365个英语简短小故事-319. The Bargain CD Set (2)

Sidney reread the song list and artists. He noticed that the classic song “Moon River” was sung by Danny Williams; Sidney thought that the original artist was actually Andy Williams. He told Gita that he had his doubts. She told him not to buy it, but he decided¹ to take a chance on it—after all, it was only $11.99. What could they lose, he joked. When they got home and played the CDs in that set, both of them were disappointed.

“When are you going to learn to listen to me?” Gita asked Sidney as she rapped² him in the head with the box of the CD set. Sidney told her that he would take it back to see if he could exchange it. “Of course not!” Gita said. “The receipt says that you cannot return an opened package.”

Sidney took it back anyway; he hoped that he could charm³ the sales clerk into giving him an exchange. He couldn’t. She said that the only thing she could do was buy the CD set back from him. He said that that was okay with him, figuring that she was going to pay him $11.99 plus tax. She typed the title of the set into her computer. A few moments later, she told him that she would be able to give him 70 cents. “You mean seventy cents for each CD?” Sidney asked. “No, 70 cents for the set,” she replied. Sidney laughed. He was getting ripped⁴ off by two different companies for the same item. On his way out of the store, he decided he would regift the set as an office Christmas present.

 

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 rapped   

v.突然说出( rap的过去式和过去分词 )；（公开地）严厉批评；突然大声说出；连续敲叩

参考例句：

• He rapped sharply on the door. 他猛烈地敲门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The king rapped on the table with his heavy metal ring, and the company fell silent. 国王用他重重的金属戒指敲打桌子，使客人安静下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 charm   

vt.使着迷，使陶醉；n.招人喜欢之处，魅力

参考例句：

• With all imperfections the short play has a real charm.尽管有不少缺欠，这出小戏仍颇具魅力。
• He could resist her charm no longer.他再也抗拒不住她的魅力。

4 ripped   

adj. <美俚>喝醉的，受毒品麻醉的 动词rip的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He had ripped up the carpet, leaving only the bare boards. 他用力扯去了地毯，只剩下裸露的地板。
• I ripped my jeans on the fence. 我的牛仔裤在栅栏上划破了。