Virgo Kids: The Pick of the Litter 万中选一的处女座小孩
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2003年9月15日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年6月06日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：381
课文朗读
课文讲解
Julia rushes to clean up after her new puppy when her brother, Harris, walks in: 茱丽亚急忙地替她刚养不久的小狗清理善后，这时她哥哥哈里斯走了进来：
H: You look like you could use a hand, Julia. I warned you about getting a purebred dog … they’re finicky.
看来妳需要个帮手。我警告过妳养纯种狗的后果…牠们很难搞。
J: Actually, housebreaking is the least of my worries. I’m more concerned about Sam.
其实，要让牠习惯居家生活我并不担心，我比较担心的是山姆。
H: Why? What’s your son been up to?
为什么？妳儿子最近怎么了？
J: Not much. That’s why I’m worried. He’s not eating properly. I never know what to serve him. After all, how many other kids prefer spinach to ice cream?!
没什么。就是因为这样才让我担心。他都没有好好吃饭，我也不晓得该给他吃些什么才好。毕竟有几个小孩喜欢吃菠菜，胜过吃冰淇淋？！
H: Have you talked to your pediatrician?
妳跟小儿科医生谈过吗？
J: Yes. He says that Sam’s fussiness is just a phase.
谈过，他说山姆的挑剔毛病是暂时性的。
H: I don’t know about that. Your kid is a Virgo, after all.
我不认为如此，毕竟妳的小孩是处女座的。
J: What’s that supposed to mean, Dr. Spock?
那句话是什么意思，斯波克医生？
H: Just that Virgo children can be notoriously picky.
处女座小孩爱挑剔的恶名是广为周知的。
J: That’s true, but at the same time, he’s rarely a bother. For example, he loves to help out with the housework.
是没错，但同时很少给人找麻烦，譬如说他喜欢帮忙做家事。
H: And therein lies the contradiction of Virgos: they’re generally agreeable, curious and practical but can be notoriously meticulous about some things.
这就是处女座小孩的矛盾之处：他们通常是随和、好奇又实际的，但是对某些事情偏偏是出了名的一丝不苟。
J: Well, I’m glad we let Sam choose our new puppy, then: he’s the pick of the litter.
那么我很高兴我们让山姆选择小狗，这只小狗绝对是上上之选。
H: I have a feeling Sammy wouldn’t settle for anything less!
我的感觉是小山姆绝不会屈就于次等货的！
－by Sandra Walker
Vocabulary
单词发音
clean up after someone 替…清理善后 to remove dirt or problems that someone has made
hand [hænd] n. 人手，雇员
purebred [ˋpjʊr͵brɛd] adj.〔动物〕纯种的
finicky [ˋfɪnɪkɪ] adj.（吃穿）过分讲究的；爱挑剔的
housebreak [ˋhaʊs͵brek] v. 使（犬、猫）习惯家居
up to 忙于
spinach [ˋspɪnɪtʃ] n.【植】菠菜
pediatrician [͵pidɪəˋtrɪʃən] n. 小儿科医师
fussiness [ˋfʌsənɪs] n. 爱挑剔
Virgo [ˋvɝgo] n. 生于室女宫时段〔8月23日至9月22日〕的人
picky [ˋpɪkɪ] adj.【美】【口】吹毛求疵的；挑剔的
bother [ˋbɑðɚ] n. 使人烦恼的人（或事物）
help out with something 帮忙… to assist someone or something with a person or a thing
contradiction [͵kɑntrəˋdɪkʃən] n. 矛盾
agreeable [əˋgriəb!] adj. 令人愉快的﹐受人喜欢的
meticulous [məˋtɪkjələs] adj. 对细节十分注意的﹐一丝不苟的
pick of the litter 上上之选 the best person or item in a group
litter [ˋlɪtɚ] n.（猪，狗等生下的）一窝（仔畜）
settle [ˋsɛt!] v. 稳定下来；平静下来；镇定下来
Sentence of the Day
Some things rub them the wrong way.
有些事情惹恼了他们。
rub the wrong way 惹恼, 触犯