今年是马年，我们来了解一些中国古代和马相关的有趣故事。

This year is the Year of the Horse, so let’s learn a few interesting stories from ancient China that relate to horses.

一、伯乐相马

Bole Judging Horses

春秋时期，有一个人叫伯乐。他很会看马，能知道马的好坏。有一次，有人带了一匹看起来很普通的马来找他。别人都说这匹马不好，但伯乐仔细观察后，发现这匹马非常有潜力。结果，这匹马跑得很快，每天可以跑一千里。

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a man named Bole. He was very skilled at judging horses and could tell whether a horse was good or not. One day, someone brought him a horse that looked very ordinary. Other people said the horse was not good, but after careful observation, Bole discovered that it had great potential. In the end, the horse proved extremely fast and could run a thousand li in a single day.

今天，我们常用“千里马”来比喻很有才能的人，而“伯乐”就是那个发现人才的人。而怀才不遇的人，也会感叹“千里马常有，而伯乐不常有”，表示没有遇到懂得欣赏自己的人。

Today, people use the term “thousand-li horse” (千里马) to describe a person of great talent, while “Bole” refers to someone who recognizes talent. People whose abilities go unnoticed sometimes sigh, “Thousand-li horses are common, but Bole is rare,” meaning they have not met someone who truly appreciates them.

二、田忌赛马

Tian Ji’s Horse Race

战国时期，有一位将军叫田忌，他喜欢赛马。他有三匹马：上等马、中等马和下等马。一次，他和另一位将军赛马，开始，用上等马对上等马，中等马对中等马，下等马对下等马，三次比赛都输了。

During the Warring States period, a general named Tian Ji loved horse racing. He owned three horses: a superior horse, a middle-grade horse, and an inferior horse. One time, he raced against another general. At first, he matched the horses by level: superior against superior, middle against middle, and inferior against inferior. He lost all three races.

后来，他的朋友孙膑教他：用下等马对对方的上等马，用上等马对对方的中等马，用中等马对对方的下等马。这样一比，田忌赢了两场。

Later,his friend Sun Bin advised him to change his strategy: use the inferior horse against the opponent’s superior horse, the superior horse against the opponent’s middle horse, and the middle horse against the opponent’s inferior horse. With this arrangement, Tian Ji won two out of three races.

这个故事告诉我们：要发挥自己的长处，避开自己的短处，用智慧和策略战胜比自己强的人或事。

This story teaches us to make use of our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. With wisdom and strategy, we can defeat opponents who seem stronger.

三、指鹿为马
Calling a Deer a Horse

秦朝有一个大臣叫赵高，他有很高的权力和地位。有一天，他想试探其他的大臣是不是听他的，就指着一只鹿说：“这是马。”有的人说“对，是马”，有的人说“不是马”。那些说不是马的人后来就被惩罚了。

In the Qin dynasty, a powerful minister named Zhao Gao held great authority. One day, he wanted to test whether the other officials obeyed him. He pointed at a deer and said, “This is a horse.” Some officials agreed and said it was a horse, while others said it was not. Those who disagreed were later punished.

后来，人们就用“指鹿为马”这个词来形容依靠权力故意颠倒黑白，混淆是非。

Since then, people have used the expression “point at a deerand call it a horse” to describe deliberately distorting the truth and confusing right and wrong through the abuse of power.

Exercises

1. 伯乐为什么能发现那匹普通的马是一匹好马？
A. 因为他很会看马
B. 因为马很漂亮

C. 因为别人告诉他了

2. 田忌赛马的故事告诉我们：
A. 比赛只能靠运气
B. 用策略和智慧可以赢
C. 马越快就一定赢

3. “指鹿为马”的故事发生在：
A. 秦朝
B. 汉朝
C. 唐朝

以下例子（4-6）分别对应了哪个成语？A.伯乐相马 B.田忌赛马 C.指鹿为马

4. 老师发现一个平时很安静的学生很会画画，推荐她去参加绘画比赛，拿了大奖。

5. 老板明明发现公司的产品有问题，却让员工说产品质量很好。

6. 小李在升学考试中，避开最难的科目，把时间集中在自己最擅长的科目上，最后取得了好成绩。
7. 你在生活中有没有像“田忌赛马”一样用策略取得成功的经历？

（leave your answer in the comment）

Slow reading