Слушаем и читаем басни Эзопа

Заяц и черепаха -
‘Slow and steady’s sometimes better than fast and flashy.’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/1-8/hare_tortoise

A hare boasts to the other animals about how fast he can run. When none of them responds initially to his challenge for a race, he taunts them that they are too scared even to try.

When tortoise speaks up and takes on the challenge, the hare scoffs that he won’t even waste his time racing the slowest creature in the world. Eventually though, he agrees to the race in a week's time.
The tortoise spends the week in training, but continues to move very slowly, and the other animals wonder if the race is a good idea. Nevertheless, there is a large crowd of animals on the day of the race.
The race begins and the hare roars off, while the tortoise plods along slow and steady. Deciding he is so far ahead the hare decides to have a sleep in the sun. However, when he wakes, the tortoise is nearing the finish line and takes and unlikely victory.

Ворона и лиса
‘Never believe what people tell you when they’re trying to steal your cheese’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/1-8/fox_crow

A crow is sitting in a tree with a piece of cheese in its beak. A passing fox would like to eat the cheese and tries to persuade - and then trick - the crow to bring the cheese down or drop it. The crow does not fall for this, so the fox tries flattery instead.

The fox tells the crow how lovely his feathers are, and how fine-looking his head. Then, the fox says how much he would like to hear the crow sing. Tricked by the flattery, the crow opens his beak to sing, dropping the cheese to the ground, where the fox gobbles it up.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/1-8/bundle_sticks

Mrs McKenzie has six sons, but they are always fighting amongst themselves, which makes it hard to get any work done.
She shows them the error of their ways by asking each one in turn to snap a bundle of sticks in two.

It is too difficult for any of them to snap the whole bundle, but when she unties the bundle and gives them one stick each to snap, it is easy. The sons realise the value of working together, and by doing so, win the top prize in a building competition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/9-16/ant_and_grasshopper


A grasshopper lazes around in the sunshine, eating and playing music with its wings. It makes fun of a passing ant for working so hard, dragging food back to its nest. The ant is preparing for winter, but the grasshopper can’t be bothered to do that kind of work.

When the winter comes, the grasshopper is starving. Coming across the ant, he asks for something to eat. Remembering the grasshopper’s jibes during the summer, the ant refuses and hurries back to its nest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/9-16/cat_mice

Three mice are hiding under the kitchen skirting board, wondering how to steal the cheese from under the nose of the cat that guards it. Their first plan, to simply rush out and steal it, had failed miserably.

The cat, bored with waiting for them to try again, notices that its fur resembles the material of a sack hanging on the wall. So, the cat hangs itself on the wall, hoping that the mice will think it is a sack, and venture out again. They are tempted initially, but the mice notice that the sack has eyes, and speaks – so stay where they are!