英语 英语 日语 日语 韩语 韩语 法语 法语 德语 德语 西班牙语 西班牙语 意大利语 意大利语 阿拉伯语 阿拉伯语 葡萄牙语 葡萄牙语 越南语 越南语 俄语 俄语 芬兰语 芬兰语 泰语 泰语 泰语 丹麦语 泰语 对外汉语

儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 7 Too Hot, Too Cold

时间:2017-07-17 08:59来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
特别声明:本栏目内容均从网络收集或者网友提供,供仅参考试用,我们无法保证内容完整和正确。如果资料损害了您的权益,请与站长联系,我们将及时删除并致以歉意。
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

The next day was calm at the zoo. Maybe, Jessie thought, the strange things happening to the animals had stopped.

On the afternoon of the second peaceful day, Benny said, “Let’s read our books.”

“That would be fun,” Violet said. “I’m almost finished reading the mystery I brought with me and I’m eager to see how it ends.”

So they went outside and Henry spread out two blankets. There was only one tree in Edward’s backyard, but it was a large apple tree and heavy with apples.

It was pleasant to enjoy the shade on such a warm day, to eat crisp apples, and to read.

At last they closed their books and folded their blankets. When they decided1 to visit the zoo, it was almost closing time.

Going through the gate, they found David. He was giving Joe, the elephant, a bath. “Hi, Aldens,” he called with a smile, then returned to his work.

Joe patiently allowed David to use a brush to scrub him. Making wide soapy circles in the elephant’s leathery hide, David soon covered Joe in white.

“Watch this,” David said, chuckling2 and picking up a hose. “He loves his shower!” He sprayed the elephant, causing the soap to run down Joe’s sides in white streams. Joe lifted his trunk and trumpeted3 his pleasure.

At last David coiled up the hose and came over to lean on the fence. “What did you do today?” he asked.

“Most of the day we read and ate apples,” Benny said, grinning.

David nodded. “That sounds like a perfect afternoon. Second only to working here with the animals.”

“David,” Henry asked, growing serious, “what do you think of what’s been happening at the zoo?”

Frowning, David shook his head. “I wish I knew what was going on. If these awful things don’t stop, I’m afraid Edward might lose the zoo.” He paused. “I noticed Helen Brooks4 here again yesterday. She asked me a lot of questions, but I didn’t give her any information that would hurt Edward.”

“Good!” Jessie said. “I know she’s waiting for a chance to find out something really damaging.”

“I saw Pat talking to her,” David said, “but I know she didn’t give her any news, either.”

I hope not, Jessie thought.

“Has anyone else been around asking questions?” Violet asked.

David shrugged5. “Not that I noticed. I only work three days a week in the summer.” He smiled. “I’d like to work with the animals every day. Someday,” he announced, “I’m going to be a zookeeper.”

“That would be a great job, David,” Benny said. “Maybe I’ll be one, too.”

“We could work at the same zoo, Benny,” David said, teasing. “Well,” he sighed, “I’d like to stay and talk but I’d better get back to work. Pat wants me to check out the brown bears.”

The Aldens strolled over to the leopards7 and watched a baby leopard6 playing with its mother.

Four chimes sounded. The zoo was closing. One boy, sitting on his father’s shoulders watching the beavers8, cried, “I don’t want to leave.”

“We’ll come back, son,” the father reassured9 him.

A man pushed a wheelchair before him. In the chair was an elderly woman with a lovely smile on her face.

Yes, Henry thought. Edward’s zoo had to stay open. It gave so much enjoyment10 to so many different kinds of people.

In the morning the children planned to go to the zoo early. Edward was opening up that day and Pat was coming in later. They wanted their afternoon free, as Grandfather was taking them to a movie, then out for ice cream.

As soon as they entered the zoo’s gates, they knew something was wrong. Going by the lions, they noticed how restless they were and how they paced back and forth11, shaking their manes.

Hurriedly they followed Edward to the Bird House. “Let’s see how our tropical friends are doing,” Edward said, opening the door.

The macaw screeched12, and the green parrot scolded, but on the whole the birds were unusually quiet. Many were hunched13 over and didn’t move.

“Oh,” Jessie cried, grabbing her arms, “it’s cold in here!”

“I’m cold, too,” Benny exclaimed.

“The heat’s off!” Edward shouted, racing14 to the opposite wall and checking the thermometer. Immediately he turned up the heat, and when he faced them, an angry expression crossed his face.

“These birds could have died!” he said, his face red with fury. Helplessly he threw out his hands. “Let’s check the others.”

Sure enough, the brown bears from Alaska were slumped15 against the rocks, panting. The air-conditioning in their glassed-in area had been turned off.

Edward raced from one animal house to another, raising low temperatures and lowering high temperatures. The Aldens helped by bringing water to animals that were lying down, too uncomfortable to move.

At last all the animals had been checked, and when they were at ease again, the children relaxed, too.

“Maybe we should face Helen Brooks and ask her to leave the zoo alone!” Violet exclaimed.

“Not yet,” Jessie cautioned. “If she isn’t the one doing these things, she’d just love to hear about them.”

“The best thing to do is keep our eyes open, and if we see anything suspicious, tell Edward,” Henry advised.

“I hate to sit here and wait for things to happen,” Violet said.

“It’s the only thing we can do right now,” Jessie admitted. “I don’t like it any better than you do.”

“Let’s go home,” Henry said. “We can’t do any more here. Edward is in the Bird House and Pat will be coming soon.”

As they left, a black car sped away.

“Who was that?” Benny said. “He was speeding!”

“Doesn’t Helen Brooks have a black car?” Jessie asked.

“Yes,” Violet responded quietly. “Was she spying again?”

Henry shook his head. “I don’t think so. A man was behind the wheel.”

Puzzled, they glanced at one another. The mystery was becoming deeper and deeper.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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。
2 chuckling e8dcb29f754603afc12d2f97771139ab     
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时,我能听见他的轻声发笑。
  • He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
3 trumpeted f8fa4d19d667140077bbc04606958a63     
大声说出或宣告(trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Soldiers trumpeted and bugled. 士兵们吹喇叭鸣号角。
  • The radio trumpeted the presidential campaign across the country. 电台在全国范围大力宣传总统竞选运动。
4 brooks cdbd33f49d2a6cef435e9a42e9c6670f     
n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时,狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了,今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 leopard n9xzO     
n.豹
参考例句:
  • I saw a man in a leopard skin yesterday.我昨天看见一个穿着豹皮的男人。
  • The leopard's skin is marked with black spots.豹皮上有黑色斑点。
7 leopards 5b82300b95cf3e47ad28dae49f1824d1     
n.豹( leopard的名词复数 );本性难移
参考例句:
  • Lions, tigers and leopards are all cats. 狮、虎和豹都是猫科动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • For example, airlines never ship leopards and canaries on the same flight. 例如,飞机上从来不会同时运送豹和金丝雀。 来自英语晨读30分(初三)
8 beavers 87070e8082105b943967bbe495b7d9f7     
海狸( beaver的名词复数 ); 海狸皮毛; 棕灰色; 拼命工作的人
参考例句:
  • In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress. 1928年有人把这些海豚象海狸那样把一床浸泡了水的褥垫推上岸时的情景拍摄了下来。
  • Thus do the beavers, thus do the bees, thus do men. 海狸是这样做的,蜜蜂是这样做的,人也是这样做的。
9 reassured ff7466d942d18e727fb4d5473e62a235     
adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
11 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
12 screeched 975e59058e1a37cd28bce7afac3d562c     
v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 );发出粗而刺耳的声音;高叫
参考例句:
  • She screeched her disapproval. 她尖叫着不同意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The car screeched to a stop. 汽车嚓的一声停住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
13 hunched 532924f1646c4c5850b7c607069be416     
(常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦)耸肩弓身的,伏首前倾的
参考例句:
  • He sat with his shoulders hunched up. 他耸起双肩坐着。
  • Stephen hunched down to light a cigarette. 斯蒂芬弓着身子点燃一支烟。
14 racing 1ksz3w     
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的
参考例句:
  • I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
  • The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
15 slumped b010f9799fb8ebd413389b9083180d8d     
大幅度下降,暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 ); 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]
参考例句:
  • Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
  • The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上,疲惫得睡着了。
本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎点击提交分享给大家。
------分隔线----------------------------
顶一下
(0)
0%
踩一下
(0)
0%
最新评论 查看所有评论
发表评论 查看所有评论
请自觉遵守互联网相关的政策法规,严禁发布色情、暴力、反动的言论。
评价:
表情:
验证码:
听力搜索
推荐频道
论坛新贴