威威老師的閱讀教室：短篇故事 (Short Stories)
Section 1：記敘文特色 (Narrative Text Features)
1.1 記敘文的四要素
記敘文 (Narrative Text) 是在「說故事」的文章。每個故事都有四個要素：
| 要素 | 英文 | 問題 |
|---|---|---|
| 人物 | Characters | 誰是主角？ |
| 時間 | Time / Setting | 什麼時候發生的？ |
| 地點 | Place / Setting | 在哪裡發生的？ |
| 事件 | Events / Plot | 發生了什麼事？ |
1.2 時序詞 (Time Order Words)
記敘文通常按照時間順序敘述。注意這些信號字：
| 時序 | 英文 | 中文 |
|---|---|---|
| 開始 | first, at first, in the beginning | 首先、一開始 |
| 接著 | then, next, after that, later | 然後、接著 |
| 同時 | meanwhile, at the same time | 同時 |
| 最後 | finally, at last, in the end | 最後、終於 |
1.3 故事結構 (Story Structure)
開頭 (Beginning)
→ 介紹人物、時間、地點
→ 設定背景
發展 (Rising Action)
→ 問題出現
→ 衝突或挑戰
高潮 (Climax)
→ 最緊張、最關鍵的時刻
→ 故事的轉折點
結局 (Resolution)
→ 問題解決
→ 學到什麼教訓？
1.4 閱讀記敘文的策略
- 先讀第一段——了解背景設定
- 找出主角——誰的故事？
- 追蹤事件順序——用時序詞幫助定位
- 找到問題和高潮——故事的轉折在哪？
- 思考結局的意義——作者想傳達什麼？
Section 2：五篇短篇故事 (Five Short Stories)
Story 1：A Day at the Beach（去海邊玩的一天）
It was a hot Saturday in July, and Kevin’s family decided to go to the beach. They woke up early and packed everything they needed: sunscreen, towels, sandwiches, and a big umbrella. The drive to the beach took about an hour, and Kevin could hardly wait.
When they arrived, Kevin ran straight toward the ocean. The water was cool and refreshing. He and his younger sister, Amy, spent the morning building a huge sandcastle with a moat around it. Their parents relaxed on the beach chairs under the umbrella, reading books and enjoying the sea breeze.
After lunch, Kevin wanted to try boogie boarding. His father taught him how to ride the waves. At first, Kevin kept falling off the board, but he did not give up. After several tries, he finally caught a good wave and rode it all the way to the shore. He shouted with excitement, and Amy clapped and cheered.
As the sun began to set, the family packed up their things. Kevin looked back at the ocean and smiled. It had been a perfect day. He fell asleep in the car on the way home, dreaming about the waves.
Key Vocabulary（關鍵字彙）
| English | Chinese | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| sunscreen | 防曬乳 | Don’t forget to put on sunscreen. |
| sandcastle | 沙堡 | The children built a sandcastle on the beach. |
| moat | 護城河 | They dug a moat around the sandcastle. |
| refreshing | 清涼的 | The cold water was very refreshing. |
| boogie board | 趴板（衝浪的一種） | He rode the waves on a boogie board. |
| shore | 海岸 | We walked along the shore. |
| wave | 海浪 | The waves were big today. |
| pack up | 收拾（東西） | It’s time to pack up and go home. |
Comprehension Questions
1. Why did Kevin’s family go to the beach?
- (A) Because it was Kevin’s birthday
- (B) Because it was a hot summer day
- (C) Because they wanted to go fishing
- (D) Because they had a school trip
2. What did Kevin and Amy do in the morning?
- (A) They went swimming in the deep ocean.
- (B) They built a sandcastle.
- (C) They read books under the umbrella.
- (D) They learned to surf.
3. How did Kevin feel about boogie boarding at first?
- (A) He was scared.
- (B) He was bored.
- (C) He found it difficult but kept trying.
- (D) He gave up right away.
4. What happened at the end of the story?
- (A) Kevin wanted to stay longer.
- (B) Kevin fell asleep in the car.
- (C) The family went to a restaurant.
- (D) It started to rain.
5. What is the correct order of events in the story?
- (A) Lunch → Sandcastle → Boogie boarding → Going home
- (B) Sandcastle → Lunch → Boogie boarding → Going home
- (C) Boogie boarding → Sandcastle → Lunch → Going home
- (D) Sandcastle → Boogie boarding → Lunch → Going home
Vocabulary in Context
6. “He finally caught a good wave” — What does “caught” mean here?
- (A) grabbed with hands
- (B) successfully rode
- (C) stopped
- (D) threw away
7. “The water was cool and refreshing” — What does “refreshing” most likely mean?
- (A) making you feel tired
- (B) making you feel cold and uncomfortable
- (C) making you feel clean and energized
- (D) making you feel sad
Inference Questions
8. What can we infer about Kevin’s relationship with his family?
- (A) They do not spend much time together.
- (B) They enjoy doing activities as a family.
- (C) Kevin does not like his sister.
- (D) The parents are strict.
9. Why did Kevin fall asleep in the car?
- (A) He was bored.
- (B) He was tired from the activities.
- (C) He was sick.
- (D) He did not want to go home.
Answer Key — Story 1
- (B) — “It was a hot Saturday in July” 表示因為天氣熱而去海邊。
- (B) — “He and his younger sister, Amy, spent the morning building a huge sandcastle.”
- (C) — “he kept falling off the board, but he did not give up” 表示困難但堅持。
- (B) — “He fell asleep in the car on the way home.”
- (B) — 早上建沙堡 → 午餐後玩趴板 → 日落時回家。
- (B) — 在衝浪語境中，catch a wave 指成功搭上一道浪。
- (C) — refreshing 在此指令人感到清爽、恢復精神。
- (B) — 全家一起去海邊，父母陪孩子玩，可推論家庭關係融洽。
- (B) — 玩了一整天（建沙堡、趴板衝浪），體力耗盡而入睡。
Story 2：The Lost Puppy（走失的小狗）
One rainy afternoon, Emma was walking home from school when she heard a small cry coming from behind a bush. She stopped and looked carefully. There, huddled under the wet leaves, was a tiny brown puppy. It was shivering and looked very scared.
Emma gently picked up the puppy and held it close to her chest to keep it warm. She looked around but could not see anyone who might be its owner. The puppy did not have a collar, so she decided to take it home with her.
When Emma arrived home, her mother was surprised to see the wet, muddy puppy. “We can’t keep it,” her mother said firmly. “We already have two cats, and they would not be happy.” Emma understood, but she begged her mother to let her keep the puppy just for the night. Her mother finally agreed.
Emma dried the puppy with a towel and gave it some warm milk and bread. The puppy ate hungrily and then fell asleep on Emma’s lap. The next morning, Emma made posters with a photo of the puppy and put them up around the neighborhood. She also posted a message on the community website.
Three days later, a woman called. She said the puppy was hers and that its name was Biscuit. It had run away during the thunderstorm. Emma was sad to say goodbye, but the woman was so grateful that she invited Emma to visit Biscuit anytime. From that day on, Emma visited Biscuit every weekend, and they became the best of friends.
Key Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| huddle | 蜷縮 | The puppy huddled under the bush. |
| shiver | 顫抖 | The cold made him shiver. |
| collar | 項圈 | The dog wore a red collar. |
| firmly | 堅定地 | She said no firmly. |
| beg | 懇求 | He begged his mom for permission. |
| poster | 海報 | They made posters to find the lost dog. |
| grateful | 感激的 | She was grateful for the help. |
| thunderstorm | 雷雨 | The thunderstorm scared the dog. |
Comprehension Questions
1. Where did Emma find the puppy?
- (A) In her school
- (B) In a pet store
- (C) Behind a bush on her way home
- (D) In her backyard
2. Why didn’t Emma’s mother want to keep the puppy?
- (A) She does not like dogs.
- (B) They already had two cats.
- (C) The puppy was sick.
- (D) Their house was too small.
3. How did Emma try to find the puppy’s owner?
- (A) She asked the police.
- (B) She made posters and posted online.
- (C) She took the puppy to school.
- (D) She called all her friends.
4. What was the puppy’s name?
- (A) Lucky
- (B) Brownie
- (C) Biscuit
- (D) Buddy
5. How did the story end?
- (A) Emma kept the puppy forever.
- (B) The puppy was returned to its owner, and Emma could visit it.
- (C) The puppy ran away again.
- (D) Emma gave the puppy to her friend.
Vocabulary in Context
6. “She said the puppy was hers and that its name was Biscuit” — Who is “She”?
- (A) Emma
- (B) Emma’s mother
- (C) The puppy’s owner
- (D) Emma’s teacher
7. “The puppy ate hungrily” — What does this tell us?
- (A) The puppy was angry.
- (B) The puppy was very hungry.
- (C) The puppy did not like the food.
- (D) The puppy was sick.
Inference Questions
8. Why did the puppy run away?
- (A) It did not like its owner.
- (B) It was scared by a thunderstorm.
- (C) It wanted to find Emma.
- (D) It was lost on purpose.
9. How did Emma feel about returning the puppy?
- (A) She was angry at her mother.
- (B) She was happy to get rid of it.
- (C) She was sad but still found a way to stay connected.
- (D) She did not care at all.
Answer Key — Story 2
- (C) — “behind a bush” on her way home from school。
- (B) — “We already have two cats, and they would not be happy.”
- (B) — “Emma made posters…and posted a message on the community website.”
- (C) — Biscuit。
- (B) — 主人找回小狗，且邀請 Emma 隨時來訪。
- (C) — She 指打電話來的女人，即小狗的主人。
- (B) — hungrily 表示非常飢餓地吃。
- (B) — “It had run away during the thunderstorm.”
- (C) — “Emma was sad to say goodbye” 但她 “visited Biscuit every weekend”。
Story 3：My First Cooking Experience（第一次做菜）
Last Sunday, I decided to cook dinner for my family for the first time. I had watched my grandmother cook many times, and it always looked so easy. “How hard can it be?” I thought to myself.
I chose to make fried rice because my grandmother always said it was a good dish for beginners. I found a recipe online and carefully wrote down all the ingredients: rice, eggs, green onions, carrots, soy sauce, and a little salt. I went to the supermarket to buy everything I needed.
When I started cooking, things did not go as smoothly as I had expected. First, I accidentally cut my finger while chopping the carrots. It was not a serious cut, but it surprised me. Then, when I cracked the eggs into the pan, some of the eggshells fell in. I had to use chopsticks to pick them out, which took a long time.
The biggest problem came when I turned up the heat too high. In just a few seconds, the rice at the bottom of the pan started to burn. I quickly lowered the heat and stirred the rice frantically. The kitchen was full of smoke, and the smoke alarm went off! My mother came running in, looking worried.
After the smoke cleared, I finished the fried rice and served it to my family. My father took the first bite and said, “Well, it’s a little crispy, but not bad for your first time!” Everyone laughed. The rice was indeed a bit burnt on the bottom, but the flavor was actually okay. My grandmother patted me on the shoulder and said, “Practice makes perfect. You’ll do better next time.”
Key Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| recipe | 食譜 | I found a recipe online. |
| ingredient | 食材 | Write down all the ingredients. |
| chop | 切碎 | Chop the carrots into small pieces. |
| accidentally | 意外地 | I accidentally broke the glass. |
| frantically | 瘋狂地、慌忙地 | She searched frantically for her keys. |
| crispy | 酥脆的 | The fried chicken is crispy. |
| smoke alarm | 煙霧警報器 | The smoke alarm went off. |
| practice makes perfect | 熟能生巧 | Don’t worry, practice makes perfect. |
Comprehension Questions
1. Why did the writer decide to cook?
- (A) It was a school assignment.
- (B) Nobody else was home.
- (C) The writer wanted to try cooking for the first time.
- (D) The writer’s grandmother asked.
2. What problems did the writer have? (Choose all that apply)
- (A) Cut a finger
- (B) Eggshells in the pan
- (C) Burnt rice
- (D) Forgot to buy ingredients
3. What did the writer’s father say about the fried rice?
- (A) It was terrible.
- (B) It was the best he ever had.
- (C) It was a little crispy but okay for a first try.
- (D) He refused to eat it.
4. What lesson does the story teach?
- (A) Never cook without adult supervision.
- (B) Cooking is too hard for beginners.
- (C) Things may not go perfectly the first time, but practice helps.
- (D) Fried rice is a difficult dish.
Vocabulary in Context
5. “Things did not go as smoothly as I had expected” — What does “smoothly” mean?
- (A) quickly
- (B) without problems
- (C) deliciously
- (D) quietly
6. “I quickly lowered the heat” — What does “lowered the heat” mean?
- (A) turned the temperature down
- (B) picked up the pan
- (C) added more oil
- (D) removed the pan from the stove
Inference Questions
7. What can we infer about the writer’s grandmother?
- (A) She is a good cook who has influenced the writer.
- (B) She was angry about the mess in the kitchen.
- (C) She does not like fried rice.
- (D) She never cooks.
8. How did the family react to the burnt fried rice?
- (A) They were angry and disappointed.
- (B) They were supportive and found it humorous.
- (C) They threw the food away.
- (D) They called for pizza delivery.
Answer Key — Story 3
- (C) — “I decided to cook dinner for my family for the first time.”
- (A)(B)(C) — 切到手、蛋殼掉進去、飯燒焦。
- (C) — “It’s a little crispy, but not bad for your first time!”
- (C) — 奶奶說 “Practice makes perfect”，故事整體傳達初次嘗試可能不完美，但持續練習就會進步。
- (B) — smoothly 在此指「順利地、沒有問題地」。
- (A) — lower the heat = 調低火力。
- (A) — 文章提到看過奶奶做菜很多次，且奶奶說炒飯適合初學者，最後鼓勵作者。
- (B) — 爸爸開玩笑說 “a little crispy”，大家笑了，奶奶也拍肩膀鼓勵。
Story 4：A Surprise Birthday Party（驚喜生日派對）
Mia’s thirteenth birthday was coming up, and her best friend, Lily, wanted to do something special. She secretly planned a surprise party and asked all of Mia’s classmates to help. They decided to hold the party at a café near their school.
The planning was not easy. First, Lily had to make sure Mia did not find out. She told Mia that they were going to study together on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Lily sent messages to all their friends, asking them to arrive at the café by 2:00 p.m. She also ordered a chocolate cake—Mia’s favorite—and bought balloons and decorations.
On the day of the party, Lily picked up Mia and walked with her to the café. Mia had no idea what was about to happen. When they opened the door, everyone jumped out and shouted, “Happy Birthday, Mia!” Mia was so surprised that she stood frozen in the doorway for a moment. Then tears of joy filled her eyes.
The party was wonderful. They played games, ate pizza and cake, and took lots of photos together. Mia received many thoughtful gifts from her friends. But the best gift of all was the love and effort that everyone had put into making this day special for her. At the end of the party, Mia stood up and said, “Thank you all so much. This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
Key Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| secretly | 秘密地 | She secretly planned the party. |
| meanwhile | 同時 | Meanwhile, Lily sent messages to friends. |
| frozen | 呆住了 | She stood frozen in surprise. |
| thoughtful | 體貼的 | He gave a thoughtful gift. |
| effort | 努力 | The effort was appreciated. |
| balloon | 氣球 | They bought colorful balloons. |
| decoration | 裝飾 | They put up decorations in the café. |
| doorway | 門口 | She stood in the doorway. |
Comprehension Questions
1. Who planned the surprise party?
- (A) Mia’s mother
- (B) Mia’s teacher
- (C) Lily
- (D) All the classmates together
2. How did Lily trick Mia into coming to the café?
- (A) She told Mia they were going shopping.
- (B) She said they were going to study together.
- (C) She told Mia the truth about the party.
- (D) She asked Mia to help at the café.
3. How did Mia feel when she saw the surprise?
- (A) Angry
- (B) Embarrassed
- (C) Surprised and happy
- (D) Confused
4. What was Mia’s favorite kind of cake?
- (A) Strawberry
- (B) Vanilla
- (C) Chocolate
- (D) Cheesecake
5. What did Mia say at the end?
- (A) She wanted to go home.
- (B) It was the best birthday she ever had.
- (C) She was angry at the surprise.
- (D) She wanted to plan a party for Lily.
Vocabulary in Context
6. “Mia was so surprised that she stood frozen” — What does “frozen” mean here?
- (A) very cold
- (B) unable to move because of shock
- (C) angry
- (D) laughing
7. “Thoughtful gifts” — What does “thoughtful” mean in this context?
- (A) expensive
- (B) chosen with care and consideration
- (C) randomly picked
- (D) handmade
Inference Questions
8. What can we infer about Lily?
- (A) She is a caring and organized friend.
- (B) She is jealous of Mia.
- (C) She does not like parties.
- (D) She is new to the school.
9. Why were there “tears of joy” in Mia’s eyes?
- (A) She was sad about getting older.
- (B) She was moved by her friends’ effort and love.
- (C) She was disappointed by the party.
- (D) She was hurt by something someone said.
Answer Key — Story 4
- (C) — Lily planned the party。
- (B) — “She told Mia that they were going to study together on Saturday afternoon.”
- (C) — Surprised and happy — “tears of joy filled her eyes.”
- (C) — Chocolate cake — “a chocolate cake—Mia’s favorite.”
- (B) — “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
- (B) — frozen 在此指因驚訝而呆住不動。
- (B) — thoughtful 表示用心挑選、體貼的。
- (A) — Lily 秘密籌劃、組織全班、準備蛋糕和裝飾，展現關心和組織力。
- (B) — 被朋友們的愛和努力感動。
Story 5：The School Camping Trip（學校露營）
Last month, our school organized a three-day camping trip to the mountains. I was both excited and nervous because I had never been camping before. My mother helped me pack a backpack with all the necessary items: a tent, a sleeping bag, warm clothes, a flashlight, and plenty of snacks.
When we arrived at the campsite on Friday afternoon, our teacher, Mr. Wang, divided us into groups of four and gave each group a tent. My group members were Jack, Sophie, and Peter. None of us had ever set up a tent before, so we struggled with the poles and the fabric for about an hour. Finally, with Mr. Wang’s help, our tent was standing.
On the first night, we sat around a campfire and roasted marshmallows. Mr. Wang told us a ghost story that made everyone scream. Later, we looked up at the sky and saw more stars than we had ever seen in the city. It was breathtaking. However, sleeping in a tent was not as comfortable as sleeping in a bed. The ground was hard, and I could hear insects buzzing outside.
The next day, we went hiking on a mountain trail. The hike was challenging, but when we reached the top, the view was amazing. We could see the entire valley below us, covered in green trees and dotted with small houses. We took many photos and rested for a while before hiking back down.
On Sunday morning, we packed up and headed home. I was tired and my legs were sore, but I felt proud of myself for completing the hike. I also felt closer to my classmates after sharing this experience together. I am already looking forward to the next camping trip.
Key Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| campsite | 營地 | We arrived at the campsite in the afternoon. |
| flashlight | 手電筒 | Bring a flashlight for the night. |
| campfire | 營火 | We sat around the campfire. |
| marshmallow | 棉花糖 | We roasted marshmallows over the fire. |
| breathtaking | 令人嘆為觀止的 | The view from the top was breathtaking. |
| trail | 步道 | We hiked on the mountain trail. |
| sore | 酸痛的 | My legs were sore after the hike. |
| dot | 點綴 | The valley was dotted with houses. |
Comprehension Questions
1. How long was the camping trip?
- (A) One day
- (B) Two days
- (C) Three days
- (D) One week
2. What was the first challenge the writer faced?
- (A) Hiking the mountain
- (B) Setting up the tent
- (C) Cooking food
- (D) Finding the campsite
3. What did the students do on the first night?
- (A) They went hiking.
- (B) They played games in the tent.
- (C) They sat around a campfire, roasted marshmallows, and heard a ghost story.
- (D) They went fishing.
4. What did the writer see from the top of the mountain?
- (A) The ocean
- (B) A river and a bridge
- (C) A valley with green trees and small houses
- (D) The school building
5. How did the writer feel at the end of the trip?
- (A) Regretful
- (B) Tired but proud and looking forward to the next trip
- (C) Angry at the teacher
- (D) Ready to go home and never camp again
Vocabulary in Context
6. “The view was breathtaking” — What does “breathtaking” mean?
- (A) making it hard to breathe
- (B) so beautiful that it amazes you
- (C) frightening
- (D) boring
7. “The valley was dotted with small houses” — What does “dotted” mean?
- (A) completely covered
- (B) scattered here and there
- (C) hidden
- (D) destroyed
Inference Questions
8. Why could the students see more stars than usual?
- (A) Because they were on a mountain.
- (B) Because it was a special night.
- (C) Because the city has too many lights that block the stars.
- (D) Because they had telescopes.
9. What can we infer about the writer’s experience with camping?
- (A) The writer had been camping many times before.
- (B) The writer was nervous at first but ended up enjoying it.
- (C) The writer hated camping and did not want to go again.
- (D) The writer preferred staying in a hotel.
Answer Key — Story 5
- (C) — “a three-day camping trip.”
- (B) — “we struggled with the poles and the fabric for about an hour”——搭帳篷。
- (C) — “sat around a campfire and roasted marshmallows,” “Mr. Wang told us a ghost story.”
- (C) — “the entire valley below us, covered in green trees and dotted with small houses.”
- (B) — “tired and my legs were sore, but I felt proud” + “looking forward to the next camping trip.”
- (B) — breathtaking = 令人驚嘆的美。
- (B) — dotted = 零星分佈、點綴。
- (C) — 文章對比 “more stars than we had ever seen in the city”——城市光害讓星星看不到。
- (B) — “both excited and nervous” → “looking forward to the next camping trip”——從緊張到喜歡。
Section 3：記敘文閱讀總複習 Checklist
在進入下一篇 R04 國中閱讀-說明文 之前，請確認你已經掌握：
- 我能找出故事的四大要素：人物、時間、地點、事件
- 我能追蹤故事的時間順序（注意時序詞）
- 我能分辨故事的開頭、發展、高潮、結局
- 我能回答細節題（在文中找到明確答案）
- 我能從上下文推測生字的意思
- 我能做合理推論（根據文中的線索）
恭喜！
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