battery n.电池；get off the phone (动词短语)结束通话；slow down (动词短语)放慢下来；count sb. out别把某人算进去；wear out (动词短语)磨坏；complain about (动词短语)抱怨，投诉；stop by sb. (动词短语)顺路看望某人

　　Part VI：快速阅读

　　The English Weather

　　Everyone talks about the weather in England and this is not surprising. It changes from minute to minute, so it’s always interesting. Someone once wisely(聪明地)remarked(讲)that other countries have a climate(气候), but England just has weather!

　　Last week Gretel really understood why everyone is so concerned about(关注)the weather: you can never be certain(肯定)what’s going to happen. Though it was spring, there was a very heavy snowfall(降雪). As usual(像往常一样), no one expected it. The pipes(管道)in many houses were frozen: trains failed to run; cars got stuck(卡住); there were many other accidents(事故)on the roads; lots of people slipped(滑倒)on the icy(结冰的)pavements(人行道)and got hurt. The weather forecast(预报)was very bad. Everyone complained(抱怨), “What awful(可怕的)weather we’re having! Haven’t seen anything like it!” and so on. And then, suddenly, the sun came out, the snow melted(溶化)and it was spring again.

　　“That’s real English weather! Gretel.” Mr. Clark said, “Anyone would think you were English!”

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