在跟新交的男朋友尼克去湖区度假的前一天晚上，因邻居老约瑟夫住院劳拉不得已收留了他的小狗基普。首次跟男朋友外出度假，劳拉的内心充满了期待，没想到从旅途一开始，俩人之间就遇到了诸多意见分歧。由于基普误食鼠药而中毒，劳拉认识了兽医罗伯特·罗伯特一开始为什么讨厌劳拉？在罗伯特身上发生过什么悲惨的事故？尼克是自己当初想的那样的人吗？劳拉最后的决定又是什么？
“剑桥双语分级阅读·小说馆”是一套从剑桥大学出版社引进的面向非英语国家英语学习者的分级系列读物，由英语语言教学专家及小说作家合力创作。创作过程历时二十余年，出版后受到世界各地英语教师和英语学习者的喜爱，许多读本再版十余次，二十余年来畅销不衰，成为全球英语学习者首选的优秀读本。
本系列读物具有以下突出的特色：
1.它是原创英语读物，而非改编自普通作品的读物。因此，阅读本系列读物，我们读到的是原汁原味的原创英语，而非人为改编过的二手英语。
2.它是当代优秀短篇小说，而非上个或上上个世纪的小说。因此，阅读本系列读物，我们读到的是当今活的、学了就能用的英语，而非穿越时空的、学了难以用的英语，了解的是与我们同时代英语国家人们的、而非隔代人的生活、文化、风土人情和价值观。
3.它是专为非英语国家的英语学习者量身定制的读物，而非为英语母语者而写的大众读物。因此，本系列读物是最适合英语学习的读物。
4.它是英美知名小说家和英语语言教学专家合力创作的读物，小说家保障了读物的可读性与可欣赏性，英语语言教学专家保障了读物语言作为英语习得材料的科学性与可学性。本系列中的很多小说都曾获得国际广泛阅读教育学会颁发的“语言学习者文学奖（Language Learner Literature Award）”。因此，阅读本系列读物，我们会在欣赏小说的同时，自然而然地、有效地提高自己的英语水平。
5.它的故事题材丰富多样，包括侦探、情感、历险、悬疑、人文、科幻、喜剧等，读者可以随心选择自己喜欢的类别进行阅读；它的故事内容生动有趣，故事情节引人人胜、扣人心弦，一旦开始阅读，就想一口气读完，使阅读真正升华到“悦读”。
6.随书附赠的音频材料内容精彩——它不是普通英语母语者的朗读录音，而是专业配音员的演绎再创作。听着它，我们犹如在听广播剧、听评书，又仿佛是在听电影、听话剧……这种聆听英语的享受将彻底扫除学生对英语听力的畏难心理。
7.读本中所使用的语言，既有英式英语，也有美式英语，对应的音频材料也相应分为英音和美音。读者可根据自己的喜好来选择。
8.本系列一百多本读物根据“欧洲共同语言参考框架（CEF）”和“剑桥大学外语考试部（ESOL）”的标准来确定级别划分，是建立在科学研究和实践基础之上的分级。全套共分七个级别（与中国学生英语基础水平的大致对应关系，请参见图书封底表格），读者可根据自己的英语基础选择相应级别的读本来学习。
Penny Hancock（彭尼·汉考克），英语语言教育专家、作家，曾在意大利、希腊等国家教授英语多年。在从事语言教育的同时，创作为英语语言学习者使用的小说读本。
《剑桥双语分级阅读·小说馆（第4级）：情定湖区》：
In the morning Nick came into the kitchen. Laura was cooking bacon on the tiny camping stove.
‘That smells good,' he said.
‘Here.' Laura handed him a plate. 'Perhaps we can go for a walk together before Nick goes off to do his water sports,' she was thinking.
Nick had other ideas. He ate his breakfast quickly,before Laura sat down.
‘Right!' he said loudly. 'I feel better for that. Now,Let's get going!'
‘Already?' Laura asked.
‘I don't want to waste any time,' said Nick. 'It's a beautiful morning and I want to get out on the lake while it's fine. Are you coming?'
‘I'm...l'm not sure. What water sports are you doing?I quite like sailing, but I don't know if...'
‘jet_skiing,' said Nick.
‘Jet-skiing?' Laura looked at him. Why was she surprised? Nick liked fast vehicles. He liked motorbikes and sports cars, so of course he liked jet-skiing.
‘Coming?' he asked.
‘No, no, I don't think so. I've never jet-skied. To be honest, I'm a bit afraid ofit. You have to go so fast.'
‘That's the fun!' said Nick. 'But don't worry. I'm happy to go on my own, and I can meet you back here for lunch.'
‘OK. I'll come with you down to the lake, and walk back. I need some exercise too,' said Laura.
Nick hadn't asked about Kip. He'd been asleep when Laura had got back last night. Had he forgotten that she'd gone to the vet's in the middle of the night?
‘The vet kept the dog overnight,' Laura said as they drove. 'He was worried he'd be cold in the barn.'
‘That was kind of him,' said Nick. 'So, he was all right?'
‘Yes, he was OK, a bit quiet,' replied Laura.
‘No, I meant the dog,' said Nick laughing.
‘0h! Oh yes, Kip was OK. But it was lucky I went.The vet said he nearly died.'
‘Hey, just look at that,' said Nick, not answering Laura. A bright yellow jet-ski was racing over the water,the sun behind it. 'That's going to be me soon!'
‘Cool,' said Laura, suddenly realising how little interest she really had in jet-skis.
As they drove down the little roads - the same ones she'd gone down late last night - she thought how beautiful the countryside was. Tall hills rose on either
side, lovely purple and red colours in the September sunshine, and the road turned towards the sheet of silver
water that was the lake. Laura couldn't help thinking that the jet-skis on the lake were the only things that weren't beautiful.
At the water sports centre, Nick jumped out of the car and went to talk to someone.
Laura sat wondering why she was there. It was almost as if Nick had forgotten her now he was about to do the thing he loved so much - get onto a jet-ski. But to be fair, he'd told her he didn't usually invite his girlfriends.
……
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