中英文本

Fourteen Always Arguing？
第十四课 总是争吵？
"Kai and Lars! I'll be right around the corner at the art gallery in a couple of minutes!
"卡伊和拉尔斯，过几分钟我就要到美术馆了！
Don't you argue about anything, do you hear?"
你们不要为任何事争吵把！听到了吗？"
"Okay, Mom. We'll be fine. Take your time!" Kai and Lars replied.
"好啦，妈妈，我们会好好的，你别着急！"卡伊和拉尔斯答道。
When she arrived at the gallery, Mom quickly arranged for someone to take her place that day.
来到美术馆，妈妈很快就安排了一个人给她顶那天的班。
Her babysitter had cancelled and she needed to go home.
给她照看小孩的人取消了原来的计划，她得回家去。
Her sons were as alike as two peas in a pod.
她的两个孩子是一模一样。

Fights between them could arise from any issue.
任何问题都会引起他们之间的争吵。
Once Kai had punched Lars when the latter argued the toss.
有一次，拉尔斯对已经决定的事表示了异议, 卡伊就给了他一拳。
She had to always keep her eyes on them.
她总是得盯紧他们。
As a matter of fact, she had to watch them around the clock!
事实上，她得不停不夜地看着他们。
She believed that they had become this way as a result of their father passing away.
她认为他们之所以变成这样是因为他们失去了父亲。
It had been hard on them all.
父亲的死对他们打击特别大。
And while she had done her best as a whole, and everyone approved of her effort, the boys were still struggling.
虽然总的来说她尽了全力，大家也都对她的努力表示赞许，但两个孩子还是觉得日子很难。
"I'm back, boys!" She said as she came in the door.
"我回来啦，儿子们！"她从门口进来时说。
"Did you argue with each other?"
"你们俩争吵了吗？"
When silence greeted her and the boys were nowhere to be found, she knew as a rule that something was wrong.
等她发现家里一点动静也没有，连儿子们的影子都找不到时，她知道按惯例来说是出事了。
"Surprise! " The boys yelled as they jumped out of the closet.
"给您一个惊喜！"儿子们从壁橱里蹦了出来喊道。
"Happy birthday, Mom!"
"妈妈，生日快乐！"
Mom nearly fell over.
妈妈差点跌倒了。
The boys had used silence as a means of tricking her into being unprepared for a surprising birthday party.
儿子们用沉默的方法骗了她个措手不及，安排了一个意外的生日聚会。
All of her friends came out of the rooms and they had a wonderful day.
所有朋友都从屋里出来了，那天他们过得真愉快。
The boys didn't fight once.
这回两个儿子没有吵过一次架！

重点讲解

1.approve of 赞成，赞许
例句：Do you approve of my disposal of these folds in the curtain?
你赞同我在窗帘中折这些褶吗？
2.argue about (或over) 为...争辩，为...争吵
例句：The couple begin to argue about money.
夫妇俩开始为钱争吵。
3.argue the toss（对决定的事或主张）表示异议，反对已做出的决定
例句：Don't let us argue the toss over who is going to pay for the meal.
不要为谁付饭钱一事争论不休了。
4.around (或round) the clock 连续一整天（或一昼夜），日夜不停地
例句：He studied around the clock for his history exam.
他日以继夜地准备历史考试。
5.art gallery 美术馆
例句：The town boasts a world-famous art gallery.
这个镇子引以为荣的是有个闻名於世的美术馆.
6.as a means of 作为一种...手段（或方法）
例句：Fiction writing as a means of living is no easy task.
写小说作为一种谋生手段绝非易事。