Before Lunch
Jack and Annie were walking home from the grocery store.Jack's pack was heavy.It held a big jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread.
"Are you going to have a peanut butter and jellys and wich?"said Annie.“Or a peanut butter and honeys and wich?"
Jack started to answer,but stopped.
"Oh,man,"he whispered."What is it?"said Annie."Look at that!"said Jack.
He pointed to the edge of the Frog Creek woods.In the shadows stood a small,delicate animal.It looked likea tiny deer.
"It's a sign,"whispered Annie."Remember when we saw the rabbit?He was a sign of the Wild West."
The deer like creature leaped into the woods.
1. grocery：名词，意为食品杂货店；食品杂货。
- 例句：I need to go to the grocery to buy some milk.（我需要去食品杂货店买些牛奶。）
2. jar：名词，意为罐子；坛子；广口瓶 。
- 例句：There is a jar of cookies on the table.（桌子上有一罐饼干。）
3. butter：名词，意为黄油；奶油 。
- 例句：She spread some butter on the bread.（她在面包上涂了些黄油。）
4. loaf：名词，意为（一条）面包 。
- 例句：He bought a loaf of fresh - baked bread.（他买了一条新鲜出炉的面包。）
5. bread：名词，意为面包 。
- 例句：Bread is a staple food in many countries.（面包是许多国家的主食。）
6. jelly：名词，意为果冻；果酱 。此处“jellys”拼写有误，应为“jellies” 。
- 例句：She likes to eat strawberry jellies.（她喜欢吃草莓果酱。）
7. wich：应为“sandwich”的错误拼写，意为三明治 。
- 例句：I had a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.（我午餐吃了一个火腿奶酪三明治。）
8. honey：名词，意为蜂蜜 。此处“honeys”表述有误，一般用单数形式。
- 例句：Honey is a natural sweetener.（蜂蜜是一种天然甜味剂。）
9. delicate：形容词，意为精致的；娇弱的；精美的 。
- 例句：The delicate flower needs careful care.（这朵娇弱的花需要悉心照料。）
10. animal：名词，意为动物 。
- 例句：There are many kinds of animals in the zoo.（动物园里有很多种类的动物。）
11. deer：名词，意为鹿 。单复数同形。
- 例句：A deer is grazing in the meadow.（一只鹿在草地上吃草。）
12. rabbit：名词，意为兔子 。
- 例句：The rabbit has long ears.（这只兔子有长长的耳朵。）
13. creature：名词，意为生物；动物 。
- 例句：The ocean is home to many strange creatures.（海洋是许多奇异生物的家园。）
14. leap：动词，意为跳跃；飞跃 。
- 例句：The cat leaped onto the table.（猫跳到了桌子上。 ）
Jack and Annie didn't stop to think.They followed as fast as they could.Jack's heavy pack thumped against his back as he ran.
Finally,they stopped and looked around."Where did she go?"he said."I don't see her,"said Annie.
"Oh,wow,"said Annie.She pointed up.
There was the magic tree house.It was shining in the noon sun,at the top of the tallest tree in the woods.Its rope ladder swayed in the shadows below.
"Where's Morgan?"said Annie.
Morgan le Fay wasn't waving at them from the window.She wasn't even at the window
"I don't know.Let's go up,"said Jack.
They climbed the ladder and went into the tree house.
Sunlight streamed through the window.It lit a stack of books and two scrolls in the corner.The ancient scrolls held the answers to riddles Jack and Annie had solved earlier.
1. thumped：动词thump的过去式，意为“重击；砰砰地响” 。
- 例句：He thumped the table angrily.（他生气地捶打桌子。）
2. noon：名词，意为“正午；中午” 。
- 例句：We usually have lunch at noon.（我们通常在中午吃午饭。）
3. swayed：动词sway的过去式，意为“摇摆；摇晃；摆动” 。
- 例句：The branches swayed gently in the breeze.（树枝在微风中轻轻摇晃。）
4. streamed：动词stream的过去式，意为“流；流动；涌流” 。
- 例句：Tears streamed down her face.（泪水顺着她的脸颊流下来。）
5. scrolls：名词scroll的复数形式，意为“卷轴；画卷；（石刻或木雕的）涡卷形装饰” 。
- 例句：The ancient scrolls are of great historical value.（这些古代卷轴具有很高的历史价值。）
6. earlier：副词early的比较级，意为“较早地； earlier也可作形容词early的比较级，表示“早期的；早先的” 。在此处为副词用法。
- 例句：I got up earlier than usual this morning.（我今天早上比平时起得早。）
Jack took off his heavy pack."Did Morgan leave us a third riddle?"said Annie.
"Looking for someone?"said a soft voice.Jack and Annie whirled around."Morgan!"said Annie.
Morgan le Fay had appeared out of nowhere.She looked ancient and lovely in the bright light.
"Do you still want to become Master Librarians?"she asked Jack and Annie."So you can help me in my work?"
"Yes!"they said together.
"Wonderful,"Morgan said.Then she reached into her robe and pulled out a scroll.
"You've solved two riddles so far,"she said."Here is your third."She handed the scroll to Annie."And for your research—”
She pulled a book out from her robe and handed it to Jack.The book's cover said THE PLAINS OF AFRICA.
"Africa?"said Jack.“Oh,man,I've always wanted to go there."
1. whirled：动词whirl的过去式，意思是“（使）快速旋转；急转身” 。
- 例句：The dancer whirled across the stage.（舞者在舞台上飞速旋转。）
2. nowhere：副词，意为“无处；哪里都不” ；也可用于习语“out of nowhere”，表示“突然；莫名其妙地” 。
- 例句：I looked everywhere for my keys, but they were nowhere to be found.（我到处找我的钥匙，但哪儿也找不到。）；A car came out of nowhere and nearly hit me.（一辆汽车突然冒出来，差点撞到我。 ）
3. robe：“robe”是名词，意为“长袍；罩衣” 。
- 例句：She wore a long silk robe.（她穿着一件长长的丝绸长袍。）
4. Here is：意为“这是；这儿有” ，是“here”引导的倒装结构，用于引出要介绍或展示的事物。
- 例句：Here is a letter for you.（这儿有你的一封信。）
5. robe：名词，“长袍；罩衣” 。
- 例句：The judge wore a black robe in the court.（法官在法庭上穿着黑色长袍。）
6. AFRICA：名词，“非洲” ，七大洲之一。
- 例句：Africa is a continent rich in natural resources.（非洲是一个自然资源丰富的大陆。 ）
He opened the book.He and Annie stared at a picture.
It showed hordes of zebras,tall giraffes,big animals with horns,and tiny,deerlike creatures.
"Hey,that's the animal that led us here!"said Annie."A Thomson's gazelle,I believe,"Morgan said.
"Where are the lions?"said Jack."You'll find out,"said Morgan.
"Um...maybe we need to plan this trip,"said Jack Morgan smiled."No.Go ahead.Make your wish now."
Annie pointed at the picture."I wish we could go there,"she said.
"Be careful,"said Morgan."Just keep an eye out.""For what?"said Jack.
"The lions,of course,"she said."Wait!"said Jack.Too late.
The wind had started to blow.The tree house had started to spin.Jack squeezed his eyes shut.
The tree house spun faster and faster Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
1. hordes：名词horde的复数形式，意为“大群；大量”，常指成群结队的人或动物 。
- 例句：Hordes of tourists visit the city every year.（每年都有大批游客游览这座城市。）
2. zebras：名词zebra的复数形式，意为“斑马” 。
- 例句：Zebras have distinctive black - and - white stripes.（斑马有独特的黑白条纹。）
3. giraffes：名词giraffe的复数形式，意为“长颈鹿” 。
- 例句：Giraffes are the tallest land animals.（长颈鹿是陆地上最高的动物。）
4. horns：名词horn的复数形式，意为“（牛、羊、鹿等动物的）角；号角” 。这里指动物的角。
- 例句：The goat has two curved horns.（这只山羊有两只弯曲的角。）
5. gazelle：名词，意为“瞪羚” 。
- 例句：The gazelle is known for its speed and agility.（瞪羚以其速度和敏捷性而闻名。）
6. lions：名词lion的复数形式，意为“狮子” 。
- 例句：Lions are often called the kings of the jungle.（狮子常被称为丛林之王。）
7. squeezed：动词squeeze的过去式，意为“挤压；（使）挤入；紧闭（眼睛等）” 。
- 例句：He squeezed the tube of toothpaste.（他挤牙膏。）；She squeezed her eyes shut in fear.（她害怕地紧闭双眼。）
8. spun：动词spin的过去式，意为“（使）快速旋转；纺纱” 。这里是“（使）快速旋转”的意思。
- 例句：The top spun rapidly on the ground.（陀螺在地上快速旋转。）
