20091113 The Turning Point (1)

The Turning Point

Big or small, short or tall, we can all make a difference

"Wow!" said Farmer Turner one evening
as he walked through his garden.
"Look at that turnip! Why, it's the biggest one I've ever seen.
I'll take it home, and my wife can turn it into a wonderful stew."
The farmer tried pulling the turnip out of the ground.
But it was too big and wouldn't come out.
So he turned to his wife for help.
Together the farmer and his wife pulled on the giant vegetable.
But it remained in the ground. "Now what?" the farmer sighed.
That night Farmer Turner couldn't sleep.
He tossed and turned all night thinking about the big turnip.
The next morning his wife had an idea.
"Let's ask one of the farm animals to help," she said
"Surely together we can pull the turnip up."


"Yes," said the farmer, turning the idea over in his mind.
"But which animal?" Just then Pinky the piglet turned up.
"Wh-wh-what about me?" He squealed. "I'll help."
But the farmer turned him down.
"You're too little," he laughed.
"I'll ask the ox. He's big and strong."
"But he's dangerous," warned his wife.
"He may get upset and turn on us."
"Yes," said Farmer Turner, "but we need him."
So together the farmer, his wife and the ox
pulled on the stubborn turnip.
But it would not come out. " We need more help," said the farmer.
"H-h-how about me?" Pinky cried. But the farmer paid no attention.
"How about the horse?" he said instead.
"She's had a hard day," said the farmer's wife. "She's tired."


toss and turn (saying) 睡不著時翻來覆去
eg: I'm not sleeping well, I toss and turn all night.
eg: I was tossing and turning all night last night because of today's exam.
eg: Larry tossed and turned the whole night because he was worried about his presentation.

squeal v. 發出長而尖的叫聲
=> talk in a very high voice
eg: The little pig squealed when the farmer picked it up.
eg: "No way!" the boy squealed when the doctor tried to give him a shot.
eg: The kids squealed with joy when they heard they were going swimming.


turn on somebody 攻擊/批評某人
eg: Wesley suddenly turned on his little sister and made her cry.
=> Wesley突如起來地欺負妹妹，妹妹就哭了。

turn on 打開電燈/瓦斯/音響設備的開關
eg: Sam turned on the radio as soon as he started his car.

turning point 轉捩點
=> the time when a change happends

turnip n. 蕪菁塊根

turn up 出現
=> show up

turn down
=> say no to someone's request

//== Chat Room ==//

piglet 小豬
puppy/pup 小狗
kitten 小貓
cub 小熊/小獅/小虎/小狐狸等
calf 小牛
duckling 小鴨
bunny 小兔子
fry 小魚
colt 小(公)馬
chick 小雞
=> 有些女生會被這個字眼冒犯
=> 口語的小妞

pony 體型很小的馬



//== Grammar on the Go ==//

"Now what?" the farmer sighed.

Now what?
=> when the speaker was frustrated at the problem, he would say "Now what"
=> 本課now what 的意思如下
1. Now what do I do?
2. Now what should we do?

Now what 還可以有其他意思
3. Now what is it?
4. Now what else is wrong?