雞 媽 媽

山西 武曉鑫

父親在新冠肺炎疫情爆發初期給女兒買了六只小雞，女兒給小雞們起名字，陪伴它們一起玩耍，鄰居們也喜歡上了這個小姑娘和她的小雞們。 小雞帶給他們歡樂的同時也給他們帶來了悲傷。 這個故事告訴我們要學會接受不能改變的處境，享受我們可以獲得的快樂。

題材 體裁人與動物 記敘文 336 ★★★文章詞數 難度建議用時6分鐘

From the moment my husband brought home a box of six chicks from Tractor Supply Company at the start of the pandemic, our nine-year-old, Sophie, hasn't let them out of her sight. She named them Trixie, Bearty, Sweet Pea, Speedie, Captain Flint, and Adrian ( we were reading Treasure Island and watching Rocky at the time ) and was very upset when we wouldn't let them sleep in her bed.

Sophie takes at least one chicken everywhere we let her and has done incredible things with her flock. One hot day, she wanted to take Captain Flint to the river. I wasn't so sure about it: Could chickens swim? Sophie balanced a stick on her river tube for Captain Flint to rest on, and the two floated down the river.

Naturally, Sophie dressed as a chicken for Halloween and convinced us Trixie had to come. The reactions from neighbors were funny. “Wait! Is that a real chicken you're holding?” Trixie cooed the whole time.

The chickens are teaching us about love as well as loss and grief. Sadly, Captain Flint faced an untimely death after a hawk attack. We had a chicken funeral, said a few words about what a good chicken she was, and thanked her for the joy she brought to our lives before we buried her. Sophie painted a lovely picture in memorial and has worn a dress with Captain Flint's picture ever since.

The chickens weren't allowed in the house until one morning after virtual school when Sophie told me, “There's nothing to feel happy about.” Since then, we've allowed one inside at a time if Sophie immediately cleans up after the visit. The chickens brought the lost joy back to our lives. In a few short months, they have taught us to accept situations we can't change and find joy where we can.I am so grateful.

Reading Check

1. Where are the names the girl called the chicks from?

A. A book bought from Tractor Supply Company.

1.4.3 捕食線蟲真菌的形態學鑒定 采用粘片法，在體視顯微鏡下黏取分生孢子以及分生孢子梗進行形態觀察及大小測定，用透明的膠帶粘取捕食線蟲真菌的分生孢子及分生孢子梗，置于滴有適量呂氏美蘭染液的載玻片上，并蓋上蓋玻片，制成臨時裝片，顯微鏡鏡檢（40×），確定分生孢子和分生孢子梗的類型，測量分生孢子的大小及分隔數，最后結合捕食器官類型，參照文獻〔1〕進行形態鑒定和分類。

B. A film the girl and the family were watching then.

C. A book and a film she liked best in her childhood.

D. A book and a film that they were enjoying then.

2. Which word can best describe the neighbors' impression on the chickens?

A. Boring. B. Enjoyable.

C. Indifferent. D. Energetic.

3. What made the family upset?

A. The loss of a chick.

C. The death of a chick.

D. The attack of a hawk.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A. Accept the unchangeable situation and enjoy the present life.

B. Struggle for what we want to achieve and don't compromise.

C. Be happy no matter where we are caught in our daily life.

D. Say goodbye to the painful experience and welcome the happy life.

Language Study

Theme-centered chunks

out of one's sight 離開某人的視線

balance...on 使……在……上保持平衡

float down 漂浮而下

dress as 打扮成……；裝扮成……

ever since 從那時到現在

clean up 清理

a glimmer of 一絲……