读故事

  “Kai and Lars! I'll be right around the corner at the art gallery in a couple of minutes! Don't you argue about anything, do you hear?”
  “Okay, Mom. We'll be fine. Take your time!” Kai and Lars replied.
When she arrived at the gallery, Mom quickly arranged for someone to take her place that day.  Her babysitter had cancelled and she needed to go home. Her sons were as alike as two peas in a pod. Fights between them could arise from any issue. Once Kai had punched Lars when the latter argued the toss. She had to always keep her eyes on them. As a matter of fact, she had to watch them around the clock!
  She believed that they had become this way as a result of their father passing away. It had been hard on them all. And while she had done her best as a whole, and everyone approved of her effort, the boys were still struggling.
  “I'm back, boys!” She said as she came in the door. “Did you argue with each other?”
  When silence greeted her and the boys were nowhere to be found, she knew as a rule that something was wrong.
“Surprise!” the boys yelled as they jumped out of the closet. “Happy birthday, Mom!”
  Mom nearly fell over. The boys had used silence as a means of tricking her into being unprepared for a surprising birthday party. All of her friends came out of the rooms and they had a wonderful day.
  The boys didn't fight once!

记短语

approve of赞成，赞许
argue about（或over）为…争辩，为…争吵
argue the toss（对决定的事或主张）表示异议，反对已做出的决定
argue with与…争辩，和…争吵
arise from由…引起，由…产生
around（或round）the clock连续一整天（或一昼夜），日夜不停地
around（或round）the corner即将发生的，即将来到的；在近处的
arrange (sth.) for(sb./sth.)为…筹备（某事）；为…安排（某事）
arrive at抵达，到达；达到，达成
art gallery美术馆
as a matter of fact事实上，其实
as a means of作为一种…手段（或方法）
as a result of作为…的结果，由于…
as a rule一般说来，通常
as a whole作为一个整体，整个看来
as like as two peas （in a pod）一模一样

    “卡伊和拉尔斯，过几分钟我就要到美术馆了！你们没有为什么事争吵吧！你们听到了吗？”
    “好啦，妈妈，我们会好好的，您别着急！”卡伊和拉尔斯答道。
    来到美术馆，妈妈很快就安排了一个人给她顶那天的班。给她照看小孩的人取消了原来的计划，她得回家去。她的两个儿子是一模一样。任何问题都会引起他们之间的争吵。有一次，拉尔斯对已经决定的事表示了异议，卡伊就给了他一拳。她总是得盯紧他们。事实上，她得日夜不停地看着他们。
    她认为他们之所以变成这样是因为他们失去了父亲。父亲的死对他们的打击都特别大。虽然总的来说她尽了全力，大家也都对她的努力表示赞许，两个孩子还是觉得日子艰难。
    “我回来啦，儿子们！”她从门口进来时说。“你们俩又争吵了吗？”
    等她发现家里一点动静也没有，连儿子们的影子都找不到时，她知道一般来说是出事了。
    “给您一个惊喜！”儿子们从厕所里蹦出来喊道，“妈妈，生日快乐！”
妈妈差点跌倒了。儿子们用沉默的方法骗了她个措手不急，安排了一个意外的生日聚会。所有朋友都从屋里出来了，那天他们过得真愉快。
    这回两个儿子没有吵过一次架！

本文选自新航道精品图书《读故事记短语》