I went to the principal's office again

by Samantha/曲永華(譯)

□語篇導讀

你曾經去過校長的辦公室嗎？哪些學生經常去那兒呢？本文的主人公“我”就曾經連續六次被叫去校長的辦公室。你想知道“我”為何去那里嗎？在“我”第六次到校長辦公室時，“我”感到非常震驚，“我”竟然被校長……最后到底發生了什么呢？讓我們一起來閱讀下面的短文吧!

I still remember I had problems behaving when I was in the seventh grade.My heart was in the right place，but I couldn't always follow the rules.I played many tricks on my schoolmates.Once,I even pulled a girl's hair on the school bus to get her attention.As a result,I was repeatedly sent to the office of the principal.

Although I hated going there,I did not hate the principal,Mr.Ratcliff.Mr.Ratcliff was a kind,elderly man.When he spanked (打屁股)me for putting some ants into a classmate's pencil box,it didn't hurt at all,but it did hurt my feelings.I thought so much of him and moments like that seemed to prove I was hopelessly bad.

When I got called to Mr.Ratcliff's office for the sixth time,I had no idea what I had done.I felt disappointed as I walked down there.I went into his office,sat down,and looked at the floor.Then he said the last thing I expected to hear:“Kevin,I've heard you've been behaving really well lately.I want you to know how proud I am of you,and I just called you down to my office to give you a peppermint.”“Really?”I was surprised.“Yes.Now you can take that peppermint and go back to class.”

I carried the peppermint with me as if it was a gold coin.When I got into my classroom,I bragged (吹噓)to my classmates about my turnaround,excitedly.I wasn't so bad after all.

Mr.Ratcliff was really kind.He made me realize that I was just a kid who had problems with behavior.He bought some peppermints and took the time to notice me when I got something right.Mr.Ratcliff gave me some hope by giving me some love.I will just remember him for the rest of my life.Mr.Ratcliff is the best principal that I have ever met all my life.

◆語塊收藏

have problems遇到問題

play tricks on...捉弄…… /開……玩笑

pull one's hair拉某人的頭發

get one's attention引起某人的注意

after all畢竟

◆典句賞析

1.I carried the peppermint with me as if it was a gold coin.我隨身帶著薄荷糖，就好像它是一枚金幣。

as if是一個較常見的連詞短語，意為“好像，似乎”，這里用來引導狀語從句，表示“事情是怎么做的”或“一個人或事物是什么樣的”。例如：

She spoke to me as if she knew me.她和我說著話，好像她早就認識我。

2.Mr.Ratcliff gave me some hope by giving me some love.拉特克利夫先生通過給我一些愛，給了我一些希望。

by giving me some love是介詞短語，意為“通過給我一些愛”，其中的giving是動名詞，后面帶的是雙賓語，其中me是間接賓語，some love是直接賓語。

◆理解自測

根據短文內容，從A、B、C、D四個選項中選擇正確的選項。

1.In the writer's seventh grade,he _______.

A.disliked the principal B.had difficulties behaving

C.always made the rules D.often helped his classmates

2.When the writer went to the principal's office for the sixth time,he got _______.A.a peppermint B.a model robot

C.a pencil box D.a coin

3.The writer will always remember Mr.Ratcliff,because the principal______ _.

A.talked with him in the office B.played games with him

C.expected him to be a teacher D.gave him some hope and love

◆詞句微練

根據所給漢語句子,完成下列英語句子。每空一詞。

1.我弟弟在學習英語語法上遇到困難。

My brother ______________in learning English grammar.

2.青少年經常在一起互相大搞惡作劇。

Teenagers often ____________________________each other together.

3.為了引起男孩們的注意力,露西今天穿了一件紅色的裙子。

_______ _______boys'_______,Lucy is in a red skirt today.

4.別生他的氣，他畢竟是個孩子。

Don't be angry with him.He is a child ______________.

5.聽起來像是在下雨。

It sounds ______________ it is raining.