-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Read the story
April Fool's Day
by Pete Humphreys
Danny Applewhite was developing into a rather arrogant1 young man. True, he was among the top five achievers at his school, but he was the only one of them who would regularly remind the other 150 students at St. Cuthbert’s of this fact. Yes, he was a keen mountaineer, probably the best for his age in the county, but he sometimes forgot to thank those people who guided, supported or dragged him up towards his latest peak. Danny’s artwork was proudly displayed along school corridors but the minute anyone stopped him to say ‘well done’ he would tell the viewer not to get too close to his designs, in case they damaged them somehow.
It was late March and Danny was studying the flowers on the route between his parents’ house and school. Rollo lived next door and because their parents were friends Danny was forced to walk in with him. Rollo was not like Danny at all. That morning Danny had been forced to wait while his classmate found the correct books, clothes and sportswear from those littering the messy bedroom floor. In comparison, Danny always packed his briefcase2 the night before, carefully arranging his pocket computer, homework and the sandwiches made by his mum to strict organic specifications3.
‘What are these ones Danny?’ asked Rollo, pointing to some tall plants with yellow, shell-like heads.
‘Ah,’ said Danny, pausing, as if extracting the name from a locked box deep inside his brain, ‘they’re Vanillius Seasidicus.’
‘Really,’ said Rollo, impressed, as usual, by his friend.
Danny swung his briefcase happily, deflecting4 some Spring sunshine into Rollo’s wide eyes, and thought how easy it was to fool people who didn’t read books. Poor Rollo, perhaps one day he Stories - April Fool's Day Page 2 of 4 The United Kingdom’s international organisation5 for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
would catch up. Until he did Danny would make sure his parents always told Rollo he was out if he called for Danny in the evening.
When they arrived at the sandstone wall that marked the edge of the school grounds, Rollo adjusted his glasses in that nervous way of his, and Danny, anticipating the question, had time to prepare his excuse.
‘Meet you for lunch?’
‘I can’t Rollo,’ and while speaking Danny touched his nose to suggest some kind of mystery, ‘things to do. I’m booked into the technology lab.’
They parted at the elaborate school gates. Made of iron, the ornamental6 spikes7 that topped the gates had already punctured8 some unfortunate footballs that now sat there like cartoon heads. Danny shook his own, baffled by the silly games his schoolmates played. Maybe some serious lab work was exactly what he needed to stimulate9 that busy brain of his.
The day was drawing to a close at St. Cuthbert’s and in his small office Mr Samson was squinting10 at the year eleven course-work he had to grade by the start of next month. Even when he shielded his eyes from the late afternoon sun, a confused look often remained on his face. His students certainly had a strange idea of History. When the deputy-headmaster saw Applewhite at his door, smiling in that slightly superior way of his, he was more than willing to be distracted.
‘Sir?’
‘Yes, Applewhite, can I help?’
Danny took a deep breath.
‘It’s something of immediate11 importance, Mr Samson, that will affect the whole school for the next few days.’
‘You better tell me what’s happening.’
Danny went on to explain the results of his lunchtime research. He had received advanced warning, the bewildered Samson was told, that the internet was to be shut down from midnight on the 31st of March until midday on the 1st of April. Why? Because of essential cleaning work. Apparently12 all those emails he had been sending concerning school discipline, all those catch-ups with relatives in Australia, had in some small way contributed to a global cyberspace13 that was now completely full up with invisible junk.
‘But who’ll do this job?’ asked the deeply confused, heavily bearded teacher, ‘You, Applewhite?’
Danny gave a brief laugh.
‘No sir, not me. An international team of scientists has developed five very special, highly efficient internet robots. They’ll be smuggled14 onto the net inside special data packages.’
Sometimes Mr Samson would like to have been smuggled back into the past, a place he knew and taught so well. He often imagined living as a medieval knight15 or simple farmer somewhere. Now was such an occasion. He thought for a moment then said:
‘I better send an email to warn -‘
But Danny interrupted.
‘Best not to sir, more for the robots to clean up. You leave it to me, I’ll tell everyone to shut down the school computers straight away.’
When Danny and Rollo walked to school two days later only one of them was smiling.
‘It’s not fair,’ said Rollo, ‘Without computers I can’t play Drag Racer on-line anymore. I miss my racing16 friends in China. The boys all make me play football now and my glasses have been broken three times.’
‘Why don’t you do something useful, Rollo - read a book. I’ve read six since the computers were off.’
April the first, how Danny loved this date. This time last year he had spread a rumour18 around the school that it was a non-uniform day at St Cuthbert’s. All his foolish schoolmates had been punished for their appearance. And some of the fashions! Rollo had dressed in a ripped black T-shirt and worn an earring19! Why couldn’t they all Stories - April Fool's Day accept that the best way to dress was in a well-ironed shirt and tie, like him?
Danny’s first surprise of the day came at the school gates when Lucy Lang, captain of the girls’ football team, deflected20 a ball towards them.
‘Hey, kick it back then. We’ve got a game to finish here,’ she yelled.
Despite his damaged glasses and the innocent expression on Lucy’s face, Rollo sensed that something wasn’t right. Turning to his friend he quickly warned him not to touch the ball.
‘Don’t be daft, Rollo, it’s a stupid game but I still know how to play it. Watch this - I’m aiming for the roof of the arts block.’
Although Danny’s technique matched his ambition and his shoelaces struck the ball dead centre, what happened next is rarely seen in the professional game. As foot met leather an explosion occurred that left Danny’s entire right side covered in a sticky yellow substance - a thick and gloopy custard fresh (but not very) from the school’s infamous21 canteen.
‘April fool!’ shouted Lucy at the top of her voice.
Danny didn’t mind the custard but he’d never been called a fool before. Somehow he had also lost his watch. It was only a cheap one but it wasn’t like him to lose things so easily. He glared up at the school clock - 9am. Three hours to go. Danny regained22 his cool. After all, he would have the last laugh minutes before the midday deadline when, according to the rules, any person still fooling others became the fool.
By the 11 o’clock break Danny was feeling much better. Mr Samson was walking towards him across the yard, and he suspected he was about to learn his excellent History grade.
‘Dreadful work, Applewhite, really amateurish23, I’m going to have to give you extra assignments.’
Like Lucy’s, these were words Danny had not heard before and he was surprised to find his cheeks were burning red.
‘But sir,’ he protested.
‘April fool’s - you make sure you’re as sharp in person as you are on the page,’ he advised.
In seconds Danny proved his sharpness - quickly seeing that Samson was walking directly towards an open drainage hole in the yard. The juniors had been fishing again.
‘Mr Samson! Look out!’
The teacher smiled.
‘You can’t fool me that easily Applewhyyyyyyyyyyy!‘
And he was gone. When Samson opened his eyes he found he was in an underground tunnel, dark and damp. Surprisingly, he felt remarkably25 content. It would be a simpler life down here, he thought, watching a rat watching him, compared to dealing26 with those strange creatures up above.
Danny asked Rollo for the time. There were ten minutes before midday - it was time for his cunning trick to be revealed. A famous writer was speaking to the entire population of St. Cuthbert’s today and everyone was moving into the main hall to hear him read. Knowing a quick route backstage, Danny positioned himself behind a thick velvet27 curtain and peeped out at the rows of uniformed children. The writer looked nervous and Danny sympathized - this crowd could turn nasty at any time. Just as the middle-aged28 man was getting ready to read, Danny jumped out on stage.
‘Ladies and gentleman!’ he announced. ‘More bad news I’m afraid!’
Some of the younger kids looked scared. At the back the teachers raised their eyebrows29. Danny continued:
‘Due to a terrible robot malfunction30 the internet is closed for another week!’
Danny was laughing so much to himself that he struggled to hear a thin voice addressing him from the third row.
‘No it isn’t Danny. You’re making it up.’
It was Rollo.
‘What?’ Danny turned to the writer, hoping that he might share his exasperated31 expression.
‘Rollo, my old friend -‘
‘And another thing,’ Rollo was holding something up. It was Danny’s watch.
‘It’s ten past twelve and you are the fool!’
‘Rubbish,’ said Danny, determined33 to win, ‘what about the school clock? It says five-to-twelve.’
Mr Samson stood up, still wiping away mud from his trip below ground.
‘That was my work Applewhite, I’m afraid - I arranged for the clock to be running 20 minutes slow. Sorry old potato, all part of the fun.’ Stories - April Fool's Day Page 4 of 4 The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
The whole school was now laughing at Danny. The students who knew about the trick beforehand laughed as long and hard as those who had just found out about it from their friends. Even the famous writer was laughing with the horrible kids and old, bald teachers. Danny decided34 that when he became an incredibly wealthy businessman he would buy the internet and close it down. But then, looking at Rollo’s infectious smile, he thought he might like to get to know his neighbours, far and wide, first of all.
Activity 3: 1. a; 2. f; 3. b; 4. h; 5. d; 6. i; 7. e; 8. c; 9. g; 10. j
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
briefcase
|
|
| n.手提箱，公事皮包 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
specifications
|
|
| n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
deflecting
|
|
| （使）偏斜， （使）偏离， （使）转向( deflect的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
organisation
|
|
| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
ornamental
|
|
| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
spikes
|
|
| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
punctured
|
|
| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
stimulate
|
|
| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
squinting
|
|
| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
cyberspace
|
|
| n.虚拟信息空间，网络空间，计算机化世界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
smuggled
|
|
| 水货 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rumour
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
earring
|
|
| n.耳环，耳饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
deflected
|
|
| 偏离的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
infamous
|
|
| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
amateurish
|
|
| n.业余爱好的，不熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
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： |
|
|
|
|
25
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
middle-aged
|
|
| adj.中年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
malfunction
|
|
| vi.发生功能故障，发生故障，显示机能失常 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
exasperated
|
|
| adj.恼怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
购买
在百度中搜索