365个英语简短小故事-294. It Only Rings

Uncle Harry¹ had² no answering machine³ because hardly⁴ anyone⁵ ever⁶ called. Most of his friends and relatives⁷ were already⁸ dead⁹. He had outlived them all, even¹⁰ though¹¹ he smoked and drank most of his life¹². So much for all their talk about clean living¹³, he sometimes thought¹⁴.

The only person¹⁵ who talked to Uncle Harry regularly¹⁶ was¹⁷ his nephew¹⁸ Teddy. Teddy called several¹⁹ times a week, just for a few²⁰ minutes to say hello and see if everything was OK. Some days Teddy had to call twice²¹ or more because Uncle Harry didn't answer the first phone call. When he finally²³ did²² get through, Uncle Harry would²⁴ chastise²⁵ Teddy for his bad timing²⁶. “How do you always manage²⁷ to call me when I'm in the bathroom?” he would ask.

Tuesday morning, Teddy let the phone ring ten times. He then hung²⁸ up and went back to work. That afternoon he called Uncle Harry again. Again, no answer. A couple²⁹ of hours later³⁰, he called again. Still no answer. He called Ira, Uncle Harry’s next-door neighbor³¹.

“Hello,” said³² Ira.

“Hi, Ira, this is Teddy.”

“Hi, Teddy. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine, Ira. But I’m a little worried³³ about Uncle Harry. I called him three times today and he didn’t answer once. I don’t think he could³⁴ have been in the bathroom all three times, do you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” laughed Ira. “He does complain³⁵ about that, doesn’t he? Anyway³⁶, I’ll go next door and see what’s up. If he doesn’t open the door, I know where he hides³⁷ his spare key. I’ll call you back in a bit³⁸, okay³⁹?”

“Okay, Ira. Thanks a lot,” Teddy said.

A while⁴⁰ later, Teddy’s phone rang. It was Ira. He sounded shaken⁴¹. “Teddy, I’m sorry it took⁴² so long. I have bad news⁴³. Harry didn't answer the door, so I used⁴⁴ his spare key. He was dead, Teddy. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, my gosh! That’s terrible⁴⁵!”

“I called the hospital, and they told me to call the coroner’s office. The coroner said they were busy, and wouldn’t be able⁴⁶ to make it here until⁴⁷ tomorrow or the day after.”

“What happened? Did he fall? Did he die⁴⁸ in his sleep? Is he lying⁴⁹ on the bed with a peaceful⁵⁰ look on his face?”

“Not exactly⁵¹, Teddy. He’s lying on the bathroom floor with a look of surprise on his face. We can move him to his bed later. But right now I’ve got⁵² to go home, Teddy. I think I might⁵³ be in shock⁵⁴ or something. I don’t feel right.”

 

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 had   

vbl.have的过去式和过去分词；conj.有

参考例句：

• I just had a good idea!我有个好主意！
• The boy had a small branch of a tree in his hand.这个男孩手上拿一条小树枝。

3 machine   

n.机器，机械装置，机械般工作的人；v.以机器制造；（计算机）机器

参考例句：

• I can't guess how to control the machine.我猜不出来怎样操作那台机器。
• This kind of machine is out of date.这种机器过时了。

4 hardly   

adv.几乎没有，刚刚，几乎不，勉强是

参考例句：

• I could hardly believe my eyes.我简直不相信自己的眼睛。
• The hens hardly laid any eggs in summer.母鸡夏天几乎不下蛋。

5 anyone   

pron.(=everybody)任何人

参考例句：

• Anyone who wants to can join.愿意的都可以参加。
• Have you got anyone to speak for you?你找到人代表你们发言了吗？

6 ever   

adv.曾经；永远；不断地；在任何时候；究竟

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to hangzhou?你曾经去过杭州吗？
• I will be young and strong and beautiful for ever.我将永远年轻、强壮，永远漂亮。

7 relatives   

n.亲属( relative的名词复数 )；相关物；亲缘植物（或动物）；[语法学]关系词

参考例句：

• She went to visit relatives in Wales. 她去威尔士看望亲戚了。
• They're always farming out their children on their relatives. 他们总是把孩子寄养在亲戚家。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 already   

adv.已经

参考例句：

• We have eaten already.我们已经吃过了。
• I've been there already,so I don't want to go again.我早已去过那里了，所以我不想再去了。

9 dead   

adj.死的；无生命的；死气沉沉的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• Mary threw away the dead flowers.玛丽把枯萎的花扔掉了。
• He was dead asleep.他完全睡着了。

10 even   

adj.平坦的，偶数的，相等的；adv.甚至，恰好，正当

参考例句：

• It was cold yesterday,but it's even colder today. 昨天冷，今天更冷了。
• He's the best teacher even though he has the least experience.尽管他经验最少，但教得最好。

11 though   

conj.虽然，尽管；即使；可是，不过，然而；adv.可是，不过，然而

参考例句：

• It's quite pleasant today,though the wind is rather cool.尽管风有点凉，今天天气还是很不错的。
• I will have a try even though I should fail.哪怕失败，我也要试一下。

12 life   

n.生活；生命

参考例句：

• The doctor came in time to save his life.医生及时来抢救他的生命。
• At last he knew the meaning of life.终于，他知道了生命的意义。

13 living   

adj.活的，活着的，现存的；逼真的，一模一样的；生活的，维持生活的；n.生活，生计

参考例句：

• Nowadays it is very easy to earn a living.现今谋生很容易。
• I'll never forget that as long as I am living.这事我至死也不会忘记。

14 thought   

n.想法，思想，思维，思潮，关心，挂念；v.vbl.think的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It was just a thought.这仅仅是一个想法。
• She thought he had a cold.她认为他感冒了。

15 person   

n.人

参考例句：

• I would never trust in that kind of person.我绝不会相信那种人。
• She is the very person I wanted to see.她正是我要见的人。

16 regularly   

adv.有规则地，一丝不苟地，正式地

参考例句：

• Check the engine oil level regularly.要时常检查机油量。
• We meet regularly to discuss business.我们定期会面讨论事务。

17 was   

v.(is,am的过去式)是，在

参考例句：

• He said he was right.他说他是正确的。
• He was cold and hungry.他又冷又饿。

18 nephew   

n.侄子，外甥

参考例句：

• Which boy is your nephew?哪个男孩是你侄子？
• My nephew was born in America.我侄子出生在美国。

19 several   

adj.几个，若干，数个；各个的，各自的

参考例句：

• Words often have several meanings.单词往往有若干个意思。
• Several new members have come into the club since last year.自去年以来，又有些新成员加入了俱乐部。

20 few   

adj.很少的，不多的，少数的；int.少数的

参考例句：

• There are few woods in that area.那个地区几乎没有森林。
• I have a few questions.我有些问题要问你。

21 twice   

adv.两次；两倍

参考例句：

• Bob phoned twice today.鲍勃今天打了两次电话。
• I woke up twice in the night.我夜里醒过两次。

22 did   

v.动词do的过去式

参考例句：

• How many goals did you score in the last game?上一场比赛你们进了几个球？
• Why did you choose basketball in the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢？

23 finally   

adv.最后地；最终

参考例句：

• We can finally take a rest.总算是可以休息了。
• Finally,they won the game.结果他们打赢了。

24 would   

aux.will的过去式；愿，要；常常；大概；将要，会

参考例句：

• Why would you say that?为什么你会这么说？
• Would you please help me?你能帮帮我吗？

25 chastise   

vt.责骂，严惩

参考例句：

• My father used to chastise my brothers with whips.父亲过去常以鞭打惩罚我的兄弟。
• Should I applaud my husband or chastise him?我是该称赞还是责罚我的丈夫呢？

26 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

27 manage   

vt.经营，管理，处理；设法，对付；操纵，运用；vi.处理，办理，设法对付

参考例句：

• He took great pains to manage the factory well.为了管理好工厂，他可真是煞费苦心。
• The work is not much,I can manage it alone.活儿不多，我一个人也忙得过来。

28 hung   

v.悬( hang的过去式和过去分词 )；（被）绞死；贴；逗留

参考例句：

• The picture hung aslant. 照片挂歪了。
• The caller hung up. 打电话的人挂断了电话。

29 couple   

n.对，夫妇，数个；v.加倍，成双，连结

参考例句：

• I have a couple of things to do.我有几件事要做。
• I'll come again in a couple of days.我过两天再来。

30 later   

adv.过后，后来；adj.以后的，更后的，较晚的

参考例句：

• He didn't turn up until half an hour later.半小时后他才出现。
• This part of the hospital was built on later.医院的这个部分是后来增建的。

31 neighbor   

n.邻居；v.邻接，毗邻而居，友好

参考例句：

• He has a very good neighbor.他有一个好邻居。
• My new neighbor moved in last weekend.我的新邻居上周才搬来。

32 said   

v.动词say的过去式、过去分词

参考例句：

• He said to me that he could not come.他对我说他不能来。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

33 worried   

adj.烦恼的，为难的，焦虑的

参考例句：

• He was worried about the safety of me.他为我的安全担心。
• He worried his father to buy a new car.他苦苦缠着父亲要买一辆新车。

34 could   

v.能，可能(can的过去式)；aux.v.(can的过去式)能；可以

参考例句：

• Could I open the window?我可以打开窗子吗？
• I could wait ten minutes.我可以等十分钟。

35 complain   

v.抱怨；发牢骚

参考例句：

• They did nothing but complain.他们只知道抱怨。
• You have no reason to complain.你没有理由抱怨。

36 anyway   

adv.不管怎样；无论如何

参考例句：

• Anyway I'm free now . Let me go with you. 我反正闲着没事,就陪你走一趟吧。
• Anyway, you can try. 至少你可以试试。

37 hides   

隐藏

参考例句：

• Our dog will nose out a rabbit anywhere it hides. 无论兔子藏在哪里，我们的狗都会嗅出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Tanners tan hides to make leather shoes. 制革工人硝皮以制作皮鞋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

38 bit   

n.一点儿，少量；钻头；马嚼子；辅币，位，比特(二进位制信息单位)；v.控制

参考例句：

• I'm just going out for a bit.我正打算出去一会儿。
• When did you change the bit?什么时候换的钻头？

39 Okay   

(=okey，O.K.)adj./adv.好，行，不错；n.同意

参考例句：

• The play is okay,but I still prefer the book.戏还可以，可我仍愿读原著。
• Is it okay with you if I borrow this book?我借这本书你不在意吧？

40 while   

conj.当…的时候；而；虽然；尽管 n.一会儿

参考例句：

• In a short while,the cat ate up the fish.不久，那只猫便将鱼吃个精光。
• He teaches English in the school all the while.他一直在这所学校里教英语。

41 shaken   

v.摇撼( shake的过去分词 )；（使）颤抖；握手；动摇

参考例句：

• A sheet of metal was shaken to simulate the noise of thunder. 猛力抖动金属片以模仿雷声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His mother's death had shaken him dreadfully. 他母亲的死对他打击很大。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 took   

vt.带，载(take的过去式)

参考例句：

• I took my dog for a walk along the river.我带着狗沿那条河散步。
• It took me about two hours to cook the meat.我花了大约两个小时来煮这些肉。

43 news   

n.新闻，消息

参考例句：

• No news is good news.没有消息就是好消息。
• I like reading hot news.我喜欢读热点新闻。

44 used   

adj.用旧了的，旧的；习惯于…；过去惯/经常

参考例句：

• I used to work until nearly 6:00 o'clock each day.我过去常常工作到6:00左右。
• He used to walk anywhere from two to five miles an hour.他过去经常一小时走二至五英里。

45 terrible   

adj.可怕的，糟糕的，极其的

参考例句：

• I think you've made a terrible mistake.我认为你犯了一个严重的错误。
• This is a terrible idea.这是一个可怕的想法。

46 able   

adj.能...的，有才能的，能干的，能够的

参考例句：

• How good and able he is!瞧他多能干啊！
• He is able to do this job well.他有能力做好这件工作。

47 until   

prep.直到...为止；conj.直到...时才...

参考例句：

• He arrived home until midnight.他直到半夜才到家。
• She didn't sleep until midnight.她直到半夜才睡。

48 die   

v.死；死亡

参考例句：

• Flowers will die without water.没有水，花就会枯死。
• We shall die some day.我们总有一天要弃世而去。

49 lying   

躺

参考例句：

• He was correct in his assertion that the minister had been lying. 他认定部长说谎，事实果然如此。
• She bridled at the suggestion that she was lying. 她对暗示她在说谎的言论嗤之以鼻。

50 peaceful   

adj.平静的，宁静的，和平的

参考例句：

• How peaceful it is in the country now!现在乡下多么平静啊！
• Evening in the country is a very peaceful time.乡村里的傍晚是平静安谧的时刻。

51 exactly   

adv.准确地；严格地

参考例句：

• What I want is exactly this one.我要的就是这一个。
• I beg your pardon,what you say is not exactly correct.对不起，你说的话并不完全对。

52 got   

v.(get的过去式)得到，猜到，明白

参考例句：

• I just got some bad news.我刚得到一些坏消息。
• I have got far too much work to do.我要做的事太多了。

53 might   

aux./v.(may的过去式)可能；可以，允许

参考例句：

• It looks as if it might snow.看起来好像要下雪了。
• Might I ask a question?我能问个问题吗？

54 shock   

vt./vi.（使）震惊；震动；n.休克；打击；震惊

参考例句：

• The news gave us a shock.这消息使我们震惊。
• Her death was a shock to him.她的死对他是个打击。