儿童英语读物 The Guide Dog Mystery CHAPTER 2 A Big Black Car
时间:2018-12-31 作者:英语课 分类:53 The Guide Dog Mystery
The following afternoon, Grandfather drove the children to the guide dog school. The Aldens looked out the window with interest as they headed up the school’s long, winding 1 driveway. A brick building sat at the top of the hill. On the beautiful green lawn in front, several people walked about with dogs.
Grandfather stopped the car in front of the main entrance and the children piled out eagerly.
“Welcome!” called Jason, who’d been watching for the Aldens. He took the suitcases from Violet and Benny’s hands. “I’ll take you up to your rooms.”
“I have to get to work,” Mr. Alden said, getting back in the car. “I’ll pick you up in a week! Be on your best behavior for Mrs. Carter. She’s going to look after you.”
“We will, Grandfather. Good-bye!” the children called as he drove off.
Jason led the children across the wide, sunny lobby and into the elevator. He pressed the button for the fourth floor. The children noticed that along with the number, each button had small bumps on it.
“Those bumps say the number in braille,” Jason explained. “Blind people feel the bumps to know which button to push.” As they passed each floor, a bell rang. “If you want to know what floor you’re on, you don’t have to see the number. You can just count how many times the bell rings,” Jason told them.
At the fourth floor, they got off the elevator and walked down a hall lined with doors, like a hotel.
“What are all these rooms for?” asked Jessie.
“Remember I told you that I teach dogs?” Jason replied. “Well, I also teach people. When someone gets a guide dog, they have to learn how to work with the dog. So they stay here for a few weeks while they’re learning. We had a couple of extra rooms for you.”
Jason brought them to two small but comfortable rooms, side by side. One was for Henry and Benny, the other for Violet and Jessie. Each room had two beds, dressers, desks, and chairs. They dropped off their suitcases, and then Jason continued their tour.
“This building is shaped like a U,” he told them. “If you ever need me, my room is on this floor, on the other side of the U.”
“You live here?” Violet asked.
“Yes,” Jason explained, “because I’m responsible for the dogs day and night. It’s easier to live on the campus.”
The third floor held offices, including Mrs. Carter’s. The dining room and lounge were on the second floor.
“But where are the dogs?” asked Benny.
“Don’t worry, that’s where we’re headed right now!” Jason answered, as he led the children out the back door of the main lobby.
Behind the main building, surrounded by dense 2 woods, was a smaller building with a fenced-in yard. The yard was filled with dogs: German shepherds, golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers. Some of the dogs were sniffing 3 about; others ran back and forth 4 barking.
“The dogs get their exercise out here,” Jason explained. “Inside there’s a separate area for each dog, with the dog’s food, water, and a place to sleep.”
“All of these dogs are going to be guide dogs?” asked Benny.
“Most of them will,” Jason said. “We start with very special puppies, who are raised by local families. In their first year, the puppies get used to being around people, traffic, and things like that. They also learn to be obedient, to follow simple commands like ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’ When they’re a little over a year old, the families bring them back to the school to be trained.”
“You mean they have to give the dogs back?” asked Violet. “How sad! I know I couldn’t give Watch up.”
“It is hard, but the families know the dogs are being trained for important jobs,” Jason said.
Jason walked over to the gate. “How about if I show you one of the dogs I’m working with now?” He slipped into the yard, careful not to let any of the dogs out. He took a black Labrador by the collar and led him out to greet the Aldens.
“This is Zach,” Jason said. The children sat down on the grass and stroked Zach’s sleek 5 coat. The dog rolled about on the grass playfully.
“The training takes a few months,” Jason continued. “Our instructors 6 decide whether the dogs are fit to be guide dogs. They have to be friendly, smart, obedient, and hardworking. The ones that pass the final exam, as Ginger 7 did yesterday, are then matched with people who want a guide dog.”
“Are there some dogs that fail?” asked Violet.
“Yes. Some dogs are too shy or too aggressive, or just don’t follow the commands. They’re given away as pets,” Jason said.
“Is Zach going to be a guide dog one day?” asked Benny.
“I hope so. How would you like to watch me train him?” suggested Jason.
“That would be great!” said Henry.
Jason went into the kennel 8. The children noticed that Zach sat up alertly when Jason returned carrying a leather harness. “He knows when he sees the harness that it’s time to stop playing and start working,” Jason explained.
“They take their jobs very seriously, don’t they?” said Jessie.
“They have to,” Jason said. “People depend on them.”
Jason let the Aldens feel the harness before he strapped 9 it onto Zach. The straps 10 around the dog’s body were soft and comfortable, but the handle was firm, with a metal frame inside. Jason explained that a regular leash 11 would be too loose and wouldn’t allow the person and the dog to work together as well.
After he’d strapped on the harness, Jason stood up. “Come,” he called to Zach, his voice firm.
Zach moved to Jason’s left side and stood next to his left leg, waiting for the next command.
“Forward!” Jason said. Zach began to walk forward as Jason followed. “Notice how he walks slightly ahead of me, to lead me,” Jason pointed 12 out. “Other trained dogs are usually taught to heel, or walk slightly behind. But guide dogs need to lead their owners.”
“Watch walks ahead — but usually it’s because he’s chasing squirrels,” said Benny, and they all laughed.
“Right,” Jason said to Zach, and the dog turned to the right. “Left,” Jason said, and Zach turned left.
“What a good dog!” said Violet.
Then Jason dropped a leather glove on the grass as they were walking. He walked a few more steps and then stopped. “Fetch,” he said, letting go of the harness. Zach ran back and picked up the glove in his mouth. Then he came back and stood waiting at Jason’s left leg.
“Good boy,” Jason said, taking the glove from Zach’s mouth. “Fetching is an important skill, in case a person drops something when he’s out with his dog,” Jason told the children. Then he turned his attention back to Zach.
“Sit!” Jason said, and Zach sat right at his feet. Then Jason said “Down!” and the dog lay down on the grass.
Jason broke into a grin. He was obviously very pleased with Zach’s performance. “Good boy,” Jason murmured over and over in a warm, kind voice as he rubbed Zach’s head and back. “We don’t reward the dogs with biscuits when they do well,” he explained. “We just give them lots of praise.”
The Aldens watched as Jason worked with Zach again and again on the same commands. Almost every time, Zach behaved perfectly 13.
One time a bird hopped 14 across their path. Zach began to bark and chase after the bird, until Jason scolded him. Immediately, Zach returned to his position next to Jason.
“We don’t punish the dogs when they misbehave, we just speak to them in an angry tone of voice,” Jason said. “Soon he’ll learn not to get distracted when he’s working.”
When Jason decided 15 that Zach had worked hard enough, he took off the harness and led the dog back into the yard with the others. When Jason came back out, he had another dog with him.
“Hey, Ginger!” cried Benny.
“I thought you might like to say hello to her,” Jason said. “Let’s take her harness off now, since she’s not working.”
“I’ll help,” offered Jessie, bending over. Benny crouched 16 down next to Ginger, petting her back.
Ginger lay down in the grass next to the Aldens. Jessie stroked her long, golden fur, and Ginger closed her eyes. Suddenly, her eyes opened and she lifted her head.
“Ginger!” they all heard a voice calling.
Ginger got up and raced down the hillside. The children watched as a big black car pulled up at the curb 17, and a tall well-dressed blond woman got out. “Ginger!” she called again, opening her arms as the dog raced toward her.
“Mrs. Davis!” Jason said angrily, walking briskly down the hill. When he reached the woman, Jason began speaking to her in low tones. While they couldn’t hear what the two were saying, the children could see how angry Jason looked.
“I wonder what’s going on,” Jessie said.
“Jason seemed so nice and friendly, but now he looks like a different person,” said Violet.
The children watched in surprise as Jason grabbed Ginger’s harness and began pulling her back up the hill. “Please stop this, Charlotte,” Jason called to the woman. “I’ve told you it’s just not a good idea! You did a great job with her, but she belongs here now!”
The chauffeur 18 of the car, a young blond man, stared straight ahead.
Mrs. Davis stood silently. Finally she got back in her limousine 19. “Take me home, Glen,” she said, and the car pulled away.
“Jason — ” Benny called out as he approached.
“I’m sorry, but I have work to do now,” Jason said, walking past the children. He still seemed angry.
“Can we do anything — ” Jessie began.
“Go eat dinner or something,” Jason said. “I’m busy.” And with that he led Ginger into the kennel and shut the door.
“I wonder what that was all about,” Henry whispered to Jessie.
“I don’t know, but there’s definitely something going on,” Jessie replied.
- A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
- The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
- The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
- The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
- We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了,一个劲地抽鼻子,打喷嚏。
- They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了,呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
- Women preferred sleek,shiny hair with little decoration.女士们更喜欢略加修饰的光滑闪亮型秀发。
- The horse's coat was sleek and glossy.这匹马全身润泽有光。
- The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
- He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份,被邀请到主席台上。
- There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
- Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。
- Sporting dogs should be kept out of doors in a kennel.猎狗应该养在户外的狗窝中。
- Rescued dogs are housed in a standard kennel block.获救的狗被装在一个标准的犬舍里。
- Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- 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。
- I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳,但被狗挡住了路。
- The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带,想挣脱开去。
- 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。
- The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
- Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
- He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
- He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车,向市区开去。
- 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。
- He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
- The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
- I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
- You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。
- The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
- She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。