The Tortoise and the Hare

     The hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge anyone here to race with me."

      The tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

     "That is a good joke," said the hare. "I could dance around you all the way."

     "Keep your boasting until you've beaten," answered the tortoise. "Shall we race?"

     So a course was fixed and a start was made.

     The hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the tortoise, lay down to have a nap.

     The tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the hare awoke from his nap, he saw the tortoise nearing the finish line, and he could not catch up in time to save the race.

      Plodding wins the race.

beaten	[ʹbi:tn]	битый, побеждённый
challenge	[ʹtʃælındʒ]	оспаривать

contempt	[kənʹtempt]	презрение
forth  nap plodding	[fɔ:θ] [næp] [ʹplɔdıŋ]	четвертый     дневной сон    медленный и тяжёлый (о походке), трудолюбивый

  Басня показывает, что нередко труд берет верх над природными способностями, когда ими пренебрегают.