The Crow and the Pitcher

 A Crow, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a Pitcher¹, hoping to find some water in it.

 

He found some there, to be sure, but only a little drop at the bottom which he was quite unable to reach.

 

He then tried to overturn the Pitcher, but it was too heavy. So he gathered up some pebbles², with which the ground near was covered and, taking them one by one in his beak³, dropped them into the Pitcher.

 

By this means the water gradually reached the top, and he was enabled to drink at his ease.

 

1 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

2 pebbles   

[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
• Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

3 beak   

n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻

参考例句：

• The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
• This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。