Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 44 · The Tree We Measured
Audio track 44
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For a school project, we measured a tree near the library. We could not climb it, so we measured its shadow and compared it with my friend's shadow.
The tree was taller than we expected. Its shade covered part of the sidewalk, and several people stopped there on a hot day.
Before the project, I thought the tree was just part of the background.
After measuring it, I saw it as a quiet worker in our town.
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After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
为了学校的一个项目，我们测量了图书馆附近的一棵树。我们不能爬上去量，就测出它和朋友各自影子的长度，再作比较。
那棵树比我们想的高。炎热的一天，它的树荫盖住了部分人行道，好几个人停下来乘凉。
做这个项目之前，我只把它当作街景的一部分。
量过之后，我觉得它像是小镇里一位默默工作的伙伴。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- school project
- 学校项目；测量树高是其中的任务。
- measure
- 测量；比较树与人的影子。
- climb
- 攀爬；不能爬树直接量。
- compare A with B
- 把 A 与 B 比较；文中比较两种影子。
- taller than
- 比……更高；树高超出预期。
- expect
- 预料；原先没想到树那么高。
- cover
- 遮盖；树荫盖住部分人行道。
- sidewalk
- 人行道；行人停下乘凉的地方。
- background
- 背景；以前只把树当街景。
- worker
- 工作者；结尾比喻树在默默提供树荫。
Background notes (Chinese)
用树和人的影子比较高度，是一种间接测量的思路；在需要准确数值时，还要考虑测量条件。故事更关心的是观察方式的改变：一棵熟悉的树也在为路人提供阴凉。