There was once an old woman. She lived in the hills. All the children liked to ask her questions. She always gave the right answers.
There was a naughty(淘气的) little boy among the children. One day he caught a very small bird and held it in his cupped hands(杯形手). Then he had an idea. He said to his friends, "Let's trick (捉弄) the old woman. I'll ask her what I'm holding in my hands. Of course, she'll answer that I have a bird. Then I will ask her if the bird is alive or dead(死 的). If she says the bird is dead, I'll open my hands and let the bird fly away. If she says the bird is alive, I'll quickly crush it and show her the dead bird. Either way, she'll be wrong. "
The children agreed that this was a clever plan. Up the hill they went to the old woman's home. "Granny, we have a question for you," they all shouted.
"What's in my hands?" asked the little boy.
"Well, it must be a bird," answered the old woman.
"But is it alive or dead?" asked the excited boy again.
The old woman thought for a moment and then answered, "It is as you wish, my child."