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 Gymnastics Mystery CHAPTER 5 The Missing Music

时间:2017-09-22 02:35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)

Katya delicately pulled off a bite-sized piece of fried chicken with her fork. “This is the best thing I have ever eaten!” she exclaimed.

The Aldens were in the popular Chicken Lickin’ restaurant across from Greenfield Park. Because Katya and her teammates had performed their afternoon routines so well, their coach had let them go early. Grandfather thought their guest might enjoy a meal out as a treat.

“You can pick it up,” Benny said. “That’s the way we eat fried chicken.”

“But I’ll get my fingers all greasy1!” Katya said.

“Lick ’em,” Benny told her. “Like the sign says!”

“Do you eat chicken in Russia?” asked Violet. Now that they wondered who Katya really was, they were more curious than ever about her background.

“Oh, yes,” Katya replied. “My grandmother makes chicken Kiev. It is wonderful.”

“I’ve had chicken Kiev,” Grandfather said. “It’s very tasty. A whole stick of butter is tucked inside the rolled chicken.”

“And when you poke2 your fork into it, the butter squooshes out!” said Katya, laughing.

“Cool!” Benny said. “I like food that squooshes out.”

“As long as it lands on your plate,” added Jessie with a chuckle3.

Katya seems much more at ease, Jessie thought. Inside the sports arena4, Katya had been very tense. Maybe because she was away from other teams and reporters, Katya was loosening up. She was even telling them about her grandmother.

When the waitress refilled Grandfather’s coffee mug, she announced the dessert of the day. “Chocolate cake.”

Benny’s eyes lit up. “Can we, Grandfather?” he asked.

“Of course,” said James Alden. “I only wish I could eat as much as you do, Benny. Enjoy it while you can!”

But Katya shook her head regretfully. “I cannot eat too much before the competition.”

“Then we won’t have dessert, either,” Benny said loyally.

Grandfather paid the check. “When the competition is over, we’ll come back. Then, Katya, you may eat as much chocolate cake as you want.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr. Alden. I am so lucky to have such a nice host.” Then she looked away.

Violet wondered if Katya was feeling guilty about something.

“Can we go to the park now?” Benny asked.

“You bet,” said Grandfather. “I have some errands to take care of in the square. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

It was early evening and hardly anyone was in the park. A few people sat on the benches. Two older men played chess.

The playground was empty. Benny ran over to the slide, scrambled5 up the ladder, and shot down.

“Whee! Come on, Katya! This is fun!” he urged.

Katya climbed up the ladder with her gymnast’s grace and slid down, giggling6. “This is fun. I forget what it is like to play sometimes.”

“Everybody needs to play,” Jessie said as she and Violet chose swings.

Benny ran over to the monkey bars. He was too short to reach the first bar, so Henry gave him a boost.

“Look at me!” he cried, pulling himself along.

“Very good,” said Katya.

Then she leaped onto the bars with a backward somersault. She swung from bar to bar, twisting her body in midair. When she dismounted, she arched her back, arms overhead, as if she had finished a routine for the judges.

Violet clapped. “You aren’t supposed to be working!”

“That was not work,” Katya said, her cheeks pink from the fresh air. “That was fun.”

Then all the children clambered onto the jungle gym and sat on top, enjoying the view.

Jessie dangled7 her legs. It felt good to be high in the air. “There’s the fountain. The water isn’t turned on in the cold months, though.”

Just then a bright blue disk sailed into the playground.

A big golden dog burst through the bushes near the fountain. The dog grabbed the Frisbee8 in his mouth, his plumy tail waving like a flag.

“Come here,” cried a voice from the trees. “You’re supposed to bring the Frisbee back to me, Ralph!” A young man with light hair stepped into the clearing. He wore blue sweatpants and a gray sweatshirt.

Ralph hopped9 from side to side with the Frisbee still in his mouth.

The Aldens and Katya watched the scene, giggling. Clearly, Ralph wasn’t going to give the Frisbee to his owner.

The young man was annoyed. “All right, show-off!”

After trotting10 in a perfect circle, Ralph dropped the Frisbee at his owner’s feet.

“Good dog,” Henry called down.

The young man looked at them for the first time, then drew back sharply in surprise. He picked up the Frisbee. “We’d better get along home, boy.”

“’Bye!” Benny said.

The young man did not look back at them or say good-bye.

Jessie stared as the pair left the park. “That man looks familiar. I know I’ve seen him before.”

“Maybe here at the park?” Violet said.

Jessie shook her head. “I don’t think so. But it wasn’t long ago.”

Henry swung down from the jungle gym. “Grandfather’s here. You probably saw that guy in the supermarket.”

Jessie hoped so. There were too many people to keep track of lately.

Denise, the American gymnast, was waiting for Katya the next morning at the Greenfield Sports Arena.

“Hi,” she said. “I missed you yesterday.”

“We finished practice early,” Katya said. “Denise, these are my friends. Henry, Violet, Benny, and Jessie, this is Denise Patterson.”

“Hi,” said Denise. She had snapping dark eyes and a pert ponytail tied with a red ribbon. Like Katya, she was small for her age. “Are any of you gymnasts?”

“Katya is teaching us,” Benny said. “But all I do is fall.”

Denise smiled at him, showing a dimple. “Keep at it. You’ll get it. We should go stretch, Katya.”

The two girls worked out on the mat.

Violet scanned the room. “I wonder where Denise’s mother is. She doesn’t like Katya and Denise to be together.”

“I don’t see her,” said Benny. “But there’s Lucas.”

Jessie couldn’t believe her eyes. Lucas Tripp was wearing blue sweatpants! Exactly like the ones the red-haired woman sitting in the bleachers had worn. And just like the sweatpants worn by the mysterious figure who had followed them in the town square, and the young man they had just seen in the park.

She gripped Henry’s arm, “Lucas is wearing blue sweatpants,” she told him. “Is he the guy who followed us last night? You were closer to him than any of us.”

“The guy—or girl—had on a coat,” Henry said. “I really couldn’t tell.”

Lucas walked straight over to the Aldens. “You kids are just who I need to talk to.”

“How can we help you?” Violet asked. Despite Lucas’s cheerful manner, she was wary11 of the young reporter.

He pushed his glasses up on his nose and checked his spiral notebook. “I was watching Al Stockton yesterday. I don’t think he works for any newspaper. He doesn’t seem to be on deadline like the rest of us.”

“On deadline?” quizzed Benny.

“Yes,” Lucas answered. “Reporters and photographers have to have their stories and pictures finished and in by a certain time. Then the newspaper can print them. Most of us rush out of here by late afternoon. Not Al.”

“Why would he tell us he’s working for a newspaper if he isn’t?” asked Jessie.

“Good question,” said Lucas.

“Is he here today?” Violet asked.

“I haven’t seen him yet,” Lucas replied. “But I’ll keep an eye out for him. Maybe you should, too.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get back to work.” He hurried off to where a boys’ team was practicing on the parallel bars.

Henry thought of something. “Maybe Al Stockton is only pretending to work for a newspaper so he can get in the arena.” He pointed12 to the press box.

Violet nodded. “Nobody questions why members of the press are here.”

“I just wish we could get all the sweatpants people sorted out!” Jessie said. “First that red-haired lady, then the person in the square, and then that guy in the park.”

“And now Lucas,” said Benny.

At that moment, a blond woman breezed past them. It was Denise’s mother, Mrs. Patterson.

Denise’s team and Katya’s team were both practicing on the vault13. The two teams were lined up. Each girl ran, hit the board, and vaulted14 over the horse.

Mrs. Patterson stood to one side, frowning at Katya. When it was Katya’s turn, Mrs. Patterson said loudly, “That girl’s hair is a mess.”

The Aldens heard her and so did Katya.

It wasn’t much of a remark, but it was enough to rattle15 Katya’s concentration. Her double-twisting vault went well, but she stepped out of her landing.

Irina frowned. “Katya, I have told you, you must stick the landing,” Katya bit her lip.

Jessie turned to the others. “That wasn’t fair. Mrs. Patterson made Katya nervous.”

Katya’s next vault was perfect. So was Denise’s. The two girls seemed evenly matched in that event.

Benny wished he could sail over the padded horse. Gymnastics looked like so much fun! Then he saw a movement on the other side of the horse. A man was crouched16 at the edge of the mat, snapping pictures.

“It’s him again, our mystery man!” he exclaimed.

Henry saw him next. “So Al Stockton is here. And he seems to be taking pictures only of Katya. She was right.”

“I hope he doesn’t make her mess up,” said Jessie.

Just then Katya gave a wail17. The Aldens rushed over. Jessie thought Katya had fallen and hurt herself.

But Katya was standing18 over her sports bag. Her warm-up suit spilled out of the zippered19 opening.

Irina reached her first. “What is it?”

“My music,” Katya cried. “It is not in my bag.”

“Not to worry,” said Irina. “We will use my copy.” The coach searched her own bag, pulling out several cassette tapes. But not the right one.

“What’s going on?” Violet asked, concerned.

Now Katya was sobbing20. “The music for my floor routine is gone from my bag!”

“And the backup copy I keep is missing as well,” said the coach. “How very strange.”

The Aldens stared at one another. Two cassette tapes kept in two different bags were missing. It wasn’t just strange. It was downright suspicious.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 greasy a64yV     
adj. 多脂的,油脂的
参考例句:
  • He bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean his greasy oven.昨天他买了强力清洁剂来清洗油污的炉子。
  • You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时,你会厌恶油腻的气味。
2 poke 5SFz9     
n.刺,戳,袋;vt.拨开,刺,戳;vi.戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢
参考例句:
  • We never thought she would poke her nose into this.想不到她会插上一手。
  • Don't poke fun at me.别拿我凑趣儿。
3 chuckle Tr1zZ     
vi./n.轻声笑,咯咯笑
参考例句:
  • He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
  • I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个,我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。
4 arena Yv4zd     
n.竞技场,运动场所;竞争场所,舞台
参考例句:
  • She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
  • He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。
5 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 giggling 2712674ae81ec7e853724ef7e8c53df1     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • We just sat there giggling like naughty schoolchildren. 我们只是坐在那儿像调皮的小学生一样的咯咯地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I can't stand her giggling, she's so silly. 她吃吃地笑,叫我真受不了,那样子傻透了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
7 dangled 52e4f94459442522b9888158698b7623     
悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口
参考例句:
  • Gold charms dangled from her bracelet. 她的手镯上挂着许多金饰物。
  • It's the biggest financial incentive ever dangled before British footballers. 这是历来对英国足球运动员的最大经济诱惑。
8 frisbee pzrz1     
n.飞盘(塑料玩具)
参考例句:
  • We always go to the park on weekends and play Frisbee.我们每个周末都会到公园玩飞盘。
  • The frisbee is a light plastic disc,shaped like a plate.飞盘是一种碟形塑料盘。
9 hopped 91b136feb9c3ae690a1c2672986faa1c     
跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花
参考例句:
  • He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
  • He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车,向市区开去。
10 trotting cbfe4f2086fbf0d567ffdf135320f26a     
小跑,急走( trot的现在分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走
参考例句:
  • The riders came trotting down the lane. 这骑手骑着马在小路上慢跑。
  • Alan took the reins and the small horse started trotting. 艾伦抓住缰绳,小马开始慢跑起来。
11 wary JMEzk     
adj.谨慎的,机警的,小心的
参考例句:
  • He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
  • Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头,突然警惕起来。
12 pointed Il8zB4     
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。
13 vault 3K3zW     
n.拱形圆顶,地窖,地下室
参考例句:
  • The vault of this cathedral is very high.这座天主教堂的拱顶非常高。
  • The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。
14 vaulted MfjzTA     
adj.拱状的
参考例句:
  • She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
  • The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。
15 rattle 5Alzb     
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓
参考例句:
  • The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓,笑着叫着。
  • She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。
16 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
17 wail XMhzs     
vt./vi.大声哀号,恸哭;呼啸,尖啸
参考例句:
  • Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里,一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
  • One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。
18 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。
19 zippered ed46cf997b13826b9dcc208fa3765aea     
v.拉上拉链( zipper的过去式和过去分词 );用拉链扣上
参考例句:
  • Freeze grapes and put them into a zippered plastic bag. 还可以把葡萄冷冻,然后放在有拉链的塑料袋里。 来自互联网
  • Packaging is a VZB( Vinyl Zippered Bag packaging), with a color insert. 包装:有拉链的塑料袋,放一张彩卡。 来自互联网
20 sobbing df75b14f92e64fc9e1d7eaf6dcfc083a     
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的
参考例句:
  • I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
  • Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。
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