HSK 4 Reading Comprehension Exercises

在zài公交车站gōng jiāo chē zhàn，At the bus stop,司机sī jī问wèn：“您nín有yǒu票piào吗ma，先生xiān sheng？”The driver asked, "Do you have your ticket, sir?"

小约翰xiǎo yuē hàn：“什么shén me？！”Lil Jon: "What?!"

司机sī jī慢慢地màn màn de重复chóng fù说shuō：“您nín有yǒu票piào吗ma？”The driver repeated slowly, "Do you have your ticket?"

小约翰xiǎo yuē hàn：“什么shén me？！”Lil Jon: "What?!"

司机sī jī又yòu问wèn：“您nín有yǒu票piào吗ma？”The driver asked again, "Do you have your ticket?"小约翰xiǎo yuē hàn出示chū shì了le他的tā de票piào。Lil Jon showed his ticket.

小约翰xiǎo yuē hàn：“好啊hǎo a！”Lil Jon: "Yeah!"司机sī jī微笑wēi xiào着zhe。The driver smiled.

他说tā shuō：“好的hǎo de，祝zhù您nín一天yī tiān愉快yú kuài！”He said, "Alright, have a nice day!"小约翰xiǎo yuē hàn高兴地gāo xìng de上了shàng le车chē。Lil Jon stepped on board cheerfully.他说tā shuō：“好的hǎo de！”He said, "Okay!"

小郭xiǎo guō深呼吸shēn hū xī，告诉gào sù自己zì jǐ要yào冷静lěng jìng。Xiao Guo takes a deep breath and tells himself to stay calm.

他tā马上mǎ shàng打开dǎ kāi邮箱yóu xiāng，找到zhǎo dào那封nà fēng邮件yóu jiàn。He quickly opens his email and finds the message.他tā想xiǎng：“也许yě xǔ客户kè hù还没hái méi看kàn。”He thinks, “Maybe the client hasn’t seen it yet.”于是yú shì他tā立刻lì kè写了xiě le第二封dì èr fēng邮件yóu jiàn。So he immediately writes a second email.

他tā在zài邮件yóu jiàn里lǐ写xiě：“对不起duì bù qǐ，刚才gāng cái的de文件wén jiàn发错了fā cuò le，请qǐng看kàn这个zhè ge新的xīn de。”He writes, “Sorry, I sent the wrong file earlier. Please see this new one.”

发完后fā wán hòu，他tā去qù跟gēn老板lǎo bǎn说明shuō míng情况qíng kuàng。After sending it, he goes to explain everything to his boss.老板lǎo bǎn听了tīng le，点点头diǎn diǎn tóu，说shuō：“下次xià cì小心xiǎo xīn。”The boss listens, nods, and says, “Be careful next time.”

小郭xiǎo guō松了sōng le一口气yī kǒu qì，但dàn心里xīn li还hái觉得jué de不安bù ān。Xiao Guo sighs in relief, but still feels uneasy inside.

一个yī ge炎热的yán rè de夏天xià tiān，狐狸hú li又yòu饿è又yòu渴kě。On a hot summer day, the fox was both hungry and thirsty.它tā走着走着zǒu zhe zǒu zhe，忽然hū rán发现fā xiàn路边lù biān有yǒu一yī架jià葡萄藤pú tao téng。As it was walking, it suddenly discovered a grapevine by the roadside.上面shàng miàn挂满guà mǎn了le一串串yī chuàn chuàn紫莹莹zǐ yíng yíng的de葡萄pú tao！It was laden with bunches of glistening purple grapes!

“哇wā，这些zhè xiē葡萄pú tao看起来kàn qǐ lai真zhēn甜tián！”“Wow, these grapes look really sweet!”狐狸hú li馋得chán de直zhí流liú口水kǒu shuǐ。The fox was drooling with greed.它tā后退hòu tuì几jǐ步bù，使劲shǐ jìn往上wǎng shàng一yī跳tiào——It stepped back a few paces and jumped with all its might,可kě葡萄架pú tao jià太tài高gāo了le，它tā没méi够着gòu zháo。but the grapevine was too high, and it couldn’t reach.

狐狸hú li不服气bù fú qì，又yòu跳tiào了le好hǎo几jǐ次cì，The fox, not willing to give up, jumped several more times,可kě每次měi cì都dōu差chà一点点yī diǎn diǎn。but each time it was just a little short.最后zuì hòu，它tā累得lèi de趴pā在zài地上dì shang直zhí喘气chuǎn qì。Finally, it was so tired that it lay on the ground panting.

这时zhè shí，狐狸hú li抬头tái tóu看kàn了le看kàn葡萄pú tao，At this moment, the fox looked up at the grapes,突然tū rán叉着chā zhe腰yāo说shuō：suddenly put its paws on its hips and said:“哼hēng！这些zhè xiē葡萄pú tao肯定kěn dìng还hái没méi熟shú，酸得suān de要命yào mìng！“Hmph! These grapes are definitely not ripe yet; they must be terribly sour!”我wǒ才cái不bù想xiǎng吃chī呢ne！”“I don’t want to eat them anyway!”

说完shuō wán，它tā扭头niǔ tóu就jiù走zǒu了le。After saying that, it turned around and walked away.

寓意yù yì：有些人yǒu xiē rén得不到dé bù dào想要的xiǎng yào de东西dōng xi时shí，会huì假装jiǎ zhuāng自己zì jǐ其实qí shí不bù喜欢xǐ huan它tā。The moral is: When some people can't get what they want, they pretend they don't actually like it.

很久hěn jiǔ很久hěn jiǔ以前yǐ qián，杞qǐ国guó有yǒu个gè人rén天天tiān tiān抬头tái tóu看kàn天tiān。Long, long ago, in the state of Qi, there was a man who looked up at the sky every day.他tā怕pà天tiān突然tū rán掉下来diào xià lái把bǎ大家dà jiā压扁yā biǎn。He feared the sky might suddenly fall and crush everyone.结果jié guǒ吃不好chī bù hǎo睡不着shuì bù zháo，还hái到处dào chù提醒tí xǐng邻里lín lǐ要yào提防dī fang这场zhè chǎng“灾难zāi nàn”。As a result, he ate poorly, couldn’t sleep, and went around warning the villagers to guard against this “disaster.”

村cūn里lǐ一位yī wèi老者lǎo zhě听了tīng le，笑着xiào zhe说shuō：“天tiān只是zhǐ shì高高的gāo gāo de气层qì céng，地dì只是zhǐ shì厚厚的hòu hòu de土层tǔ céng。”An elder in the village heard this and laughed, saying, 'The sky is only a high layer of air, and the earth is only a thick layer of soil.'他tā补充bǔ chōng说shuō：“它们tā men各gè安ān其qí位wèi，根本gēn běn不会bù huì说shuō塌tā就jiù塌tā。”He added, 'They each hold their place and certainly won’t just collapse.'那位nà wèi杞qǐ国guó人rén才cái恍然大悟huǎng rán dà wù。The man from Qi suddenly realized the truth.从此cóng cǐ，人们rén men就jiù用yòng“杞人忧天qǐ rén yōu tiān”来lái形容xíng róng那些nà xiē胡思乱想hú sī luàn xiǎng、为wèi不可能bù kě néng的de事shì担心dān xīn的de人rén。From then on, people used 'Qi ren you tian' to describe those who worry needlessly about impossible matters.

现在xiàn zài我们wǒ men也yě常用cháng yòng这个zhè ge成语chéng yǔ。Nowadays, we also often use this idiom.比如bǐ rú朋友péng you考试kǎo shì才cái刚gāng交卷jiāo juàn，就jiù整晚zhěng wǎn失眠shī mián，担心dān xīn自己zì jǐ全quán写错xiě cuò了le。For example, a friend has just submitted an exam, then stays up all night worrying they wrote everything wrong.

这时zhè shí，你nǐ可以kě yǐ安慰ān wèi他tā：“别bié杞人忧天qǐ rén yōu tiān啦la，好好hǎo hǎo睡shuì一觉yī jiào吧ba！”At this point, you can comfort him by saying, 'Don’t be a worrier of Qi; get a good night’s sleep!'

从前cóng qián有yǒu个gè农民nóng mín。Once upon a time, there was a farmer.他tā每天měi tiān都dōu很hěn着急zháo jí。He was very anxious every day.他tā希望xī wàng田里tián lǐ的de秧苗yāng miáo快点kuài diǎn长高zhǎng gāo。He hoped that the seedlings in the field would grow taller quickly.一天yī tiān，他tā想到xiǎng dào了le一个yī ge办法bàn fǎ。One day, he came up with an idea.他tā把bǎ每měi棵kē秧苗yāng miáo都dōu往wǎng上shàng拔bá高gāo一点yī diǎn。He pulled each seedling up a little.第二天dì èr tiān，他tā发现fā xiàn所有suǒ yǒu的de秧苗yāng miáo都dōu枯死kū sǐ了le。The next day, he discovered that all the seedlings had withered and died.原来yuán lái，是shì他tā拔bá苗miáo的de做法zuò fǎ害hài了le它们tā men。It turned out his pulling up the seedlings had killed them.

农民nóng mín的de儿子ér zi看到kàn dào后hòu很hěn难过nán guò。The farmer's son felt very sad when he saw this.他tā告诉gào sù父亲fù qīn植物zhí wù需要xū yào时间shí jiān才cái能néng长大zhǎng dà。He told his father that plants need time to grow.农民nóng mín终于zhōng yú明白míng bai了le：The farmer finally understood:做事zuò shì不能bù néng太tài着急zháo jí。One should not be too impatient.要yào尊重zūn zhòng自然zì rán的de规律guī lǜ。One must respect the laws of nature.从那以后cóng nà yǐ hòu，他tā重新chóng xīn种zhòng了le秧苗yāng miáo，耐心地nài xīn de照顾zhào gu庄稼zhuāng jia。From then on, he replanted the seedlings and patiently tended to his crops.秋天qiū tiān果然guǒ rán收获shōu huò了le满满mǎn mǎn的de粮食liáng shi。In autumn, he indeed harvested a bountiful crop.

“拔苗助长bá miáo zhù zhǎng”字面zì miàn意思yì si是shì把bǎ苗miáo往wǎng上shàng拔bá，想xiǎng帮助bāng zhù它们tā men生长shēng zhǎng。Literally, '拔苗助长' means pulling the seedlings up to try to help them grow.这个zhè ge成语chéng yǔ来自lái zì一个yī ge古代gǔ dài的de故事gù shì。This idiom comes from an ancient story.故事gù shì讲jiǎng的de是shì一个yī ge农民nóng mín心急xīn jí，反而fǎn ér毁huǐ了le庄稼zhuāng jia。The story tells of a farmer whose impatience instead destroyed his crops.现在xiàn zài用来yòng lái形容xíng róng急于求成jí yú qiú chéng，反而fǎn ér把bǎ事情shì qing弄坏nòng huài。Nowadays it is used to describe being too eager for quick success and spoiling things instead.

老师lǎo shī告诉gào sù家长jiā zhǎng，给gěi孩子hái zi报bào太多tài duō补习班bǔ xí bān是shì“拔苗助长bá miáo zhù zhǎng”。The teacher told the parents that signing their children up for too many tutoring classes is '拔苗助长'.应该yīng gāi让ràng他们tā men快乐kuài lè学习xué xí。They should let them learn happily.

从前cóng qián，有yǒu一位yī wèi王子wáng zǐ想xiǎng找zhǎo一位yī wèi真正的zhēn zhèng de公主gōng zhǔ。Once upon a time, there was a prince who wanted to find a real princess.一个yī ge下大雨xià dà yǔ的de晚上wǎn shang，王宫wáng gōng门口mén kǒu突然tū rán传来chuán lái敲门声qiāo mén shēng。On a rainy evening, there was a sudden knock at the palace gate.老国王lǎo guó wáng打开dǎ kāi门mén，看见kàn jiàn一个yī ge淋得lín de湿透shī tòu的de女孩nǚ hái，她tā说shuō自己zì jǐ是shì真正的zhēn zhèng de公主gōng zhǔ，请求qǐng qiú借宿jiè sù一yī晚wǎn。The old king opened the door and saw a girl soaked to the skin, who claimed to be a real princess and asked to stay for the night.

王后wáng hòu悄悄qiāo qiāo想xiǎng了le个gè主意zhǔ yi。The queen quietly came up with an idea.她tā往wǎng床板chuáng bǎn上shàng放fàng了le一yī粒lì豌豆wān dòu，然后rán hòu搬bān来lái二十èr shí层céng厚厚hòu hòu的de床垫chuáng diàn和hé二十èr shí床chuáng羽绒被yǔ róng bèi，让ràng女孩nǚ hái睡shuì在zài上面shàng miàn。She placed a pea on the bedboard, then brought twenty thick mattresses and twenty down quilts, and let the girl sleep on top.

第二天dì èr tiān早上zǎo shang，王后wáng hòu问wèn：“昨晚zuó wǎn睡shuì得de好hǎo吗ma？”The next morning, the queen asked, 'Did you sleep well last night?'

女孩nǚ hái揉róu着zhe眼睛yǎn jing说shuō：“床chuáng好hǎo软ruǎn，可kě我wǒ总zǒng觉得jué de有yǒu什么shén me硬yìng东西dōng xi硌gè着zhe背bèi，整夜zhěng yè都dōu没méi睡着shuì zháo！您nín看kàn，我wǒ背bèi上shàng还hái有yǒu瘀青yū qīng呢ne！”The girl rubbed her eyes and said, 'The bed was very soft, but I kept feeling something hard pressing against my back, and I couldn't sleep all night! Look, there are bruises on my back!'

王后wáng hòu立刻lì kè笑xiào了le：“只有zhǐ yǒu真正zhēn zhèng的de公主gōng zhǔ才cái会huì这么zhè me娇嫩jiāo nen，连lián被子bèi zi下xià的de豌豆wān dòu都dōu能néng感觉gǎn jué到dào！”The queen immediately smiled and said, 'Only a real princess would be so delicate that she could feel a pea under the quilts!'

国王guó wáng高兴gāo xìng地de宣布xuān bù：“你nǐ就是jiù shì我们wǒ men要yào找zhǎo的de公主gōng zhǔ！”The king happily announced, 'You are the princess we are looking for!'后来hòu lái，王子wáng zǐ和hé这位zhè wèi娇嫩jiāo nen的de公主gōng zhǔ结jié了le婚hūn，那nà粒lì豌豆wān dòu还hái被bèi收shōu进jìn了le博物馆bó wù guǎn呢ne！Later, the prince married this delicate princess, and that pea was even kept in a museum!

寓意yù yì：真正zhēn zhèng的de特别tè bié之zhī处chù，往往wǎng wǎng藏cáng在zài最zuì细微xì wēi的de地方dì fāng。Moral: True uniqueness often lies in the smallest details.

有一天yǒu yī tiān，一yī只zhī狮子shī zi在zài森林sēn lín里lǐ睡觉shuì jiào。One day, a lion was sleeping in the forest.突然tū rán，一yī只zhī小xiǎo老鼠lǎo shǔ不小心bù xiǎo xīn跑pǎo到dào了le狮子shī zi身上shēn shang。Suddenly, a little mouse accidentally ran onto the lion's body.狮子shī zi被bèi吵醒chǎo xǐng了le，非常fēi cháng生气shēng qì，一把yī bǎ抓住zhuā zhù了le老鼠lǎo shǔ，说shuō：“你nǐ竟敢jìng gǎn打扰dǎ rǎo我wǒ！我wǒ要yào吃掉chī diào你nǐ！”The lion was woken up and very angry. He grabbed the mouse and said, 'How dare you disturb me! I'm going to eat you!'

老鼠lǎo shǔ吓得xià de发抖fā dǒu，小声xiǎo shēng说shuō：“求求qiú qiú你nǐ，放fàng了le我wǒ吧ba！”The mouse trembled with fear and said softly, 'Please, let me go!'

“我wǒ这么zhè me小xiǎo，不够bù gòu你nǐ吃chī一yī口kǒu。”'I am so small, not enough for you to eat in one bite.'

“如果rú guǒ你nǐ放了fàng le我wǒ，我wǒ将来jiāng lái一定yī dìng会huì报答bào dá你nǐ的de！”“If you let me go, I will definitely repay you in the future!”

狮子shī zi听tīng了le哈哈hā hā大笑dà xiào：“你nǐ这么zhè me小xiǎo，能néng帮bāng我wǒ什么shén me？”The lion heard this and laughed, 'You are so small, how could you ever help me?'但dàn它tā觉得jué de老鼠lǎo shǔ可怜kě lián，最后zuì hòu还是hái shi松开sōng kāi了le爪子zhuǎ zi，放走fàng zǒu了le它tā。But he pitied the mouse, and finally loosened his paw and let it go.

过guò了le几天jǐ tiān，狮子shī zi不小心bù xiǎo xīn掉进diào jìn了le猎人liè rén设shè的de陷阱xiàn jǐng，被bèi一yī张zhāng大dà网wǎng紧紧jǐn jǐn缠住chán zhù。A few days later, the lion fell into a hunter's trap, and was caught tight in a big net.它tā拼命pīn mìng挣扎zhēng zhá，却què怎么zěn me也yě逃táo不bù出来chū lái。He struggled desperately but couldn't escape.

这时zhè shí，小xiǎo老鼠lǎo shǔ听到tīng dào了le狮子shī zi的de吼声hǒu shēng。At this time, the little mouse heard the lion's roar.它tā赶紧gǎn jǐn跑pǎo过来guò lái，用yòng牙齿yá chǐ一点一点yī diǎn yī diǎn咬破yǎo pò了le网wǎng。It quickly ran over and bit through the net bit by bit.狮子shī zi终于zhōng yú得救dé jiù了le！The lion was finally saved!

老鼠lǎo shǔ对duì狮子shī zi说shuō：“你nǐ看kàn，我wǒ说shuō过guo会huì报答bào dá你nǐ的de吧ba！”The mouse said to the lion, 'See, I told you I’d repay you!'

“即使jí shǐ小xiǎo动物dòng wù也yě能néng帮上bāng shàng大忙dà máng。”'Even small animals can be of great help.'

狮子shī zi又yòu惭愧cán kuì又yòu感激gǎn jī，从此cóng cǐ再也zài yě不bù小看xiǎo kàn弱小ruò xiǎo的de朋友péng you了le。The lion was ashamed and grateful, never again looking down on weak friends.

很久hěn jiǔ以前yǐ qián，天上tiān shàng突然tū rán出现chū xiàn十个shí gè太阳tài yang！Long ago, ten suns suddenly appeared in the sky!大地dà dì被bèi烤kǎo得de冒烟mào yān，人们rén men热rè得de喘chuǎn不过bù guò气qì。The earth was scorched and smoking, and people were so hot they couldn't breathe.神箭手shén jiàn shǒu后羿Hòu Yì举起jǔ qǐ弓箭gōng jiàn，“嗖嗖嗖sōu sōu sōu”射下shè xià九个jiǔ gè太阳tài yang。The divine archer Houyi raised his bow and arrow, and with a "whoosh whoosh whoosh," shot down nine suns.只zhǐ留liú一个yī ge照亮zhào liàng人间rén jiān。He left only one to illuminate the world.

天帝tiān dì奖励jiǎng lì后羿Hòu Yì一颗yī kē长生不老药cháng shēng bù lǎo yào，说shuō：“吃下chī xià就jiù能néng成仙chéng xiān！”The Heavenly Emperor rewarded Houyi with an immortality pill, saying, "Eat this and you can become an immortal!"

后羿Hòu Yì把bǎ药yào交给jiāo gěi妻子qī zi嫦娥Cháng É保管bǎo guǎn。Houyi entrusted the pill to his wife Chang'e for safekeeping.可是kě shì，坏huài徒弟tú dì蓬蒙Péng Méng想xiǎng偷偷tōu tōu抢qiǎng药yào。However, the wicked disciple Peng Meng secretly wanted to steal the pill.

一天yī tiān晚上wǎn shang，蓬蒙Péng Méng趁chèn后羿Hòu Yì不在bù zài，举刀jǔ dāo冲进chōng jìn屋子wū zi：“快kuài把bǎ仙药xiān yào交出来jiāo chū lái！”One night, when Houyi was not home, Peng Meng rushed into the house with a knife, shouting, "Hand over the immortality pill!"嫦娥Cháng É急中生智jí zhōng shēng zhì，抓起zhuā qǐ药yào吞了tūn le下去xià qù！In a moment of desperation, Chang'e grabbed the pill and swallowed it!突然tū rán，她tā身子shēn zi变轻biàn qīng飘了piāo le起来qǐ lai，越yuè飞fēi越yuè高gāo。Suddenly, her body became light and she floated up, flying higher and higher.最后zuì hòu落到luò dào了le冷清lěng qīng的de月亮yuè liang上shàng。Finally, she landed on the desolate moon.

后羿Hòu Yì回家huí jiā后hòu伤心shāng xīn极了jí le，每晚měi wǎn都dōu望着wàng zhe月亮yuè liang。When Houyi returned home, he was heartbroken and gazed at the moon every night.他tā发现fā xiàn月亮yuè liang上shàng有yǒu个gè晃动huàng dòng的de影子yǐng zi，就jiù像xiàng嫦娥Cháng É在zài跳舞tiào wǔ。He noticed a swaying shadow on the moon, as if Chang'e was dancing.人们rén men说shuō，嫦娥Cháng É身边shēn biān有yǒu只zhī雪白xuě bái的de玉兔yù tù陪péi她tā捣药dǎo yào。People say that beside Chang'e, there is a snow-white jade rabbit accompanying her in pounding medicine.还有hái yǒu棵kē永远yǒng yuǎn砍kǎn不bù倒dǎo的de桂树guì shù飘香piāo xiāng。There is also an ever-fragrant osmanthus tree that can never be chopped down.

寓意yù yì：有时候yǒu shí hou为了wèi le保护bǎo hù爱ài的de人rén，我们wǒ men需要xū yào勇敢yǒng gǎn的de牺牲xī shēng。即使jí shǐ分离fēn lí，美好měi hǎo的de记忆jì yì也yě会huì像xiàng月光yuè guāng一样yī yàng永远yǒng yuǎn明亮míng liàng。Moral: Sometimes, to protect the ones we love, we need to make brave sacrifices. Even in separation, beautiful memories will shine forever like moonlight.

很久hěn jiǔ以前yǐ qián，在zài中国zhōng guó有yǒu一位yī wèi卖mài武器wǔ qì的de商人shāng rén。A long time ago, in China, there was a merchant who sold weapons.有一天yǒu yī tiān，他tā在zài市场shì chǎng里lǐ卖mài东西dōng xi。One day, he was selling things in the market.

他tā拿起ná qǐ一面yī miàn大dà盾牌dùn pái，大声dà shēng对duì大家dà jiā说shuō：「大家dà jiā快kuài来lái看kàn！我的wǒ de盾牌dùn pái是shì世界上shì jiè shàng最zuì坚固jiān gù的de，什么shén me东西dōng xi都dōu刺cì不bù穿chuān它tā！」He picked up a large shield and loudly said to everyone: "Everyone, come quickly and see! My shield is the strongest in the world; nothing can pierce it!"

接着jiē zhe，他tā又yòu举起jǔ qǐ一支yī zhī长矛cháng máo，得意dé yì地de说shuō：「大家dà jiā再zài来lái看kàn！我的wǒ de长矛cháng máo是shì世界上shì jiè shàng最zuì锋利fēng lì的de，不管bù guǎn什么shén me东西dōng xi它tā都dōu能néng刺cì穿chuān！”Then, he proudly raised a spear and said: "Everyone, look again! My spear is the sharpest in the world; it can pierce anything!"

人群rén qún中zhōng有yǒu人rén觉得jué de奇怪qí guài，就jiù问wèn他tā：「如果rú guǒ你nǐ用yòng你nǐ最zuì锋利fēng lì的de长矛cháng máo去qù刺cì你nǐ最zuì坚固jiān gù的de盾牌dùn pái，会huì发生fā shēng什么shén me事shì呢ne？”Someone in the crowd found it strange and asked him: "If you use your sharpest spear to pierce your strongest shield, what would happen?"