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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 5 Hungry Animals

时间:2017-07-17 08:54来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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The children chopped and cut fruits and vegetables until their fingers were stiff. They sliced bananas, carrots, oranges, and apples.

Pat took out the meat from the huge refrigerator and hurriedly sliced the meat for the big cats. She worked fast and well. In the background they could hear growls1, roars, squalls, screeches2, whistling, and squeaking3. Pat glanced over at Violet. “You can certainly tell the animals are hungry,” she said.

“All these different dinners you need to prepare,” Jessie said in amazement4. “I didn’t know there was so much work in running a zoo.” She threw three oranges in a bowl, which already contained a half pound of carrots, a half pound of cabbage, and five apples. This was one bear’s diet.

Pat stopped what she was doing to come to Jessie’s side and add a pound of beef mix and drizzle5 honey over the entire meal.

Jessie started on the second bear’s dinner. This wasn’t as hard since she’d already done one. At least nothing needed chopping.

Pat, slicing off large chunks6 of fat from the beef, chuckled7. “You’d be surprised how many diets we’ve tried. Lions, though, are particular, like your ordinary house cat. Finicky. If they don’t like the food you give them, the lions simply give a swish of their tails and leave it. Sometimes it takes months to get the right balance that will tempt8 them.” Pat’s soft blue eyes sparkled. She liked to talk about her work. “We mix nutritious9 food with beef, but if I mix in too much of the nutritious food, the cat won’t eat it. It’s hard to find just the right healthy combination.” As she spoke10, she cut meat off a joint11 of beef. “I miss the large electric knives that we usually work with.”

“The lions should like that,” Jessie said, eyeing the huge chunks of meat.

“Oh, they will,” Pat said.

“Do the animals get fed only once a day?” Violet asked, rinsing12 off fish for the seals.

“No,” Pat replied, scooping13 back a wisp of hair. “Usually they eat once in the morning, have an afternoon snack, and dinner at night. We need to chop food for the special diets. Often the animals won’t eat the food if it isn’t in bite-sized pieces. Then, too, when we cut up the food it’s easier to add the vitamins and supplements that the animals need.”

Edward rushed into the kitchen. “The electrician arrived, so you can use the appliances,” he said.

“What was wrong?” Pat asked.

“Someone cut a few wires!” Edward replied bitterly.

“Oh, no,” Pat exclaimed. “What a rotten thing to do! Why would they do it?”

“That’s a good question,” Edward replied. “Something’s going on here and I don’t like it!”

Pat shivered. “I don’t either.”

“We’ll need to be more watchful,” Edward said, plucking a piece of straw from his denim14 shirt.

“Looks like you’ve fed the elephants,” Pat said.

“Yes,” Edward answered. “David returned just in time to help me.” He sighed. “Good thing my zoo is small or we’d be here until midnight.”

David hurried in. “It’s scary about the cut wires,” he said anxiously. “I’d like to catch the one who did it!” He glanced at Pat. “What can I do?”

“Give the bears their food. They must be starved,” Pat said.

David grabbed two large buckets, smiling at the Aldens. “Hi,” he said. “Welcome to the zoo!”

“Let me help you.” Jessie acted quickly, opening the door for him.

Edward introduced all the children to David.

“I’ll be back in a minute for the seals’ food,” the boy called over his shoulder. He ran to the bears.

He returned in a few minutes and grabbed a bucket of fish. “The bears were hungry!” he said, running out again to feed the seals.

The calls and screams had gradually died down as the animals received their food.

Happy they could be of help, the Aldens walked home with Edward.

“I’m taking everyone to Rita’s Restaurant tonight,” Edward said. “You really saved the day.”

“Isn’t it strange that someone cut the wires,” Henry said. “It caused a lot of work.”

“I know,” Edward said grimly, his face tired with lines. “I’ll find out who did it, though.”

Jessie gave him a sharp look. Was there some person Edward suspected? Was it the same person who’d switched the animals’ tags? Who could it be? Pat certainly knew all about the zoo. It would be easy for her. But she was so nice. Was it Helen Brooks15? She wanted to get rid of the zoo. Would she really stoop to such mean tricks? Jessie plucked a leaf from a tree and tore it into little pieces. She didn’t know what to think.

Arriving home, they told Grandfather that Edward wanted to take them to Rita’s for supper. He was delighted, and after everyone had cleaned up, they left together.

Over a bowl of tomato soup, Henry told Grandfather what had happened.

“Did someone deliberately16 snip17 the wires, Edward?” Grandfather asked, his eyebrows18 raising up a bit.

Edward nodded. “I’m positive, but, of course, I don’t know who.”

The waitress cleared the table and brought sandwiches stacked with slices of ham and swiss cheese.

The meal ended with strawberry sundaes for everyone.

The next morning the children rose early and fixed19 cereal with bananas and toast, plus their usual orange juice and milk.

Violet and Jessie watered the flowers while Benny helped Henry paint Edward’s bookcase. All morning they worked, then they packed a picnic lunch in a cooler and walked to the city park.

The park’s green grass and blue pond shimmered20 in the sunlight. Large trees shaded picnic tables and the swings.

“Could I have a ride on the swings?” Benny asked.

“Sure, come on,” Henry said, smiling. “I’ll push you so high you’ll touch the sky.”

In a short time, Henry left Benny to swing alone and chinned himself on the iron bar. When he’d finished, Jessie chinned herself just as many times as her brother.

Benny had moved to the jungle gym and climbed all over it. Violet tried out the rings. Holding her arms straight, she did a handstand, then flipped21 over to the ground.

From atop the jungle gym, Benny clapped. “That was great, Violet.” He began to climb down. “I’m hungry.”

“I think we should eat our lunch over there,” Violet said, pointing to a picnic table surrounded by oaks and at the edge of the pool.

“Perfect!” said Jessie. “It’s shady and by the water.”

They hurried over and Henry set the table. Jessie took out the tuna salad sandwiches and potato chips.

Violet poured milk from the thermos22 while Benny sat waiting, eager to begin.

They enjoyed the beautiful day, the blue sky with white fleecy clouds, and the soft breeze.

Benny was sad to leave, but Jessie promised they’d come back. But first, she thought, we have to solve the mystery at the zoo!


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 growls 6ffc5e073aa0722568674220be53a9ea     
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 );低声咆哮着说
参考例句:
  • The dog growls at me. 狗向我狂吠。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The loudest growls have echoed around emerging markets and commodities. 熊嚎之声响彻新兴的市场与商品。 来自互联网
2 screeches 768b01a6950f3933d9acf3e0c092f65e     
n.尖锐的声音( screech的名词复数 )v.发出尖叫声( screech的第三人称单数 );发出粗而刺耳的声音;高叫
参考例句:
  • The boy's screeches brought his mother. 男孩的尖叫声招来了他母亲。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The woman's screeches brought the police. 这个妇女的尖叫声招来了警察。 来自辞典例句
3 squeaking 467e7b45c42df668cdd7afec9e998feb     
v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 );吱吱叫;告密;充当告密者
参考例句:
  • Squeaking floorboards should be screwed down. 踏上去咯咯作响的地板应用螺钉钉住。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Can you hear the mice squeaking? 你听到老鼠吱吱叫吗? 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
5 drizzle Mrdxn     
v.下毛毛雨;n.毛毛雨,蒙蒙细雨
参考例句:
  • The shower tailed off into a drizzle.阵雨越来越小,最后变成了毛毛雨。
  • Yesterday the radio forecast drizzle,and today it is indeed raining.昨天预报有小雨,今天果然下起来了。
6 chunks a0e6aa3f5109dc15b489f628b2f01028     
厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 ); (某物)相当大的数量或部分
参考例句:
  • a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
  • Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大,还能再切小一点吗?
7 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。
8 tempt MpIwg     
vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣
参考例句:
  • Nothing could tempt him to such a course of action.什么都不能诱使他去那样做。
  • The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.她有钱了,可这丝毫没能让她改变节俭的生活习惯。
9 nutritious xHzxO     
adj.有营养的,营养价值高的
参考例句:
  • Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
  • Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
10 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
11 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合
参考例句:
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
12 rinsing cc80e70477186de83e96464130c222ba     
n.清水,残渣v.漂洗( rinse的现在分词 );冲洗;用清水漂洗掉(肥皂泡等);(用清水)冲掉
参考例句:
  • Pablo made a swishing noise rinsing wine in his mouth. 巴勃罗用酒漱着口,发出咕噜噜噜的声音。 来自辞典例句
  • The absorption of many molecular layers could be reestablished by rinsing the foils with tap water. 多分子层的吸附作用可用自来水淋洗金属箔而重新实现。 来自辞典例句
13 scooping 5efbad5bbb4dce343848e992b81eb83d     
n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网
  • The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中,铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网
14 denim o9Lya     
n.斜纹棉布;斜纹棉布裤,牛仔裤
参考例句:
  • She wore pale blue denim shorts and a white denim work shirt.她穿着一条淡蓝色的斜纹粗棉布短裤,一件白粗布工作服上衣。
  • Dennis was dressed in denim jeans.丹尼斯穿了一条牛仔裤。
15 brooks cdbd33f49d2a6cef435e9a42e9c6670f     
n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时,狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了,今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地
参考例句:
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
17 snip XhcyD     
n.便宜货,廉价货,剪,剪断
参考例句:
  • He has now begun to snip away at the piece of paper.现在他已经开始剪这张纸。
  • The beautifully made briefcase is a snip at £74.25.这个做工精美的公文包售价才74.25英镑,可谓物美价廉。
18 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
19 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
20 shimmered 7b85656359fe70119e38fa62825e4f8b     
v.闪闪发光,发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The sea shimmered in the sunlight. 阳光下海水闪烁着微光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A heat haze shimmered above the fields. 田野上方微微闪烁着一层热气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 flipped 5bef9da31993fe26a832c7d4b9630147     
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥
参考例句:
  • The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转,撞毁了。
  • The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。
22 thermos TqjyE     
n.保湿瓶,热水瓶
参考例句:
  • Can I borrow your thermos?我可以借用你的暖水瓶吗?
  • It's handy to have the thermos here.暖瓶放在这儿好拿。
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