Rattles nake Flats
The air was hot and dry.
Jack and Annie peeked outside.
The tree house had landed in a lone tree on a prairie.The sun was low in the sky.
Right in front of them was the town from the cover of the book.In real life it looked empty and spooky.
To one side of the town was a patch of ground with several tombstones.
"That's creepy,"said Annie.
"Yeah,"said Jack.He took a deep breath."What's our riddle say?"
1. rattles
- 词性：名词复数形式 / 动词第三人称单数形式
- 释义：作为名词，意为“（蛇的）响尾；拨浪鼓”；作为动词，意为“（使）发出咔嗒咔嗒声；使紧张，使恐惧”
- 例句：The snake's rattles warned us of its presence.（蛇的响尾警告我们它的存在。）The wind rattled the windows.（风把窗户吹得咔嗒作响。）
2. snake
- 词性：名词 / 动词
- 释义：名词意为“蛇”；动词意为“蜿蜒前行；曲折行进”
- 例句：We saw a snake in the garden.（我们在花园里看到一条蛇。）The river snakes through the mountains.（这条河蜿蜒穿过山脉。）
3. flats
- 词性：名词复数形式
- 释义：“公寓；平底鞋；（复数）低洼地”
- 例句：They live in a block of flats.（他们住在一栋公寓楼里。）She always wears flats.（她总是穿平底鞋。）The floods covered the flats.（洪水淹没了低洼地。）
4. peeked
- 词性：动词过去式和过去分词
- 释义：“偷看；窥视；（从隐蔽处）探出”
- 例句：He peeked through the keyhole.（他透过钥匙孔偷看。）The sun peeked out from behind the clouds.（太阳从云层后面探了出来。）
5. outside
- 词性：名词 / 形容词 / 副词 / 介词
- 释义：名词意为“外部；外表”；形容词意为“外面的；外部的”；副词意为“在外面；向外面”；介词意为“在……外面；超出”
- 例句：The outside of the house needs painting.（房子的外部需要粉刷。）The outside temperature is very low.（外面的温度很低。）Go outside and play.（出去玩吧。）He was waiting outside the door.（他在门外等着。）
6. prairie
- 词性：名词
- 释义：“大草原；（尤指北美的）草原”
- 例句：The prairie is home to many wild animals.（这片大草原是许多野生动物的家园。）
7. cover
- 词性：名词 / 动词
- 释义：名词意为“封面；盖子；掩护”；动词意为“覆盖；包括；涉及；掩护”
- 例句：The cover of the book is very beautiful.（这本书的封面很漂亮。）Snow covered the ground.（雪覆盖了地面。）The course covers a wide range of topics.（这门课程涵盖了广泛的主题。）
8. empty
- 词性：形容词 / 动词
- 释义：形容词意为“空的；空洞的；无意义的”；动词意为“倒空；清空”
- 例句：The bottle is empty.（瓶子是空的。）He gave an empty promise.（他许下了空洞的诺言。）Empty the box, please.（请把盒子倒空。）
9. spooky
- 词性：形容词
- 释义：“幽灵般的；怪异的；令人毛骨悚然的”
- 例句：That old house looks really spooky at night.（那座老房子晚上看起来真的很阴森。）
10. patch
- 词性：名词 / 动词
- 释义：名词意为“补丁；小块土地；斑，块”；动词意为“修补；缝补；拼凑”
- 例句：There is a patch on the elbow of his jacket.（他夹克的肘部有一块补丁。）He has a small patch of land where he grows vegetables.（他有一小块地种蔬菜。）She patched the hole in her jeans.（她缝补了牛仔裤上的洞。）
11. tombstones
- 词性：名词复数形式
- 释义：“墓碑；墓石”
- 例句：There are many tombstones in the cemetery.（墓地里有许多墓碑。）
12. creepy
- 词性：形容词
- 释义：“令人毛骨悚然的；怪异的；不自在的”
- 例句：I had a creepy feeling that someone was watching me.（我有一种毛骨悚然的感觉，好像有人在监视我。）
13. riddle
- 词性：名词 / 动词
- 释义：名词意为“谜语；谜团；费解的事”；动词意为“使布满窟窿；解谜；迷惑”
- 例句：Can you solve this riddle?（你能解开这个谜语吗？）The car was riddled with bullets.（汽车被子弹打得千疮百孔。）
Annie held up the ancient scroll.She unrolled it.Then she and Jack read together:
Out of the blue,my lonely voice calls out to you.Who am I?Am I?
Jack pushed his glasses into place and read the riddle again to himself.
“There must be a mistake,"he said.“'Am I?'is written twice."
"Well,I don't hear any voices now,"Annie said as she looked out the window.
1. held up
- 词性：动词短语hold up的过去式
- 释义：举起；抬起；支撑；耽搁；提出（作为范例等）
- 例句：She held up her hand to ask a question.（她举起手来问问题。）The building is held up by strong columns.（这座建筑由坚固的柱子支撑着。）The traffic jam held us up for an hour.（交通堵塞耽搁了我们一个小时。）He was always held up as an example to the other students.（他总是被树立为其他学生学习的榜样。）
2. ancient
- 词性：形容词
- 释义：古代的；古老的；很老的
- 例句：We visited an ancient temple last week.（上周我们参观了一座古老的寺庙。）This is an ancient custom.（这是一个古老的习俗。）My grandfather is very ancient.（我爷爷年纪很大了。）
3. scroll
- 词性：名词 / 动词
- 释义：名词意为“卷轴；画卷；（网页等的）滚动条”；动词意为“（使）成卷状；（在电脑屏幕上）滚动查看”
- 例句：The ancient scroll was found in a cave.（这幅古代卷轴是在一个山洞里发现的。）Scroll down to see more options.（向下滚动查看更多选项。）
4. unrolled
- 词性：动词unroll的过去式和过去分词
- 释义：展开；铺开；使平滑地展开
- 例句：He unrolled the map on the table.（他在桌上展开地图。）The carpet unrolled easily.（地毯很容易就展开了。）
5. lonely
- 词性：形容词
- 释义：孤独的；寂寞的；偏僻的；人迹罕至的
- 例句：She feels lonely without her friends.（没有朋友，她感到很孤独。）They live in a lonely village.（他们住在一个偏僻的村庄。）
6. mistake
- 词性：名词 / 动词
- 释义：名词意为“错误；失误；误解”；动词意为“弄错；误解；把……误认为”
- 例句：I made a mistake in my math homework.（我数学作业中犯了个错误。）Don't mistake my meaning.（别误解我的意思。）I mistook him for his brother.（我把他错当成他哥哥了。）
7. twice
- 词性：副词
- 释义：两次；两倍
- 例句：I have been to Paris twice.（我去过巴黎两次。）This box is twice as big as that one.（这个箱子是那个箱子的两倍大。）
There were no human sounds at all—only the buzzing of flies and the whistling of the dry wind.
"Let's look at the book,"Jack said.
He opened the book.The pages were yellow with age.He found a picture of the town and read the words beneath it out loud:
In the 1870s,Rattlesnake Flats was a rest stop for the stagecoach that carried passengers from Santa Fe,New Mexico,to Fort Worth,Texas.When the creek dried up,everyone left.By1880,it was a“ghost town.”
1. sounds
- 词性：名词复数，动词第三人称单数形式
- 释义：作名词时，意为“声音；响声”；作动词时，意为“听起来；发出声音”
- 例句：I heard strange sounds outside.（我听到外面有奇怪的声音。）The music sounds wonderful.（这音乐听起来很棒。）
2. buzzing
- 词性：动词现在分词，可作形容词
- 释义：作动词现在分词时，意为“发出嗡嗡声；忙碌”；作形容词时，可表示“嗡嗡作响的；嘈杂的”
- 例句：Bees were buzzing around the flowers.（蜜蜂在花丛中嗡嗡飞舞。）The buzzing city center is always full of people.（嘈杂的市中心总是挤满了人。）
3. flies
- 词性：名词复数，动词第三人称单数形式
- 释义：作名词时，意为“苍蝇”；作动词时，意为“飞；飞行；飘扬”
- 例句：There are some flies on the table.（桌子上有几只苍蝇。）The plane flies very fast.（飞机飞得很快。）
4. whistling
- 词性：动词现在分词，可作名词
- 释义：作动词现在分词时，意为“吹口哨；呼啸”；作名词时，意为“吹口哨；呼啸声”
- 例句：He was whistling a happy tune.（他吹着欢快的曲子。）The whistling of the wind kept me awake.（风的呼啸声让我睡不着。）
5. words beneath
- 词性：短语，“beneath”为介词
- 释义：下面的文字
- 例句：Read the words beneath the picture carefully.（仔细阅读图片下面的文字。）
6. loud
- 词性：形容词，副词
- 释义：作形容词时，意为“大声的；喧闹的”；作副词时，意为“大声地；响亮地”
- 例句：He has a loud voice.（他声音很大。）Speak louder, please.（请大声点说。）
7. Rattlesnake Flats
- 词性：专有名词
- 释义：响尾蛇平地（文中虚构的地点名称）
- 例句：The story happened in Rattlesnake Flats.（故事发生在响尾蛇平地。）
8. rest stop
- 词性：名词短语
- 释义：休息站
- 例句：We stopped at a rest stop to have a break.（我们在一个休息站停下来休息。）
9. stagecoach
- 词性：名词
- 释义：驿站马车（旧时用于运送乘客和邮件的马车）
- 例句：In the old days, stagecoaches were the main means of long - distance travel.（过去，驿站马车是长途旅行的主要交通工具。）
10. passengers
- 词性：名词复数
- 释义：乘客；旅客
- 例句：The bus was full of passengers.（公共汽车上挤满了乘客。）
11. Santa Fe
- 词性：专有名词
- 释义：圣达菲（美国新墨西哥州的首府）
- 例句：Santa Fe is famous for its unique architecture.（圣达菲以其独特的建筑而闻名。）
12. New Mexico
- 词性：专有名词
- 释义：新墨西哥州（美国西南部的一个州）
- 例句：New Mexico has a lot of beautiful scenery.（新墨西哥州有很多美丽的风景。）
13. Fort Worth
- 词性：专有名词
- 释义：沃斯堡（美国得克萨斯州城市）
- 例句：Fort Worth is an important city in Texas.（沃斯堡是得克萨斯州的一个重要城市。）
14. Texas
- 词性：专有名词
- 释义：得克萨斯州（美国南部最大的州）
- 例句：Texas is known for its cowboy culture.（得克萨斯州以其牛仔文化而闻名。）
15. creek
- 词性：名词
- 释义：小溪；小河
- 例句：There is a small creek near my house.（我家附近有一条小溪。）
16. dried up
- 词性：动词短语dry up的过去式和过去分词形式
- 释义：干涸；枯竭；（使）干透
- 例句：The river dried up during the drought.（干旱期间这条河干涸了。）
17. ghost
- 词性：名词
- 释义：鬼；鬼魂；幽灵
- 例句：Some people believe in the existence of ghosts.（有些人相信鬼魂的存在。）
"Wow,a ghost town,"said Annie,her eyes wide.
"Let's take a quick look around,"said Jack.“So we can leave before dark."
"Right,"said Annie."Let's hurry."She started down the rope ladder.
Jack put the old book into his pack.Then he followed Annie down the ladder.
They stood by the tree and looked about.Tumble weeds blew across the dry ground.
Suddenly something jumped past them."Yikes!"they both said.
But it was just a rabbit—a lone,long-legged rabbit hopping past them.
1. tumble
- 词性：动词、名词
- 释义：
- 动词：摔倒，跌倒；（使）翻滚，滚落；暴跌；（不由自主地）卷入 。
- 名词：跌倒，摔倒；（价格等的）暴跌。
- 例句：
- 动词：Be careful not to tumble down the stairs.（小心别在楼梯上摔倒。）The leaves tumbled through the air.（树叶在空中飘落。）Stock prices tumbled yesterday.（昨天股票价格暴跌。）He tumbled into a life of crime.（他不由自主地卷入犯罪生活。）
- 名词：He took a bad tumble on his bike.（他骑车时重重地摔了一跤。）The tumble in the stock market worried investors.（股市暴跌让投资者忧心忡忡。）
2. weeds
- 词性：名词复数
- 释义：杂草，野草
- 例句：The garden is full of weeds.（花园里长满了杂草。）
3. blew
- 词性：动词blow的过去式
- 释义：吹，刮；吹奏（乐器）；（使）爆炸；（轮胎）爆胎； 挥霍（钱财）等
- 例句：The wind blew hard last night.（昨晚风刮得很大。）He blew his horn to warn the other drivers.（他按喇叭警告其他司机。）The bomb blew up the building.（炸弹炸毁了那座建筑物。）I blew a tire on the way to work.（我在上班路上车胎爆了。）He blew all his money on gambling.（他把所有的钱都挥霍在赌博上了。）
4. yikes
- 词性：感叹词
- 释义：（表示惊讶、惊恐等）呀，哎呀
- 例句：Yikes! There's a spider on my desk!（呀！我桌子上有只蜘蛛！）
5. rabbit
- 词性：名词、动词
- 释义：
- 名词：兔子；兔肉
- 动词：猎兔；唠叨，喋喋不休
- 例句：
- 名词：A rabbit jumped out of the bushes.（一只兔子从灌木丛中跳了出来。）We had rabbit for dinner.（我们晚餐吃了兔肉。）
- 动词：They went rabbiting in the forest.（他们去森林里猎兔。）Stop rabbiting on about your problems.（别再唠叨你的那些问题了。）
6. hopping
- 词性：动词hop的现在分词形式，可作形容词
- 释义：
- 动词现在分词：（人）单脚跳行；（动物）齐足跳行；快速移动；（非正式）突然去（某处）
- 形容词：忙碌的；活跃的
- 例句：
- 动词现在分词：The kangaroo was hopping across the field.（袋鼠在田野上跳跃着前进。）She hopped from one foot to the other, trying to keep warm.（她单脚跳来跳去，试图暖和起来。）He hopped into his car and drove off.（他迅速钻进车里开走了。）
- 形容词：The city center is always hopping at night.（市中心晚上总是很热闹。）
"Hey,he's just like that rabbit we saw at home,"saidJack.
"Yeah,that rabbit must have been a sign of things to come,"said Annie.
The rabbit hopped across the prairie and out of sight."I'd better take notes,"said Jack.
He reached into his backpack and took out his notebook and pencil.
1. hopped
- 词性：动词hop的过去式和过去分词形式
- 释义：
- （人）单脚跳；（小动物）齐足跳行。例如：The little girl hopped along on one foot.（小女孩单脚跳着往前走。）The rabbit hopped away quickly.（兔子飞快地跳着跑开了。）
- 快速移动；突然去（某处）。常用于口语表达，例如：I hopped into the car and drove to the store.（我迅速钻进车里，开车去了商店。）
2. prairie
- 词性：名词
- 释义：（尤指北美的）大草原，大牧场。例如：The prairie is a vast expanse of grassland.（这片大草原是广袤无垠的草地。）There are many bison on the prairie.（大草原上有许多野牛。）
He wrote:
bunny with long legs（长着长腿的小兔子）” 。
“bunny”是“rabbit（兔子）”比较口语化、可爱的说法 。
"What's that sound?"said Annie."What sound?"asked Jack.
"That rattling sound!"said Annie.Jack looked up."What?"he said.
"There!"Annie pointed to a rattlesnake.It was about a hundred feet away.It was coiled up and rattling.
1. rattling
- 词性：形容词；动词rattle的现在分词
- 释义：
- 形容词：发出咔嗒咔嗒声的；格格作响的；活泼的；（英式口语）非常好的，极佳的。
- 动词现在分词：发出连续短促的尖利声；使碰撞作响；使紧张，使恐惧。
- 例句：
- 形容词：The rattling windows woke me up.（格格作响的窗户把我吵醒了。）He is a rattling good player.（他是个非常出色的球员。）
- 动词现在分词：The wind was rattling the leaves.（风把树叶吹得沙沙作响。）The thunder rattled the children.（雷声使孩子们感到害怕。）
2. rattlesnake
- 词性：名词
- 释义：响尾蛇（一种毒蛇，尾巴能发出咔嗒咔嗒声）
- 例句：Rattlesnakes are common in some parts of the United States.（响尾蛇在美国的一些地区很常见。）
3. hundred
- 词性：数词；名词
- 释义：
- 数词：一百；许多，大量（常用于hundreds of，表示“成百上千的”）。
- 名词：一百；一百个；一百岁；（网球等）一百分。
- 例句：
- 数词：There are a hundred people in the hall.（大厅里有一百人。）Hundreds of birds fly south in winter.（冬天成百上千只鸟往南飞。）
- 名词：The old man lived to be a hundred.（这位老人活到了一百岁。）
4. coiled
- 词性：形容词；动词coil的过去式和过去分词
- 释义：
- 形容词：盘绕的；卷成圈的。
- 动词：卷，盘绕；（使）成圈状。
- 例句：
- 形容词：The coiled rope lay on the ground.（盘绕着的绳子放在地上。）
- 动词：The snake coiled itself around the branch.（蛇盘绕在树枝上。）The wire was coiled neatly.（电线被整齐地绕了起来。）
Jack took one look at the snake and ran.Annie ran,too.They ran past the graveyard and right into the ghost town.
"I guess that's why this town is called Rattlesnake Flats,"said Annie when they stopped.
graveyard 是名词，意为“墓地；坟场”，尤指与教堂相连的墓地 。常用于描述埋葬死者的地方，常带有阴森、肃穆的氛围。
- 例句：The old graveyard was filled with ancient tombstones.（这片古老的墓地布满了古老的墓碑。）
- 常见搭配：
- church graveyard：教堂墓地，如The church graveyard is a place of peace and reflection.（教堂墓地是个宁静且让人沉思的地方。）
- city graveyard：城市公墓，如The city graveyard provides a final resting place for many residents.（城市公墓为众多居民提供了安息之所。）
Jack looked around.The town was hardly big enough to call a town.There was one unpaved street and a few old buildings.
It was quiet,too quiet."Look,a store,"said Annie.
She pointed to a building.The faded sign said GENERALSTORE."Let's look inside.Maybe the answer to the riddle is in there."
1. unpaved
- 词性：形容词
- 释义：未铺砌的；没有铺路面的。通常用于描述道路等表面没有铺设诸如沥青、石板等材料。
- 例句：The unpaved road was bumpy after the rain.（雨后这条未铺砌的道路变得坑洼不平。）
2. quiet
- 词性：形容词、名词、动词
- 释义：
- 形容词：安静的；轻声的；平静的；寂静的；不显眼的；文静的。
- 名词：安静；寂静；宁静。
- 动词：使安静；使平静。
- 例句：
- 形容词：Please keep quiet in the library.（在图书馆请保持安静。）She has a quiet voice.（她说话声音很轻。）He leads a quiet life in the countryside.（他在乡下过着平静的生活。）
- 名词：I enjoy the quiet of the early morning.（我享受清晨的宁静。）
- 动词：The mother tried to quiet the crying baby.（母亲试图让哭闹的婴儿安静下来。）
3. store
- 词性：名词、动词
- 释义：
- 名词：商店；店铺；贮存物；备用物；仓库。
- 动词：贮存；贮藏；保存；（在计算机里）存储。
- 例句：
- 名词：I bought some bread at the store.（我在商店买了些面包。）The squirrel has a store of nuts for the winter.（松鼠为过冬贮存了坚果。）
- 动词：We store firewood for the cold winter.（我们为寒冬储备木柴。）This computer can store a large amount of data.（这台计算机能存储大量数据。）
4. faded
- 词性：形容词；动词fade的过去式和过去分词
- 释义：
- 形容词：褪色的；枯萎的；憔悴的；逐渐消逝的。
- 动词：（使）褪色；（使）逐渐消逝；（使）变微弱；（使）枯萎。
- 例句：
- 形容词：The faded curtains need to be replaced.（褪色的窗帘需要更换了。）She looked faded after a long illness.（久病之后她看起来很憔悴。）
- 动词：The sun has faded the carpet.（太阳晒得地毯褪色了。）The sound of the car faded away.（汽车的声音渐渐消失了。）
5. sign
- 词性：名词、动词
- 释义：
- 名词：迹象；征兆；招牌；指示牌；手势；符号。
- 动词：签名；签署；示意；打手势；标志着。
- 例句：
- 名词：Dark clouds are a sign of rain.（乌云是下雨的征兆。）The sign on the door said “Closed”.（门上的招牌写着“关门”。）He made a sign for me to follow him.（他打手势要我跟着他。）
- 动词：Please sign your name here.（请在这里签名。）The two countries signed a peace treaty.（两国签署了和平条约。）She signed to me to be quiet.（她示意我安静。）
6. general store
- 词性：名词短语
- 释义：杂货店，通常售卖各类日用杂货、食品等多种商品的商店，在过去较为常见。
- 例句：The general store in the small town sells everything from food to hardware.（小镇上的这家杂货店从食品到五金器具什么都卖。）
Jack and Annie stepped onto the porch.The wooden boards creaked loudly.The door had fallen off its hinges.They peeked inside.
The air was thick with dust.Spider webs hung from the ceiling.
1. porch
- 词性：名词
- 释义：门廊；走廊，通常指建筑物入口处有顶的区域
- 例句：We sat on the porch enjoying the sunset.（我们坐在门廊上欣赏日落。）
2. wooden boards
- 词性：名词短语
- 释义：木板，由木头制成的板材
- 例句：The floor was made of wooden boards.（地板是用木板铺成的。）
3. creaked
- 词性：动词creak的过去式和过去分词
- 释义：（使）嘎吱作响，常用来形容老旧的木制品或物体在受力时发出的尖锐、刺耳的声音
- 例句：The old door creaked when I opened it.（我开门时，那扇旧门嘎吱作响。）
4. loudly
- 词性：副词
- 释义：大声地；响亮地，用于描述声音的强度
- 例句：He laughed loudly at the joke.（他听了这个笑话大声笑起来。）
5. fallen off
- 词性：动词短语fall off的过去分词形式
- 释义：从……掉落；脱落；减少，在此处表示从原本的位置脱离
- 例句：Some leaves have fallen off the tree.（一些树叶从树上掉落了。）The handle of the cup has fallen off.（杯子的把手掉了。）
6. hinges
- 词性：名词复数
- 释义：铰链，一种用于连接两个物体并使它们能够相对转动的装置，常见于门、窗等
- 例句：The hinges of the gate need to be oiled.（大门的铰链需要上油了。）
7. peeked
- 词性：动词peek的过去式和过去分词
- 释义：偷看；窥视；（从隐蔽处）探出，常指快速地、偷偷地看一眼
- 例句：She peeked through the keyhole to see what was going on.（她透过钥匙孔偷看发生了什么事。）
8. thick
- 词性：形容词
- 释义：厚的；浓的；茂密的；粗的；（口音）重的等，这里指空气中灰尘浓度高
- 例句：The book has a thick cover.（这本书有一个厚封面。）The fog was so thick that we couldn't see the road.（雾很浓，我们看不见路。）
9. dust
- 词性：名词、动词
- 释义：名词意为灰尘；尘土；粉尘；动词意为擦去……的灰尘；撒（粉）于
- 例句：There is a lot of dust on the table.（桌子上有很多灰尘。）She dusted the furniture every day.（她每天都擦拭家具上的灰尘。）
10. spider
- 词性：名词
- 释义：蜘蛛
- 例句：I saw a spider crawling on the wall.（我看见一只蜘蛛在墙上爬。）
11. webs
- 词性：名词复数
- 释义：网；网状物，这里指蜘蛛网
- 例句：The corners of the room were full of webs.（房间的角落里满是蜘蛛网。）
12. hung
- 词性：动词hang的过去式和过去分词
- 释义：悬挂；吊；垂下；（被）绞死；挂（电话）等，这里指蜘蛛网从天花板垂下来
- 例句：She hung the picture on the wall.（她把画挂在墙上。）The lamp hung from the ceiling.（灯从天花板上吊下来。）
13. ceiling
- 词性：名词
- 释义：天花板；上限
- 例句：There is a beautiful chandelier on the ceiling.（天花板上有一盏漂亮的吊灯。）They set a ceiling on prices.（他们设定了价格上限。）
"Maybe we shouldn't go in,"said Jack.
"But what if the answer's here?"said Annie."Let's just take a quick look."
Jack took a deep breath."Okay."He and Annie tiptoed into the store.
"Look,"said Annie.She picked up a pair of rusty spurs.
“Careful,”said Jack.He poked at other stuff in the store—an old feed sack,a rusted tin cup,a faded calendar dated 1878.
1. tiptoed：动词tiptoe的过去式和过去分词，意为“踮着脚走；蹑手蹑脚地走” ，常表示为避免发出声响或不被注意而小心翼翼地行走。例如：She tiptoed out of the room so as not to wake the baby.（她踮着脚走出房间，以免吵醒婴儿。）
2. rusty spurs：rusty是形容词，意为“生锈的”；spurs是名词spur（马刺）的复数形式。rusty spurs指“生锈的马刺” ，马刺是一种骑马时戴在靴后根上的金属刺，用来刺激马快跑。
3. poked：动词poke的过去式和过去分词，常见意思为“戳；捅；刺” 。例如：Don't poke your finger at the screen.（别用手指戳屏幕。）也有“（用手肘）轻碰；翻找”等含义。在文中“He poked at other stuff in the store”中，可理解为“翻找”。
4. stuff：常见作不可数名词，意为“东西；物品；玩意儿” ，泛指各种事物，不具体指某一类东西。例如：What's all this stuff on the table?（桌子上这些东西是什么？）也可作动词，有“填满；塞满”等含义。
5. feed：作动词时，常见意思为“喂养；饲养；为……提供食物” ，如：She feeds the birds every morning.（她每天早上喂鸟。）作名词时，可表示“饲料” ，文中“feed sack”就是“饲料袋” 。
6. sack：作名词时，常见意思为“麻袋；布袋；大袋子” ，如：a sack of potatoes（一袋土豆）；也可指“解雇；开除” 。作动词时，有“解雇；把……装进袋子”等含义。
7. rusted：rust的过去式和过去分词形式，也可作形容词，意为“生锈的” ，强调已经生锈的状态，与rusty意思相近，但rusty更常用作前置定语，rusted更常作表语或后置定语。例如：The gate was rusted shut.（大门生锈关不上了。）
8. tin：作名词时，常见意思为“锡” ，是一种金属元素；也可指“罐头；听头” ，常用于英式英语，相当于美式英语中的“can” 。作形容词时，意为“锡制的” 。例如：a tin box（锡盒） 。
9. faded calendar：faded是fade（褪色；变淡；逐渐消失）的过去分词形式，在这里作形容词，修饰calendar（日历），表示“褪色的日历” 。
10. dated：date作动词时，常见意思为“注明日期；确定年代；与……约会” 。dated在这里是过去分词作后置定语，修饰calendar，意为“标明日期为……的” ，“a faded calendar dated 1878”即“一本标明日期为1878年的褪色日历” 。
"Oh,wow,"said Annie.She held up two cowboy hats.She put one on and handed the other one to Jack."For you."
"It's too dusty,"said Jack."Just blow on it,"said Annie.Jack blew on his hat.A cloud of dust rose up.Jack sneezed.
1. held up：动词短语hold up的过去式，常见含义有“举起；抬起”，强调将物体举到较高位置 ，如文中“She held up two cowboy hats.”（她举起两顶牛仔帽。）此外，还有“支撑；耽搁；抢劫”等含义。
2. cowboy hats：合成词，意为“牛仔帽”，是牛仔们常戴的一种宽边高顶的帽子，在西部牛仔文化中很常见 。
3. dusty：形容词，由名词dust（灰尘）加后缀 -y构成，意思是“布满灰尘的；灰尘多的” ，如：The old book was very dusty.（这本旧书布满了灰尘。）
4. blow：常见作动词，过去式是blew，过去分词是blown。基本义为“吹；刮” ，如文中“Just blow on it”（就对着它吹） ；也有“吹奏（乐器）；吹气；使爆炸”等含义。作名词时，意为“吹；打击” 。
5. cloud：常见作名词，意为“云” ，如：There are white clouds in the sky.（天空中有白云。）在文中“A cloud of dust”表示“一团灰尘” ，这里cloud表示“一大团；一大群” 。作动词时，有“使模糊；使布满云；使忧郁”等含义。
6. dust：作名词时，意为“灰尘；尘土” ，如：The furniture was covered with dust.（家具上布满了灰尘。）作动词时，意为“擦去……的灰尘；撒（粉）” 。
7. rose：动词rise的过去式，意为“升起；上升；上涨” ，常指物体从较低位置移动到较高位置，多为不及物动词，如文中“A cloud of dust rose up.”（一团灰尘扬了起来。）常见搭配有rise up（升起；起义），rise from（从……升起；由……引起）等。
8. sneezed：动词sneeze的过去式和过去分词，意为“打喷嚏” ，如：He sneezed because of the cold.（他因为感冒打喷嚏。）
"Just try it on!"said Annie.Jack put the hat on.It nearly covered his eyes.
"Boots!"said Annie.She pointed to a row of cowboy boots on a shelf.“There are even some small ones,like our sizes.Here's a pair for you."She handed the boots to Jack.
1. covered：动词cover的过去式和过去分词形式。常见意思为“覆盖；遮盖”，如“He covered his eyes.”（他捂住了眼睛） ，也有“涉及；报道；足以支付”等含义。
2. row：作名词时，常见发音有两种。读[raʊ]时，意为“一排；一行；一列” ，如“a row of cowboy boots”（一排牛仔靴）；读[rəʊ]时，意思是“争吵；吵架” 。作动词时，读[rəʊ]，意为“划船” 。
3. cowboy boots：合成词，意为“牛仔靴” ，是牛仔穿着的一种高筒皮靴，通常设计适合骑马，在西部牛仔文化中很具代表性。
4. shelf：名词，复数形式为shelves，意为“架子；搁板” ，常用来放置物品，如“on a shelf”（在架子上） 。
"They're not ours,"he said."I know,but just try them on,"said Annie.
Jack turned his boots upside down and shook them as hard as he could.
"What are you doing?"Annie asked,pulling on another pair of boots.
"Checking for scorpions,"Jack said."Ja-ack."Annie laughed."Try them on!"
Jack sighed.He pulled off his sneakers.He pushed his feet into the boots.He pushed and pushed.The boots were really stiff.Finally he got his feet inside.Then he tried to walk.
1. upside：常见词性为名词，意为“上面；上部；正面” ，常与down连用构成短语“upside down”，表示“颠倒；倒转；乱七八糟” 。例如：The picture was hung upside down.（这幅画挂倒了。）
2. scorpions：scorpion的复数形式，意为“蝎子” ，是一种节肢动物，尾巴有毒刺。例如：Scorpions are often found in dry and sandy areas.（蝎子常出现在干燥多沙的地区。）
3. pulled off：pull off的过去式，常见含义有“脱下（衣物等）” ，如文中“He pulled off his sneakers.”（他脱下了他的运动鞋。）；还有“成功完成（困难的事）” 之意，例如：They pulled off a difficult rescue.（他们成功完成了一次艰难的救援。）
4. sneakers：名词，常用复数形式，意为“运动鞋” ，尤指适合运动时穿的轻便鞋子。例如：I need a new pair of sneakers for running.（我需要一双新的跑步运动鞋。）
5. stiff：形容词，常见意思为“硬的；不易弯曲的” ，如文中“The boots were really stiff.”（这靴子实在是硬邦邦的。）也可表示“僵硬的；不灵活的” ，形容身体部位时，常指因劳累、受伤或寒冷等原因而变得僵硬；还可以表示“拘谨的；生硬的” ，用来描述人的态度或行为。
“Owww!"he said."Forget it.”He started to pull off the boots.
"What's that?"Annie said.Jack froze.
“Piano music,"said Annie."Maybe it's the voice in the riddle!Come on!"
Jack threw his sneakers into his backpack and hobbled after Annie.
1. froze：动词freeze的过去式，常见含义为“冻结；结冰” ，强调液体变成固体的过程。例如：The lake froze over in winter.（冬天湖水结冰了。）在描述人时，常表示“突然停止；呆住” ，因恐惧、惊讶等情绪而身体不能动弹。例如：She froze when she heard the strange noise.（听到奇怪的声响，她一下子呆住了。）
2. piano：名词，意为“钢琴” ，是一种键盘乐器。例如：She plays the piano very well.（她钢琴弹得很好。）
3. music：不可数名词，意为“音乐；乐曲” ，涵盖各种类型的音乐形式。例如：I like listening to pop music.（我喜欢听流行音乐。）
4. riddle：名词，意为“谜语；谜题” 。例如：Can you guess this riddle?（你能猜出这个谜语吗？）也可作动词，意为“使布满窟窿；解谜” 。
5. sneakers：名词复数形式，意为“运动鞋” ，尤指轻便的、适合日常穿着或运动的鞋子。例如：He always wears sneakers when he goes for a walk.（他散步的时候总是穿着运动鞋。）
6. hobbled：动词hobble的过去式和过去分词，意为“跛行；蹒跚行走” ，常指因受伤、疼痛或腿部有问题而走路不稳。例如：The old man hobbled along the street with the help of a stick.（老人拄着拐杖在街上蹒跚行走。）
