涨价与脑筋急转弯
叮叮前一阵子在超市买了一本《脑筋急转弯》的书,每页有一至两个字数不长的问题,还配了图。叮叮有时会把书上的问题读出来,让大人们猜。大家的脑筋七转八转,就是转不过弯,因此通常都猜不对答案,这时叮叮再得意洋洋地公布正确答案。这样读个几次,小东西的吐字和断句能力也真的有所提高,所以应了一句话—兴趣是最好的老师。“我要读”的效果确实远远大于“要我读”。
外公也给叮叮即兴出了一个书上没有的脑筋急转弯题目:“现在很多东西都涨价了,只有一样东西不涨,这是什么东西?”叮叮大声地回答:“工资!”原来他常听外公外婆唠叨:“什么东西都涨,就是工资不涨。”
的确,涨价很可怕,你又拿它无可奈何。现在外面小摊上的蛋煎饼已经由2.50元涨价至2.80元,不过“XXX”的豆浆还是1元,只可惜本来是一满杯的,现在只有三分之二杯了。
正好上个月让叮叮朗读了3L第四册的这样一篇课文,是三十多年前关于涨价的。尤其是最后一句话,简直和“XXX”的豆浆如出一辙。
Lesson 61 The cost of living
Mrs Blake: The cost of living's simply dreadful, isn't it? Everything's going up all the time. Every time I come to the supermarket, I find prices have increased.
Mother: It's shocking! Simply shocking!
Mrs Blake: Look at these frozen beans. I paid 10 pence for a packet a month ago. Now they're 11 pence. I knew they would go up again.
Mother: Look at this jam, Marion. I suppose it's gone up, too. See? I told you it had.
Mrs Blake: I hope this tinned fruit hasn't gone up. My husband loves it.
Mother: I'm afraid it has, Marion. It's gone up a penny.
Mrs Blake: Oh dear!
Mother: Here's something that hasn't gone up. These biscuits are still the same price. I'm glad they are because the children love them.
Mrs Blake: I'm afraid you're wrong, Betty. They haven't gone up, but there are fewer in each packet! |