The Right Way School was a brown building in a grey compound. ðə raɪt weɪ skul wɑz ə braʊn ˈbɪldɪŋ ɪn ə greɪ ˈkɑmpaʊnd. 正道学校是灰色院落中的一栋棕色建筑。 Sometimes, the grey compound was filled with straight rows of students in dark blue uniforms. səmˈtaɪmz, ðə greɪ ˈkɑmpaʊnd wɑz fɪld wɪð streɪt roʊz ʌv ˈstudənts ɪn dɑrk blu ˈjunəˌfɔrmz. 有时,灰色的大院里挤满了穿着深蓝色制服的学生。 The Right Way School believed that there was a right way to study a right way to dress a right way to stand in rows. ðə raɪt weɪ skul bɪˈlivd ðæt ðɛr wɑz ə raɪt weɪ tu ˈstʌdi ə raɪt weɪ tu drɛs ə raɪt weɪ tu stænd ɪn roʊz. 正道学校相信有一种正确的学习方式,一种正确的着装方式,一种正确的站队方式。 This is what it taught its students. ðɪs ɪz wʌt ɪt tɔt ɪts ˈstudənts. 这就是它教给学生的。
More than anybody in the school, Mrs Gambhir believed in doing things the right way. mɔr ðæn ˈɛnibədi ɪn ðə skul, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* bɪˈlivd ɪn duɪŋ θɪŋz ðə raɪt weɪ. 甘比尔夫人比学校里的任何人都更相信以正确的方式做事。 Mrs Gambhir was the class teacher of Std 3. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* wɑz ðə klæs ˈtiʧər ʌv std* 3 Gambhir 夫人是 Std 3 的班主任。 In Hindi, Gambhir means serious. ɪn ˈhɪndi, gambhir* minz ˈsɪriəs. 在印地语中,Gambhir 的意思是严肃。 It was the perfect name for her. ɪt wɑz ðə pərˈfɛkt neɪm fɔr hər. 这对她来说是个完美的名字。
Every day, Mrs Gambhir would write with white chalk on the black board. ˈɛvəri deɪ, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* wʊd raɪt wɪð waɪt ʧɑk ɑn ðə blæk bɔrd. 每天,甘比尔夫人都会用白色粉笔在黑板上写字。 One Thursday afternoon, she wrote: The root of a plant is buried under the soil and takes in water and nutrients. wʌn ˈθərzˌdeɪ ˌæftərˈnun, ʃi roʊt: ðə rut ʌv ə plænt ɪz ˈbɛrid ˈʌndər ðə sɔɪl ənd teɪks ɪn ˈwɔtər ənd ˈnutriənts. 一个星期四的下午,她写道: 植物的根埋在土壤下,吸收水分和养分。 "Now copy and learn," she said. "naʊ ˈkɑpi ənd lərn," ʃi sɛd. “现在复制和学习,”她说。
"But miss," Rohit asked, "what are nutrients?" "bʌt mɪs," rohit* æskt, "wʌt ɑr ˈnutriənts?" “可是小姐,”罗希特问道,“营养素是什么?” Mrs Gambhir ignored him. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ˌɪgˈnɔrd hɪm. 甘比尔夫人没有理他。 Questions and interruptions were not the right way. kˈwɛsʧənz ənd ˌɪntərˈʌpʃənz wər nɑt ðə raɪt weɪ. 提问和打断不是正确的方式。 Mrs Gambhir asked, "Meera, what is the root of a plant?" ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* æskt, "meera*, wʌt ɪz ðə rut ʌv ə plænt?" 甘比尔夫人问道:“梅拉,植物的根是什么?” Meera's hands turned cold. meera's* hændz tərnd koʊld. 梅拉的手变冷了。 Her mind went blank. hər maɪnd wɛnt blæŋk. 她脑子一片空白。 Mrs Gambhir said "Tchhht tchhht". ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* sɛd "tchhht* tchhht*". Gambhir 夫人说“Tchhht tchhht”。 Meera began to cry. meera* bɪˈgæn tu kraɪ. 米拉开始哭了。 Mrs Gambhir asked Rohit, "What is a root?" ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* æskt rohit*, "wʌt ɪz ə rut?" 甘比尔夫人问罗希特:“什么是根?” "The part under mud and it takes water and ... "ðə pɑrt ˈʌndər mʌd ənd ɪt teɪks ˈwɔtər ənd “泥浆下面的部分需要水和...... " Mrs Gambhir said "Tchhht tchhht tchhht" and took away his chocolate biscuits. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* sɛd "tchhht* tchhht* tchhht*" ənd tʊk əˈweɪ hɪz ˈʧɔklət ˈbɪskəts. ” Gambhir 夫人说着“啧啧啧啧啧啧啧”,然后拿走了他的巧克力饼干。
When Mrs Gambhir was angry, she said, "tchhhht tchhhht". wɛn ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* wɑz ˈæŋgri, ʃi sɛd, "tchhhht* tchhhht*". 当 Gambhir 夫人生气时,她说,“tchhhht tchhhht”。 When she was furious, she snarled, "tchhhht tchhhht tchhhht". wɛn ʃi wɑz fˈjʊriəs, ʃi sˈnɑrəld, "tchhhht* tchhhht* tchhhht*". 当她大怒时,她咆哮着,“tchhhht tchhhht tchhhht”。 Everybody wondered what would happen the day she said, "thchhht tchhhht tchhhht tchhhht". ˈɛvriˌbɑdi ˈwʌndərd wʌt wʊd ˈhæpən ðə deɪ ʃi sɛd, "thchhht* tchhhht* tchhhht* tchhhht*". 每个人都想知道她说“thchhht tchhhht tchhhht tchhhht”的那一天会发生什么。 In History, Mrs Gambhir made the class learn dates. ɪn ˈhɪstəri, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* meɪd ðə klæs lərn deɪts. 在历史课上,Gambhir 老师让全班学习了日期。 In Art she made her students draw a blue river, green mountains and yellow sun. ɪn ɑrt ʃi meɪd hər ˈstudənts drɔ ə blu ˈrɪvər, grin ˈmaʊntənz ənd ˈjɛloʊ sʌn. 在美术课上,她让她的学生画出蓝色的河流、绿色的山脉和黄色的太阳。 If anybody added an apple tree or a cottage, Mrs Gambhir said, "tchhht tchhhht tchhhht" and tore the paper. ɪf ˈɛnibədi ˈædɪd æn ˈæpəl tri ɔr ə ˈkɑtəʤ, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* sɛd, "tchhht* tchhhht* tchhhht*" ənd tɔr ðə ˈpeɪpər. 如果有人加了一棵苹果树或一间小屋,Gambhir 夫人说:“tchhht tchhhht tchhhht”并撕掉了纸。
Naturally, Std 3 tried to do things the right way. ˈnæʧərəli, std* 3 traɪd tu du θɪŋz ðə raɪt weɪ. 自然地,Std 3 试图以正确的方式做事。 Till one Monday morning, the door of the classroom opened ... tɪl wʌn ˈmʌndi ˈmɔrnɪŋ, ðə dɔr ʌv ðə ˈklæsˌrum ˈoʊpənd 直到一个星期一的早上,教室的门开了……
and a stranger walked in. ənd ə ˈstreɪnʤər wɔkt ɪn. 一个陌生人走了进来。 The stranger who walked in was a tiny girl. ðə ˈstreɪnʤər hu wɔkt ɪn wɑz ə ˈtaɪni gərl. 走进来的陌生人是个小女孩。 She had huge eyes and hair like a palm tree on a windy day. ʃi hæd hjuʤ aɪz ənd hɛr laɪk ə pɑm tri ɑn ə ˈwɪndi deɪ. 她有一双大眼睛,头发像刮风天的棕榈树。 She was wearing a red dress with frilly sleeves. ʃi wɑz ˈwɛrɪŋ ə rɛd drɛs wɪð ˈfrɪli slivz. 她穿着一件带褶边袖子的红色连衣裙。 She did not look neat or worried. ʃi dɪd nɑt lʊk nit ɔr ˈwərid. 她看起来既不整洁也不担心。 She did not look as if she belonged to The Right Way School. ʃi dɪd nɑt lʊk æz ɪf ʃi bɪˈlɔŋd tu ðə raɪt weɪ skul. 她看起来不像是正道学校的人。 She looked happy. ʃi lʊkt ˈhæpi. 她看起来很开心。
"Yes?" "jɛs?" “是的?” Mrs Gambhir asked in a forbidding voice. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* æskt ɪn ə fərˈbɪdɪŋ vɔɪs. 甘比尔夫人用冷酷的声音问道。 "I'm the new girl. "aɪm ðə nu gərl. “我是新来的女孩。 Laila," the tiny stranger replied in a voice as noisy and merry as the horn of a bus. laila*," ðə ˈtaɪni ˈstreɪnʤər rɪˈplaɪd ɪn ə vɔɪs æz ˈnɔɪzi ənd ˈmɛri æz ðə hɔrn ʌv ə bʌs. 莱拉,”这个小个子陌生人用像公共汽车喇叭一样嘈杂而愉快的声音回答道。 The students of Std 3 blinked. ðə ˈstudənts ʌv std* 3 blɪŋkt. 三年级的学生们眨了眨眼。 Meera and Rohit smiled. meera* ənd rohit* smaɪld. 米拉和罗希特笑了。 Mrs Gambhir didn't smile. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ˈdɪdənt smaɪl. 甘比尔夫人没有笑。 She frowned. ʃi fraʊnd. 她皱起眉头。 "Welcome to Std 3, Laila," she said finally. "ˈwɛlkəm tu std* 3 laila*," ʃi sɛd ˈfaɪnəli. “欢迎来到 Std 3,莱拉,”她终于说道。 "In this school, students do things the right way. "ɪn ðɪs skul, ˈstudənts du θɪŋz ðə raɪt weɪ. “在这所学校,学生以正确的方式做事。 They talk softly. ðeɪ tɔk ˈsɔftli. 他们轻声交谈。 They wear school uniforms. ðeɪ wɛr skul ˈjunəˌfɔrmz. 他们穿校服。 They keep their hair neat. ðeɪ kip ðɛr hɛr nit. 他们保持头发整洁。 They obey their teacher." ðeɪ oʊˈbeɪ ðɛr ˈtiʧər." 他们服从他们的老师。”
At lunchtime, the students of Std 3 surrounded Laila. æt ˈlʌnʧˌtaɪm, ðə ˈstudənts ʌv std* 3 sərˈaʊndəd laila*. 午餐时间,三年级的学生围住了莱拉。 Rohit asked questions. rohit* æskt kˈwɛsʧənz. 罗希特提出问题。 Lavanya gave advice. lavanya* geɪv ædˈvaɪs. 拉瓦尼亚给出了建议。 Meera held Laila's hand. meera* hɛld laila's* hænd. 米拉握着莱拉的手。 "Be careful," she whispered to her new best friend. "bi ˈkɛrfəl," ʃi ˈwɪspərd tu hər nu bɛst frɛnd. “小心点,”她对她最好的新朋友耳语道。 "Mrs Gambhir is scary when she is angry." "ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ɪz ˈskɛri wɛn ʃi ɪz ˈæŋgri." “甘比尔夫人生气的时候很可怕。”
Laila tried not to make Mrs Gambhir angry. laila* traɪd nɑt tu meɪk ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ˈæŋgri. 莱拉尽量不让甘比尔太太生气。 Every day, she wore her new blue uniform and tied her hair with eight clips and four rubber bands. ˈɛvəri deɪ, ʃi wɔr hər nu blu ˈjunəˌfɔrm ənd taɪd hər hɛr wɪð eɪt klɪps ənd fɔr ˈrʌbər bændz. 每天,她都穿着新的蓝色制服,用八个夹子和四个橡皮筋扎头发。 Every day, Meera reminded her to be careful. ˈɛvəri deɪ, meera* riˈmaɪndəd hər tu bi ˈkɛrfəl. 每天,米拉都会提醒她要小心。 Still, Laila forgot. stɪl, laila* fərˈgɑt. 尽管如此,莱拉还是忘记了。 She couldn't help herself. ʃi ˈkʊdənt hɛlp hərˈsɛlf. 她情不自禁。 She drew a cat like everybody else. ʃi dru ə kæt laɪk ˈɛvriˌbɑdi ɛls. 她像其他人一样画了一只猫。 Except that her cat was pink and licking a lollipop. ɪkˈsɛpt ðæt hər kæt wɑz pɪŋk ənd ˈlɪkɪŋ ə ˈlɑliˌpɑp. 除了她的猫是粉红色的,正在舔棒棒糖。 Mrs Gambhir hissed "tchhhht tchhhht" and tore the drawing. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* hɪst "tchhhht* tchhhht*" ənd tɔr ðə drɔɪŋ. Gambhir 夫人发出“啧啧啧啧啧啧啧”的嘶嘶声,撕毁了画作。 Laila coloured the map of India like everybody else. laila* ˈkʌlərd ðə mæp ʌv ˈɪndiə laɪk ˈɛvriˌbɑdi ɛls. 莱拉像其他人一样给印度地图上色。 But then she filled it in with elephants and boats and mango trees. bʌt ðɛn ʃi fɪld ɪt ɪn wɪð ˈɛləfənts ənd boʊts ənd ˈmæŋgoʊ triz. 但后来她用大象、小船和芒果树填满了它。
Mrs Gambhir spat "tchhhht tchhhht tchhhhht" and made Laila spend her lunch break in the classroom. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* spæt "tchhhht* tchhhht* tchhhhht*" ənd meɪd laila* spɛnd hər lʌnʧ breɪk ɪn ðə ˈklæsˌrum. Gambhir 夫人吐了口唾沫说“啧啧啧啧啧啧啧啧啧啧啧啧啧”,让莱拉在教室里度过午休时间。
However much Laila tried to be invisible, her questions popped out. ˌhaʊˈɛvər mʌʧ laila* traɪd tu bi ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl, hər kˈwɛsʧənz pɑpt aʊt. 不管莱拉多么努力地隐身,她的问题还是跳了出来。 "How can a big tree fit in a small seed?" "haʊ kæn ə bɪg tri fɪt ɪn ə smɔl sid?" “一颗大树怎么装得下一颗小种子?” "Why don't fish make sounds?" "waɪ doʊnt fɪʃ meɪk saʊndz?" “为什么鱼不发出声音?” "Why don't islands float away?" "waɪ doʊnt ˈaɪləndz floʊt əˈweɪ?" “为什么岛屿不会漂走?” Mrs Gambhir minded. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ˈmaɪndəd. 甘比尔夫人在意。 She minded even more when Rohit began to ask questions. ʃi ˈmaɪndəd ˈivɪn mɔr wɛn rohit* bɪˈgæn tu æsk kˈwɛsʧənz. 当罗希特开始发问时,她更加在意了。 And Lavanya. ənd lavanya*. 还有拉瓦尼亚。 And Amod. ənd amod*. 还有阿莫德。 "The next student to interrupt my class will spend the whole month in the corridor," she shouted. "ðə nɛkst ˈstudənt tu ˌɪntərˈʌpt maɪ klæs wɪl spɛnd ðə hoʊl mʌnθ ɪn ðə ˈkɔrədər," ʃi ˈʃaʊtəd. “下一个打扰我上课的学生将在走廊里度过整个月,”她喊道。 On Monday morning, Mrs Gambhir taught her class about weather. ɑn ˈmʌndi ˈmɔrnɪŋ, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* tɔt hər klæs əˈbaʊt ˈwɛðər. 星期一早上,Gambhir 老师给她的班级讲授天气知识。 The class was behaving in the right way. ðə klæs wɑz bɪˈheɪvɪŋ ɪn ðə raɪt weɪ. 班级表现得很好。 So the question that tumbled into Laila's head and out of her mouth seemed loud. soʊ ðə kˈwɛsʧən ðæt ˈtʌmbəld ˈɪntu laila's* hɛd ənd aʊt ʌv hər maʊθ simd laʊd. 所以这个从莱拉脑子里冒出来又从她嘴里说出来的问题似乎很响亮。 "Miss, are clouds like air or water or cotton wool?" "mɪs, ɑr klaʊdz laɪk ɛr ɔr ˈwɔtər ɔr ˈkɑtən wʊl?" “小姐,云是像空气还是水还是棉絮?” "TCHHHT TCHHHT TCHHHT ... "tchhht* tchhht* tchhht* “啧啧啧啧啧啧啧……
TCHHHT," Mrs Gambhir exploded. tchhht*," ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ɪkˈsploʊdəd. TCHHHT,”Gambhir 夫人爆发了。 Then she pointed at the door. ðɛn ʃi ˈpɔɪntɪd æt ðə dɔr. 然后她指了指门口。 Looking sad and small, Laila stumbled out of the classroom. ˈlʊkɪŋ sæd ənd smɔl, laila* ˈstʌmbəld aʊt ʌv ðə ˈklæsˌrum. 莱拉看起来悲伤又渺小,跌跌撞撞地走出了教室。 Looking pleased, Mrs Gambhir wrote on the black board: Rainfall is water falling in drops A voice interrupted the teacher. ˈlʊkɪŋ plizd, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* roʊt ɑn ðə blæk bɔrd: ˈreɪnˌfɔl ɪz ˈwɔtər ˈfɑlɪŋ ɪn drɑps ə vɔɪs ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd ðə ˈtiʧər. Gambhir 夫人看起来很高兴,在黑板上写道: 降雨是水滴落下 一个声音打断了老师。 A voice usually too scared to speak in class. ə vɔɪs ˈjuʒəwəli tu skɛrd tu spik ɪn klæs. 一个通常害怕在课堂上说话的声音。 "Miss," Meera whispered bravely, "does a cloud feel like cotton wool?" "mɪs," meera* ˈwɪspərd ˈbreɪvli, "dʌz ə klaʊd fil laɪk ˈkɑtən wʊl?" “小姐,”梅拉勇敢地低声说,“云感觉像棉花吗?” The class gaped. ðə klæs gaped*. 班级目瞪口呆。 Mrs Gambhir shook as she pointed at the door. ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* ʃʊk æz ʃi ˈpɔɪntɪd æt ðə dɔr. 甘比尔夫人指着门口时浑身发抖。
Meera walked out of the classroom. meera* wɔkt aʊt ʌv ðə ˈklæsˌrum. 米拉走出教室。 Then Rohit raised his hand. ðɛn rohit* reɪzd hɪz hænd. 然后罗希特举起了手。 Then Lavanya. ðɛn lavanya*. 然后是拉瓦尼亚。 Five minutes later, Mrs Gambhir was teaching an empty classroom about rainfall. faɪv ˈmɪnəts ˈleɪtər, ˈmɪsɪz gambhir* wɑz ˈtiʧɪŋ æn ˈɛmpti ˈklæsˌrum əˈbaʊt ˈreɪnˌfɔl. 五分钟后,Gambhir 老师正在一间空荡荡的教室里教授有关降雨的知识。 Well, not empty exactly. wɛl, nɑt ˈɛmpti ɪgˈzæktli. 好吧,不完全是空的。 The desks and chairs were there. ðə dɛsks ənd ʧɛrz wər ðɛr. 桌子和椅子在那里。 They did not interrupt and the teacher was happy. ðeɪ dɪd nɑt ˌɪntərˈʌpt ənd ðə ˈtiʧər wɑz ˈhæpi. 他们没有打扰,老师很高兴。
Twenty minutes later, The Principal of The Right Way School walked past the Std 3 classroom. tˈwɛnti ˈmɪnəts ˈleɪtər, ðə ˈprɪnsəpəl ʌv ðə raɪt weɪ skul wɔkt pæst ðə std* 3 ˈklæsˌrum. 二十分钟后,正道校长从大三教室前走过。 She gaped. ʃi gaped*. 她目瞪口呆。 In The Right Way School, students did not stand in corridors in noisy groups. ɪn ðə raɪt weɪ skul, ˈstudənts dɪd nɑt stænd ɪn ˈkɔrɪdərz ɪn ˈnɔɪzi grups. 在正道学校,学生们不会成群结队地站在走廊里。 They sat in classrooms in silent lines. ðeɪ sæt ɪn ˈklæsˌrumz ɪn ˈsaɪlənt laɪnz. 他们静静地坐在教室里。 The Principal opened her mouth to shout. ðə ˈprɪnsəpəl ˈoʊpənd hər maʊθ tu ʃaʊt. 校长张嘴喊道。 Then she closed it. ðɛn ʃi kloʊzd ɪt. 然后她关上了它。
Instead, she opened her ears to listen. ˌɪnˈstɛd, ʃi ˈoʊpənd hər ɪrz tu ˈlɪsən. 相反,她张开耳朵倾听。 Laila and Amod and Meera and Lavanya and many others were talking about clouds. " ... look like cotton wool ... " " ... then how can rain come out of them ... " " ... how do clouds stay up in the sky ... why don't they fall down ... laila* ənd amod* ənd meera* ənd lavanya* ənd ˈmɛni ˈʌðərz wər ˈtɔkɪŋ əˈbaʊt klaʊdz. lʊk laɪk ˈkɑtən wʊl ðɛn haʊ kæn reɪn kʌm aʊt ʌv ðɛm haʊ du klaʊdz steɪ ʌp ɪn ðə skaɪ waɪ doʊnt ðeɪ fɔl daʊn Laila、Amod、Meera、Lavanya 和许多其他人在谈论云。 “……看起来像棉絮……” “……那怎么会下雨呢……” “……云在天上是怎么长起来的……为什么不落下来... "
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The Principal cleared her throat. ðə ˈprɪnsəpəl klɪrd hər θroʊt. 校长清了清嗓子。 Then she clapped twice for silence. ðɛn ʃi klæpt twaɪs fɔr ˈsaɪləns. 然后她鼓掌两次要求安静。 "Let me answer your questions," she said. "lɛt mi ˈænsər jɔr kˈwɛsʧənz," ʃi sɛd. “让我回答你的问题,”她说。
That was the day that The Right Way School changed the first of its many rules. ðæt wɑz ðə deɪ ðæt ðə raɪt weɪ skul ʧeɪnʤd ðə fərst ʌv ɪts ˈmɛni rulz. 那一天,正道学校改变了它的许多规则中的第一个。 It decided that asking questions was the right way. ɪt ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd ðæt ˈæskɪŋ kˈwɛsʧənz wɑz ðə raɪt weɪ. 它决定提出问题是正确的方法。 All thanks to a little girl with wild hair, a bus-horn voice and endless curiosity. ɔl θæŋks tu ə ˈlɪtəl gərl wɪð waɪld hɛr, ə bus-horn* vɔɪs ənd ˈɛndləs ˌkjʊriˈɑsəti. 这一切都要归功于一个留着乱发、会像公交车喇叭一样的声音和无尽好奇心的小女孩。