本課為第一人稱敘事：一位曾在麥當勞扮演 Ronald McDonald 的員工，回憶自己為了病童 Billy 而「打破規定」的那一天。文後附一段對話〈Good Deeds during Summer Vacation〉。
📖 Reading｜The Day I Broke the Rules（我打破規定的那一天）
▶A few years ago, I was employed by McDonald's.
幾年前，我受雇於麥當勞。
🔍 句構分析
①A few years ago時間 IS was employedV（被動） by McDonald'sby + 動作者
be employed by = 受雇於（被動語態，employ 為核心字）。主動：McDonald's employed me.
▶On "Ronald Day," I would dress up as Ronald McDonald and visit children in community hospitals.
在「Ronald 日」那天，我會打扮成 Ronald McDonald，到社區醫院探望孩子們。
🔍 句構分析
①On "Ronald Day"時間 IS would dress upV（過去習慣） as Ronald McDonald副詞 and visitV childrenO
would + V = 過去經常（習慣性）；dress up as = 打扮成（某角色）；community（社區）為核心字。
▶I really enjoyed the opportunity to make these children's day a little more joyful.
我真的很享受這個能讓這些孩子的一天更加快樂一點的機會。
🔍 句構分析
①IS enjoyedV the opportunity to make these children's day more joyfulO（＋不定詞修飾）
the opportunity to V = 做……的機會；make + 受詞 + 形容詞（使役）= 使……變得……；joyful（快樂的）為核心字。
▶However, although I loved my job, it could be emotionally draining occasionally.
然而，雖然我熱愛我的工作，它偶爾也會令人身心俱疲。
🔍 句構分析
①although I loved my job讓步子句
②itS could beV emotionally drainingC occasionally副詞
although（雖然）引導讓步子句，不與 but 連用；draining = 令人耗盡精力的；occasionally（偶爾）為核心字。
▶There were clear rules that I was required to follow.
有一些我必須遵守的明確規定。
🔍 句構分析
①There wereV clear rulesS（真主詞） that I was required to follow關係子句
be required to V = 被要求做……（require 為核心字）；that 為關係代名詞，引導修飾 rules 的形容詞子句。
▶First, it was important that I never go anywhere alone while on duty because my costume might surprise or scare little kids.
首先，我值勤時絕不能獨自到任何地方，這一點很重要，因為我的服裝可能會嚇到小孩。
🔍 句構分析
①it虛主詞 wasV importantC that I never go anywhere alone...真主詞（名詞子句）
important 等「重要／必要」形容詞後的 that 子句用原形動詞（should 省略）：that I never go；while (I was) on duty = 值勤時（on duty 為片語）。
▶Also, it was essential that I never touch the kids since I might give them my germs.
此外，我絕不能碰觸孩子，這也很必要，因為我可能會把細菌傳給他們。
🔍 句構分析
①it虛主詞 wasV essentialC that I never touch the kids真主詞 since I might give them my germs原因子句
essential（必要的）為核心字，後接 that 子句同樣用原形 touch；since = 因為；germ（細菌）為核心字。
▶I didn't like this regulation because I often wanted to hold their hands or hug them, but I could be fired for violating the rule.
我不喜歡這條規定，因為我常想牽他們的手或抱抱他們，但違反規定可能會讓我被解雇。
🔍 句構分析
①IS didn't likeV this regulationO
②but IS could be firedV（被動） for violating the rule原因
regulation（規定）、violate（違反）皆為核心字；be fired = 被解雇；for + V-ing = 因為做……。
▶One day, when I had finished my job and was about to leave, I heard a little boy calling, "Ronald, Ronald!"
有一天，當我做完工作正要離開時，我聽到一個小男孩在叫：「Ronald！Ronald！」
🔍 句構分析
①when I had finished my job and was about to leave時間子句
②IS heardV a little boyO callingOC（現在分詞）
be about to V = 正要、即將（片語）；感官動詞 hear + O + V-ing = 聽到某人正在……；had finished 為過去完成式（比 heard 更早）。
▶He looked only about six, but he was hooked up to more electronic equipment than I had ever seen.
他看起來只有大約六歲，但他身上接的電子儀器比我見過的都還要多。
🔍 句構分析
①HeS lookedV only about sixC
②heS was hooked up toV（被動） more electronic equipmentO than I had ever seen比較子句
be hooked up to sth. = 連接到（儀器）；electronic（電子的）、equipment（設備，不可數）為核心字。
▶His parents told me that his name was Billy and that he was a cancer victim.
他的父母告訴我，他叫 Billy，是一位癌症患者。
🔍 句構分析
①His parentsS toldV meO（人） that... and that...O（兩個名詞子句）
tell sb. that + 子句；兩個受詞子句並列時第二個 that 不可省略；victim（受害者、患者）為核心字。
▶I wanted to cheer him up, so I sat down to do some magic tricks for him.
我想讓他開心一點，所以坐下來為他變了一些魔術。
🔍 句構分析
①IS wantedV to cheer him upO
②so IS sat downV to do some magic tricks不定詞（目的）
cheer sb. up = 使某人振作、開心；trick（把戲、魔術）為核心字；do magic tricks = 變魔術。
▶When I got up to say goodbye, he asked, "Ronald, would you hug me?"
當我起身道別時，他問：「Ronald，你可以抱抱我嗎？」
🔍 句構分析
①When I got up to say goodbye時間子句 heS askedV "Ronald, would you hug me?"O（引述）
get up to V = 起身去做……；would you...? 為客氣的請求。
▶I really wanted to hug him, but a voice in my head reminded me that I couldn't—I'd lose my job.
我真的很想抱他，但腦中有個聲音提醒我不行——我會丟掉工作。
🔍 句構分析
①a voice in my headS remindedV meO that I couldn'tO（子句）
remind sb. that + 子句 = 提醒某人……（remind 為核心字）；破折號後補充說明結果；I'd = I would。
▶I told Billy that I wasn't allowed to and suggested that we color a picture instead.
我告訴 Billy 我不被允許這麼做，並建議我們改成一起著色一張畫。
🔍 句構分析
①IS toldV Billy that I wasn't allowed toO and suggestedV that we color a pictureO
be allowed to V = 被允許（後省略 hug him）；suggest that + S + (should) 原形 V：suggest 後的 that 子句用原形 color；instead = 作為替代。
▶Upon completing our picture, he again asked for a hug.
一畫完我們的圖，他又再次要求一個擁抱。
🔍 句構分析
①Upon completing our picture介系詞片語（一……就） heS asked forV a hugO
Upon / On + V-ing = 一……就……（= As soon as）；ask for = 要求、請求。
▶Looking into his hopeful eyes, I didn't know what I could say.
望著他充滿期待的眼睛，我不知道該說什麼。
🔍 句構分析
①Looking into his hopeful eyes分詞構句 IS didn't knowV what I could sayO（名詞子句）
句首 V-ing 分詞構句（= While I was looking...）修飾主詞 I；hopeful（充滿希望的）為核心字。
▶I didn't want to lose my job, but deep down, I knew that I would regret it if I turned down his request.
我不想丟掉工作，但在內心深處，我知道如果我拒絕他的請求，我一定會後悔。
🔍 句構分析
①IS knewV that I would regret itO if I turned down his request條件子句
deep down = 內心深處；regret（後悔）為核心字；turn down = 拒絕（片語，= reject）。
▶After a hard struggle, I decided to ignore the rule. I picked Billy up and held him in my arms.
經過一番天人交戰後，我決定無視這條規定。我把 Billy 抱起來，緊緊摟在懷裡。
🔍 句構分析
①After a hard struggle時間 IS decidedV to ignore the ruleO
②IS picked Billy upV（片語動詞） and held him
struggle = 掙扎；decide to V = 決定；pick up = 抱起；代名詞受詞 Billy/him 夾在 pick 與 up 之間。
▶For the next hour, I listened to him talking about all his concerns.
接下來的一個小時，我聽著他訴說所有的擔憂。
🔍 句構分析
①For the next hour時間 IS listened toV himO talking about all his concernsOC（現在分詞）
listen to sb. V-ing = 聽某人正在……；concern（擔憂）為核心字，此處為名詞。
▶He was afraid that if he died, his little brother might get lost while walking home from school alone.
他害怕如果自己死了，弟弟獨自走路放學回家時可能會迷路。
🔍 句構分析
①HeS was afraidV that... his little brother might get lostO（子句）
be afraid that + 子句 = 害怕……；get lost = 迷路；while walking = while (he was) walking（副詞子句省略主詞與 be）。
▶Also, he was scared that his dog might go hungry because he had hidden all its bones.
此外，他也擔心他的狗會餓肚子，因為他把所有的骨頭都藏起來了。
🔍 句構分析
①heS was scaredV that his dog might go hungryO because he had hidden all its bones原因子句
go + 形容詞（go hungry 餓肚子）表「變成某狀態」；had hidden 為過去完成式（藏在「擔心」之前）。
▶Before leaving the hospital that day, I gave Billy's parents my phone number and told them to call me if there was anything I could do.
那天離開醫院前，我把電話號碼給了 Billy 的父母，並告訴他們若有任何我能幫忙的事就打給我。
🔍 句構分析
①Before leaving the hospital介片 IS gaveV Billy's parents my phone numberO+O and toldV them to call meO+OC
give sb. sth.（雙受詞）；tell sb. to V = 叫某人做……；if there was anything (that) I could do。
▶Two days later, I received a call from Billy's mom, but it was bad news—Billy had passed away.
兩天後，我接到 Billy 媽媽的電話，但那是壞消息——Billy 已經過世了。
🔍 句構分析
①IS receivedV a call from Billy's momO
②but it was bad newsC
receive（收到）為核心字；pass away = 過世（die 的委婉說法）；had passed away 為過去完成式。
▶She wanted to thank me for making a difference in his life because Billy had said to her, "Mommy, I don't care anymore about seeing Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald!"
她想謝謝我為他的生命帶來改變，因為 Billy 曾對她說：「媽咪，我今年不再在意能不能見到聖誕老人了，因為我被 Ronald McDonald 抱過了！」
🔍 句構分析
①SheS wantedV to thank me for making a differenceO because Billy had said...原因子句
thank sb. for + V-ing = 為……感謝某人；make a difference = 帶來改變、有影響（片語）；I was held = 被動（我被抱）。
💬 Dialogue｜Good Deeds during Summer Vacation（暑假的善行）
▶Eric and Albert are talking about their summer plans. Eric shares a meaningful way to pass the time.
Eric 和 Albert 正在討論暑假計畫。Eric 分享了一種有意義的消磨時間方式。
🔍 句構分析
①Eric and AlbertS are talkingV about their summer plans副詞
a meaningful way to V = 做……的有意義方式；pass the time = 消磨時間。
▶A: Summer is right around the corner. What are you going to do this vacation? B: I have no idea. And you? What are your plans?
A：夏天快到了。這個假期你打算做什麼？ B：我毫無頭緒。你呢？你有什麼計畫？
🔍 句構分析
①SummerS isV right around the cornerC
right around the corner = 近在眼前、即將到來；have no idea = 毫無頭緒。
▶A: I'm going to be a volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Charities. I did it last summer too! B: You mean Ronald the clown from McDonald's?
A：我要去麥當勞叔叔之家慈善基金會當志工。去年暑假我也做過！ B：你是說麥當勞那個小丑 Ronald 嗎？
🔍 句構分析
①IS am going to beV（未來） a volunteerC
be going to V = 打算（計畫中的未來）；volunteer = 志工；You mean...? = 你是說……？
▶A: Yes! It's actually a non-profit organization that helps needy children. B: Sounds interesting! So, what do you do as a volunteer?
A：對！它其實是個幫助貧困兒童的非營利組織。 B：聽起來很有趣！那你當志工都做些什麼？
🔍 句構分析
①ItS isV a non-profit organizationC that helps needy children關係子句
non-profit = 非營利的；needy = 貧困的；Sounds interesting（主詞 It 省略，口語）。
▶A: Usually I dress up in a clown suit and entertain kids by telling jokes or reading stories. B: Cool! Can you put on the costume right now? I want to see!
A：通常我會穿上小丑裝，用講笑話或說故事來娛樂孩子。 B：酷！你現在可以穿上那套服裝嗎？我想看！
🔍 句構分析
①IS dress upV and entertainV kidsO by telling jokes...方法
by + V-ing = 藉由做……；put on = 穿上（動作）；costume = 服裝。
▶A: Here it is! What do you think? B: That's hilarious! I'm sure the kids love it!
A：在這裡！你覺得如何？ B：太好笑了！我相信孩子們一定很愛！
🔍 句構分析
①ThatS isV hilariousC
Here it is = 在這裡（介紹物品時用）；hilarious = 非常好笑的；I'm sure (that)... = 我確定……。
▶A: You know—and I'm not joking—you would make a great clown, too. B: I think you're right. Maybe I should also sign up to be a volunteer at McDonald's!
A：你知道嗎——我不是在開玩笑——你也會是個很棒的小丑。 B：我想你說得對。也許我也該報名去麥當勞當志工！
🔍 句構分析
①youS would makeV a great clownO
make a great clown = 會成為很棒的小丑（make = 成為）；sign up = 報名。