1 Recess in Africa

1 RECESS IN AFRICA? A spring wind blew across the schoolyard. The playground was bathed in morning light. Kids were shouting, tossing balls and running races. "Jack!" Jack was playing volleyball. He saw Annie calling to him from the edge of the court. "I need your help, please!" she shouted. "I'll be right back," Jack said to his teammates. He ran over to Annie. "What's up?" he said. "I left the folder for my science project at home," Annie said. "I have to give my report after recess. My teacher called Mom at work. Mom said I can go home and get it if you come with me. We have to be back in fifteen minutes, before recess ends!" "Okay, no problem," said Jack. Their house was only a couple of blocks away. He turned to his

非洲的休息时间？一阵春风吹过校园。 操场沐浴在晨光中。 孩子们大喊大叫，扔球，赛跑。 “杰克!”杰克在打排球。 他看见安妮在球场边上叫他。 “我需要你的帮助，求你了！” “我马上回来，”杰克对他的队友们说。 他跑向安妮。“怎么了？”他说。 “我把科学项目的文件夹忘在家里了，”安妮说。 “课间休息后我得交报告。 我的老师打电话给上班的妈妈。 妈妈说如果你和我一起去，我可以回家拿。 我们必须在十五分钟内回来，在课间休息结束之前！”“好的，没问题，”杰克说。 他们的房子就在几个街区之外。 他转过身去。

friends. "We have to get something at home! Be back soon!" Jack and Annie ran from the playground and started up the sidewalk toward their house. "What's your report about?" asked Jack. "What do you think?" said Annie. Jack smiled. "Some kind of animal," he said. "But what is it?" Annie was an expert on animals. "All kinds," said Annie. "I have to get my big folder of pictures." Heading up their street, Jack and Annie walked by a church and the library. As they passed the Frog Creek woods, Annie grabbed Jack's arm. "Stop! Look!" she said. She pointed to a small gray bird sitting on a branch. The bird had a bright-red beak. Its yellow eyes were staring straight at them. "What's that?" said Jack. "A red-billed oxpecker," Annie said in a hushed voice. "I thought they only lived in Africa." The bird let out a raspy cry. "He wants us to follow him," said Annie. "We can't. Not if you want to get your folder," said Jack. "We have just enough time to go to our

朋友。“我们得回家买点东西！”很快回来！”杰克和安妮从操场跑出来，沿着人行道朝他们的房子跑去。 “你的报告是关于什么的？”杰克问。 “你觉得怎么样？”安妮说。 杰克笑了笑。“某种动物，”他说。 “那是什么呢？”安妮是动物方面的专家。 “各种各样的，”安妮说。“我得去拿我那一大文件夹的照片。” 杰克和安妮沿街而行，经过一座教堂和图书馆。 当他们经过青蛙溪森林时，安妮抓住杰克的胳膊。 “停!看！”她说。她指着一只停在树枝上的灰色小鸟。 这只鸟的嘴是鲜红色的。 它的黄眼睛直直地盯着他们。 “那是什么？”杰克说。“一只红嘴的牛椋鸟，”安妮低声说。 “我以为它们只生活在非洲。” 那只鸟发出刺耳的叫声。 “他想让我们跟着他，”安妮说。 “我们不能。如果你想要你的文件夹，就不行。”杰克说。 “我们有足够的时间去我们的

house and get back to school before the end of recess." The oxpecker cried out again. Then it spread its wings, lifted off the branch, and flew into the woods. "We have to follow him!" said Annie. "We can't do both. I told you," said Jack. "Make a choice. Your science report? Or the bird?" The oxpecker called from the trees. "The bird!" said Annie. She started running. "Oh, man," said Jack. But he hurried after Annie.

在课间休息结束前回到学校。” 那只雄牛又叫了起来。 然后它展开翅膀，飞离树枝，飞进了树林。 “我们得跟着他！”安妮说。 “我们不能两者兼顾。我告诉过你，”杰克说。 “做一个选择。你的科学报告？ 还是那只鸟？”那只牛椋鸟在树上叫。 “那只鸟！”安妮说。她开始跑。 “哦，天哪，”杰克说。但他急忙追赶安妮。