There was once an old woman who lived in the forest. All the children always came to ask her questions. She always gave the right answers.
There was a little boy among the children. On a cold morning, he got a small bird and held it in his hands. Then 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 living（活的） 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( 活着的), I'll quickly make it dead and show her the dead bird. Either way, she'll be wrong." The children agreed that this was a good plan and 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," replied the old woman. "But is it living or dead?" asked the boys. The old woman thought for a moment and then replied, "It is as you will, my child. The bird's life is in your hands."
