I went to the principal's office again

by Samantha/曲永华(译)

□语篇导读

你曾经去过校长的办公室吗？哪些学生经常去那儿呢？本文的主人公“我”就曾经连续六次被叫去校长的办公室。你想知道“我”为何去那里吗？在“我”第六次到校长办公室时，“我”感到非常震惊，“我”竟然被校长……最后到底发生了什么呢？让我们一起来阅读下面的短文吧!

I still remember I had problems behaving when I was in the seventh grade.My heart was in the right place，but I couldn't always follow the rules.I played many tricks on my schoolmates.Once,I even pulled a girl's hair on the school bus to get her attention.As a result,I was repeatedly sent to the office of the principal.

Although I hated going there,I did not hate the principal,Mr.Ratcliff.Mr.Ratcliff was a kind,elderly man.When he spanked (打屁股)me for putting some ants into a classmate's pencil box,it didn't hurt at all,but it did hurt my feelings.I thought so much of him and moments like that seemed to prove I was hopelessly bad.

When I got called to Mr.Ratcliff's office for the sixth time,I had no idea what I had done.I felt disappointed as I walked down there.I went into his office,sat down,and looked at the floor.Then he said the last thing I expected to hear:“Kevin,I've heard you've been behaving really well lately.I want you to know how proud I am of you,and I just called you down to my office to give you a peppermint.”“Really?”I was surprised.“Yes.Now you can take that peppermint and go back to class.”

I carried the peppermint with me as if it was a gold coin.When I got into my classroom,I bragged (吹嘘)to my classmates about my turnaround,excitedly.I wasn't so bad after all.

Mr.Ratcliff was really kind.He made me realize that I was just a kid who had problems with behavior.He bought some peppermints and took the time to notice me when I got something right.Mr.Ratcliff gave me some hope by giving me some love.I will just remember him for the rest of my life.Mr.Ratcliff is the best principal that I have ever met all my life.

◆语块收藏

have problems遇到问题

play tricks on...捉弄…… /开……玩笑

pull one's hair拉某人的头发

get one's attention引起某人的注意

after all毕竟

◆典句赏析

1.I carried the peppermint with me as if it was a gold coin.我随身带着薄荷糖，就好像它是一枚金币。

as if是一个较常见的连词短语，意为“好像，似乎”，这里用来引导状语从句，表示“事情是怎么做的”或“一个人或事物是什么样的”。例如：

She spoke to me as if she knew me.她和我说着话，好像她早就认识我。

2.Mr.Ratcliff gave me some hope by giving me some love.拉特克利夫先生通过给我一些爱，给了我一些希望。

by giving me some love是介词短语，意为“通过给我一些爱”，其中的giving是动名词，后面带的是双宾语，其中me是间接宾语，some love是直接宾语。

◆理解自测

根据短文内容，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选择正确的选项。

1.In the writer's seventh grade,he _______.

A.disliked the principal B.had difficulties behaving

C.always made the rules D.often helped his classmates

2.When the writer went to the principal's office for the sixth time,he got _______.A.a peppermint B.a model robot

C.a pencil box D.a coin

3.The writer will always remember Mr.Ratcliff,because the principal______ _.

A.talked with him in the office B.played games with him

C.expected him to be a teacher D.gave him some hope and love

◆词句微练

根据所给汉语句子,完成下列英语句子。每空一词。

1.我弟弟在学习英语语法上遇到困难。

My brother ______________in learning English grammar.

2.青少年经常在一起互相大搞恶作剧。

Teenagers often ____________________________each other together.

3.为了引起男孩们的注意力,露西今天穿了一件红色的裙子。

_______ _______boys'_______,Lucy is in a red skirt today.

4.别生他的气，他毕竟是个孩子。

Don't be angry with him.He is a child ______________.

5.听起来像是在下雨。

It sounds ______________ it is raining.