Robot and the Chalk Line- 適合初級的英語短篇故事

Soft afternoon light crossed Milo's tiny garage table.

Milo placed a small robot frame on the wood. He wanted the machine ready for the weekend science show. Next to him sat a bright metal toolkit with many slots. Inside, each screw, wire, and gear waited in order. A folded assignment sheet marked the design steps he planned. The sheet also listed the fundamentals of simple circuits.

Milo reached for a tiny bolt but brushed a glue tube. The tube rolled off and struck the toolkit lid. The lid tipped, and tools spilled across the table edge. Several parts bounced, then one gear slid toward the floor drain. He lunged yet missed; the gear disappeared down the narrow hole. Footsteps sounded; Lena hurried in holding her camping kit. She opened the kit and pulled a spare plastic wheel. Together they replaced the lost gear and checked each wire. Milo loaded a simple program, and the robot arms twitched. Unexpectedly, the robot rolled forward and drew a chalk line. Chalk dust lined the empty groove.

柔和的午後光線落在米洛的小車庫桌上。

米洛把一個小機器人骨架放到木桌上。他想在週末科展前完成這台機器。旁邊擺著一個亮銀色工具箱，裡面有很多插槽。螺絲、電線和齒輪整齊排好。一張摺好的作業紙列出他計畫的設計步驟，並說明簡單電路的基礎原理。

米洛伸手拿一顆小螺栓，但碰到一支膠水管。膠水管滾落，撞到工具箱蓋子。蓋子傾斜，工具散落到桌邊。幾個零件彈起，其中一個齒輪滑向地面排水孔。他撲過去卻沒抓到，齒輪掉進窄孔。腳步聲響起，莉娜拿著她的露營套件跑進來。她打開套件，取出一個備用塑膠輪。兩人一起換上遺失的齒輪並檢查每條電線。米洛載入簡單程式，機器人的手臂抽動起來。沒想到機器人向前滑動，畫出一道粉筆線。粉筆灰排成一道空白細痕。