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 Mystery of the Star Ruby CHAPTER 4 The Mixed-up Backpacks

时间:2017-10-20 02:05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)

“What did I find?” Violet asked anxiously.

The man at the grading counter held up her stone between his thumb and forefinger1.

“A very nice Mama Bear ruby,” he proclaimed. “I’d say it’s easily twenty carats.”

“Wow!” exclaimed Benny.

The gem2 inspector3 put the stone in the plastic container and returned it to Violet. “Congratulations, young lady. Let me know if you decide to have the stone cut and mounted in a ring.”

“I will. Thanks.” Violet slipped the plastic container into her pink backpack. As she headed for the door, she noticed Sybil Finley standing4 in line behind her.

Sybil stared at Violet’s backpack with a frown. Then, without speaking to Violet or the other Aldens, she pushed her way out of the jewelry5 shop and headed toward the cabins.

“What’s with her?” Henry wondered.

Jessie shrugged6, adjusting her own backpack. “Maybe she remembered she had to do something in her cabin. The line back there was pretty long.”

“Is it time for lunch yet?” Grandfather asked.

Benny stopped in surprise. “Grandfather! That’s what I always say!”

“Just thought I’d beat you to it!” said Grandfather.

Everyone laughed as they walked up the path to the main building.

Jonathan and Donald Hodge were sitting at their table in the dining room.

“I hear you had a pretty productive morning,” Jonathan said to Violet. “May I see the stone you found?”

Violet slipped her backpack off and hooked it on the back of her chair. Then she unzipped the outside pocket and handed Jonathan the plastic container.

Jonathan gave a low whistle of admiration7. “This would make a nice ring.” He showed the stone to Donald. “See? If you’d stayed on the line longer, you might have found something.”

“Beginner’s luck,” Donald said. “But it is a nice stone.”

Jonathan passed the container back to Violet. “Donald has such a good eye, he never takes his stones to the grading window.”

Donald flagged down their waitress. “Miss? When is lunch?”

“Coming right out, sir,” she said.

Henry wondered why Donald was always bugging8 the waitress. Everyone was hungry, but they’d learned to wait, since meals were served family-style. Why was he so impatient?

Sybil Finley hurried into the dining room. She had changed into a white blouse and denim9 skirt. When she saw an empty chair next to Violet, she smiled.

“I thought I was late,” she said. She pulled out the empty chair, bumping Violet’s bulky backpack.

“Let me move that,” said Violet.

“I’ll just put it over here.” Sybil shifted the backpack to the floor, on the side away from Violet.

After a lunch of barbecue sandwiches, potato chips, pickles10, and brownies, the Alden kids decided11 to spend the afternoon hiking.

“May I have my backpack?” Violet asked Sybil.

“I’m sorry I forgot all about it.” Sybil handed over the pink backpack. “Have fun.”

The kids took a trail on the other side of the flume. The path followed the stream that fueled the waterwheel. The sun blazed overhead, but a breeze stirred the treetops.

“That water looks really good,” Benny murmured. “Can we go wading12?”

“Great idea,” Henry said, unhooking the straps13 of his pack.

The Aldens sat down on the rocks and took off their shoes and socks. Leaving packs and water bottles on a big rock, they stepped out on a sandbar.

Jessie dipped her toes into the clear water, then yanked her foot back with a shriek14. “Oooo, that’s cold!”

Giggling15, the kids waded16 into the chilly17, shallow water. Olive-green minnows darted18 around their ankles as they picked up interesting stones.

Cra-ack! Crack!

Henry straightened up. “What was that?”

Violet pointed19 into the woods on the far side of the creek20. “It sounded like it came from over there.”

“Let’s check it out,” said Benny, already halfway21 across the stream.

On the opposite side, the kids clambered up the bank. They stared into the thick woods.

“We can’t investigate without our shoes,” Jessie said sensibly.

Henry shielded his eyes from the sun. “I don’t see anything anyway. It was probably an animal.”

“It must have been a big animal,” Benny commented.

“Not necessarily,” said Henry. “Everything is louder in the woods. I’ve heard chipmunks22 that sound like bears!”

They recrossed the stream. On the other side, they put on their shoes and socks, then sorted out their packs.

“Wait a minute!” Jessie exclaimed. “My pack is gone!”

Violet sat back on her heels. “You’re right! What could have happened to it?”

“That cracking sound we heard must have been a person,” Henry figured. “And he—or she—took Jessie’s pack. But why?”

“Let’s look around for clues,” Violet suggested.

Benny found something right away, a scrap23 of white cloth caught on a tree branch.

Jessie plucked the material off the branch. “Good job, Benny. This could have been here all along—but maybe not.” She examined the fabric24. “The cloth is stained.”

“So all we have to do is find a ripped shirt or blouse with a stain on it,” said Henry. “And that could belong to the person who took Jessie’s pack.”

Jessie gave her brother a dubious25 look. “Sounds like we’re looking for a needle in a haystack!”

That evening at dinner, a thunderstorm broke over the mountains. Everyone marveled at the echoing thunder and bold streaks26 of lightning.

Looking at the rain pelting27 against the windows, Jonathan said ruefully, “And I changed my shirt before dinner.”

The Aldens glanced at one another.

Henry whispered to Violet, “I wonder if Jonathan changed out of a ripped, stained, white shirt?”

Violet frowned. She didn’t like to think of Jonathan doing something so dishonest.

Dinner arrived and soon everyone was busy eating turkey with dressing28 and mashed29 potatoes. While the waitress served slices of coconut30 cake, Cecil Knight31 filled coffee cups.

Jonathan turned to Benny. “Do you know where horses go when they are sick?”

Benny thought hard. “No. Where?”

“The horse-pital!”

Benny collapsed32 with laughter. “That’s funny! Tell another one!”

“Okay, what do gorillas33 eat for lunch?”

“Bananas?” Benny guessed.

“Go-rilla cheese sandwiches!” Jonathan said.

Benny giggled34. “I get it!”

At the front of the room, Mr. Knight clapped his hands. “Who wants to play charades35?”

“What kind of a game is that?” Benny asked.

“You know, Benny. It’s where you act out a word or a name and other people guess what it is,” Jessie replied.

“My aunt Cathy was great at charades,” said Mr. Knight. “I didn’t know her very well—she and my uncle Josh and my cousin only visited the mine once when I was a kid. But I liked her a lot.”

“Count me out,” said Donald. “I’ve got a good book to read.” He stood up to leave.

“It’s still raining,” said Violet. “You’ll get wet.”

“I won’t melt.” Donald disappeared into the stormy night.

“Well, I’m a charade-player from way back,” said Sybil. “Let’s pick a theme. How about animals?”

They all had fun guessing which animal each player acted out. When it finally stopped raining, it was time for bed.

Since it was dark outside, Henry and Benny walked the girls to their cabin.

Violet spotted36 something pink lying against the door.

“Jessie!” she cried. “It’s your pack!”

Jessie picked up her pack.

“It’s not even wet!” she exclaimed in amazement37. “How did it get here?” Quickly, she unzipped the compartments38. “Nothing is missing.”

“That’s weird,” Henry said. “Why would someone take your pack in the first place?”

“It’s a mystery!” Benny said eagerly.

“It is strange,” agreed Henry. “The Case of the Disappearing and Returning Backpack. But now, we’d better turn in. We have another day of hunting rubies39 tomorrow.”

Later, after she and Jessie were in bed, Violet wondered about Jessie’s missing backpack. Who could have taken it? What had the thief been after?

Then she thought of something. She sat up and switched on the lamp.

“What is it?” Jessie asked sleepily.

“I just realized something,” said Violet. “Your pack looks just like mine! They are identical.”

Now Jessie sat up. “Do you think the thief got our packs mixed up? That he took mine by mistake?”

“I don’t know,” Violet said. “But I think Benny’s right. We definitely have a mystery here!”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 forefinger pihxt     
n.食指
参考例句:
  • He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
  • He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
2 gem Ug8xy     
n.宝石,珠宝;受爱戴的人 [同]jewel
参考例句:
  • The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
  • The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。
3 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员,监察员,视察员
参考例句:
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
4 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。
5 jewelry 0auz1     
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝
参考例句:
  • The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
  • Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。
6 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
8 bugging 7b00b385cb79d98bcd4440f712db473b     
[法] 窃听
参考例句:
  • Okay, then let's get the show on the road and I'll stop bugging you. 好,那么让我们开始动起来,我将不再惹你生气。 来自辞典例句
  • Go fly a kite and stop bugging me. 走开,别烦我。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语
9 denim o9Lya     
n.斜纹棉布;斜纹棉布裤,牛仔裤
参考例句:
  • She wore pale blue denim shorts and a white denim work shirt.她穿着一条淡蓝色的斜纹粗棉布短裤,一件白粗布工作服上衣。
  • Dennis was dressed in denim jeans.丹尼斯穿了一条牛仔裤。
10 pickles fd03204cfdc557b0f0d134773ae6fff5     
n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 );处于困境;遇到麻烦;菜酱
参考例句:
  • Most people eat pickles at breakfast. 大多数人早餐吃腌菜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I want their pickles and wines, and that.' 我要他们的泡菜、美酒和所有其他东西。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
11 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
12 wading 0fd83283f7380e84316a66c449c69658     
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The man tucked up his trousers for wading. 那人卷起裤子,准备涉水。
  • The children were wading in the sea. 孩子们在海水中走着。
13 straps 1412cf4c15adaea5261be8ae3e7edf8e     
n.带子( strap的名词复数 );挎带;肩带;背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 );用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带
参考例句:
  • the shoulder straps of her dress 她连衣裙上的肩带
  • The straps can be adjusted to suit the wearer. 这些背带可进行调整以适合使用者。
14 shriek fEgya     
v./n.尖叫,叫喊
参考例句:
  • Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
  • People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧,气愤或疼痛而尖叫。
15 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》
16 waded e8d8bc55cdc9612ad0bc65820a4ceac6     
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
  • He waded into the water to push the boat out. 他蹚进水里把船推出来。
17 chilly pOfzl     
adj.凉快的,寒冷的
参考例句:
  • I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
  • I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后,寒气逼人。
18 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 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。
20 creek 3orzL     
n.小溪,小河,小湾
参考例句:
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
21 halfway Xrvzdq     
adj.中途的,不彻底的,部分的;adv.半路地,在中途,在半途
参考例句:
  • We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路,天就黑了。
  • In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上,最忌讳的是有始无终。
22 chipmunks 489f8c4fac3b4e144efa2b0a3fb81d6a     
n.金花鼠( chipmunk的名词复数 )
参考例句:
23 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废
参考例句:
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。
24 fabric 3hezG     
n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织
参考例句:
  • The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
  • I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
25 dubious Akqz1     
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的
参考例句:
  • What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
  • He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。
26 streaks a961fa635c402b4952940a0218464c02     
n.(与周围有所不同的)条纹( streak的名词复数 );(通常指不好的)特征(倾向);(不断经历成功或失败的)一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 );使布满条纹
参考例句:
  • streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
  • Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
27 pelting b37c694d7cf984648f129136d4020bb8     
微不足道的,无价值的,盛怒的
参考例句:
  • The rain came pelting down. 倾盆大雨劈头盖脸地浇了下来。
  • Hailstones of abuse were pelting him. 阵阵辱骂冰雹般地向他袭来。
28 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
29 mashed Jotz5Y     
a.捣烂的
参考例句:
  • two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
  • Just one scoop of mashed potato for me, please. 请给我盛一勺土豆泥。
30 coconut VwCzNM     
n.椰子
参考例句:
  • The husk of this coconut is particularly strong.椰子的外壳很明显非常坚固。
  • The falling coconut gave him a terrific bang on the head.那只掉下的椰子砰地击中他的脑袋。
31 knight W2Hxk     
n.骑士,武士;爵士
参考例句:
  • He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
  • A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。
32 collapsed cwWzSG     
adj.倒塌的
参考例句:
  • Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
  • The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。
33 gorillas a04bd21e2b9b42b0d71bbb65c0c6d365     
n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 );暴徒,打手
参考例句:
  • the similitude between humans and gorillas 人类和大猩猩的相像
  • Each family of gorillas is led by a great silverbacked patriarch. 每个大星星家族都由一个魁梧的、长着银色被毛的族长带领着。 来自《简明英汉词典》
34 giggled 72ecd6e6dbf913b285d28ec3ba1edb12     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The girls giggled at the joke. 女孩子们让这笑话逗得咯咯笑。
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
35 charades 644c9984adb632add8d2e31c8dd554f6     
n.伪装( charade的名词复数 );猜字游戏
参考例句:
  • She and her three brothers played charades. 她和3个兄弟玩看手势猜字谜游戏。 来自辞典例句
  • A group of children were dressed to play charades. 一群孩子穿着夜礼服在玩字迷游戏。 来自辞典例句
36 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。
37 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
38 compartments 4e9d78104c402c263f5154f3360372c7     
n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 );(列车车厢的)隔间;(家具或设备等的)分隔间;隔层
参考例句:
  • Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
39 rubies 534be3a5d4dab7c1e30149143213b88f     
红宝石( ruby的名词复数 ); 红宝石色,深红色
参考例句:
  • a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
  • The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
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