I was pretty disappointed to find out I got put in the Gifted group, because that just means a lot of extra work.

When they did the screening at the end of last year, I did my best to make sure I got put in the Easy group this year.

Mom is real tight withour principal, so I bet she stepped in and made sure I got put in the Gifted group again.

Mom is always saying I’m a smart kid, but that I just don’t “apply” myself.

But if there’s one thing I learned from Rodrick, it’s toset people’s expectations real low so you end up surprising them by practically doing nothing at all.

screening 筛选，筛查

英文解释：the testingor examining of a large number of people or things for disease, faults, etc.

comment：也可以指疾病的筛查。breastcancer screening乳腺癌筛查

be tight with sb. 和某人关系紧密，密切

step in 介入

英文解释：to become involved in an activity, discussion, or disagreement, sometimes in order to stop trouble

e.g. a local businessman stepped in with a large donation for the school

当地一位商人出面捐了一大笔钱给学校

the coach was forced to step in to stop the two athletes from coming to blows

教练被迫出面干预，阻止这两名运动员斗殴

apply 应用，运用，这里引申指表现自己，使自己闪光

comment：apply oneself to sth. 表示自己全神贯注于做某事。

set expectation 设置期望值

e.g. Some parent-led schedules set the expectation that your baby's routine will always run like clockwork.

有些父母总是期望宝宝能按照设定好的模式顺利进行下去。

comment：提高目标raise expectation，降低目标lower expectation。还有一个词组也可以表示设定高目标set the bar high。

Actually, I’m kind of glad my plan to get put in the Easy group didn’twork.

I saw a couple of the “Bink Says Boo” kids holding their booksupside down, and I don’t think they were joking.

work 奏效，成功

英文解释：If an idea, system, or way of doing something works, it is successful, effective, or satisfactory.

e.g. 95 percent of these diets do not work.

这些节食方法95%都不起作用。

comment：药物是否起作用，机器设备是否能运转都可以用work。

upside down 颠倒地，倒立地

英文解释：If something has been moved upside down, it has been turned round so that the part that is usually lowest is above the part that is usually highest.

e.g. The painting was hung upside down.

油画挂倒了。

Saturday

Well, the first week of school is finally over, so today Islept in.

Most kids wake up early on Saturday to watch cartoons or whatever, but not me. The only reason I get out of bed at all on weekends is because eventually, I can’tstandthe taste of my own breath anymore.

sleep in 睡懒觉

英文解释：to let yourself sleep later than usual in the morning

e.g. We usually sleep in on Sunday mornings.

comment：lie in也可以表示睡懒觉。

stand 忍受

英文解释：If you cannot stand something, you cannot bear it or tolerate it.

e.g. I can't stand any more. I'm going to run away.

我再也受不了了。我要逃走。

How does he stand the pain?

这种疼痛他能忍受吗？