The Great Race of the Zodiac Animals

The Main Reading Text

A very long time ago in China, the Jade Emperor wanted to choose twelve animals for the zodiac signs. The Jade Emperor was an important ruler in Chinese stories. He decided to hold a big race. The first twelve animals that could cross the wide river would get a place in the zodiac.

All the animals were excited. The rat was small and knew it wasn't a good swimmer. It saw the kind ox getting ready to cross the river. The rat cleverly asked the ox, "Can I ride on your back?" The ox agreed.

As they got very close to the other side of the river, the quick rat suddenly jumped off the ox's back and onto the land. So, the rat finished first! The helpful ox was second. The strong and fast tiger arrived third.

The rabbit couldn't swim well, but it was smart. It jumped on some stones and then found a log floating in the water. It used the log to cross the river and came in fourth.

The powerful dragon, which could fly, came fifth. The Jade Emperor was surprised. "Why aren't you first?" he asked. The dragon explained it stopped to help some villagers.

Next came the horse. But wait! The snake had hidden on the horse’s foot during the crossing. Just before the finish line, the snake jumped out, which scared the horse. The snake finished sixth, and the horse was seventh.

The goat, monkey, and rooster found a raft and worked together to cross the river. They finished eighth, ninth, and tenth. The playful dog was eleventh because it stopped to play in the water. Finally, the pig arrived last. It got hungry during the race, stopped to eat, and then fell asleep! That's how the order of the twelve zodiac animals was decided.

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Key Learning Points

點擊下方的頁籤，切換不同的學習重點。

zodiac

n.

[ˋzodɪ͵æk] — 十二生肖；黃道帶

A system in which twelve animals represent the years and are believed to influence people's characters.

• He wanted to choose twelve animals for the zodiac signs.
  他想為十二生肖選擇十二種動物。
• What's your Chinese zodiac sign?
  你的生肖是什麼？

ruler

n.

[ˋrulɚ] — 統治者

A person who rules or governs, such as a king or queen.

• The Jade Emperor was an important ruler in Chinese stories.
  玉皇大帝是中國故事中一位重要的統治者。
• The people were loyal to their ruler.
  人民忠於他們的統治者。

cleverly

adv.

[ˋklɛvɚlɪ] — 聰明地；巧妙地

In an intelligent, original, or skillful way.

• The rat cleverly asked the ox for a ride.
  老鼠聰明地請求牛讓牠搭便車。
• She cleverly solved the difficult puzzle.
  她巧妙地解開了那個難題。

suddenly

adv.

[ˋsʌdnlɪ] — 突然地

Quickly and unexpectedly.

• The rat suddenly jumped off the ox's back.
  老鼠突然從牛背上跳了下來。
• It started to rain suddenly.
  突然下起雨來了。

floating

a.

[ˋflotɪŋ] — 漂浮的

Resting or moving on the surface of a liquid without sinking.

• The rabbit found a log floating in the water.
  兔子找到一根漂浮在水上的圓木。
• We saw some floating leaves on the pond.
  我們看到池塘上有一些漂浮的葉子。

villager

n.

[ˋvɪlɪdʒɚ] — 村民

A person who lives in a village.

• The dragon stopped to help some villagers.
  龍停下來幫助一些村民。
• All the villagers gathered in the main square.
  所有的村民都聚集在主廣場上。

raft

n.

[ræft] — 木筏；竹筏

A flat structure of timber or other materials fastened together, used as a boat or floating platform.

• They found a raft and worked together to cross the river.
  牠們找到一個木筏，合力渡河。
• He built a small raft to explore the lake.
  他造了一個小木筏來探索湖泊。