知性英语－地震

 
　　Johnny lived with his mother and father in a small town in the mountains.

　　One day there was an earthquake¹ near the town. Many houses were damaged². Everyone thought that there would soon be another earthquake. They were worried that the second earthquake would be worse than the first.

　　"We must send Johnny to a safe place," Johnny's mother said to her husband, "many of our friends are sending their children to relatives³ in other towns."

　　"We'll send him to my brother, Peter," "Johnny's father said, "he lives a long way away. Johnny will be safe with him."

　　He telephoned Johnny's uncle Peter and asked him if he would let Johnny live with him.

　　"He's a good boy," he said, "won't give you any trouble."

　　"All right," Johnny's Uncle Peter said, "but I'm not used⁴ to children. I live a very quiet and peaceful life."

　　"You won't know Johnny's in the house," his father told him.

　　So Johnny, who was five, went to live with his uncle.

　　Two days later, his mother and father received a telegram⁵ from Peter. It said: "I'm returning the child. Please send earthquake."

1 earthquake   

n.地震

参考例句：

• The earthquake is a disaster!地震是一种灾难！
• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。

2 damaged   

a.已损伤的；毁坏的

参考例句：

• The illness damaged his Action Man image. 这场病损害了他那爱打拼的形象。
• Five shops were damaged in a firebomb blitz. 在一次燃烧弹袭击中有五家店铺被烧毁。

3 relatives   

n.亲属( relative的名词复数 )；相关物；亲缘植物（或动物）；[语法学]关系词

参考例句：

• She went to visit relatives in Wales. 她去威尔士看望亲戚了。
• They're always farming out their children on their relatives. 他们总是把孩子寄养在亲戚家。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 used   

adj.用旧了的，旧的；习惯于…；过去惯/经常

参考例句：

• I used to work until nearly 6:00 o'clock each day.我过去常常工作到6:00左右。
• He used to walk anywhere from two to five miles an hour.他过去经常一小时走二至五英里。

5 telegram   

n.电报；vt.用电报发送(打电报)

参考例句：

• Will you hand on this telegram to your friend?你把这份电报转交给你的朋友好吗？
• I've got your telegram.我已经收到了你的电报。