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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 1 Edward Marlow

时间:2017-07-17 08:50来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Driving down the highway, James Alden pointed1 out the sign announcing the city of Rosedale to his four grandchildren, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny.

“There’s where my old friend, Edward Marlow, lives.”

Benny, the youngest, craned his neck. “I see it!” he said in an excited voice.

“I can’t wait to meet Mr. Marlow,” Jessie said. “Did you go to school with him?”

Grandfather chuckled2. “He was my college roommate. Edward dreamed up all kinds of excitement. He had a lot of pep in those days.” He paused. “I’m eager to see him. I haven’t seen him for years. He’s owned this small zoo for a long time, and I want to see how he’s getting along.”

“Is he as handsome as you, Grandfather?” Violet asked with a smile.

Grandfather laughed. “Edward was a good-looking boy with a mischievous3 streak4.”

“Edward sounds like fun!” Benny said. “And his zoo even more fun!”

“Yes, he does,” Henry agreed. “How far does he live from the zoo, Grandfather?”

“He lives just one block away, just a short walk,” Grandfather said.

Smiling, Violet leaned back in the seat. She brushed back her hair so she’d look her best for Grandfather’s friend.

Jessie smiled at her sister. Her thick hair was tangled5 from the wind, but she smoothed it down and tied it back with a ribbon.

“I wish we could have brought Watch,” Benny said.

“Watch will be fine,” Henry said. “You know how Mrs. McGregor spoils our dog.”

Benny nodded, satisfied.

More and more highway signs appeared. They knew they were in the city limits when they passed a sign that said:

ROSEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS
POPULATION: 85,000

A motel flashed by, then a few stores, a park, a public swimming pool, and a movie theater. On this hot August day, hundreds of kids were swimming.

Grandfather swung off Highway Six onto Main Street, then drove straight for several blocks. “Watch for Hamilton Street,” he said, pushing his sunglasses up on his nose.

“There it is!” Jessie exclaimed. “Hamilton Street.”

“Now,” Grandfather said, “look for 501 Hamilton.”

“Five-oh-one!” yelled Benny a moment later, delighted that he’d been the first to spot Edward’s house.

The narrow two-story house was wooden and quite plain. Not a flower, not a bush grew near it.

Grandfather stopped the station wagon6 and the children scrambled7 out.

Grandfather, straight and tall, headed up the walk, and knocked on the door.

The door opened wide and there stood Edward Marlow. He was a gray-haired man with a pink round face. His blue eyes twinkled, and a grin spread across his face. “Come in, come in,” he called. “Welcome!”

Grandfather grabbed Edward and the two men hugged one another. “Edward, it’s great to see you!” Grandfather said.

“And you, too, you old fox!” Edward said.

Grandfather stepped aside. “Meet my four grandchildren,” he said proudly. He pointed to the tallest. “This is Henry, who’s the oldest, he’s fourteen; Jessie is twelve; Violet is ten; and here’s six-year-old Benny.”

“How do you do, sir,” Benny said, stepping up and shaking Edward’s hand.

“You’re all to call me Edward,” Edward ordered in a teasing tone. “Come into the kitchen for a surprise.”

Going through the living room, Jessie noticed piles of newspapers and yellow magazines stacked in the corner. Upon a closer look, she saw that the yellow magazines were all National Geographics. Next to a worn leather chair was a world globe. Edward must like geography, she thought. Tables and lamps were dusty, and a cobweb drifted down from the ceiling.

The dining room appeared to be seldom used. In the center was a heavy round table with six chairs. On one wall was a china cupboard with glass doors so grimy you could hardly see the dishes inside. On the opposite wall was a small table with a telephone and a bench beside it.

Edward led them into the kitchen. “Sit down, sit down,” he said heartily8. He set a quart of ice cream in the center of the kitchen table. Six bowls, spoons, and napkins completed the table setting.

As Edward dished up the ice cream, Violet glanced around. The sink, filled with dirty dishes, was next to the stove. That, too, needed a good cleaning. When Edward opened the freezer, frozen food was stacked to the top.

“This tastes good,” Benny said. “Except for stopping for lunch, we were on the road all day.”

“My, my,” Edward said sympathetically. “I’ll bet you’re tired.”

“Where do we sleep?” Benny asked.

Grandfather shook his head. “Benny, be patient. Eat your ice cream.”

Benny tipped his bowl. “It’s empty,” he said. “I’ve finished.”

“How about another scoop9?” Edward said, leaning toward Benny.

“Thank you, but I’d better not,” Benny said.

“That’s right,” Violet said, “we don’t want to spoil our appetites for supper.” She wondered, though, if they would eat here. There was not a sign of a prepared dinner, nothing on the bare countertop nor a pot on the stove.

Suddenly a distant roar interrupted them.

“What was that?” Benny asked, his big brown eyes questioning Edward.

“That’s the lions at my zoo,” Edward explained. “They are fed at five, but around four they start crying for their dinner.”

“Just like someone else I know,” Jessie teased, smiling at Benny.

“Grandfather says the zoo is close by,” Henry said.

“It is!” Edward said. “It’s only a block from here, and when the wind is just right, you can hear birds twittering and elephants trumpeting10.” He laughed. “I love it!”

“Gee!” Benny exclaimed. “That’s exciting. I can’t wait to see the animals.”

“Tomorrow, bright and early, we’ll pay the zoo a visit,” Edward promised.

“Oh, good!” Benny said. “I like to watch the monkeys.”

“And now,” Edward said, scraping back his chair, “let me show you your rooms.”

The children followed him upstairs. He led them to two small bedrooms. “This,” Edward said, indicating a small room with bunk11 beds, “is the boys room.”

He crossed the hall. “And this is for you,” he said to Violet and Jessie, showing them to a bigger room with a large bed.

“Make yourselves at home,” Edward said. “We’ll go out to a restaurant about six o’clock.” He left, going downstairs.

Jessie, unpacking12 her suitcase, said, “Violet, I don’t think Edward has many home-cooked meals.”

“I’m sure of it,” Violet said. “We’ll have to cook dinner for him.”

“That will be fun,” Jessie said. “We can do a lot to make this place cozy13.”

Grandfather would be sleeping on a roll-away bed in Edward’s large bedroom off the living room. Once everyone had unpacked14 and washed, they met by the front door.

“I want to take you out to one of my favorite places,” Edward said.

They drove to Rita’s Restaurant. As soon as they walked in, the woman at the cash register called, “Edward! How are you? Do you want your usual table?”

“Not tonight, Rita. I need a table for six,” he replied.

“Can do,” she said, smiling. “Follow me.”

And she seated them at a round table in the back. Edward greeted several customers. When the waitress took their order, she kidded with Edward. Edward knows everyone in here, Violet thought.

The children and Grandfather were given special treatment by Rita and the waitress. After eating spaghetti and meatballs with heaps of homemade bread, they finished with coconut15 cream pie.

“In the morning,” Edward promised, “you’ll see my zoo. I know you’ll like it.”

“I know we will,” Jessie said. “Is every animal your friend?”

“Every single one!” Edward said. “The town likes the animals, too. It’s their taxes that helps me add new animals and build comfortable homes for them.”

“I can see you’re happy in your work,” Grandfather said.

Edward nodded. “My zoo keeps me young, James.”

Going to the zoo tomorrow would be exciting, Violet thought. She just hoped it was better kept than Edward’s house!


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
2 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
3 mischievous mischievous     
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的
参考例句:
  • He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。
  • A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。
4 streak UGgzL     
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动
参考例句:
  • The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
  • Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹?
5 tangled e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e     
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了,我梳不动。
  • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
6 wagon XhUwP     
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
参考例句:
  • We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
  • The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
7 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
9 scoop QD1zn     
n.铲子,舀取,独家新闻;v.汲取,舀取,抢先登出
参考例句:
  • In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
  • Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。
10 trumpeting 68cf4dbd1f99442d072d18975013a14d     
大声说出或宣告(trumpet的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • She is always trumpeting her son. 她总是吹嘘她儿子。
  • The wind is trumpeting, a bugle calling to charge! 风在掌号。冲锋号! 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
11 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话
参考例句:
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
12 unpacking 4cd1f3e1b7db9c6a932889b5839cdd25     
n.取出货物,拆包[箱]v.从(包裹等)中取出(所装的东西),打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 );拆包;解除…的负担;吐露(心事等)
参考例句:
  • Joe sat on the bed while Martin was unpacking. 马丁打开箱子取东西的时候,乔坐在床上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They are unpacking a trunk. 他们正在打开衣箱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 cozy ozdx0     
adj.亲如手足的,密切的,暖和舒服的
参考例句:
  • I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯,因为他们是舒适的。
  • We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
14 unpacked 78a068b187a564f21b93e72acffcebc3     
v.从(包裹等)中取出(所装的东西),打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 );拆包;解除…的负担;吐露(心事等)
参考例句:
  • I unpacked my bags as soon as I arrived. 我一到达就打开行李,整理衣物。
  • Our guide unpacked a picnic of ham sandwiches and offered us tea. 我们的导游打开装着火腿三明治的野餐盒,并给我们倒了些茶水。 来自辞典例句
15 coconut VwCzNM     
n.椰子
参考例句:
  • The husk of this coconut is particularly strong.椰子的外壳很明显非常坚固。
  • The falling coconut gave him a terrific bang on the head.那只掉下的椰子砰地击中他的脑袋。
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