Once there was an 11-year-old boy who went fishing with his father in the lake. On the day before bass (巴斯鱼) season opened. While they were waiting by the lake, suddenly he felt that something very big pulling on the lure (鱼饵). The boy tried to brought the fish beside the bank. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass.
The boy and his father looked at the big fish. The father looked at his watch. He looked at the fish, then at the boy. "You'll have to put it back," he said.
"Dad!" cried the boy, "There will be other fish," said his father. "Not as big as this one," cried the boy. He looked around the lake. He looked again at his father.
Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he had caught the fish, the boy could tell from his father's voice that the decision couldn't be changed. The big fish disappeared. The boy thought that he would never again see such a big fish.
From then on, he has never again caught such a large fish as the one he got that night long ago. But he does see that same fish… again and again… every time he has an ethical (伦理的，道德的) decision to make. For, as his father had taught him, ethics (道德标准) are simple matters of right and wrong.
| A. He threw the huge bass into the water. B. The boy liked to go fishing with his father. C. Finally he lifted the tired fish from the water. D. It is only the practice of ethics that is difficult. E. It was 10 pm--two hours before the season opened. F. No other fishermen could see them in the moonlight. |
