Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 54 · The Visitor Who Asked Why
Audio track 54
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Visitor: Why does everyone put their umbrellas here?
Me: Because we don't want water on the classroom floor.
Visitor: Then why are some umbrellas in plastic bags?
I felt that the visitor was criticizing our school. I answered too quickly: “That's just our rule.” Later, I noticed that she was holding a folded umbrella and looking for a place to leave it.
I showed her the rack and explained that bags were available near the entrance on rainy days. “Thank you,” she said. “I was worried about making a mess.”
Her questions had not been an attack. She needed instructions for a place she did not know. I had heard “Why?” as a challenge because I had forgotten to look at what she was carrying.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
访客： 为什么大家都把伞放在这里？
我： 因为我们不想让教室地板沾水。
访客： 那为什么有些伞装在塑料袋里？
我觉得这位访客在批评学校，于是急急地答道：‘规定就是这样。’后来，我发现她手里拿着一把折叠伞，正四处找地方放。
我带她看了伞架，并解释说，雨天入口附近备有装伞的袋子。‘谢谢，’她说，‘我只是担心把这里弄湿弄乱。’
她提问并不是在找茬，而是需要了解一个陌生地方的做法。我把‘为什么’听成了质疑，是因为忘了看看她手里拿着什么。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- visitor
- 访客；不熟悉学校规定的人。
- umbrella
- 雨伞；问题围绕它如何存放。
- classroom floor
- 教室地板；不希望被雨水弄湿。
- plastic bag
- 塑料袋；雨天可在入口领取。
- criticize
- 批评；主人公最初误解了提问。
- too quickly
- 太快地；尚未弄清意图就回答。
- folded
- 折叠的；访客手中的伞。
- rack
- 伞架；适合放伞的地方。
- make a mess
- 弄得一团糟；访客担心弄湿地面。
- challenge
- 质疑、挑战；主人公误听成的语气。
Background notes (Chinese)
相同的问句可能是在质疑，也可能是真心想知道该怎么做。主人公看到访客手中的折叠伞后，才明白她需要的是放伞位置与袋子的使用说明。