Cherry Cox讲故事 02 A Home for the President

 

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　　A Home for the President
Would you like to be president and live in the White House?
1 Ben stood outside the black [r?:t] wrought-iron gate and stared because he couldn't believe he was standing¹ where he was. It was Kate, tugging² on his shirt, who brought back his attention.
2 "What a terrific³ place! I wish l could be president and live in there!" said Ben.
3 "You never know, Ben," Mr. Wilkins said as he winked⁴ at Kate. "This could be your address in the future."
4 "If you were living here now," said Kate, "you'd be getting company. That's what I wanted to show you, Ben. Look at the cars with the tiny flags on the hoods⁵."
5 As they watched, a long black car pulled up to the gate closest to them. A guard had a brief talk with the driver of the car. Then the gate swung open, and the car drove up to the White House. More vehicles came, each with a flag from a different country..
6 "Dad," Kate whispered, "what's going on?"
7 "I think those cars are bringing guests from other countries to have dinner at the White House," said Mr. Wilkins.
8 "I'm glad we don't have to wash the dishes," sighed Kate.
9 Dad and Ben looked at each other and chuckled⁶. Each of them continued to watch the parade of cars.
10 "You know," said Dad, "what you're seeing isn't the original White House."
11 "It's a fake⁷?" asked Kate.
12 "Well, not exactly. During a war in 1814 the British burned the White House. A rainstorm put the fire out , but only the outside walls were left. The inside had to be completely rebuilt. Then, one hundred years after the rebuilding of the inside, the walls began to crack from old age. Experts thought the White House was ready to cave in," explained Dad.
13 "It looks fine to me," said Ben.
14 "That's because workers hollowed out the White House in 1948 and constructed stronger walls. The inside was built to look just as it had looked before. The President had to live someplace else for the four years it took to finish the project."
15 "I know one thing," said Ben. "If I were President, I'd make sure the work was finished so I could live in the White House."

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 tugging   

n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. 汤姆捏住一个钮扣眼使劲地拉，样子显得很害羞。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• She kicked him, tugging his thick hair. 她一边踢他，一边扯着他那浓密的头发。 来自辞典例句

3 terrific   

adj.可怕的，极好的，非常的

参考例句：

• The game was terrific.那场比赛棒极了。
• Darren drove at a terrific speed.达伦以惊人的速度驾车。

4 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 hoods   

n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩

参考例句：

• Michael looked at the four hoods sitting in the kitchen. 迈克尔瞅了瞅坐在厨房里的四条汉子。 来自教父部分
• Eskimos wear hoods to keep their heads warm. 爱斯基摩人戴兜帽使头暖和。 来自辞典例句

6 chuckled   

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。

7 fake   

vt.伪造，造假，假装；n.假货，赝品

参考例句：

• He can tell a fake from the original.他能分辨出赝品和真品。
• You can easily fake up an excuse to avoid going out with him.你可以很容易地编造一个借口而不与他一同外出。