威威學長的閱讀教室：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

Kevin 一家在七月的星期六去海邊，早上堆沙堡，午餐後才玩趴板。這些資訊合在一起，就有了故事的場景和事件。記敘文（Narrative Text）會沿著人物的經歷往下寫，讀的時候可以先用下面四個問題整理背景。

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)

記敘文常按時間順序敘述。海邊那篇的 After lunch 就把活動切到下午；看到 at first 則要留意，它可能只是在交代某個活動剛開始的情況，不一定是整篇故事的開頭。

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，確認故事發生的時間、地點。
找出主角，再跟著他的行動讀。海邊那篇有好幾位家人，但玩趴板時，我們追蹤的是 Kevin 的嘗試。
用時序詞接起事件。早上堆沙堡、午餐後玩趴板，順序題就回這兩處查。
找問題出在哪裡，以及後來有什麼變化。Kevin 一開始一直掉下板子，後來成功搭上浪，這裡才有了轉折。
讀結局時，把人物最後的反應和前面連起來。他回頭看海、笑了，才有根據判斷這趟出遊帶給他的感受。

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)：kept falling off the board 說明他還不熟練，but he did not give up 則表示他繼續試。兩部分都要讀到，才能選「覺得困難但沒有放棄」。原文沒有說他害怕。
(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)：爸爸教 Kevin 玩趴板，Amy 替他歡呼，全家一起度過這一天。這些互動支持他們喜歡一起活動，不需要另外猜父母平常嚴不嚴格。
(B)：前面寫他堆沙堡、反覆練趴板，回程又睡著了，合理推測是玩累了。文中沒有生病或覺得無聊的線索。

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)：sad to say goodbye 說明 Emma 捨不得，visited Biscuit every weekend 則說明她仍和小狗保持聯繫。她可以難過，也可以接受小狗回家；選項要把這兩件事一起留下。

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)：奶奶用 "Practice makes perfect" 鼓勵作者再試，家人也沒有因為飯燒焦就責怪他。故事把第一次下廚的不順利和家人的鼓勵放在一起，支持 (C)，並沒有說初學者就不該做菜。
(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，Mia 最愛的蛋糕。
(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)：前面有 Lily 的秘密安排，後面又寫大家為 Mia 付出的心力，再加上 tears of joy 裡的 joy，這些都指向感動。別只看到 tears 就直接判成傷心。

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"，就是在搭帳篷。
(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)：文章只直接比較山上和城市看到的星星數量，(C) 是四個選項中最合理的解釋。這題還借用了城市燈光會影響觀星的常識；原文沒有另外提到特殊天象或望遠鏡。
(B)："both excited and nervous" → "looking forward to the next camping trip"，從緊張到喜歡。

Section 3：把故事線索找回來

用已完成的故事檢查下面幾項。打勾前，指一下你是從哪個動作、對話或時序詞看出來的：

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）

挑 Story 4 重看 Mia 進門的那一段，先遮住解析，分別找出她「驚訝」和「開心」的依據。再試著解釋：同樣是哭，這裡為什麼不能只把眼淚讀成傷心？把理由說得出來，才算讀懂這個反應。