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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The next morning the Alden children hiked to Clear Lake, which was a small lake in Pine Grove1 Park.
Arriving at the park with the lake shimmering2 before them, they eagerly jumped off their bikes. They hurriedly stripped down to the swimsuits they wore underneath3 their clothes.
As they ran toward the blue-green water, they heard voices. A man and woman were sitting on the sandy bank. The young man said, “But each horse is worth a fortune!”
The girl replied, “Yes, but you know how my father feels about the merry-go-round.”
The young man said, “I like the dapple gray, don’t you?”
The girl emphatically said, “No! Not the dapple gray, the brown, or any other color.” She sighed. “If it were up to me I’d get rid of the carousel4. We could sell those horses and make a lot of money. But my father … ” Her words quickly trailed off as she glanced backward and spied the Aldens.
Jessie stopped in her tracks. “Why, Karen, it’s you!” She wondered if Karen would do anything against her father’s wishes.
“Hello,” Karen said smoothly5, rising to her feet and tossing back her red hair. “Please, come and meet my friend Peter McKenzie.”
“Hi, kids,” the young man said, a lopsided smile spreading across his handsome face. He had long black hair and wore khaki pants, sneakers, and a white short-sleeved shirt.
“Meet Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny,” Karen said, introducing each of them. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re going swimming at the lake,” Violet answered with a smile.
“Want to go in the lake with us?” Benny questioned, his sturdy legs planted far apart. His red trunks looked even redder against the yellow towel slung6 over his shoulders.
Peter turned and stared at Benny. A grin broke across his tanned face. “Not today, partner. I’ve got to go back to work.”
“Do you work near here?” Jessie asked.
“Sure do,” he responded. “I’m a golf pro7 at the Old Oaks Country Club.”
“Do you teach golf?” Henry asked, tossing the beach ball he’d brought up in the air and catching8 it. “I’d like to learn to play golf someday myself.”
Peter raised heavy brows over his dark eyes. “If you want a lesson, look me up.”
“We will,” Henry said. “That would be great.”
“I’d like to learn, too,” Jessie added.
“I’ve got the time,” he said cheerfully. “Today I only teach one lesson. I’m not earning much money, as you can see.”
“Let’s go, Peter,” Karen said, taking his arm. “I want to check the House of Mirrors.”
“Karen, you have the most fun job of all,” Benny said.
Karen looked at Benny. “I like my job, but,” she added with annoyance9, “I’d like it better if the amusement park showed a bigger profit.” With these words she and Peter hurried away.
Jessie watched as Karen and Peter disappeared among the trees. She didn’t like the sound of Karen’s words. Was money the only thing Karen was interested in?
“Come on in the water, Jessie!” Benny yelled.
“Be right there,” Jessie answered. And forgetting Peter and Karen, she laughingly raced into the water and splashed Benny.
The children played together for quite a while, then Jessie and Violet swam out to a raft that was anchored down by ropes. They jumped up on the raft and lay on their backs with their faces to the sun.
Henry and Benny played catch with the beach ball. The morning flew by. When it was time to get out of the water, Benny held back. “Can’t we stay in longer?” he begged.
Henry shook his head. “Violet and Jessie are coming in. It’s almost time for lunch. Later we’re going to the amusement park. Don’t you want to go?”
“Oh, yes,” Benny said, wrinkling his sunburned nose. “I forgot.” He waded10 as fast as he could to the bank.
It was such a warm and sunny day that they took their time pedaling home.
Once in the house they all helped with lunch. Jessie broiled11 hot dogs, Violet toasted the buns, Henry poured the milk, and Benny set out the mustard, relish12, and ketchup13. Dessert was cherry pie.
After lunch, Benny leaned back. “Ummmm,” he said, rubbing his stomach. “That tasted good.”
“Are you sleepy, Benny?” Violet asked.
“A little,” Benny murmured.
“We’d better forget about the amusement park,” Jessie teased.
“No! No!” Benny shouted, his eyes opening wide. “I want to ride the merry-go-round on that pretty dotted gray horse.” He glanced at Jessie. “I mean the dapple gray one.”
Jessie laughed. “You remembered, Benny. Yes, you can ride the dapple gray. Twice if you want to.”
So about two o’clock the children again mounted their bikes and headed for the park. From the distance they could hear the calliope music, and they began to pedal faster.
When they arrived, Benny ran to the cotton candy stand.
“Well,” Sheila Arnold said, “if it isn’t the Aldens again.”
“A cotton candy, please,” Benny ordered.
Sheila filled a cone14 with pink frothy sugar.
Frank chuckled15. “Glad you like our stand, my boy. Come back as often as you like.”
“I like the merry-go-round best of all … better even than cotton candy,” Benny said.
Sheila glanced at Frank and said quickly, “I need some help here, Frank. Stop gabbing16!”
Frank nodded, and didn’t say another word. Violet wondered why Sheila was grouchy17 all of a sudden. Maybe she just didn’t like little kids. Some people didn’t.
After Benny had his candy, he and Jessie went over to the tilt-a-whirl with Violet and Henry trailing behind. It wasn’t long before the four of them were seated in a round tilt-a-whirl car with Benny in the middle. Soon the ride started. At first, the car made a slow half turn, then it picked up speed and whirled one way, twirled another, and spun18 all the way around. Benny screamed with delight. Henry and Violet laughed so hard their sides hurt. When the car came to a halt, Jessie wiped her eyes. “Oh, that was fun,” she gasped19, trying to catch her breath.
As soon as they walked down the ramp20, Benny dashed toward the merry-go-round to watch the beautiful horses go up and down and round and round.
When the merry-go-round stopped, Jessie and Violet walked toward it. All at once Jessie noticed Peter McKenzie studying the painted horses. She pointed21 at the young man who was holding a sketch22 pad.
Violet said, “Oh, let’s say hello.”
“Yes, let’s,” Jessie agreed, quickening her step.
Peter was so intent in sketching23 the horses that he didn’t see them at first.
Violet, always interested in art, was eager to see what Peter had drawn24.
As the two girls moved closer to Peter, he glanced up. Hastily he slammed shut his sketch book and jumped to his feet. “Hello, Jessie and Violet,” he said, taking a step backward. “I-I’m late,” he added quickly, and turned on his heel.
Strange, Jessie thought. Why didn’t Peter want us to see his drawing of the horses? And why was he sketching them anyway? Something mysterious was in the air. The music started again. Now the drumbeat kept time not only to the rise and fall of the horses, but also to the rapid beating of her heart.
收听单词发音 |
1
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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2
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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3
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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4
carousel
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| n.旋转式行李输送带 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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6
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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8
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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10
waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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12
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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13
ketchup
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| n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司 | |
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14
cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gabbing
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| v.空谈，唠叨，瞎扯( gab的现在分词 ) | |
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17
grouchy
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| adj.好抱怨的；愠怒的 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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20
ramp
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| n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速 | |
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21
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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22
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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23
sketching
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| n.草图 | |
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24
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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