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Mark's stinky situation 臭氣薰天的馬克
Saturday, Nov 10, 2007,Page 13
Mark put on his oldest clothes. He had just been hired to be a special kind of garbage collector. In an effort to improve the environment, the city had decided to have Mark collect garbage without a truck.
"Good luck, Mark," Kathleen said. "Let's get dinner tonight to celebrate."
"OK," Mark replied. "Let's meet at the Grub and Grill at 7:30."
The day started out easy. Mark walked around the neighborhood and people put their garbage into two large bags that Mark had slung over his back. But by the end of the day the bags were very heavy.
"I need a break," Mark thought. "I'll just take a quick nap in this park."
Mark sat on a bench and dozed off. He woke up two hours later.
"Oh no!" he shouted. "I have to go dump this garbage and meet Kathleen."
Mark quickly walked to the city dump. But he didn't have time to go home and take a shower before dinner.
"I smell like trash," Mark said. "What can I do?"
As Mark was walking to the restaurant, he passed by an automatic car wash. Mark decided it was the only way to clean up before dinner. He paid the dumbfounded attendant and began walking through the machine …
(Michael Kearney, Staff Writer)
馬克換上他最老舊的衣服。他才剛被僱為特種清潔隊員。致力改善環境的市政府決定捨棄垃圾車，請馬克負責收集垃圾。
「祝你好運，馬克，」凱薩琳說：「我們今晚一起吃頓飯慶祝一下吧。」
「沒問題，」馬克回答：「那我們七點半在『食物與燒烤』見囉！」
一開始還蠻輕鬆的，馬克在住家附近走著，民眾紛紛把垃圾放進吊掛在馬克背上的兩個大袋子裡，但一天下來，袋子已經變得沉重不堪。
「我需要休息一下，」馬克心想：「我在這公園裡小睡片刻就好。」
馬克就這麼坐在長椅上打起盹來了。等他一覺醒來，已經過了兩個小時。
「喔，天啊！」他大叫著說：「我還得去倒掉這垃圾，然後跟凱薩琳碰面呢。」
馬克快步走向市府垃圾場。但他沒時間回家沖個澡再去赴約。
「我渾身上下都是垃圾的味道，」馬克說：「該怎麼辦呢？」
在前往餐廳的途中，馬克行經一部自動洗車機，他當下決定這是讓他一身清爽赴約的唯一方法。他付了錢給目瞪口呆的服務人員，開始走進洗車隧道...（翻譯：林倩如）
| TODAY'S WORDS 今日單字 |
| 1. sling /sl??/ v.t.
吊掛 (diao4 gua4)
例:Jose slung the sack of tortillas over his back.
荷西把那袋墨西哥玉米薄餅揹掛在背上。
2. doze off /doz ?f/ v. phr.
打瞌睡 (da3 ke1 shui4)
例:Claire dozed off during the boring presentation.
克萊兒在無聊的簡報會上打起瞌睡。
3. automatic /?t??mat?k/ adj.
自動的 (zi4 dong4 de5)
例:Luanne got an automatic motorcycle for her birthday.
盧安的生日禮物是一部自排摩托車。
4. dumbfounded /,d?m?fa?nd?d/ adj.
目瞪口呆的 (mu4 deng4 kou3 dai1 de5)
例:The boy looked dumbfounded when I asked him a question.
我問那男孩問題時，他看起來呆住了。 |
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| WHAT HAPPENED? 究竟怎麼回事? |
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1. Why was Mark's job easier earlier in the day?
a. His load wasn't so heavy.
b. The temperature was cooler.
c. He wasn't hungry.
d. There was less traffic.
2. Why does Mark smell so bad?
a. Elephants are naturally smelly.
b. He was collecting trash all day.
c. He doesn't smell; he's just self-conscious.
d. It's unclear. |
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| TODAY'S ANSWERS 今日解答 |
| What happened? :
1. a 2. b |
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| FINISH IT 故事接龍 |
| Write your own ending to the story! 寫下你的故事結局:
Idea 1: Mark walks through the machine and is soon covered in soapsuds. But he gets scared by all the noise and hoses and runs out. Is he able to rinse off the soapsuds? Does he still smell like garbage? Does he make it to the restaurant in time?
想法一：馬克走進洗車隧道，沒多久就滿身肥皂泡，但轟隆隆的聲響和輸水軟管嚇得他拔腿就逃。他有辦法沖掉身上的肥皂泡嗎？他還是渾身垃圾味嗎？他能及時趕赴餐廳嗎？
Idea 2: Mark walks through the machine and gets stuck between two big brushes. The attendant needs to call the fire department to come get Mark out. Are the firemen able to help Mark? Does he manage to get cleaned up for dinner? Is he willing to carry on being a garbage elephant?
想法二：馬克走進洗車隧道，卻卡在兩個大刷子中間。服務人員必須打電話給消防隊求援。消防隊員能救出馬克嗎？他會設法在晚餐前把自己弄乾淨嗎？他會願意繼續擔任清潔隊員嗎？
Idea 3: Mark walks through the machine and comes out the other side very, very shiny. The machine waxed him! What does Kathleen say when she sees Mark at the restaurant? Is he very slippery? Does he like being shiny?
想法三：馬克走進洗車隧道，等他從另一頭出來時，全身又光又亮，原來是洗車機幫他上了蠟！凱薩琳在餐廳見到馬克後會說什麼？馬克全身都很滑溜嗎？他喜歡自己又光又亮嗎？ |
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