Circus Bears 舐犢情深－benny 的部落格

　　There once was a bear named Bernice. She was a performer in a traveling circus that went from city to city throughout the country. Bernice had spent most of her life as a performing bear. She liked the other animals in the circus and her trainer1, Archie, took very good care of her. Bernice was very content because she had two little bears, Annabelle and Bruce, who she adored. They were one big happy bear family.

　　When the circus was performing, Bernice, Annabelle, and Bruce would entertain the crowds. They did the same routine under the big, red tent every night. Archie was always in the ring2 with them. He made sure that they had everything they needed for their show such as their tricycles3 and big hoops4. The bear show was the most popular attraction at the circus. After people saw their show, everyone always said that it was their favorite part. Bernice, Annabelle, and Bruce were fond of entertaining and the crowds loved them in return.

　　從前有一隻熊叫做柏妮絲。她是在國內各城市間巡迴演出的馬戲團中的一員。柏妮絲已經花了大半輩子的時間當一隻表演熊。她很喜歡馬戲團裡的其他動物，她的馴獸師阿奇也非常照顧她。柏妮絲很滿足，因為她有兩隻她很疼愛的熊寶寶，安娜貝兒和布魯斯。牠們是快樂的熊熊大家族。

　　馬戲團在表演時，柏妮絲、安娜貝兒和布魯斯會娛樂群眾。牠們每晚都會在紅色大帳篷下做著相同的例行表演。阿奇總會跟牠們一起在馬戲場裡。他會確定牠們得到了表演中要用到的所有必須品，像是三輪車和大跳圈。熊熊秀是馬戲團裡最受歡迎的節目。人們看了牠們的表演後，都會說那是馬戲團中他們最喜愛的一部分。柏妮絲和她的熊寶寶都很喜歡逗觀眾開心，而觀眾也很喜愛牠們。

《Building Your Vocabulary》

1.content　a. 滿足的，滿意的
Are you content with your present job?
你滿不滿意目前的工作？

2.adore　vt. 喜愛
Judy is an only child so her parents adore her.
裘蒂是獨生女，所以父母親都很疼她。

3.entertain　vt. 使娛樂，使歡樂
The band played jazz music to entertain us.
這個樂團彈著爵士樂來娛樂我們。

4.routine　n.（經常表演的）固定劇目；例行公事
My daily routine rarely ever changes.
我每天例行的公事很少會有改變。

《Phrases for Learning》

1.be fond of...　　喜歡……
When it comes to movies, Kenny is fond of comedies.
說到電影，肯尼喜歡喜劇。

2.in return　　回報；回敬
Patty helps the poor and asks nothing in return.
佩蒂幫助窮人而不求回報。

《參考字詞》

1.trainer　n. 馴獸師

2.ring　n. 馬戲場；拳擊場

3.tricycle　n. 三輪車

4.hoop　n. ……圈；環狀物

《Tips In Use》

Archie was always in the ring with them.
（阿奇總會跟牠們一起在馬戲場裡。）

1.句中的 ring 為名詞，表『馬戲場』，尤其是指圓形的馬戲場。此外，ring 當名詞的另外一個意思是『戒指』。例：
　This diamond ring is very special.
（這只鑽戒很特別。）

2.ring 當不及物動詞，表『發出鈴聲』。例：
　I was taking a shower when the telephone rang.
（電話響時我正在洗澡。）

3.片語"ring a bell"表『很耳熟』。例：
　Your name rings a bell. Have we met somewhere before?
（你的名字聽起來很耳熟。我們之前在哪裡見過嗎？）