英语美文背诵 许愿的小女孩(中)

Amy's dad guessed a picture book. But Amy wasn't ready to reveal¹ her secret Christmas wish just then.

艾米的爸爸认为是一本图画书。但是艾米当时还不想告诉他们，她的秘密圣诞节愿望。

Here is Amy's letter to Santa, just as she wrote it that night

以下是艾米写给圣诞老人的信，就是那晚上她写的：

Dear Santa Claus,

亲爱的圣诞老人，

My name is Amy. I am nine years old. I have a problem at school. Can you help me Santa Kids laugh at me because of the way I walk and run and talk.

我的名字叫艾米。我9岁大了。我在学校有一个麻烦。你能帮我吗，圣诞老人？

I have cerebral² palsy. I just want one day where no one laughs at me or makes fun of me.

孩子们笑话我讲话和走路、奔跑的方式。我患有脑瘫。我只想拥有一天，没人笑话和取笑我。

Love, Amy

爱你的，艾米

At radio station WJLT in Fort³ Wayne, Indiana, letter poured in for the Christmas wish contest.

在印地安那州的韦恩堡WJLT广播电台，参加圣诞节愿望竞赛的信件蜂拥而至。

The workers had fun reading about all the different presents that boys and girls from across the city wanted for Christmas.

工作人员在阅读来自全市的男孩和女孩寄来的各种各样的圣诞节礼物信件时感到非常开心。

When Amy's letter arrived at the radio station, manager Lee Tobin read it carefully.

当艾米的信送到电台时，经理李.托宾仔细地阅读了内容。

He knew cerebral palsy was a muscle⁴ disorder⁵ that might confuse the schoolmates⁶ of Amy's who didn't understand her disability.

他知道脑瘫是一种肌肉紊乱的病症，所以可能艾米的同学从外表看不出她有残疾。

He thought it would be good for the people in Fort Wayne to hear about this special third-grader and her unusual wish. Mr. Tobin called up the local newspaper.

他认为对韦恩堡的市民最好听到这位特别的三年级的故事和她非一般的愿望。托宾先生给当地报纸打了电话。

The next day, a picture of Amy and her letter to Santa made the front page of the News Sentinel. The story spread quickly.

第二天，艾米的照片和她写给圣诞老人的信登上了《新闻前哨》的首页。故事很快传开了。

All across the country, newspapers and radio and television stations reported the story of the little girl in Fort Wayne, Indiana,

全面范围的报纸和电台、电视台报道了这个印地安那州的韦恩堡的小女孩的故事，

who asked for such a simple yet remarkable⁷ Christmas gift -- just one day without teasing⁸.

她要求的只是这样一个简单但是值得注意的圣诞节礼物——只是没有取笑的一天。

Suddenly the postman was a regular at the Hagadorn house. Envelopes of all sizes addressed to Amy arrived daily from children and adults all across the nation.

突然，邮差成了艾米家的常客。每天，都有各种型号的信件寄给艾米，来自于全国的小孩和大人们。

They came filled with holiday greetings and words of encouragement.

信里充满了节日的问候和鼓励的话语。

1 reveal   

vt.揭露，泄露；展现，显示

参考例句：

• The journalist did not want to reveal the identity of his informant.那个新闻工作者不想透露消息提供人的身份。
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes.它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。

2 cerebral   

adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的

参考例句：

• Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.你的左半脑控制身体的右半身。
• He is a precise,methodical,cerebral man who carefully chooses his words.他是一个一丝不苟、有条理和理智的人，措辞谨慎。

3 fort   

n.要塞，堡垒，碉堡

参考例句：

• The fort can not be defended against an air attack.这座要塞遭到空袭时无法防御。
• No one can get into the fort without a pass.没有通行证，任何人不得进入要塞。

4 muscle   

n.肌肉，膂力；v.硬挤

参考例句：

• The heart is made of muscle.心脏是肌肉组织。
• He is a man of muscle.他是个大力士。

5 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

6 schoolmates   

n.同学，校友( schoolmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her close relationship with the teacher increased her unpopularity among her schoolmates. 她和那位老师的密切关系使她在同学中越发不受欢迎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She is fond of flaunting her superiority before her friends and schoolmates. 她好在朋友和同学面前逞强。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

8 teasing   

adj.戏弄的，逗趣的v.取笑，戏弄( tease的现在分词 )；梳理（羊毛等）

参考例句：

• Don't get upset—I was only teasing. 别不高兴，我只是在逗你玩。
• I didn't think you meant that seriously;I thought you were teasing. 我未想到你是当真的，我原以为你是开玩笑的。 来自《简明英汉词典》