4 What If

CHAPTER FOUR What If? Sedimentation (noun). This is the process of separating heavier matter from a solution in, say, a flask or beaker. But it works outside beakers too! Like how sand can be carried by a river and then deposited on its banks to make a perfect little beach. So every time you see a beach, you can thank sedimentation! "THE AQUARIUM MIGHT BE the best field trip ever," I said to my friends during lunch at our usual table. It was the day after we had found out that we were going to Chicago. The cafeteria was noisy because it was Friday, when everyone got rowdy. Kids were chatting and laughing. "When it comes to field trips, we've paid our dues," said Avery as she crunched into an apple. "What is that supposed to mean?" asked Phoenix. Since she was her best friend, she didn't mean to directly challenge her—it was more like she was asking for clarification.

第四章如果？沉降(名词)。 这是将较重的物质从烧瓶或烧杯中的溶液中分离出来的过程。 但在烧杯外也可以！比如沙子是如何被河流带走，然后沉积在河岸上，形成一个完美的小海滩。 所以每次你看到海滩，你都要感谢沉积作用！“水族馆可能是有史以来最好的实地考察，”在我们常坐的那张餐桌上吃午饭时，我对朋友们说。 那是在我们得知要去芝加哥的第二天。 自助餐厅很吵，因为今天是星期五，每个人都很吵闹。 孩子们有说有笑。 “说到实地考察，我们已经付出了代价。”艾弗里边说边嚼着一个苹果。 “这是什么意思？”菲尼克斯问。 因为她是她最好的朋友，所以她并不想直接挑战她——她更像是在要求她澄清。

"We're in fifth grade," replied Avery, sounding wary and like her typical dramatic self. "So we've earned the right to go someplace marvelous." "Yeah, not like that sewage treatment plant in fourth grade," said Memito, who took the last chomp of a celery stick dipped in hummus. "Remember that place?" He mock shivered. "If the aquarium is going to be stinky, at least it will have cool fish swimming around in it." "Hey, I liked that water treatment place," I said. "And there were organisms there. They were just microscopic. Plus, all of those giant sedimentation tanks were so cool! Remember how gravity pulled particles to the bottom?" "Ah, not really." Memito plugged his nose. "But I sure remember the stinky part." "Well, I, for one, am certainly glad my dad is coming on the aquarium field trip," said Avery. "He adores taking photos. And there will be a lot more to see than sludge." Avery's dad was the first parent to sign up as a chaperone for the field trip. She had told us the good news this morning, and Mrs. Eberlin had looked super pleased. Her dad, who designs the posters for the local theater that he helps run, is like a semi-professional photographer. He always takes incredible shots whenever he goes on field trips.

“我们上五年级了。”艾弗里回答，听起来很谨慎，就像她典型的戏剧性的自己。 “所以我们赢得了去一个奇妙地方的权利。” “是啊，不像四年级时的那个污水处理厂，”梅梅托说，他吃下了最后一口蘸着鹰嘴豆泥的芹菜。 “还记得那个地方吗？”他打了个寒颤。 “如果水族馆会很臭，至少它会有凉爽的鱼在里面游泳。” “嘿，我喜欢那个水处理的地方，”我说。 “那里有生物。 它们只是微观的。 此外，所有这些巨大的沉淀池都很酷！还记得重力是如何把粒子拉到底部的吗？”“啊，不完全是。” 梅托堵住了鼻子。“但我肯定记得臭的那部分。” “嗯，就我个人而言，我当然很高兴我爸爸能来参加水族馆的实地考察，”艾弗里说。 “他喜欢拍照。我们将看到比污泥更多的东西。” 艾弗里的爸爸是第一个报名参加实地考察的家长。 她今天早上把这个好消息告诉了我们，埃伯林太太看起来非常高兴。 她的父亲为他参与经营的当地剧院设计海报，就像一个半专业的摄影师。 每次他去实地考察，他总是能拍出令人难以置信的照片。

"That's awesome your dad will take photos," said Birdie. "Maybe I can use them to make some paintings of the jellies!" "Whoa, you're talking about the trip like it's a done deal," said Memito. "But it's not. Let's be real." "Yeah," said Phoenix. "Mrs. Eberlin said we need at least four chaperones. So far, nobody else's parents have said they're going." "Yet," said Elijah. "But if nobody else steps up to the plate, we're doomed." Memito sighed heavily. "My parents are busy," said Birdie. Everyone else said pretty much the same thing. Except for Elijah. "I still need to ask," he admitted, sounding hopeful. "How about you, Kate?" "Me?" I almost swallowed my carrot stick whole. "Yesterday, I had indoor soccer late, so I didn't get a chance to ask either." I was shocked that he even asked. And everyone knew exactly why.

“太棒了，你爸爸会给你拍照，”小鸟说。 “也许我可以用它们画一些水母的画！”“哇，你说这次旅行就像板上钉钉一样，”梅托说。 “但事实并非如此。让我们面对现实吧。” “是啊。”菲尼克斯说。“夫人。 埃伯林说我们至少需要四名监护人。 到目前为止，还没有其他人的父母表示要去。” 以利亚说：“是这样。”“但如果没有其他人站出来，我们就完蛋了。” 梅托重重地叹了口气。“我的父母很忙，”小鸟说。 其他人也都这么说。 除了以利亚。“我还是需要问问，”他承认，听起来充满希望。 “你呢，凯特？”“我?”我差点把胡萝卜棒整个吞下去。 “昨天，我的室内足球踢得很晚，所以我也没有机会问。” 我很震惊他居然会问。 每个人都知道为什么。