美国小学英语教材4:第44课 城市里安全第一(4)

 　　It was all new to George, and all very interesting. 这对于乔治而言都是新鲜的，并且都很有趣。

　　He said to himself that he would remember that lesson and never face backward¹ when getting off a street car. 他想他会记住那个教训，并且下电车时绝不面朝车内。

　　The car for which Uncle Robert and the boys were waiting came along and stopped. 罗伯特叔叔和男孩们等的车开过来停下了。

　　They all stepped into the street to get on, but the car was very crowded. 他们走到马路上准备上车，但是车上非常拥挤。

　　George made a dash² for the platform³ and swung on, 乔治一个健步冲上平台，摇晃着挤了上去，

　　holding to the rod⁴ with one hand, while he carried his traveling bag in the other. 他一只手抓着扶手，另一手拿着他的旅行包。

　　He could find room for only one foot on the lower⁵ step. 他在较低的台阶上找到了只能容下一只脚的空间。

　　"Better wait for the next car, George," said Uncle Robert. “我们最好等下一班车，乔治，”罗伯特叔叔说，

　　"One will be along in a minute or two, and it may not be so crowded." “一两分钟就能来一班车，下一班可能没这么拥挤。”

　　He helped the boy down from the step just as the car started ahead⁶. 正当车要启动时，他帮着男孩从台阶上下来。

　　"A few minutes time doesn't matter so much as getting thrown down and injured," said Uncle Robert. “比起从车上摔下来而受伤，等几分钟无关紧要，”罗伯特叔叔说。

　　"Many people fall from crowded cars, and sometimes are run over by automobiles⁷ before they can get up again. “许多人从拥挤的车上掉下来，有些人在站起来前就被机动车轧了过去。

　　It is better to be safe than sorry." 安全好于遗憾。”

　　The next car was not so crowded, and they all found seats for the ride to the Wilson home. 下一班车不那么拥挤，他们都找到了座位，前往威尔逊家。

　　When it was time to get off, George remembered the accident that had happened to the woman. 该下车的时候，乔治想起了发生在那位女士身上的事故。

　　He stepped down from the car very carefully, facing forward instead of backward. 他非常小心地下了车，面朝车外而不是车内。

　　In a few minutes they were safely home, 几分钟后，他们安全到家了，

　　and the country boy thought that he had already learned⁸ a good deal about the dangers of the big city. 这个乡下男孩觉得他已经对大城市的危险了解了很多。

1 backward   

adv./adj.向后地；相反地；退步地

参考例句：

• Because of his long illness,Tom is backward in his studies.因为汤姆长期生病，所以在学习中成绩落后。
• The rainy season is backward this year.今年雨季来得晚。

2 dash   

v./n.快跑，冲刺，短跑

参考例句：

• The prisoners made a dash for freedom.囚犯逃奔自由。
• Day and night the waves dash against the rocks.波浪日夜冲击着岩石。

3 platform   

n.平台，月台，讲台，坛

参考例句：

• Which platform do I want?我该上哪个站台？
• Your train is waiting at Platform 5.你要坐的那列火车在第五号站台。

4 rod   

n.钓竿，杆，棒

参考例句：

• Pass me a bamboo rod.递给我一根竹竿。
• He heated the iron rod and bent it into a right angle.他将铁棒烧热，将其弯成直角。

5 lower   

adj.较低的；地位较低的，低等的；低年级的；下游的；vt.放下，降下，放低；减低

参考例句：

• Society is divided into upper,middle and lower classes.社会分为上层、中层和下层阶级。
• This price is his minimum;he refuses to lower it any further.这个价格是他开的最低价，他拒绝再作任何降价。

6 ahead   

adv.在前，向前，提前，在前面

参考例句：

• We have to go ahead to find a garage.我们得到前边找个修车厂。
• Youth looks ahead and age backward.青年人向前看，老年人向后看。

7 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。