二十一. I Did a Silly Thing
A few years ago, when my family moved to this city, I became interested in soap-box race. Thats when I discovered thatit is far easier to start something than it is to finish it.
Dad bought a set of tools to make a racing car for me. I just couldnt wait, and one day, while Dad was at work, I decided to have my car going. I looked at the drawings, and I said to myself,Dude, you can do this.I got out Dads toolbox, and I started building. Part A fit into Part B. Part C was a little harder to connect to Part D. It was easy to fix Part E. By the time I got to Part G，Id made a real mess(混乱) of things. I really regret having done such a silly thing.
What did I learn from this experience? Now I know that before I start something, I should know how to finish it.
【汉语翻译】
我做了一件傻事
几年前，我们搬到这座城市时，我对肥皂(soap)箱(box)赛车比赛(race)产生了兴趣。就是在那时我发现(discover)了开始做某件事要比完成它容易地多(far easier)（即开始容易结束难）的道理。
爸爸买了一套工具（A set of tools）要给我做一辆赛车(racing car)。我是急不可耐，然后有一天，爸爸在上班(be at work)时，我决定让我的小车转起来。我看着图纸(drawing)。对自己说，都德，你可以做到。我拿出了爸爸的工具箱，接着就开始造车了。零件A适合(fit)零件B。零件C连接(connect)到零件D就有点难度。零件E很容易安装(fix)。到我开始零件G时，我已经把事情弄的一团糟。我真的后悔(regret)做了这么一件傻(silly)事。
这次经历(experience)让我学到了什么呢？现在我知道了在我开始做某事之前，我应该知道该如何完成它。?
二十二. Snakes
Today I read a book about snakes. I found some interesting facts, especially somesurprising facts in it. Did you know that some big snakes are strong enough to kill a pig or a goat? All snakes eat animals. Without snakes, the world would probablybe filled with rats and mice.
You probably didnt know that snakes smell with their noses and their tongues.Some snakes are even longer than an elephant or a giraffe!
This book made me think a lot about snakes. Most snakes dont hurt people, but some are dangerous. Im thinking if I saw a snake, would I know if it was dangerous?
【汉语翻译】
蛇
今天我读(read)了一本关于蛇(snake)的书。我发现其中有一些有趣的事实，尤其(especially)是一些令人吃惊的(surprising)事实。你知道吗？一些大蛇很强壮(strong)足以杀死一头猪或一只山羊(goat)。所有的蛇都吃动物。如果没有(without)蛇，这个世界很可能(probably)充满了(be filled with)老鼠(rats and mice)。
你很可能不知道蛇是用它们的鼻子和舌头(tongue)来闻气味(smell)的。有的蛇甚至比一头象(elephant)或一只长颈鹿(giraffe)还长！
这本书让我想了很多关于蛇的事情。大部分蛇不伤害(hurt)人，但有些是危险的(dangerous)蛇。我在想如果我看到一只蛇，我是否会知道它是危险的？