The Mystery Twin
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents The Note.
目录 注。
4 Telling Heather.
4告诉海瑟。
6 The Search.
6"搜索报".
10 The Interviews.
10"访谈".
12 The Selection.
12 选择。
17 The Happy Reunion.
17"欢乐再会".
21 Glossary.
21 词汇表。
22 The Note One dark and blustery night, Theresa Alto was securing the windows against a storm when she heard a rapid banging on the door.
22 说明 一个黑暗而粗鲁的夜晚,特蕾莎·阿尔托(英语:Theresa Alto)听到一阵快速敲门声后,正对着一阵暴风雨保护窗户.
At first she assumed it was just the wind, but then it came again.
起初她以为只是风,但后来又来了.
She cautiously opened the door, keeping the chain fastened, for the Altos weren’t expecting any visitors on a night like this.
她小心地打开了门,
It was Mrs.
这是夫人。
Banks from the private adoption agency.
私人收养机构的银行。
“I’m so sorry to disturb you on such a night,” said Mrs.
」夫人说:
Banks.
银行。
“But the agency is moving.
“但该机构正在移动。
When we moved a file cabinet, a note and photograph fell from behind it.
当我们移动一个文件柜时,一张纸条和相片从后面掉下来.
It’s about Heather.
这是关于希瑟。
I thought you’d want to see it right away.”
我想你会想马上看到它。 “
Thirteen years ago, Brad and Theresa Alto had adopted a beautiful baby girl.
13年前,布拉德和特丽莎 阿尔多收养了一个漂亮的女婴
They had named her Heather after Theresa’s favorite flower.
他们以特蕾莎最爱的花命名她为"海瑟"(Heather).
Theresa placed her arm around Brad’s, worried about what the note might say.
特蕾莎将她的手臂放在布拉德身边,
Mrs.
夫人,请原谅
Banks continued, “The note explains that the baby you adopted is a twin.
银行继续, “该说明解释说,你收养的婴儿是双胞胎。
The birth mother thought there might be a better chance for the babies to be adopted if they were separated.
生母认为,如果婴儿分开,他们可能更有机会被收养。
She had to make a difficult decision after the car accident that killed the babies’ father.
她不得不在杀死婴儿父亲的车祸后做出艰难的决定。
She also included a photograph of the two of them in happier times.
她还包括了两人在更快乐的时候的照片.
I thought it would be comforting for you to have the photograph, and exciting for Heather to know that she has a twin.”
希瑟知道她有双胞胎 感觉很兴奋 “
Telling Heather After Mrs.
告诉希瑟夫人
Banks left, the Altos called Heather into the dining room and sat her down.
班克斯离开,阿尔多一家叫希瑟进入餐厅,让她坐下来.
As they ate dessert, Mrs.
他们吃甜点的时候,夫人
Alto started telling the story of Heather’s adoption.
Alto开始讲述希瑟被收养的故事.
Heather interrupted, “You know I am really glad you are my parents, but really, do I have to hear this story all the time?
Heather打断说:“你知道我很高兴你是我的父母,但真的,我必须一直听到这个故事吗?
I could recite it by heart!”
我可以用心背诵!”
Mrs.
夫人,请原谅
Alto gazed lovingly at her thirteen-year- old daughter and sighed, and then glanced quickly at her husband.
阿尔托热情地注视着她13岁的女儿并叹息,然后快速地看着她的丈夫.
“I know, dear, but now that you’re thirteen and such a grown-up young lady, there’s something else we need to tell you.
“我知道,亲爱的,但现在你已经十三岁了, 如此成熟的年轻女士, 我们还有些事情要告诉你。
We didn’t tell you before, because we just found out.”
我们之前没有告诉你, “
“What is it?
“这是什么?
Is something wrong?”
有什么不对吗? “
asked Heather.
问希瑟。
Her parents exchanged cautious looks, and then Mr.
她的父母交换了谨慎的相貌,然后,先生。
Alto began, “Dear, we love you very much.”
Alto开始说:“亲爱的,我们非常爱你。 “
“Yes, and.
“是的,而且。
said Heather, growing more and more impatient.
希瑟说,越来越不耐烦了
”Well, you have a twin,” Mr.
"你有一个双胞胎,"
Alto stated.
阿尔托说。
Heather sat stunned for a moment.
海瑟坐了一会儿被惊呆了
“Really, a twin?
“真的,一个双胞胎?
You mean, I’m not an only child?
我不是独生子吗?
Oh, you know how much I’ve always wanted a sister.
你知道我一直想要一个妹妹
This is the best news ever!
这是有史以来最好的新闻!
Where is she?”
她现在在哪? “
“Well,” Mrs.
"嗯," 夫人,
Alto began, “your birth mother was afraid that if she left one family with twins, they might reject one or both of you, so she thought it best to separate you.
Alto首先说,“你的生母担心,如果她与双胞胎留下一个家庭,他们可能会拒绝你们中的一个或两个,所以她认为最好把你们分开。
The adoption agency can’t tell us where your twin is, but Mrs.
领养机构不能告诉我们你的双胞胎的下落,
Banks did leave us this photograph of your birth parents and a note.”
Banks确实留给我们这张你出生父母的照片和一张纸条 “
Heather stared at the photograph.
海瑟盯着照片看
“Wow,” she whispered, dumbfounded, “I kind of look like them, don’t I?
“哇,”她悄悄地说,
I guess I understand why they thought they had to separate us, but how will I ever know where my twin is?
我想我明白为什么他们认为必须把我们分开 但我怎么知道我的双胞胎在哪里?
I’d hate to think I have a sister out there who I’ll never know.
我不愿认为我有一个妹妹,
Will you help me find her?”
你能帮我找到她吗? “
“Of course, dear, we’ll do everything we possibly can,” Mrs.
“当然,亲爱的,我们将竭尽全力,”
Alto promised.
阿尔托答应了。
“But you know, your twin could be a brother as well as a sister.”
“但你知道,你的双胞胎既可以是兄弟,也可以是姐妹。 “
“Oh, a brother, that would be okay too—just as long as it is a sibling!”
" 哦,兄弟,那也没关系,只要是兄弟就好了! "
exclaimed Heather.
赞叹海瑟.
“Why don’t we place an ad in the paper?”
“我们为什么不在报纸上刊登广告? “
Mr.
先生,请问...
Alto suggested.
阿尔托建议。
“Or maybe in a couple of papers, and some magazines, too.”
“或者在几篇论文和一些杂志上。 “
The Search While Heather began to work on her list, Mr.
搜索时 Heather开始在她的名单上工作了 先生
and Mrs.
和夫人们
Alto prepared an ad for several local and national newspapers and magazines.
Alto为几家地方和全国性报纸和杂志编写了广告。
They also left postings on adoption websites.
他们还在收养网站上留下了帖子。
They were sure to include the exact date that Heather was born and a summary of the contents of the note that was left.
他们肯定包括了Heather出生的确切日期和留下的注解的内容摘要.
The ad asked that anyone who could possibly be the missing twin to contact them immediately, and to send a photograph.
广告要求任何有可能是失踪的双胞胎的人立即联系他们,并发送相片.
“Great idea,” agreed Mrs.
“好主意,”同意夫人的意见。
Alto.
阿尔多.
“In the meantime, we should think about how we’re going to determine whether or not someone is actually related to Heather.
“与此同时,我们应该考虑如何确定某人是否与希瑟有实际关系。
Heather, why don’t you come up with a list of things you think that you and a sibling might have in common.”
Heather, 你为什么不想出一份你和兄弟们可能共同之处的清单。 “
Heather jumped up.
海瑟跳起来。
“I’ll get started right away.
“我马上开始。
Thank you both so much!”
非常感谢你们两个! “
They waited and waited as responses began trickling in over the next few weeks.
他们等待和等待,因为在今后几周里,反应开始微弱。
Most were just letters of support or e-mails from people describing their own adoption and lost-sibling stories, but a few offered information that helped the Altos.
多数只是一些描述自己收养和失恋故事的人寄来的支持信或电子邮件,但少数人提供了帮助阿尔托斯人的信息.
The Interviews Heather apprehensively reread her list while she waited for the first candidate to arrive.
访谈 希瑟在等待第一个候选人到来时,惊恐地重读了她的名单.
The list read: Things about myself: I have long, curly brown hair.
名单如下: 关于我自己的事情: 我有长长的卷发.
I have brown eyes.
我有棕色的眼睛。
I like to play chess.
我喜欢下棋
I like cats better than dogs.
我比狗更喜欢猫
I love peanut butter.
我喜欢花生酱。
I have attached earlobes.
我有附着的耳垂。
The Altos were finally able to narrow down the responses to three candidates, all of whom were the same age as Heather and had similar birth and adoption dates.
阿尔托人最终能缩小对三位候选人的响应,他们都与希瑟同龄并有着相近的出生和收养日期.
All of them had come from the same adoption agency.
所有这些儿童都来自同一收养机构。
The Altos contacted each of the families and set up interview times for the following week.
阿尔托斯人联系了每个家庭,并安排了接下来的一周的采访时间.
Heather finished her list and got ready to finally meet her twin.
希瑟完成了她的名单,并准备最终与她的双胞胎相会.
Amelia skipped through the door.
艾米莉亚从门上跳过
“I’m so excited you chose me to come see you, Heather!
“我很高兴你选择我来见你,
You know, I’ve always had the feeling that I had a sister, and when I read your ad, I almost fell out of my seat.
我总是觉得自己有个妹妹,
I’m sure we’re sisters, I can just sense it; I know you and I are twins!”
我相信我们是姐妹,
Amelia obviously wanted to be chosen as the missing twin.
Amelia显然想被选为失踪的双胞胎
She gave very elaborate answers to Heather’s questions, giving all the information she needed and more.
她对Heather的问题给出了非常详尽的答案,提供了她需要的所有信息,并且提供了更多的信息。
The Altos were wary; they didn’t want to think Heather’s twin was the first candidate just because she was energetic.
阿尔多家族很警惕;他们不想认为希瑟的双胞胎是第一个候选人,只是因为她精力充沛。
They wrote down Amelia’s responses to Heather’s questions.
他们写下了Amelia对Heather问题的答复。
Amelia: She has long, straight brown hair with light streaks in it.
她有长长的棕发 有光纹
She says she has hazel eyes, but they look sort of brown.
她说她的眼睛是黄褐色的
She doesn’t know how to play chess.
她不知道如何下棋。
She likes cats, but she has a ferret and likes him better than either dogs or cats.
她喜欢猫,但她有只雪貂,并且比狗或猫更喜欢他.
She’s allergic to peanut butter, so she doesn’t eat it.
她对花生酱过敏,
Her earlobes are not attached.
她的耳垂没有被附着
The next to arrive was Harry, a thirteen-year- old boy with brown eyes and short, dark hair.
下一个到达的是哈利,一个13岁的男孩,眼睛为棕色,头发又短又暗.
Harry was soft-spoken and polite, and said he had read the ad in the local paper and lived just a few neighborhoods away.
哈利说话柔和有礼貌,并说他在当地报纸上读过广告,只住过几个街区.
He answered all the questions very concisely, and seemed like a nice boy, just a little on the shy side, especially when compared to Amelia.
他对所有问题的回答非常简洁,似乎是个好孩子,只是有点害羞,尤其是与艾米莉亚相比.
Harry: He has short, curly, dark brown hair.
他有短发,卷发,深褐色发型。
He has brown eyes.
他的眼睛是棕色的。
He likes chess.
他喜欢下棋
He doesn’t like cats.
他不喜欢猫。
Peanut butter is not his favorite food.
花生酱不是他最喜欢的食物
His earlobes are attached.
他的耳垂是附着的。
The final candidate was a very pleasant girl named Casey.
最终的候选人是一个非常愉快的女孩,名叫凯西.
She was also thirteen and had long, curly brown hair, brown eyes, and a nice smile.
她也13岁,长出长发,卷发,眼睛为棕色,笑容也不错.
She chatted with the Altos, seeming very comfortable with the entire family.
她和阿尔多夫妇聊天,似乎对全家都非常舒适.
She even stayed for a while after the interview to talk about chess and school.
她甚至在采访后逗留了一段时间,谈论了围棋和学校.
After she left, the Altos listed her responses next to the others’.
Altos在离开后,
Casey: She has long, curly brown hair.
她有长长的卷发.
She has brown eyes.
她的眼睛是棕色的。
She likes chess.
她喜欢下棋
She likes cats.
她喜欢猫
She also likes peanut butter.
她也喜欢花生酱.
Her earlobes are not attached.
她的耳垂没有被附着
The Altos sat down and began comparing all the responses.
Altos人坐下来,开始比较所有的答复.
They were a bit upset to find that none of the candidates were a perfect match, though all of them had enough in common that they might be related to Heather.
他们有点不高兴地发现没有一个候选人是完美的配对,尽管他们都有足够的共同点,可能与希瑟有染.
“I don’t think we understand enough about heredity to figure out who is related and who is not,” said Mr.
“我认为我们对异端的理解不够,
Alto.
阿尔多.
“I agree,” sighed Heather, who was terribly disappointed that they couldn’t figure out who her twin was.
“我同意”希瑟叹息,
“I know,” said Mrs.
“我知道,”夫人说。
Alto, “why don’t we take the responses over to Mrs.
Alto, “我们为什么不把答复交给夫人?
Jean’s house?
让家?
She’s a genetic counselor, and spends her whole day researching and talking to parents about the traits they pass on to their children.”
她是一个基因顾问, 整天研究并和父母讨论他们传给孩子的特质。 “
So they gathered all their responses and brought them to their next-door neighbor, Mrs.
于是他们收集了所有的回音,把他们带到了隔壁的邻居,夫人.
Jean, and asked her for help.
珍,并请求她的帮助。
The Selection Mrs.
选取夫人。
Jean carefully read the interview questions and then scanned the responses.
让仔细阅读了采访问题,然后扫描了答复.
“First of all,” she began, “let’s talk about each of your questions.
" 首先, " 她开始说, " 让我们谈谈你们每一个问题。
Your first question is about hair, and it’s true that hair color and type is something passed down through your genes.”
第一个问题是头发, 头发的颜色和类型 确实是通过基因传递的。 “
“Jeans, like blue jeans?”
“简斯,像蓝色牛仔裤吗? “
asked Heather.
问希瑟。
“Actually, I meant genes, spelled G-E-N-E-S, which are units of heredity that transfer traits like hair and eye color from one generation to the next,” Mrs.
“实际上,我指的是G-E-N-E-S拼写为G-E-N-E-S的基因,这些基因是将发型和眼色等特征从一代传给下一代的遗传单元。”
Jean explained.
珍解释。
“Human genes are found in pairs, and you get one from your mother and one from your father.
“人类基因是成对的,从母亲那里得到一个,从父亲那里得到一个。
Genes can either be dominant or recessive, which means that a dominant gene will always override a recessive gene.
基因可以是主基因,也可以是活性基因,这意味着一个活性基因总是会压倒活性基因.
For example, with hair, the genes for brown hair and curly hair are dominant, while the genes for blond hair and straight hair are recessive.”
例如有发,棕发和卷发的基因占优势,而金发和直发的基因则有倒起性. “
“So that means my twin has to have curly brown hair, like I do,” said Heather.
Heather说,“这意味着我的双胞胎必须像我一样有卷发棕发。”
“Not necessarily.
“不一定。
Your parents may have each carried the recessive gene.
你父母可能都携带了潜伏基因
Also, hair is something you can change by bleaching blond or straightening.
而且,头发是可以通过漂白金发或直发来改变的。
So I would say that you can’t really use hair type to indicate heredity unless you know for certain that the person has not changed his or her hair in any way.”
所以,我想说,你不能真的用发型来表示异端,除非你确信该人没有以任何方式改变头发。 “
“I guess we don’t know whether or not any of our finalists changed their hair,” said Mrs.
“我想我们不知道最后的选手是否换了发型,
Alto.
阿尔多.
“Now, about eye color; the brown-eye gene is dominant while the blue-eye gene is recessive, so eye color used to be a very good indicator of heredity.
“现在,关于眼睛的颜色;褐眼基因占主导地位,而蓝眼基因则具有淡出性,因此眼色曾经是遗传性的一个非常好的指标。
But nowadays, people can wear colored contact lenses and change the color of their eyes.”
但如今人们可以穿有色隐形眼镜并改变眼睛的颜色. “
“I suppose you’re right,” said Heather, trying not to sound disappointed.
「我想你是对的」,
“And three of these other questions about liking chess, cats, and peanut butter all deal with acquired traits, which means they’re all things you can learn to like or not like.
其中三个关于喜欢国际象棋、猫和花生酱的问题,
You aren’t necessarily born liking chess, cats, or peanut butter, so I’m afraid these questions will not help you find your twin.”
所以恐怕这些问题不会帮助你找到双胞胎。 “
Heather’s head hung low, as did Mr.
Heather的头像Heather先生一样被吊低了。
and Mrs.
和夫人们
Altos’.
Altos的作品。
It seemed they had asked all the wrong questions.
看来他们问错了问题
“Don’t look so discouraged!
" 别这么沮丧!
This last question about attached earlobes may be the key,” said Mrs.
关于附着的耳垂的最后一个问题可能是关键。”
Jean.
简
“The gene for attached earlobes is recessive, while the gene for unattached earlobes is dominant.
“附着耳球的基因具有沉积性,而无附着耳球的基因则占主导地位。
In order for a recessive trait like that to appear, both of Heather’s genes for earlobes must be recessive, so she knows each parent carried at least one recessive earlobe gene.”
若要出现这种沉积性特质,Heather的耳垂基因必须具有沉积性,因此她知道每个父母至少携带一个沉积性耳垂基因。 “
Mrs.
夫人,请原谅
Jean paused for a moment and picked up the picture of Heather’s parents.
Jean停下来片刻,
“Look at your birth parents—you can see they both have attached earlobes, so you know that both of their genes were also recessive.
" 看看你的生父母——你可以看到他们都有附着的耳垂,所以你知道,他们的两个基因也都具有沉积性.
There is no way that two parents who carry only recessive genes could have children with unattached earlobes!”
双亲只携带下垂基因 不可能有没有附着耳垂的孩子! “
Heather began thinking out loud, “Okay.
Heather开始大声思考,“好吧。
is Harry.
这是哈利。
Harry is my twin!”
哈利是我的双胞胎!”
“That’s right, Harry could possibly be your twin,” said Mrs.
“没错,哈里可能是你的双胞胎,”
Jean.
简
“But he also may not.
“但是,他也不能。
It may be just a coincidence that his birthday is the same as yours, that he came from the same adoption agency, and that you both have attached earlobes.
也许只是巧合 他的生日跟你的一样 他来自同一个收养机构 你们俩都附着耳垂
In order to be certain that he is your twin you should both have your DNA tested.
为了确定他是你的双胞胎 你们都应该做DNA测试
DNA carries your genetic code.
DNA带有你的基因密码。
If your DNA carries some of the same codes, then you are brother and sister.”
如果你的DNA带有一些相同的代码, 那么你们是兄弟姐妹。 “
“But.
“但是,
I thought my twin would be a girl,” said Heather.
我以为我的双胞胎会是一个女孩,"希瑟说.
Mrs.
夫人,请原谅
Jean responded, “Only identical twins are the same gender, because identical twins have exactly the same genes.
让回答说, “只有相同的双胞胎是相同的性别,因为相同的双胞胎有着完全相同的基因。
They were born from the same egg that split in two, but fraternal twins were born from two different eggs.
他们出生于同卵分出两分的同卵,但兄弟双胞胎出生于两个不同的卵.
They’re more like regular siblings, only they were born at the same time.”
他们更像是普通的兄弟姐妹, “
“So, if Harry and I get our DNA tested we can find out for sure whether or not we are twins.
“所以,如果哈里和我得到我们的DNA测试,我们可以确定我们是否是双胞胎。
Let’s go tell Harry!”
让我们去告诉哈里!
Heather exclaimed.
希瑟赞叹.
The Happy Reunion The Altos quickly called Harry and his family, who were thrilled to hear that Harry and Heather might be twins.
欢乐再会 阿尔多斯人很快给哈利和他的家人打了电话,他们很高兴听到哈利和希瑟可能是双胞胎.
The next night, the Altos invited Harry and his family for dinner.
第二天晚上,阿尔多一家邀请了哈利和家人共进晚餐.
Harry and Heather discovered that there were a lot of things they had in common.
哈利和海瑟发现他们有很多共同点.
Both were left-handed and both laughed as they tried in vain to roll their tongues.
两人都是左撇子,在徒劳地妄想翻开舌头时都笑了.
Both got their first tooth at ten-months-old and named their first pet Socks.
两人都以10个月大的速度得到了他们的第一颗牙齿并取名为了他们的第一只宠物"索克".
After talking things over, both families agreed to get the children’s DNA tested.
双方家庭都同意让孩子们的DNA测试。
However, they all agreed that they had enjoyed each other’s company so much that they anticipated spending a lot of time together in the future, even if Harry wasn’t Heather’s twin.
然而,他们都同意,他们很享受对方的公司,因此他们预计未来会花很多时间在一起,即使哈利不是希瑟的双胞胎.