内容正文:
Unit 2
Extended reading
Mama and Her Bank Account
Mama and Her Bank Account①
Every Saturday night Mama would sit down by the kitchen table and count out the money Papa had brought home.
每个星期六晚上,妈妈都会坐在厨房的桌子旁,数着爸爸带回家的钱。
本句为复合句。would do表示“过去常常做”。sit, count作并列谓语。Papa had brought home是定语从句,修饰the money。
count out 算出
count on/upon 依靠,指望
countless adj. 数不尽的.
2
“For the rent.” Mama would count out the big silver pieces.
“For the groceries.” Another group of coins.
“I'll need a notebook.” That would be my sister Christine, my brother Nels or me.
“(这些是)房租。” 妈妈会数出那些大的银币。
“(这些是)食品杂货用的。”(妈妈数出)另一组硬币。
“我需要一个笔记本。”那会是我的妹妹克里斯蒂娜,我的哥哥内尔斯或是我。
rent:v. 出租 n. 租金 rent… to … 把…出租给…
piece:n. 块;件;篇;硬币
grocery : n. 食品杂货;食品杂货店.
3
Mama would put one or two coins to the side. We would watch with anxious interest. At last, Papa would ask, “Is that all?” And when Mama nodded, we could relax a little.
妈妈会把一两个硬币放在一边。我们会焦急地看着那些硬币。最后,爸爸会问:“就这些吗?”当妈妈点头的时候,我们可以松口气了。
put one or two coins to the side 把一两个硬币放在一边
relax v. (使)松弛;放松;(使) 休息;(使)轻松;放宽
relaxed adj. 放松的;得到安宁的
relaxing adj. 缓和的;令人轻松愉快的.
4
Mama would look up and smile, “Good. We do not have to go to the Bank.” We were all so proud of Mama's Bank Account. It gave us such a warm, secure feeling.
妈妈会抬头,笑着说:“很好。我们不必去银行了。”我们都为妈妈的银行账户感到骄傲。它给了我们一种如此温暖、安全的感觉。
be proud of =take pride in 以……自豪
secure adj. 安心的;可靠的;牢固的
security n. 安全,平安
such a ... feeling 一种...的感觉.
When Nels graduated from grammar school, he wanted to go on to high school. "It will cost a little money,” he said.
Eagerly we gathered around the table.
当内尔斯从语法学校毕业时,他想继续上高中。“要花一点钱,”他说。
我们急切地围到桌子边来。
graduate: vi.&vt. 毕业 n. 毕业生 graduation n. 毕业
graduate from 毕业于.
6
I took down a box and laid it carefully in front of Mama. This was the “Little Bank”.It was used for sudden emergencies, such as the time when Christine broke her arm and had to be taken to a doctor.
我拿下一个盒子,小心地放在妈妈面前。这是“小银行”。它被用于突发的紧急情况,例如克里斯蒂娜摔断了胳膊,不得不被带去看医生。
take down 取下
lay vt