, when a carabao went into the river to bathe, he met a shell¹ and they began talking together.

 

“You are very slow,” said the carabao to the shell.

 

“Oh, no,” replied the shell. “I can beat you in a race.”

 

“Then let us try and see,” said the carabao.

 

So they went out on the bank and started to run.

 

After the carabao had gone a long distance he stopped and called, “Shell!”

 

And another shell lying by the river answered, “Here I am!”

 

Then the carabao, thinking that it was the same shell with which he was racing², ran on.

 

By and by he stopped again and called, “Shell!”

 

Again another shell answered, “Here I am!”

 

The carabao was surprised that the shell could keep up with him. But he ran on and on, and every time he stopped to call, another shell answered him. But he was determined³ that the shell should not beat him, so he ran until he dropped dead.

1 shell   

n.贝壳，壳，外形；v.去壳，脱落；n.[计算机] DOS命令:安装备用的COMMAND.COM文件，并改变环境尺寸

参考例句：

• Please shell some peanuts for the cake.请为做点心剥点胡花生。
• This kind of beetles have hard shell.这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。

2 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。