英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十六册 Hour of the Olympics 04 Not Fair!

　　The young woman smiled at Jack¹ and Annie.

"How did you learn to read and write?" Annieasked.

"I taught myself," the woman answered.

"She wrote a poem and brought it to me," saidPlato, "because I have written and told people that Ithink Greek girls should go to school and learnthings.""Is that the poem?" said Jack. He pointed² to thepoet's scroll³.

"yes," said the young woman.

"It's a wonderful story," said Plato. "But she will getin trouble if it is read in our land. You must take itback to your faraway home, it will be safe."The poet handed Jack her scroll. He put it into hisbackpack.

"Tell us your name," said Annie. "So we can tellpeople who wrote the story."The young woman shook her head.

"I cannot," she said. When she saw Annie's sad face,she added, "You can tell people it was written byAnonymous.""That's your name?" asked Annie.

"No, anonymous⁴ means that no one knows whowrote it," said Plato.

"But that's not true!" said Annie.

"I'm afraid the risk is too great," said Plato.

Annie looked back at the woman.

"I'm sorry," said Annie. "It's not fair-not at all."The poet smiled at her. "I am happy that you willtake my story to your country," she said. "Perhapssomeday women everywhere will write books justlike men.""They will," said Jack. "I promise.

The young woman looked at him, puzzled.

"It's true!" said Annie.

"Thank you, Annie," the young woman said. "Andthank you, Jack." She bowed, then hurried out of thecourtyard.

"Wait!" said Annie.

She started to go after the poet, but Plato stoppedher.

"Come along," he said. "The games will start soon."Plato then led Jack and Annie out of the Greekhouse back onto the dirt road.

"Girls can't write stories," grumbled⁵ Annie. "Theycan't go to school. They can't be in plays. I've hadenough of ancient Greece. Let's get out of here.""Wait," said Jack. "What about the Olympics?""Oh, yeah," said Annie. Her eyes got brighter. "Ialmost forgot.""Well " said Plato slowly. "I would like to take youboth to the games. I have special seats in the viewingbox. However..." He looked at Annie.

"Don't tell me," she said. "Girls can't go to theOlympics either."Plato shook his head.

"A girl will get in terrible trouble if she goes to thegames," he said.

Annie sighed. "It's really, really not fair," she said.

"I'm sorry," said Plato. "My country is a democracy⁶.

We believe in freedom for our citizens. But I'm afraidright now that only means men.""Annie's right. It's not fair," said Jack. "I think weshould go home now.""No, Jack. You go to the Olympics," said Annie. "Atleast you can tell me about it. Take notes.""What about you?" Jack said.

"I'll go back to that play at the theater" Annie said.

"Meet me when you're done."Jack didn't want to leave Annie alone. But he alsodidn't want to miss the Olympics.

"Go! Have fun!" Annie said. She began walkingaway. "I'll see you later! Bye, Plato!""Bye, Annie," said Plato.

Annie turned back again and waved.

"I'll tell you all about it!" Jack called. "This way,"said Plato.

He and Jack turned and joined the crowd headingtoward the Olympic grounds.

1 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。

2 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。

3 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

4 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

5 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

6 democracy   

n.民主政治，民主制度；民主精神，民主作风

参考例句：

• Democracy is based on good will and mutual understanding.民主建立在善意和相互理解的基础上。
• Did democracy have its beginnings in Athens? 民主制度是创始于雅典吗？