Mother hen 雞媽媽

武曉鑫

父親在新冠肺炎疫情爆發(fā)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(gè)小姑娘和她的小雞們。小雞帶給他們歡樂的同時(shí)也給他們帶來了悲傷。這個(gè)故事告訴我們要學(xué)會(huì)接受不能改變的處境，享受我們可以獲得的快樂。

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， hasnt 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 wouldnt 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 wasnt 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 youre 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 Flints picture ever since.

The chickens werent allowed in the house until one morning after virtual school when Sophie told me， “Theres nothing to feel happy about.” Since then， weve 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 cant 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.

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.

B. The chicks picture.

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 dont 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 ones 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(shí)到現(xiàn)在

clean up 清理

a glimmer of 一絲……