13-Wednesday 生活故事 285词

题材： 生活故事　 词数： 285　 建议阅读时间： 6分钟

阅读下面的短文，回答问题。

John Russell，aged 83，got on a Chicago bus and saw a sign saying that senior citizens could ride for half the cost．When he dropped his three quarters into the box，the driver asked him for identification．John took out an ID card．“You need a special CTA card，”said the driver．John did not have the CTA card because he lives in New York and was in Chicago visiting his two sons．

“Put in another three quarters，”said the driver，“or get off the bus.”John said，“Give me back my quarters，and I'll get off.”“I can't—it's in the box．If you don't get off，I'll call the police，”said he，which he did．

Two police cars drove over and stopped．“I'm the criminal，”said John Russell．Then he and the driver told their stories．

“That's what you called me for？”one policeman asked the driver．Another policeman then said to John，“I'll give you three quarters.”John shook his head，“Why should you give me the quarters？He has to give me my quarters.”

“Where are you going？”asked the policemen．“Downtown to have lunch with friends，”John said．“Come on，”the policemen said．“We'll get you your card.”So they took him downtown to the CTA office．But the people there wouldn't give him a CTA card—he needed a picture．“What about his quarters？”one policeman asked．The officials discussed，and the decision was made to give John's quarters back．

When John got down stairs，the policemen asked where he was going．“To see my friends，”John said．“How are you going to get there？”“On the bus．And all I'm going to pay is 75 cents.”“Good luck，”the policemen said．

John got on a bus，dropped three quarters in the box，and said，“I'm a senior citizen…”The driver looked at John and nodded．He didn't know how lucky he was to be a sensible man．

生词

quarter　n． 四分之一美元或加元，（美国和加拿大的）25分硬币

senior citizen　n． 老年人（尤指妇女60岁以上，男子65岁以上靠退休金生活者）

identification　n． 辨认，识别；身份证明：His only means of identification was his driver's license．唯一能证明他身份的东西是驾驶执照。

criminal　n． 罪犯：He was tried as a war criminal．他被当作战犯受审。

nod　v． （nodded；nodding ）点头（同意）：She nodded her head in agreement．她点头表示同意。

sensible　adj． 明智的，合情理的：I think it would be sensible to leave early，in case there's a lot of traffic．我认为还是早点离开比较好，以防交通拥挤。

1．What's the use of a CTA card？

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2．Why doesn't John Russell have a CTA card？

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3．What was the decision made by the CTA office？

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4．Why did the second driver let John ride on his bus？

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5．Who do you think is（are）NOT sensible？

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参考译文

83岁的约翰·拉塞尔上了芝加哥的一辆公共汽车，他看见告示上说老人可以半价乘车。当他把3枚25分硬币投进箱子里时，司机要求他出示证件。约翰拿出身份证。“你必须有专门的CTA（全称为Chicago Transit Authority，即芝加哥交通管理局 ）卡。”司机说。约翰没有CTA卡，因为他住在纽约，他来芝加哥是看两个儿子的。

“再投3枚25分硬币，”司机说，“要么就下车。”约翰说：“把我投的硬币还给我，我就下车。”“不行——已经投进箱子里了。如果你不下车，我就要报警了。”司机说，他也这么做了。

两辆警车开过来停下。“我是那名罪犯。”约翰·拉塞尔说。然后他和司机讲述了整个过程。

“你打电话报警就是为这个？”一名警察问司机。另一名警察对约翰说：“我给你3枚硬币。”约翰摇摇头：“为什么你给我？他必须还钱。”

“你要去哪里？”警察问。“去市中心和朋友一起吃午饭。”约翰说。“走吧，”警察说，“我们带你去办卡。”于是他们带着他来到市中心的CTA办公室。但那里的人没有给他办，因为需要照片。“他的硬币怎么办？”一名警察问。工作人员讨论后决定把钱还给约翰。

当约翰走下楼梯时，警察问他去哪里。“去看朋友。”约翰说。“你怎么去？”“坐公共汽车。而且我只准备付75美分。”“祝你好运。”警察说。

约翰上了车，往箱子里丢了3枚25分硬币，他说：“我是老年人……”司机看了他一眼，点点头。他不知道做一个明理的人是多么幸运。

参考答案

Wednesday 1．With a CTA card senior citizens can pay only half the price for a bus ride．　2．Because he is not a citizen of Chicago．　3．To return the three quarters to John．　4．Because he was kind enough to help the aged．　5．The first driver．