英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十五册 Viking Ships at Sunrise 04 Books of Wonder

　　The monastery¹ had a stone wall all around it.

Brother Patrick took Jack² and Annie through the gate.

Beyond the gate was a small church with a hangingbell.

There was also a vegetable garden and six stonehuts shaped like giant beehives.

"We grow all our own food," said Brother Patrick.

"Carrots, turnips³, spinach⁴, wheat, and beans."He led them to the entrance of the first hut. Jackand Annie peeked⁵ inside. A monk⁶ was pulling flatbread from a low stone oven.

"This is our bakery," Brother Patrick said.

"It smells good!" said Annie.

"Come along," Brother Patrick said.

He pointed⁷ to each hut as they passed.

"There are our sleeping quarters," he said. "Andthat's where we spin our cloth. In here, we cobble oursandals. There we carve our wooden tools."In each of the huts, Jack and Annie could seemonks. They were busy spinning or cobbling orcarving.

Finally, Brother Patrick came to the largest beehive-like hut.

"I have saved the best for last," he said.

"This is where we do our most important work."He stepped inside.

Jack and Annie followed.

The hut was warm and peaceful, yet very alive. Itglowed with the golden light of many candles.

Monks⁸ sat at wooden tables. Some were reading.

Others played chess. Best of all, some were writingand painting in books.

"This is our library," said Brother Patrick. "Here westudy math, history, and poetry. We play chess. Andwe make books.""Jack," said Annie. "I think this is it.""What?" said Jack.

"Civilization!" said Annie.

Brother Patrick laughed. "Yes, this is wherecivilization hides," he said. "On top of our lonelyisland in the sea.""Oh, man," said Jack. "I love this place.""What kind of books do you make here?" askedAnnie.

"Books of wonder," said Brother Patrick. "We recordChristian stories as well as the old myths of Ireland.""Myths?" said Jack.

"Yes," said Brother Patrick. "They were gatheredfrom our storytellers--the old women who sing thetales of long ago, when people believed in magic.""Wow," said Annie.

"Come," said Brother Patrick, "look at the book ofBrother Michael. He has worked on it his whole life."Brother Patrick led Jack and Annie over to an oldmonk. The monk was painting a blue border aroundone of the pages in a book.

"Michael, these two Master Librarians fromfaraway would like to see your work," said BrotherPatrick.

The old monk looked up at Jack and Annie. Hiswrinkled face broke into a smile.

"Welcome," said Brother Michael in a thin, shakyvoice.

"Hi," said Annie.

Brother Michael showed them the cover of hisbook. It was decorated with gleaming red and bluejewels.

Then he turned the pages. Each was covered withfancy writing and paintings in green, gold, and blue.

"I wish I could paint like that," said Annie. "It'sbeautiful," whispered Jack.

"Thank you," said Brother Michael.

"How do you make a book like this?" asked Annie.

"I write on sheepskin and use goose quill⁹ pens, saidBrother Michael. "My paints are made of earth andplants.""Wow," said Annie.

"Show Michael what you are seeking." BrotherPatrick said.

"Oh, right!" said Jack. He pulled paper Morgan hadgiven them. He showed the Latin writing to the oldmonk.

Brother Michael nodded.

"Yes," he said with a smile. "I know that one quitewell."Brother Michael turned to the page he had beenpainting with a blue border. He pointed to the writingat the top of the page.

"Oh, man," whispered Jack.

The words were:

Serpens Magna

1 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 turnips   

芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表

参考例句：

• Well, I like turnips, tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflowers, onions and carrots. 噢，我喜欢大萝卜、西红柿、茄子、菜花、洋葱和胡萝卜。 来自魔法英语-口语突破（高中）
• This is turnip soup, made from real turnips. 这是大头菜汤，用真正的大头菜做的。

4 spinach   

n.菠菜

参考例句：

• Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。
• You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。

5 peeked   

v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出

参考例句：

• She peeked over the top of her menu. 她从菜单上往外偷看。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• On two occasions she had peeked at him through a crack in the wall. 她曾两次透过墙缝窥视他。 来自辞典例句

6 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

7 pointed   

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。

8 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 quill   

n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶

参考例句：

• He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛笔写字。
• She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她将羽毛笔在墨水里蘸了一下，随后开始书写。