Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 16 · The Account That Looked Familiar
Audio track 16
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An account with my cousin's name and photo sent me a message after school. “I lost my phone. Please tell me when your family will be away this weekend.” The photo looked familiar, but the question did not sound like my cousin.
I did not reply. I called her using the number I already had. “My phone is right here,” she said. We looked at the account together and noticed that one letter in the name was different.
I reported the account and told my parents what had happened. The person behind it never got our schedule. A familiar photo had almost made a strange request seem safe. The question, not the picture, helped me stop.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
放学后，一个用了我表亲姓名和照片的账号给我发来消息：‘我手机丢了。请告诉我，这个周末你们家什么时候没人。’照片看着眼熟，可这个问题一点也不像她会问的。
我没有回复，而是拨打了原本就存着的她的电话号码。‘我的手机就在这里呀。’她说。我们一起查看那个账号，发现名字里有一个字母不一样。
我举报了这个账号，也把事情告诉了父母。账号背后的人始终没拿到我们家的日程。熟悉的照片差点让一个可疑的请求显得可信；让我停下来的，是那个问题本身，而不是照片。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- account
- 账号；名字和头像可以被他人模仿。
- cousin
- 表亲；英文 cousin 不区分堂亲、表亲或年龄。
- be away
- 不在家；be away this weekend 指周末家里外出。
- familiar
- 熟悉的；照片看着眼熟，却不能证明账号真实。
- reply
- 回复；主人公先没有回复可疑消息。
- using the number I had
- 用原本存着的号码；通过已知联系方式核实身份。
- notice
- 注意到；两人发现名字中有一个字母不同。
- report
- 举报；向平台报告冒用身份的账号。
- schedule
- 日程安排；对方试图打听一家人外出的时间。
- request
- 请求；此处索要家庭行程的要求并不寻常。
Background notes (Chinese)
头像和姓名可以被仿冒，不能单凭‘看着眼熟’确认对方身份。文中的主人公用自己原先保存的号码另行联系表亲。对方若突然索要家庭外出的时间，先暂停回复、核实身份，比凭头像判断更可靠。