The Great Race (十二生肖)
How the twelve zodiac animals won their years — and how the rat came first.
很久以前，玉皇大帝说：“我要选十二只动物，给每一年一个名字。”Long ago, the Jade Emperor said, "I will choose twelve animals, and give each year a name."
他说：“明天早上过河，谁先到，谁就是第一。”He said, "Tomorrow morning, cross the river — whoever arrives first will be first."
老鼠很聪明，它跳到牛的背上。The rat was clever: it jumped onto the ox's back.牛游得最快，快到的时候，老鼠跳了下来，跑到了第一。The ox swam fastest, and just before the shore, the rat jumped down and took first place.牛是第二，老虎是第三，兔子是第四。The ox was second, the tiger third, and the rabbit fourth.龙会飞，但它停下来帮别人，所以是第五。The dragon could fly, but it stopped to help others, so it came fifth.
蛇、马、羊、猴子、鸡、狗也一个一个到了。The snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, and dog arrived one after another.猪吃完饭才慢慢来，所以是最后一个。The pig only ambled over after finishing a meal, so it came last.
从那时起，每一年都有一只动物的名字。From then on, every year carries an animal's name.你是哪一年生的？你的生肖是什么？Which year were you born in? What's your zodiac animal?
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