The Homework Lesson

The Homework Lesson, written by Ellen Forrest, illustrated by Anique McGrory.

《家庭作业课》，作者：埃伦·福雷斯特，插画：安妮克·麦格罗里。

On the first day of school, Ryan found himself in Ms. Rose's fifth grade class. He was kind of nervous because he'd heard Ms. Rose could be a real monster sometimes. But when he saw her, she looked nice enough. She had a pleasant voice and seemed to be glad to see all the kids.

开学第一天，瑞安走进了罗斯老师的五年级教室。 他有点紧张，因为听说罗斯老师有时候凶得像个真正的怪兽。 可当他见到罗斯老师本人，她看起来挺和善的呀。 她声音悦耳，看起来也很开心见到所有小朋友。

Ms. Rose started with an overview of what they'd be doing during the year. It actually sounded interesting. Then in a lower voice, she warned them she would be giving them homework assignments, which absolutely, positively had to be done. They were not to be handed in late, and they were to be completed fully. No excuses, no extensions. she sounded like she meant business.

罗斯老师先介绍了这一学年大家要做的安排。 听起来其实还挺有意思的。 接着她放低声音提醒大家：她会布置家庭作业，作业必须完成，没有半点商量余地。 作业绝对不能迟交，而且必须全部做完。 没有借口，也不延期。 听起来她可不是说着玩的。

That day, she assigned the class its first homework. It wasn't anything too difficult. They had to do a sheet of math problems and read a short story. It wasn't due until Thursday, but she suggested they do it immediately that night. Homework has a way of piling up, she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. But today was only Monday. There was lots of time, Ryan thought.

当天，她就给全班布置了第一份作业。 作业并不算太难。 他们要做一张数学题卷，还要读一篇小故事。 周四才要交，可她建议大家当晚就写完。 家庭作业很容易堆起来的，她说着，眼睛微微眯了起来。 可今天才周一呀。 时间多的是，瑞安心想。

So when school was over, Ryan and his friends ran off to play baseball. Ryan got home just in time for dinner, and then his favorite TV show came on. His mom asked him if he had any homework. No, not tonight, he said, because he figured he really didn't for that night. He tossed his homework on his desk.

所以放学之后，瑞安和朋友们跑去打棒球了。 瑞安赶回家刚好赶上吃晚饭，晚饭后，他最爱的电视节目就开始了。 妈妈问他有没有作业要写。 今天不用写，他说，他觉得反正不用今晚写。 他把作业随手扔在了书桌上。

The following morning at school, Ms. Rose asked how many students in the class had finished their homework. No hands went up. She nodded but didn't say anything about it. That night, she gave them a little more homework. This time, they had to study for a spelling test. The spelling test wasn't until Thursday either, so Ryan didn't bother studying that night. he stacked the spelling list on top of the other papers on his desk.

第二天早上上学，罗斯老师问班里有多少同学写完作业了。 没有一个人举手。 她点了点头，什么也没说。 当天晚上，她又多布置了一点作业。 这次，他们要为拼写测验复习。 拼写测验也是周四才考，所以瑞安那晚也没忙着复习。 他把拼写单词表叠在书桌那堆纸的最上面。