In the past, a man of the State of Chu intended to go to the State of Zheng to sell pearls.
First he used rare lily magnolia to make a small exquisite1 case which he fumigated2 with the delicate fragrance3 of osmanthuses and Chinese prickly ashes. Furthermore, the case was inlaid with emerald-green jadeite, and adorned5 with attractive rosy6 jade4. The whole case was decorated in an extremely exquisite way.
A man of the State of Zheng saw this exquisite case and liked it very much. He bought it with a great deal of money, but he returned the pearl in the case to the man of Chu.
Later, people ridiculed7 the man of Chu by saying that he was good at selling cases, but not good at selling pearls.
To go too far in the pursuit of form just like letting a presumptuous8 guest usurp9 the host's role, which brings about opposite results.
從前，有個楚國人準備到鄭國賣珍珠。 中小學生語文題庫，中小學學生語文試卷，就來<A http://www.zequeka.cn/yuwentiku/>易優(yōu)語文題庫</a>。
他先用名貴的木蘭做了一只精巧的小匣子，又用幽香的牡桂和花椒把匣子熏了一下，并且在匣子上面鑲了碧綠的翡翠，還嵌上引人注目的玫瑰石，整個匣子裝演得十分考究。
有個鄭國人看到這只精美的匣子，非常喜歡，就用重金買了下來。但是，他卻把匣子里的珍珠退還給了那個楚國人。
后來，人們都嘲笑這個楚國人，說他很善于賣匣子，卻不善于賣珍珠。
過分追求形式，反而會喧賓奪主，效果適得其反。
1 exquisite
adj.精美的；敏銳的；劇烈的，感覺強烈的
參考例句：
I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我當時正在欣賞鑲嵌畫的精致做工。 I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然記得在巴厘島所經(jīng)歷的那種劇烈的快感。 作文能力提升，就來易優(yōu)作文,http://www.zequeka.cn
2 fumigated
v.用化學品熏（某物）消毒( fumigate的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
The hospital ward was fumigated after the outbreak of typhus. 發(fā)現(xiàn)斑疹傷寒以后，醫(yī)院的病房進行了煙熏消毒。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》 Grain should be fumigated within two weeks after harvest. 谷物收獲后兩周內(nèi)就應進行熏蒸消毒。 來自辭典例句
3 fragrance
n.芬芳，香味，香氣
參考例句：
The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.蘋果花使空氣充滿香味。 The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房間里充滿了薰衣草的香味。
作文培訓，就來蘇州易優(yōu)作文 http://www.zequeka.cn/miniForm.html
4 jade
n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠
參考例句：
The statue was carved out of jade.這座塑像是玉雕的。 He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送給我們一對玉獅子。
5 adorned
[計]被修飾的
參考例句：
The walls were adorned with paintings. 墻上裝飾了繪畫。 And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面裝飾著一束艷麗刺目的鮮花。
6 rosy
adj.美好的，樂觀的，玫瑰色的 作文網(wǎng)推薦，<a http://www.zequeka.cn>易優(yōu)作文網(wǎng)</a>，中小學生學語文閱讀寫作的好幫手
參考例句：
She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。 She always takes a rosy view of life.她總是對生活持樂觀態(tài)度。
7 ridiculed
v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
Biosphere 2 was ultimately ridiculed as a research debade, as exfravagant pseudoscience. 生物圈2號最終被譏諷為科研上的大失敗，代價是昂貴的偽科學。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》 She ridiculed his insatiable greed. 她嘲笑他的貪得無厭。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
8 presumptuous 提升作文素養(yǎng)，尋找作文素材，就來<A http://www.zequeka.cn/yuwensuyang/>易優(yōu)作文素養(yǎng)</a>。
adj.膽大妄為的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的
參考例句：
It would be presumptuous for anybody to offer such a view.任何人提出這種觀點都是太放肆了。 It was presumptuous of him to take charge.他自拿主張，太放肆了。
9 usurp
vt.篡奪，霸占；vi.篡位
參考例句：
Their position enabled them to usurp power.他們所處的地位使其得以篡權(quán)。 You must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest.你不應讓它過多地占據(jù)你的興趣
