Bucket of Berries

採莓果大賽
Bring your bucket. We’re going berry picking! 猜猜今年那支熊会赢得采莓果大赛的冠军
by Hazel Johansen (7-13 &14-09)

"Attention, all bears! Attention, all bears!" called the activity chairbear for the annual picnic. "The Bucket-of -Berries Contest is about to take place. Those taking part should go to the berry patch immediately. And don't forget to take along a bucket!"

Bears everywhere stopped what they were doing and rushed to the contest area. After all, the Bucket-of-Berries Contest was the most exciting event of the day.

"Now gather around," the chairbear began. "Let me take a moment to explain the rules. They're very simple. When I say "Go!" you may begin picking berries. Fill your buckets as quickly as you can. But take care! Don't spill any. Because as you know, the first bear to fill his bucket wins!

Now, is everybody ready? On your mark, get set, Go!"
" Wait for me!" cried Scout. "I'm coming too!"
"You?" laughed Old Grizzly. "Why, you're just a cub, Scout. you're much too small, and much too slow, to take us on!"
"I am smaller, And I am slower," agreed Scout. "But I'll take my chances. Besides, gathering berries is fun. If I do my best, it really doesn't matter if I win or lose."
"Good!" said Old Grizzly, "Because you're not going to win. I am!"
"You? " growled Brown Bear. "Don't take winning for granted. After all, I just might win instead!.
"That's ridiculous!" Grizzly hollered. "Do you really think you can beat me? You're crazy!"
7-14-09
"crazy? I am not crazy!" screamed Brown bear.
"Now take it back!
" Never!" shouted Grizzly.
"Now, Now," interrupted the activity chairbear, trying to take control of the situation. But squabble. By this time, the other bears were taking sides.Most took up for Brown Bear. But a few defended Old Grizzly. Then suddenly, Old Grizzly gave Brown Bear a big shove. "There!" he said boldly. "Take that!"
"Ahhh!" Everyone held their breath. Brown Bear and Old Grizzly often argued, but never before had they actually fought.
Everyone was silent. Everyone wondered what would happen next. Just then....
"Hey, everybody, take a look!" cried Scout unexpectedly. "My bucket's full of berries!" Scout's announcement took everyone by surprise!
In fact, no one knew what to say or do.
Finally Old Grizzly began to smile. "My, my, Scout," he said, shaking his head from side to side. "It looks like you're the winner!" And he picked Scout up off the ground and gave him a great big bear hug.
"Congratulations!" he grinned.
Bears and people, take notice! Don't spend time arguing uselessly. Instead, take advantage of the time you have.


annual (adj)--annual-happen every year.
Every summer our church has a big picnic. It's an annual event.
patch-Small area of land or on the ground. 一小块田.补丁,补片
That patch of land is very rocky.
* a vegetable patch. 种蔬菜的田
*The tomato patch in our backyard was ruined by our neighbor's dog.
*The patch on the little boy's pants is so obvious.
ridiculous (adj)--Elephants cannot ride bicycles ! That's ridiculous!
bucket- 水桶
chairbear is not a word but similarly as chairman.
take place-is about to happen.
take part of something-you share it, you are participating
take along-take it with you. 带着,随身禊带
* Don't forget to take along your belongings with you when you leave the bus.
*Terry took along his girlfriend to the company's banquet.
take care-here is mean " be careful". many meaning, one is as a way to say "good bye" to someone.
Scout-refer to small child, young children. boy (girl) scout. cub (young bear)
take us on-to challenge someone, take someone on is start to compete with someone. or to compete with someone and try to win.较量,较力
*The bully at the school always hits Sean, so today Sean finally took him on. 学校恶霸,打,终于和他对决.
*Our basketball team will take on the state champion tonight. 与州观军,一决胜负,一较长短.
take chances-take a risk to try and hopefully have a good outcome, or there is something good to happen.
take something for granted- accept it without question, without appreciation, accept it you know that it always be there for you. take someone or something or many things for granted.
growled, hollered -angry, get mad, loud shouting.
crazy=foolish, senseless.

Chat Room
Bucket 水桶 Why is bucket and it is not basket 篮子? bucket for juice, (装水的,莓子会出水）
a drop in the bucket--桶里的一滴水，（分量很少，不敷需要。）
the funding in research is just a drop in the bucket.
kick the bucket--踢水桶，就是翘辫子的意思，是很通俗的哩语。不要随便用它。
basket case--指人在意外中失去了四肢，变得昊无能力，料理自己的生活，让人放在蓝子里抬来抬去。因此，一个人处于很无助，身心俱疲的状态，即可说basket case.
basket case 也可形容一个很贫穷的国家或是即将要倒闭的企业。

7-14-09
squabble(v)-fight or arguement for not very important things. (为了小事情而争吵 或发生口角。为甚么争吵用about or over)
Let's not squabble about who will go first. I will.
*The two sisters squabbled about who should take a shower first.
*The silly family's squabble (n) became a joke in the neighborhood 无聊的家庭纠纷成为邻居的笑谈。
shove(n)-strong push,推，撞
give someone a shove-推或撞某人一下。
Mike gave me a shove and I fell into the pool! Splash!
*Wesley gave his sister a big shove and she fell on the ground.跌倒在地。
*Everyone was pushing and shoving their way out of the auditorium after the concert.又推又挤的离开。。
uselessly(adv)-in useless manner
You're studying uselessly. The test was yesterday.
take advantage of- take and use it to that you gain something.好好利用某个事物或是利用某个对象。（advantage=利益，好处）
We took advantage of the nice weather and went hiking.利用好天气去爬山。
Hank took advantage of Mary's kindness and broke her heart.利用玛丽的良善去伤她的心
As hungry as bear-very hungry
Bear Market- describe business or economy bad, stock price falling called Bear Market.
take notice=pay attention.

Grammar:
"Now, now, " interrupted the activity chairbear, trying to take control of the situation.
"now, now " is not mean at this moment or right now. now,now is a gentle way to stop or correct people.
"Now, now," said the teacher,
"there's no need for any name-calling in this classroom."
"Now, now, children, let's be quiet and find our seats for dinner quickly," said the babysitter.

Chat Room
"Now, now" interrupted the activity chairbear. (now, now= 很口语的用法，如果小朋友做错事，大人可说"now, now" 很gentle的说法，带着遣责，责备，去制止或纠正。
Now, pay attention-- (Now, stop crying) now在前面，是口头语，提示语，引起认得注意。
Pay attention now--now在后面是指现在, at this moment.
my,my --something surprised you. "my,my," "would you look at that"
没国人在惊讶时常用的口头语。在惊讶时会说Oh my goodness! =Oh, my! （更口头语的用法）=my,my （加强语气的口头语的用法）