Unit 1 Where did you go on vacation(同步阅读)At the Seaside(书籍音频+Word)-八年级英语教材同步单元主题阅读（人教版）

FOXY at the Seaside Story and illustrations: Roger de klerk Foxy is spending a week with his grandmother, who lives at the seaside. Delighted to be with her grandson, grandma has planned loads of activities. This morning, she is already in the kitchen when Foxy wakes up. "Go and get ready quickly, Foxy, because we're going to the beach," she tells him. Foxy runs upstairs and gets dressed hurriedly. He takes his rucksack and goes back down to the kitchen. On the table, grandma has prepared a large basket full of bread rolls, some bottles of lemonade and of course, some fruit… Grandma really thinks of everything! Before leaving, they take a little bucket, a spade and a fishing net from the garden shed. "You will surely need them to build a sandcastle and look for shells," says grandma. Foxy also slips a beach towel into his rucksack. And then they are ready… they just have to take the little path that winds through the dunes to reach the beach. Foxy loves the sea. It's so different from his life in the village. When they arrive, grandma and Foxy look for a good spot. Foxy settles down near the little train. In fact, Foxy arrived at grandma's house by train. Grandma places a little bracelet with a train on it around his wrist. "It's the same symbol as on the post," she tells him. "Then you will always know where we are." Foxy looks at the drawing on the post and on his wrist. "Oh, yes, grandma, now I will always find you again," he says laughing. The sea is out and they have to walk a long way to reach it, but as soon as Foxy gets his feet in the water, he has fun and splashes about everywhere. He runs through the waves and jumps crazily. "Look at me, grandma!" She laughs seeing her grandson and really appreciates these moments spent with him. "Shall we build a sandcastle now?" "Alright, but let's go where the sand is damp," replies grandma. With the spades, they start by making a large circle. They dig deeply into the sand. "That will be our moat," says Foxy applying himself. In the middle, there is now a heap of sand with which Foxy and grandma are going to build a beautiful castle. Meanwhile, grandma has opened the basket and places the plates and cups on the beach towel. "Why don't we eat before continuing?" she says. Foxy realises that in fact, all this fun has made him hungry. And the meal looks very good. Foxy enjoys the meal, but soon returns to his sandcastle. "You can go and look for some shells to decorate the walls," grandma tells Foxy, "but be careful not to go too far away." Foxy promises not to go too far away and sets off in search of shells. Grandma settles down in her deck chair and observes Foxy waving at him while he places some shells in his bucket. Foxy finds all shapes in all shades of brown along the water's edge. His bucket gradually gets filled with lovely shells. He also sees a starfish that would be magnificent on his castle. "Should I take it too?" Foxy wonders. He already imagines it reigning at the top of his castle. He takes the starfish, but suddenly it starts moving in his hands. "Let go of me!" it yells angrily, "I don't want to go with you!" Foxy jumps. "What's the matter? Why are you angry?" "You ask me why?" replies the starfish crying. "Tell me what's the matter," says Foxy. "I was swimming through the waves with my friends, when suddenly, I found myself in the nets of a fishing boat… The fishermen threw me overboard and I just had time to avoid the seagulls that were pecking at what was left in the nets… then I dived back into the water to reach the sandbank and have a little rest," tells the little starfish in one breath. "Suddenly a seagull dragged me away from the heat of the sand, but I didn't want to leave because all of my friends were down there. The seagull carried me in its beak, but I fought back and screamed." "Finally, it dropped me right here and I'm aching all over." Foxy took a closer look at the starfish. One of its arms was a bit swollen and was hanging limply. "I'll help you," he said gently. "And grandma will certainly know what to do. He takes the starfish gently. Grandma examines the little wounded creature. "Ouch! That hurts!" complains the starfish. "Don't be so sensitive," grandma replies. "It's almost over." She ties a little stick to the starfish's arm. "There you are, all taken care of, but now you will need to rest," she tells the starfish kindly. Foxy thinks for a moment and goes to fill his little bucket with seawater. He also looks for some seaweed to make a little bed for it. He gently places his little patient so that the starfish can have a rest after all its adventures. "That's nice," admits the starfish shyly. "I'm sorry that I got angry with you." Foxy smiles. He can understand. The starfish settles down comfortably and closes its eyes. Foxy places his little bucket in the shade. He continues with his castle, which looks lovelier and lovelier, decorated with all those shells. From time to time, he observes the starfish resting. Grandma takes a photo of Foxy in front of his sandcastle, as the sun is setting… It's time to go home. He gently takes the starfish out of the bucket. "Will you be alright?" asks Foxy. "It's time for you to return to the sea. If you are very careful, your arm will heal in no time." The little starfish feels better already. "Thank you," she says "and sorry, I didn't know that you were going to help me." Foxy delicately places the starfish in the waves. "The sea will take me to where I should be," she cries. "Thanks again, Foxy!" The little starfish waves at him and disappears in a large wave. "Take care of yourself," Foxy shouts. "Come on, Foxy," says grandma. "We must also go back home." Foxy nods. "It was another great day, wasn't it, grandma?" After tidying everything away, they walk back home. Foxy goes back to the water one last time to see the starfish slide through the waves and return to the sea… to her friends. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$null