据传说，十二生肖的排序是根据玉皇大帝的命令进行的，每个生肖都有其独特的象征意义和故事背景。本文是其中的一个版本：那天是玉皇大帝的生日，他想通过测量时间来知道自己的年龄。待所有的动物都到了，玉皇大帝决定举办一场比赛，为中国十二生肖的每一年命名。
A long time ago in China lived the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝). It was his birthday. He wanted to measure time to know how old he was.
很久以前，中国有一位玉皇大帝。那天是他的生日。他想通过测量时间来了解自己的年龄。
All the animals arrived. The Emperor decided to have a river crossing race to give a name to each year of the Chinese Zodiac (中国十二生肖).
所有的动物都来了。玉皇大帝决定举行渡河比赛，为中国十二生肖的每一年命名。
The rat and the cat couldn’t swim very well.
老鼠和猫不会游泳。
“Can you take us across the river?” They asked the ox.
“你能带我们过河吗？”他们问牛。
“Yes, jump on quick!” The ox answered.
“可以，快跳上来！”牛回答。
They swam across the river. Then the rat pushed the cat into the water and jumped onto land.
他们游过河。然后，老鼠把猫推进水里，跳到地上。
“Well done, rat! The first year will be the Year of the Rat and the second will be the Year of the Ox,” the Jade Emperor said.
“干得好，老鼠！第一年是鼠年，第二年是牛年，”玉皇大帝说。
“Look! Here’s the tiger. He’s very tired. The third year will be the Year of the Tiger.”
“看！这是老虎。他很累。第三年是虎年。”
“The rabbit can’t swim but he’s very clever. The fourth year will be the Year of the Rabbit.”
“兔子不会游泳，但他很聪明。第四年是兔年。”
“Why are you late, dragon? You can fly!”
“龙，你为什么迟到？你可以飞啊！”
“I had to make some rain for thirsty people to drink.”
“我不得不下点雨，让口渴的人喝。”
“Well done! The fifth year is the Year of the Dragon.”
“干得好！第五年是龙年。”
“What’s this? I can hear a horse. No, it’s a snake. So the snake has the sixth year and the horse the seventh.”
“这是什么？我能听到马的声音。不，这是一条蛇。所以蛇年是第六年，马年是第七年。”
“Well done! It is good to see you working together! The goat is eighth, the monkey is ninth and the rooster is tenth.”
“干得好！很高兴看到你们一起努力！羊排在第八位，猴排在第九位，鸡排在第十位。”
“Sorry I’m late. The water is clean and I needed a bath.”
“对不起，我来晚了。水很干净，我需要洗个澡。”
“The eleventh is the Year of the Dog.”
“第十一年是狗年。”
“You are the last.”
“你是最后一个。”
“Yes, I had to eat and sleep on the way.”
“是的，我不得不在路上吃饭和睡觉。”
“The last is the Year of the Pig.”
“最后一年是猪年。”
And that is how the Emperor chose the animals for the Chinese Zodiac.
皇帝就是这样选择生肖的。
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