酷兔英语

    心涛:洋洋,听说古代人为了采集树上的果实,给自己的腿绑上两根长棍,后来慢慢地演变成了踩高跷这样的民间表演运动。    洋洋:这是一种说法,其实在民间还有一种关于踩高跷起源的传说。相传,春秋战国时期的晏婴是一位出色的外交官,但是因为身材矮小,在出使邻国时总是遭到嘲笑。后来,他每次到邻国出访,就给自己装一双木腿,使得自己的形象能够变得高大一些。    心涛:真不愧是晏婴,这办法也能想得出来。    洋洋:关于踩高跷,还有另外一种传说。从前,有座县城叫两金城,城里和城外的人民非常友好,每年春节城里和城外的人都会互祝生意兴隆,五谷丰登。    心涛:这和踩高跷有什么联系?    洋洋:后来县城来了个贪官,他把这看作是一个发财的机会。于是他规定,春节期间关城门,挂吊桥,每个人进城或者出城都要交三钱银子才能通行。但这却难不住聪明的人,他们踩着高跷。翻越城墙、跳过护城河,继续在一起过春节,乐在其中。    心涛:难怪现在踩高跷都在春节期间进行。 XT: YY, I've heard that in ancient times people used to tie a pair of long sticks to their legs in order to gather the fruits from the trees. After that this became a type of performance activity - walking on stilts.
YY: That's one of the stories. Actually, people also have another legend about the stilts. It is said that during the Spring-Autumn and Warring States periods lived an outstandingdiplomat called Yan Ying. Because he was short, he was mocked whenever he went on a diplomaticmission to the neighbouring states. Later, every time he went abroad on a business, he put on a pair of wooden legs to make his figure taller.
XT: That's realy like Yan Ying to come up with such a trick.
YY: There' s also another legend regarding walking on stilts. Long time ago, there was a town called Liang Jin. The people in and out the town were very friendly and every year for the Spring Festival they wished each other prosperous business and abundant harvest.
XT: What does this have to do with walking on stilts?
YY: Later, a corrupt official came to this town and saw this as an opportunity to get rich. He ordered that during the Spring Festival the town gates be closed and the bridge be lifted. Everyone who wanted in or out of the town had to pay 3 silver coins, but this couldn't stop the smart citizens. They put on stilts and went over the city walls, jumped over the moat and continued to celebrate and enjoy Spring Festival together.
XT: No wonder today walking on stilts is practiced during the Spring Festival.

-- nihaobg@

Lesson Summary:
Lesson Content: XT: YY, I've heard that in ancient times people used to tie a pair of long sticks to their legs in order to gather the fruits from the trees. After that this became a type of performance activity - walking on stilts.
YY: That's one of the stories. Actually, people also have another legend about the stilts. It is said that during the Spring-Autumn and Warring States periods lived an outstandingdiplomat called Yan Ying. Because he was short, he was mocked whenever he went on a diplomaticmission to the neighbouring states. Later, every time he went abroad on a business, he put on a pair of wooden legs to make his figure taller.
XT: That's realy like Yan Ying to come up with such a trick.
YY: There' s also another legend regarding walking on stilts. Long time ago, there was a town called Liang Jin. The people in and out the town were very friendly and every year for the Spring Festival they wished each other prosperous business and abundant harvest.
XT: What does this have to do with walking on stilts?
YY: Later, a corrupt official came to this town and saw this as an opportunity to get rich. He ordered that during the Spring Festival the town gates be closed and the bridge be lifted. Everyone who wanted in or out of the town had to pay 3 silver coins, but this couldn't stop the smart citizens. They put on stilts and went over the city walls, jumped over the moat and continued to celebrate and enjoy Spring Festival together.
XT: No wonder today walking on stilts is practiced during the Spring Festival.