第12章 杰克逊的复活节Easter in Jackson
佚名 /Anonymous
The pounding rain began in the middle of the night. The people of Jackson, Ohio awoke to the sound then went back to sleep, but the rain continued. Statistics said Jackson f loods once every one hundred years, but no one believed this would be the f lood of the century, People were evacuated from their homes to higher ground, leaving everything behind. Buildings in the low-lying areas were immersed in water. People felt helpless as they watched Mother Nature show her power.
Susan told the story to her students and showed them pictures from the newspaper. Immediately her students began raising money for the f lood victims. They sold lollipops, wrote letters to the community asking for donations and collected their own money. Mountains of clothes, furniture and food piled up. Susan's class made Easter baskets from shoeboxes and f illed them with candy and toys as well as toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes and shampoo.
Susan and I drove there with these baskets. We went from house to house, knocking on doors, ready to begin our mission. “Hello, I'm Susan Moore, and this is my friend, Allison. My sixth-graders at Pennyroyal Elementary made Easter baskets for you when they heard about the f looding. ”
Their faces lit up as they opened their gifts. As we entered one home, a husband and wife were crouched over their f loor with hammer and nails. When he opened the box, he began to cry. “I can't believe those kids did this. Let me give you some money for their school.” As I glanced at what was left of his home, I could not believe his generous spirit. He eventually conceded to write a thank-you note instead. One woman ran out to f ind us after opening her box, tears rolling down her face. “I collected bunny rabbits, and I lost them all in the f lood. There was a small pink rabbit in my box. I can start my collection again. Thank you. ” The burly man standing next to her also had tears in his eyes.
My heart was warmed as I played the small role of messenger in this tribute to the good in the human spirit. So often we hear of the short comings of our youth, but these youngsters answered a cry for help and gave proof that generosity and love prevail.
半夜时分下起了大雨，雨声将俄亥俄州杰克逊县的人们吵醒了，不久他们又入睡了，可是雨一直下着。统计资料显示，杰克逊每一百年发一次洪灾，可是没有人相信眼前的大雨会是那场百年一遇的洪灾。人们扔下所有的东西，从家中撤退到了高地。处于低地势的建筑物被大水浸泡了。人们目睹了大自然母亲的威力，顿时感到非常无助。
苏珊给学生们讲了这个故事，并将报纸上的照片展示给他们看，学生们立刻为洪水的受灾者捐款。他们去卖棒棒糖，给社区写信请求募捐，还捐出了自己的零用钱。衣服、家具以及食物都堆积如山。苏珊班里的学生们还用鞋盒子做成复活节的礼品篮，装满了糖果、玩具、牙膏、肥皂、牙刷和洗发水。
我和苏珊带着这些礼品篮驾车前往灾区。我们挨门逐户地敲门，准备开始我们的任务。“你好，我是苏珊·摩尔，这是我的朋友艾利逊。我们潘尼罗耶小学六年级的学生听说你们这里遭遇了洪灾，特意为你们制作了复活节礼品篮。”
他们打开礼物时都露出了会心的微笑。我们进入一户人家，一对手里拿着锤子和钉子的夫妇正蹲伏在地板上。丈夫打开盒子时，哭了：“我不敢相信那些孩子能够做出这样的举动，让我回赠给他们学校一些钱吧。”我匆匆地扫了一眼他家里剩下的东西，真不敢相信他的这种慷慨之举。几经劝说，他最终同意用一封感谢信来表达他的谢意。一位妇女在打开盒子后跑出来找到我们，泪流满面地说：“我过去收集了许多小兔子，可是洪水来临，我把它们都丢了。你们送给我的盒子里有一只小粉兔，我现在又可以开始收集了。谢谢你们！”她旁边那个魁伟的男人眼中也噙着泪水。
此时的我感到非常温暖，因为在传递人类灵魂之美中，我扮演了一个小小的角色。我们经常听到有人指责我们这一代年轻人，可是这些年轻人却帮助了那些在灾祸中需要帮助的人们，这恰恰证明了世间的爱与慷慨。
记忆填空
1.Susan told the_______ to her students and showed them pictures_______the newspaper. Immediately her students_______raising money for the flood victims. They sold lollipops, wrote letters to the community_______for donations and collected their_______money.
2.Susan and I_______ there with these baskets. We went from house to_______, knocking on doors,_______ to begin our mission.
3.So_______we hear of the short comings of our youth, but these youngsters_______ a cry for help and gave proof that generosity and_______prevail.
佳句翻译
1.统计表上显示，杰克逊每一百年发一次洪灾，可是没有人相信眼前的大雨会是那场百年一遇的洪灾。
译_______________________________________________________________
2.我匆匆地扫了一眼他家里剩下的东西，真不敢相信他的这种慷慨之举。
译_______________________________________________________________
3.此时的我感到非常温暖，因为在传递人类灵魂之美中，我扮演了一个小小的角色。
译_______________________________________________________________
短语应用
1.Mountains of clothes, furniture and food piled up.
pile up：堆放起来，积累，堆积
造_______________________________________________________________
2.Their faces lit up as they opened their gifts.
light up：（脸上）呈现高兴的情绪
造_______________________________________________________________