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儿童英语读物 The Panther Mystery CHAPTER 1 The Pink Hotel

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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Violet Alden saw the little hotel first. “Oh, it’s so pretty! Like a sunset!” She was sitting in the front seat with Grandfather.

“You’re right, Violet. The Flamingo1 Hotel certainly lives up to its name! I’ve never seen such a bright pink!” Grandfather steered2 the rental3 car into the driveway.

Six-year-old Benny Alden leaned out a window. “I’m going to climb that tree and get a coconut4!” he exclaimed. “It’s a pretty short tree.”

“That’s because it’s a palmetto, not a palm tree,” said Henry, reading from a guidebook.

After the Alden family had landed at the Miami airport, Benny had rushed to the windows to watch planes take off, but Henry had headed for a little bookstand. At fourteen, he was becoming interested in science.

“I bet there are a zillion bugs5 around here. I’m glad I brought insect spray,” remarked twelve-year-old Jessie.

“This time I didn’t forget my camera!” Violet said. “Florida is a perfect place to take lots of pictures.” Violet was ten. When she wasn’t drawing, she was snapping photos with her camera.

Grandfather pulled into a parking space near the pink-painted railing of the small porch. “Well, here we are,” he said.

“When do we eat?” Benny asked.

Everyone laughed. “We just got here!”

“What happened to the burger and fries you had at the airport?” asked Grandfather.

“That was a long time ago,” Benny said.

“Yeah!” said Henry. “Like about thirty minutes ago.” With Jessie’s help, he began dragging luggage from the trunk.

“It seems hard to believe we’re still in the United States,” Jessie commented. “I mean, we left Connecticut this morning and now we’re in Miami and it doesn’t look anything like home!”

“I know what you mean,” Violet agreed. “Our lawn in Greenfield was smooth and green and Mrs. McGregor’s roses were just blooming. But here it’s like a jungle.”

“Wait’ll we see the Everglades,” Henry added.

“I want to see lots of alligators7,” put in Benny. “I wished on a star last night.”

“I hope we see Andrew Beldon,” said Grandfather. “That’s the purpose of this trip, after all.”

Just yesterday James Alden had received a phone call from a business friend. Thomas Beldon was concerned about his youngest son, Andrew.

Andrew Beldon was a wildlife ranger8 in the Everglades National Park in south Florida. Andrew always called his father once a week. But sometimes he got too involved in something and forgot to call. It had been over two weeks since Mr. Beldon had heard from Andrew, and he was too ill to take a trip to Florida. Grandfather had decided9 that this was a perfect time to visit the Everglades. He could take a vacation with his grandchildren and check on Andrew. He had known Andrew Beldon since Andrew was a boy Benny’s age. It wasn’t like Andrew to cause his ill father needless worry.

So the Aldens packed and flew to Florida.

“It seems like we’re always on the go,” Jessie remarked as they carried their luggage up the cement porch steps.

“Maybe it’s because we once lived in a boxcar,” Henry said thoughtfully. “Even though the boxcar didn’t go anywhere, we’ve gone lots of places since Grandfather found us.”

After the children’s parents died, they had no home. Afraid of the grandfather they had never met, the children lived in an old boxcar in the woods. When James Alden found his grandchildren, he was overjoyed to have a brand-new family.

“But the boxcar did go someplace,” Benny pointed10 out.

“That’s right,” said Violet. “Grandfather had our old boxcar brought to his backyard so we can play in it.”

The screen door opened and a small dark-haired woman held it open for them, smiling. “You must be the Aldens. I’m Mrs. Ethel Johnson. Welcome to the Sunshine State!”

They all filed into the cool hallway and set the luggage down.

Grandfather went over to the small registration11 desk to sign in and chat with Mrs. Johnson.

After being in the bright sun, the children blinked at the dim interior.

From the darkness came a sudden loud cry. “Hello!”

Violet was so startled, she nearly dropped her tote bag. “What . . . ?”

Ethel Johnson waved a hand. “Oh, pay no attention to Mollie. She just wants to be noticed.”

As their eyes adjusted to the dim light, the kids realized the screamer was a red parrot on a tall perch12.

“Wow!” Benny cried. “What a big beak13 she has! I bet she eats a lot!”

“Only nuts and seeds,” said Ethel. “And animal crackers14.”

“Does she say different things?” Jessie asked. She thought the bird was beautiful.

“When she’s in the mood,” Mrs. Johnson replied. “Now I’ll take you to your rooms. This is a little hotel. I hope you don’t mind sharing two baths.”

“Not at all,” said Grandfather. “Your place is charming.”

“How nice of you to say so,” Mrs. Johnson said, leading them down a long hall. “There are five rooms. I’ve put you in three, all in the back, so you can see the sunrise. The girls are in here and the boys are next door. Mr. Alden is across the hall. Right now, you are my only guests.”

“Thank you,” Grandfather said.

“If you need anything, just give a yell,” shouted Mrs. Johnson on her way back down the hall.

As soon as the woman was down the stairs, Jessie began giggling15.

“What’s so funny?” Henry asked.

“No wonder the parrot is so loud,” Jessie said between giggles16. “He learned to yell from Mrs. Johnson.”

They all went into their rooms to unpack17. The rooms were cheerfully decorated with prints of the Florida Everglades.

“It looks like a swamp,” said Benny, staring at the picture over his bed.

“It isn’t, really,” Henry told him. “It’s more like a river, with this long grass growing in it. You’ll see. We’ll go there tomorrow.”

“I wish we could go today,” Benny said. “I want to see an alligator6.”

Just then Grandfather passed their door. “There you all are. I want to make some calls to Andrew and the visitors’ center where he works before the Everglades Park closes.”

“What about dinner?” Benny said, alligators suddenly forgotten.

“We’ll eat in a while, after I make the calls,” Grandfather told him. “Why don’t you kids go for a walk? It’s been a long trip, first on the plane, then driving out from the city. You could use the exercise.”

“Great idea,” said Violet. “Let’s take a look at our neighborhood.”

The sun was just beginning to slide over the stately royal palms that lined the street. The air smelled sweet from flowers.

“I’d love to live here,” said Jessie, picking a trumpet-shaped blossom and tucking it behind one ear. “It would be like summer all the time.”

“But wouldn’t you miss the leaves falling?” said Violet.

“And snow?” Henry put in.

“And Watch? And Mrs. McGregor?” Benny added.

Jessie laughed. “All right! All right! I’m not moving to Florida!”

They strolled down the block. The houses were similar in style to the Flamingo Hotel. A few had signs out front advertising18 rooms for rent. At the end of the street was another small hotel called simply Seashells.

A man sat on the porch swing, reading a newspaper.

Violet noticed he had bushy brownish hair. He needed a haircut.

As if he read her mind, the man slowly lowered the newspaper. He stared at the Aldens.

“Hello,” Violet said shyly.

“Nice evening, isn’t it?” Henry added pleasantly.

“Hrmmpf,” was all the man said, and went back to his newspaper.

“I wonder what’s wrong with him?” Jessie whispered as they turned around and went back to their own hotel.

“Maybe he hasn’t had his dinner yet,” Benny said.

“I got the hint, Benny,” said Henry. “Race you back!”

The kids were red-faced and sweaty when they reached the pink-painted porch.

Grandfather was waiting for them.

“Are we going to dinner now?” Benny asked hopefully. “I wish I could have fried shrimp19.”

“Yes, Benny” Grandfather said. “We’re going to dinner and you may have fried shrimp.”

Grandfather looked tired, Jessie thought. And worried. “What is it?” she asked.

“I called the visitors’ center where Andrew Beldon works,” James Alden said. “They haven’t heard from him, either. And there was no answer at Andrew’s house.”

“You mean he hasn’t gone to work?” Henry asked.

Grandfather shook his head. “He hasn’t called in sick or taken a leave of absence.”

Jessie drew in a breath. “It’s like he’s disappeared!”

What had happened to Ranger Beldon?


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 flamingo nsWzxe     
n.红鹳,火烈鸟
参考例句:
  • This is the only species of flamingo in the region,easily recognized by its pink plumage.这是那个地区唯一一种火烈鸟,很容易凭粉红色的羽毛辨认出来。
  • In my family,I am flamingo in the flock of pigeons.在家里,我就像一只被困在鸽笼里的火烈鸟。
2 steered dee52ce2903883456c9b7a7f258660e5     
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导
参考例句:
  • He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
  • The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 rental cBezh     
n.租赁,出租,出租业
参考例句:
  • The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
  • We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。
4 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。
5 bugs e3255bae220613022d67e26d2e4fa689     
adj.疯狂的,发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 );病菌;虫子;[计算机](制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的)错误
参考例句:
  • All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞,都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 alligator XVgza     
n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼)
参考例句:
  • She wandered off to play with her toy alligator.她开始玩鳄鱼玩具。
  • Alligator skin is five times more costlier than leather.鳄鱼皮比通常的皮革要贵5倍。
7 alligators 0e8c11e4696c96583339d73b3f2d8a10     
n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Two alligators rest their snouts on the water's surface. 两只鳄鱼的大嘴栖息在水面上。 来自辞典例句
  • In the movement of logs by water the lumber industry was greatly helped by alligators. 木材工业过去在水上运输木料时所十分倚重的就是鳄鱼。 来自辞典例句
8 ranger RTvxb     
n.国家公园管理员,护林员;骑兵巡逻队员
参考例句:
  • He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
  • He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。
9 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
10 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。
11 registration ASKzO     
n.登记,注册,挂号
参考例句:
  • Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
  • What's your registration number?你挂的是几号?
12 perch 5u1yp     
n.栖木,高位,杆;v.栖息,就位,位于
参考例句:
  • The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
  • Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。
13 beak 8y1zGA     
n.鸟嘴,茶壶嘴,钩形鼻
参考例句:
  • The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
  • This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。
14 crackers nvvz5e     
adj.精神错乱的,癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 );薄脆饼干;(认为)十分愉快的事;迷人的姑娘
参考例句:
  • That noise is driving me crackers. 那噪声闹得我简直要疯了。
  • We served some crackers and cheese as an appetiser. 我们上了些饼干和奶酪作为开胃品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 giggling 2712674ae81ec7e853724ef7e8c53df1     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • We just sat there giggling like naughty schoolchildren. 我们只是坐在那儿像调皮的小学生一样的咯咯地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I can't stand her giggling, she's so silly. 她吃吃地笑,叫我真受不了,那样子傻透了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
16 giggles 0aa08b5c91758a166d13e7cd3f455951     
n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 );傻笑;玩笑;the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Her nervous giggles annoyed me. 她神经质的傻笑把我惹火了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I had to rush to the loo to avoid an attack of hysterical giggles. 我不得不冲向卫生间,以免遭到别人的疯狂嘲笑。 来自辞典例句
17 unpack sfwzBO     
vt.打开包裹(或行李),卸货
参考例句:
  • I must unpack before dinner.我得在饭前把行李打开。
  • She said she would unpack the items later.她说以后再把箱子里的东西拿出来。
18 advertising 1zjzi3     
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的
参考例句:
  • Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
  • The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
19 shrimp krFyz     
n.虾,小虾;矮小的人
参考例句:
  • When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来,将会截断这条河流。
  • When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜,我最喜欢虾。
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