Why Don’t Americans Love to Grow Vegetables in Their Gardens?

廣東深圳市龍華區(qū)碧瀾外國語小學(xué) 張 妍 編譯

Most of the Chinese people love to grow vegetables in their gardens, while Americans do not. Why?

大多數(shù)中國人喜歡在自家花園里種菜，而美國人不喜歡。這是為什么呢？

If you have been tothe United Statesand have stayed there for months, you’ll surely find that there are manyraccoons,haresand deers in thecountrysideof this country. Andsquirrels, wild birds, black bears, etc. Don’t think these animals are so cute. After growing vegetables in the United States, you will find out half a year of hard work can beransackedby animals in one night. And they willtotally ruinthe vegetablefields.

如果你去過美國并在那里待了幾個月，你一定會發(fā)現(xiàn)這個國家的農(nóng)村有許多浣熊、野兔和鹿，還有松鼠、野鳥、黑熊等。千萬別以為這些動物有多么可愛。在美國種菜之后，你會發(fā)現(xiàn)半年的辛勤勞動可以在一夜之間被動物洗劫一空。他們會把菜地毀得一干二凈。

Of course, themain reasonis that Americans arelazy. Vegetables grow very fast. You mustprunedaily. It’s veryenergyconsumingandtime-consuming.

當(dāng)然，主要原因還是美國人太懶了。蔬菜長得很快。你必須每天修剪。這是非常消耗體力和耗費時間的。

Chinese people love to grow vegetables and growing vegetables in their gardens is atraditionin China. Chinese people arehard-working. They willopen upa small piece of land to grow vegetables. Onegoalis to eatfresh,pollution-freevegetables, and to know what you eat. Second goal is a hobby, something topass the time.

中國人喜歡種菜，在花園里種菜是中國人的傳統(tǒng)。中國人很勤勞。他們會開辟一小塊地種植蔬菜。第一個目的是吃新鮮、無污染的蔬菜，并知道吃的是什么。第二個目的是種植蔬菜就是一種愛好，有時就是為了消磨時間。

In China, if people watch a piece of land left alone without growing vegetables, they will be very sad. Chinese people will put a lot ofemotionorpersonalityonto the land. When they see the land, they want to plant something. Otherwise, it feels like a waste of that land. It’s like you want to raise some fish,shrimpsandcrabswhen you see water.

在中國，如果人們看到一片孤零零的土地上沒有種菜，他們會非常難過。中國人會在這片土地上注入很多情感或個人色彩。當(dāng)他們看到土地，就想種些東西。否則，感覺就像是在浪費那片土地。就像你看到水，就想養(yǎng)一些魚、蝦和螃蟹一樣。

Notes:

the United States 美國

raccoonn. 浣熊

haren. 野兔

countrysiden. 農(nóng)村

squirreln. 麻雀

ransackv. 洗劫

totallyadv. 全部

ruinv. 毀壞

fieldn. 田；地

mainadj. 主要的

reasonn. 原因

lazyadj. 懶惰的

prunev. 修剪

energy-consuming消耗體力的

time-consuming耗費時間的

traditionn. 傳統(tǒng)

hard-working 勤勞的

open up 開辟

goaln. 目標(biāo)；目的

freshadj. 新鮮的

pollution-free 無污染的

pass the time 消磨時間

emotionn. 情感

personalityn. 個性

shrimpn. 蝦

crabn. 螃蟹

I. Answer the following questions.

1. What do most of the Chinese people love to do in their gardens?

2. What animals will ruin the vegetable fields in the countryside of the USA?

3. Why don’t Americans love to grow vegetables in their gardens?

4. What kind of vegetables do people like to eat?

5. Some people grow vegetables in their gardens just because they want to pass the time. Is it true?

II. Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.

1. Most of the Chinese people love to growv_________ in their gardens.

2. You can find that there are many raccoons, hares,d_________ , squirrels, wild birds, and black bears in the countryside of this country.

3. Americans arel________ , while Chinese people are hard-working.

4. Growing vegetables in their gardens is at_________ in China.

5. When you seew__________ , you’ll want to raise some fish, shrimps and crabs.

（答案見本期第41頁）