01

　　In the Warring States period, the King of Qi liked gamecock. In order to win, he asked an expert Ji Shengzi to train the cock for him. The King of Qi wanted to win eagerly, so only a few days later, he asked the expert if the cock was ready to fight. Ji said: “It’s not the right time.” Another a few days later, the King of Qi asked the expert again and the answer was still no. At the third time, Ji Shengzi said that the cock was ready.

　　Then the King of Qi let his cock fight with another one. That cock jumped and yelled, but his cock was like a wooden cock that didn’t move at all. Other cocks were frightened by that look. As a result, the king’s cock won and he felt so excited!

　　战国时，斗鸡是贵族们寻欢作乐的一项活动，齐王便是当时的一位斗鸡迷。为了能在斗鸡场上取胜，齐王特地请专家纪渻 (shěng)子帮他训鸡。

　　齐王求胜心切，没过几天，便派人来催问，纪渻子说：“鸡没训好，它一见对手，就跃跃欲试，沉不住气。”

　　过了几天，齐王又派人来问，纪渻子说：“还不到火候，看样子鸡虽不乱动了，但还不够沉稳。”

　　又过了几天，纪渻子终于对来人说：“请你告诉齐王，我花工夫把鸡训好了。”待到斗鸡时，对手的鸡又叫又跳，而纪渻子训好的鸡却像只木鸡，一点反应也没有，别的鸡看到它那副呆样竟然都被吓跑了。因此，齐王用这只鸡和别人斗，自然场场获胜。他那兴奋的样子就甭(béng)提了。

　　02

　　重难点词汇和短语

　　1. gamecock：斗鸡

　　2. in order to：为了

　　3. expert：专家

　　4. eagerly：急切地

　　5. fight：打斗

　　6. wooden：木制的

　　7. frightened：惊吓

　　8. as a result：结果