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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo CHAPTER 9 Where’s Amos?

时间:2017-07-17 09:00来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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“That was a delicious dinner,” Edward said, leaning back and patting his stomach.

“Are we going to finish our game of chess?” Grandfather asked.

Edward pushed back his chair. “Afraid not, James. I’m too tired, and I have to be wide awake to beat you! In fact,” he said, rising and stretching, “I’m going to bed. I need to be at the zoo bright and early.” He gave them all a half smile. “I don’t know if I’ll get much sleep, though.”

Jessie glanced at Henry. It was too bad that Edward couldn’t sleep because of worrying. If they could only do more to help.

They all went to bed shortly after Edward had turned in.

Violet, however, couldn’t sleep. She gazed at the big yellow moon outside her window and hoped the animals were safe. She tossed and turned and hit her pillow. It wasn’t fair that Edward, who was such a wonderful man, had to put up with trouble at his zoo.

At last Violet drifted off into a restless sleep. She dreamed a huge van hauled all the animals away. And when they visited the zoo, it was quiet and still. Not a bird whistled or a lion roared. Not one animal remained.

When Violet awakened1, sunlight streamed in, and she heard voices from the kitchen. Leaping out of bed, she dressed and ran downstairs.

Jessie laughed, handing Violet a glass of orange juice. “Good morning, sleepyhead. You’re just in time for breakfast.”

Violet smiled. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.” She was glad that she had only dreamed that the animals had disappeared.

After eating oatmeal and toast, the Aldens cleaned the kitchen, bought groceries at the store, and chatted with Grandfather, who was working in the yard.

“How do you like these red rosebushes I planted?” he asked.

“Beautiful,” Violet said.

“Do you want us to do anything?” Henry asked.

“No,” Grandfather answered. “I’m happy when I can dig in the dirt.” He straightened, rubbing his back. “You run along to the zoo. I’m sure Edward needs you more than I do.”

Suddenly, Violet stood on her tiptoes and kissed her grandfather. They were so lucky he loved them.

So the Aldens left for the zoo, hoping there would be no more trouble. Today they’d have fun looking around.

But when they saw Edward, he was standing2 by the seals with Pat, and both of them had grim faces.

“What now!” Jessie murmured.

“Hi, kids,” Edward called, then turned back and studied a list with Pat.

Violet’s heart picked up a beat. Fearfully, she glanced around, but all the animals were in place and seemed happy and content.

“You two aren’t smiling!” Benny said, not smiling himself. “Did another bad thing happen?”

“Yes, it did,” Edward answered. “I went into the storeroom where we keep expensive animal food and diets.” He shook his head. “Most of it is missing!”

“Oh, no,” groaned3 Henry.

“Some animals,” Pat explained, her forehead wrinkling, “have special diets, others need expensive vitamins, and it’s all gone. Our storeroom was ransacked4.”

“What can we do?” Violet questioned.

“Do you suppose your grandfather would drive you over to Bridgeport and you could pick up a few items at the pet store? Pat and I have to stay here.”

“We’d be glad to,” Henry responded.

“There’s no rush,” Edward said. “Enjoy the zoo this morning, and this afternoon you can buy the food.”

“Oh, good,” Benny said. “I wanted to say hello to Amos!”

Pat smiled and handed the list of pet foods that were needed. “I don’t know what we’d do without the Aldens,” she said, squeezing Jessie’s hand. Jessie smiled at Pat. Edward was lucky to have such a good worker. Then her smile faded. At least she thought he was. Surely Pat couldn’t be the guilty one.

For the next hour they wandered around the zoo. They watched the seals as they dived and played in their pool.

“Remember the bad shape the seals were in when their pool was drained?” Violet said.

“Yes, they look much healthier today,” Jessie said, pleased at their antics.

They moved on. The panther, sleek5 and black, sat and stared at them; the birds gave them a noisy greeting; and the elephants swished their tails and raised their trunks. The children laughed as they watched the animals, enjoying their playfulness.

“Could we go to the Monkey House now?” Benny coaxed6.

“Yes, we’ve saved the best for last,” Violet said, walking toward the chattering7 monkeys.

A monkey swung by one arm from a branch, another carefully peeled a banana and ate it. They jumped from the trapeze to the trees, and it was hard to tell one from another.

Benny, his eyes following each one, tugged8 on his ear, puzzled. “Where’s Amos? I know exactly what he looks like.”

“He’s probably hiding behind those rocks,” Henry answered, chuckling9. “Don’t worry, he’ll come out when he wants to.”

Benny watched more closely. Amos’s tin cup lay on the ground. “No,” he said in a choked voice. “He isn’t in there.”

Jessie, Violet, and Henry joined Benny in trying to spot Amos. They knew how much Benny cared about him.

“Where could he be?” Benny asked.

“Maybe Pat took him out for an examination,” Jessie said reassuringly10.

Sadly, Benny shook his head. “No. Maybe someone has kidnapped him.”

“We’ll find out right now,” Henry said.

They hurried out of the Monkey House. Henry spotted11 Edward by the Lion House.

“Edward,” he called, running to meet him. “Is Amos being examined?”

Edward appeared startled. “Why, no. Isn’t he in with the others?”

“We can’t find him,” Henry said. “Could he be hiding?”

Edward hurried over to the Monkey House and scanned each monkey. “He’s not there,” he said calmly. “We’ll start a search, but there’s no way he could have gotten free.”

Benny’s lowered lip trembled. “I knew it. Someone stole Amos. He’d never leave his tin cup behind unless he was snatched up before he could grab it.” He reached in and grasped the cup and hugged it to his chest. Then he put it in his back pocket.

Jessie stared at the monkeys. If anything happened to Amos she knew how sad Benny would feel. Where could the poor little monkey be?


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 awakened de71059d0b3cd8a1de21151c9166f9f0     
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
  • The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
3 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 ransacked 09515d69399c972e2c9f59770cedff4e     
v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 );抢劫,掠夺
参考例句:
  • The house had been ransacked by burglars. 这房子遭到了盗贼的洗劫。
  • The house had been ransacked of all that was worth anything. 屋子里所有值钱的东西都被抢去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
5 sleek zESzJ     
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢
参考例句:
  • Women preferred sleek,shiny hair with little decoration.女士们更喜欢略加修饰的光滑闪亮型秀发。
  • The horse's coat was sleek and glossy.这匹马全身润泽有光。
6 coaxed dc0a6eeb597861b0ed72e34e52490cd1     
v.哄,用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 );巧言骗取;哄劝,劝诱
参考例句:
  • She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
  • I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
7 chattering chattering     
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
  • I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
8 tugged 8a37eb349f3c6615c56706726966d38e     
v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
  • A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 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
10 reassuringly YTqxW     
ad.安心,可靠
参考例句:
  • He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
  • The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑,让人心里很踏实。
11 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
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