原来狮子是林中大王,可是有一天狮子对动物们说他老了,要动物们从新选一个国王。为了慎重,决定先让每个动物试当一个周的国王。
It turns out that the lion is the king of the forest, but one day the lion told the animals that he was old and asked them to choose a new king. In order to be careful, we decided to let each animal try to be king for a week.
这个消息一传出,动物们都沸腾了,最后大家决定让猫头鹰当国王,因为它最勤快了。于是猫头鹰当选为第一周的国王。这下可热闹了,猫头鹰让动物们白天都睡觉,晚上在出来活动。这可把动物们累坏了,而有一些动物,像蝙蝠、猫头鹰却不以未然。
As soon as the news came out, the animals were boiling. At last, we decided to make the owl king, because it is the most diligent. So the owl was elected king of the first week. Now it's busy. Owls let animals sleep during the day and come out at night. It's exhausting the animals, but some animals, like bats and owls, are not.
第二周,动物们 一个个都成了“熊猫眼”,大家一致认为猫头鹰不适合当国王,又推选河马当国王。河马觉得猫头鹰这种做法不对,它要改一改,它说:“从今天起,你们都泡在水里洗澡。”大家一听,哭天喊地,可是没有办法,只好从命。
第三周,动物们的皮肤都特别“光滑”,这次又轮到长颈鹿当国王,它说:“从今天起,你们都必须伸长脖子,吃树上的枝叶。”动物们一听都吓的要命 ,它们的脖子怎么也够不着枝叶,再说了,还有一些食肉的动物,唉,这下动物们可惨了。
第四周,动物们的脖子都肿了,连头也低不下去了。这次轮到鸵鸟当国王,它更过分竟说:“现在你们都给我练长跑。”一些善于长跑的动物都高呼万岁,可其他的动物可遭了殃,每天不练得不会动了不罢休,两条腿都跟柱子似的。
Around the fourth week, the animals' necks were swollen and their heads could not go down. This time it's ostrich's turn to be king. He goes too far and says, "now you all give me long run training." Some of the animals who are good at long-distance running shout "long live", but other animals are suffering. If they don't practice every day, they won't stop moving. Their legs are like pillars.
第五周,猴子当国王,动物们都以为猴子回让它们用尾巴当秋千。可是,猴子却说:“从今天起,你们都按自己的生活习性来生活。”大家这才松了一口气,折腾了四个周的动物这下可以休息了,狮子看了说:“猴子才最适合当你们的国王。”大家都欢呼起来。
In the fifth week, the monkeys became king, and the animals thought that the monkeys would let them use their tails as swings. However, the monkey said, "from today on, you all live according to your own habits." It's a relief for all of us. The animals that have been struggling for four weeks can rest now. The lion looked at it and said, "monkeys are the best fit to be your king." Everyone cheered.