《哈利波特与魔法石》第3章-猫头鹰传书（2）

Uncle Vernon opened his newspaper as usual and Dudley banged his Smelting stick, which he carried everywhere,on the table. They heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat.

"Get the mail, Dudley," said Uncle Vernon from behind his paper.

"Make Harry get it."

"Get the mail, Harry."

"Make Dudley get it."

"Poke him with your Smelting stick, Dudley."

Harry dodged the Smelting stick and went to get the mail. Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister Marge, who was vacationing on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill, and -- a letter for Harry.

Mr. H. Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive

The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp. Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.

"Hurry up, boy!" shouted Uncle Vernon from the kitchen. "What are you doing, checking for letter bombs?" He chuckled at his own joke.

"Dad!" said Dudley suddenly. "Dad, Harry's got something!"

一，英美不同：

1. 信件：mail（美式）；post（英式）

2. 度假：vacation（美式）；holiday（英式）

二，一词多义：

1. bear：刻有

2. arm：武器（a coat of arms：盾牌刻章）

三，词根词缀：

ish

1. 形容词，表....略带：yellowish

2. 形容词，表....属性或语言：English

Anglo=Engl，盎格鲁人（Saxon 撒克逊人；Jute朱特人）；均隶属于日耳曼

England=Engl+land

English=Engl+ish

3. 动词，表成为.....：finish；vanish；flourish

四，熟记生词：

chuckle：咯咯笑

五，识记生词：

1. doormat：门垫

2. dodge：躲闪

3. wax：蜡

4. seal：密封

5. badger：獾

6. rip：撕开

7. snort：（轻蔑地）哼一声

8. inform：告诉