Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The most beautiful. The most favorite.
Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority (占多数)."
Blue interrupted, "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity (平静). Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled (以轻声笑表示), "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety (快乐), and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet (自吹自擂), "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce (罕见的), but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas (番木瓜). I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer that he shouted out, "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood—life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, thepoinsettia (一品红) and the poppy (罂粟花)."
Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp (排场): "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo (靛蓝色) spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority (优势). Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening, thunder rolled (雷发出连续而低沉的声音)and boomed. Rain started to pour downrelentlessly (残酷地). The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak. "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued, "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace." And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a rainbow appears in the sky, to let us remember to appreciate one another.
