Once Tylers， an ancient Greek businessman, was driving a group of Mules crossing a river, the mules were carrying salt．
　　一次，古希腊商人泰勒斯，赶着一群驮运食盐的骡子过河。
　　When the mules came to the middle of the river， one mules accidentally fell down in the water．
　　骡群来到河中心，一匹骡子偶然摔倒在水里。
　　After that， whenever the mule was crossing a river， it would tumble down， no matter how people stopped it.
　　自那以后，每当这匹骡子过河时，总要摔倒，不管人们想什么办法也制止不了。
　　The servant told Tylers：“The mule has developed a bad habit which can’t be got rid of .”
　　仆人告诉泰勒斯：“这匹骡子已养成了一种坏习惯，再也改不掉了。”
　　Tylers said，“it can be got rid of if we 1et it carry cotton next time．”
　　泰勒斯说：“会改掉的，不过，下次我们得让它驮棉花。”
　　However, when it was carrying cotton crossing a river, it tumbled down as usual．
　　然而，骡子驮棉花过河时，仍然摔倒在水里。
　　The servant told Tylers this again． Tylers said：“Be patient．”
　　仆人把此事告诉泰勒斯，泰勒斯说：“要有耐心。”
　　Before long， when crossing rivers with goods， the mule no longer tumbled． Dear friends， do you know what the reason is?
　　过了不久，那匹骡子驮着货物过河时，就再也不摔倒打滚了。亲爱的朋友，你知道这是为什么吗?
　　Answer: Cotton can absorb water. After the mule tumbled down in the water, the cotton got much heavier than before.
　　答案：棉花能吸水，骡子摔倒在水里之后，棉花比以前重多了。
　　
　　记忆词卡（开通基础词汇）
　　mule驴子
　　accidentally偶然地
　　cotton棉花
　　patient耐心
　　absorb吸收
　　tumble 跌倒
　　patient 有耐心的
　　got rid of 摆脱