熊孩子们的圣诞礼物清单：霉霉、隐身能力、独角兽、恐龙蛋

 　　Kids' imaginations are in overdrive when it comes to composing Christmas lists - as they ask for a live walrus¹, the power of invisibility and Taylor Swift.

　　每到写圣诞礼物清单的时候，孩子们的想象力总是超乎寻常的——他们想要一只活海象、隐身的能力还有泰勒·斯威夫特。

　　Christmas is less than two months away, and little ones are already planning their letters to Santa.

　　距离圣诞节还有不到两个月了，小孩子们已开始为写给圣诞老人的信打草稿。

　　But one survey has revealed the weirdest³ items to turn up on Christmas lists, and they include mythical⁴ monsters and mega-selling popstars.

　　但一项调查揭示了出现在孩子们的圣诞清单上的最奇怪的礼物，包括神话中的怪物和专辑销量达数百万的流行歌手。

　　Conducted by GAME, the study also reveals a significant break from festive⁵ tradition when it comes to writing wish lists.

　　这项由GAME公司进行的调查还显示，人们写愿望清单的方式已经大大脱离节日传统。

　　熊孩子们的圣诞礼物清单：霉霉、隐身能力、独角兽、恐龙蛋

　　One in three, 29%, children now use technology such as iPads or mobile phones instead of the traditional pen and paper, while a further one in five (19%) will rely on parents to take note of all the things they point at during TV adverts⁶ and during trips to the shops.

　　约三分之一（29%）的孩子使用iPad或智能电话等科技产品来列清单，而不再用传统的纸和笔。另外还有约五分之一（19%）的孩子会在看电视广告和逛商店的时候指出自己想要的礼物，由父母一一记下。

　　With more than three million lists likely to be drafted, parents are gearing up for a flurry of requests including many that even Santa would struggle to fulfil.

　　这个圣诞节孩子们很可能列出超过300万份礼物清单，父母们则正加紧准备以满足孩子的种种要求，这其中有很多要求即使是圣诞老人也很难做到。

　　As part of the study, parents were asked to reveal some of the weird² and wonderful items that made it onto their child's Christmas lists.

　　作为调查的一部分内容，父母被要求透露出现在自家孩子的圣诞礼物清单上的一些奇特和有趣的礼物。

　　These are the top 10 most obscure items: a real dragon egg, pet unicorn⁷, iPhone 7, glasses for a cat, that daddy's job will be ok, a live walrus, Taylor Swift, flight to the moon, Ferrari, and the power of invisibility.

　　以下是10大最难达成的要求：一个真的恐龙蛋、宠物独角兽、iPhone 7、喵星人专用眼镜、爸爸不会失业、一只活海象、泰勒·斯威夫特、月球之旅、法拉利还有隐身的能力。

　　Fred Prego, marketing⁸ director at GAME, says: "Choosing what to get your kids at Christmas can be a bit of a minefield.

　　GAME公司的市场总监弗雷德·普雷戈（Fred Prego）说：“圣诞节为孩子们准备什么礼物有点像是一个雷区。”

　　"As the research shows, most kids will be making note of the things that they want this half term and a lot of lists are going to be written."

　　“这项调查显示，大多数孩子会在这个期中假记下他们想要的东西，预计会有很多清单出炉。”

　　Vocabulary

　　unicorn：独角兽

　　compose：(用心) 写(信、诗、演讲稿)

　　overdrive：超过限度的行为(或状态)

　　walrus：海象

　　obscure：复杂难懂的，难处理的

　　half term：(2或3天的)期中假日

1 walrus   

n.海象

参考例句：

• He is the queer old duck with the knee-length gaiters and walrus mustache.他穿着高及膝盖的皮护腿，留着海象般的八字胡，真是个古怪的老家伙。
• He seemed hardly to notice the big walrus.他几乎没有注意到那只大海象。

2 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

3 weirdest   

怪诞的( weird的最高级 )； 神秘而可怕的； 超然的； 古怪的

参考例句：

• Think of the weirdest, craziest shit you'd like to see chicks do. 想想这最怪异，最疯狂的屁事。你会喜欢看这些鸡巴表演的。
• It's still the weirdest damn sound I ever heard out of a Jersey boy. 这是我所听过新泽西人最为怪异的音调了。

4 mythical   

adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的

参考例句：

• Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。
• Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。

5 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

6 adverts   

advertisements 广告，做广告

参考例句：

• the adverts on television 电视广告
• The adverts are not very informative. 这些广告并没有包含太多有用信息。

7 unicorn   

n.(传说中的)独角兽

参考例句：

• The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
• I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。

8 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。