1. The children were at school, my husband was al work and the house was quiet.
孩子们在上学，我丈夫在上班，家里清静得很。
以下短语常常不加定冠词：
at work 在工作；at school 在上学；at hospital 在住院；go to school 去上学；go to church 去做礼拜；go to market 去赶集；go to prison 去坐牢；go to hospital 去看病；go to court 打官司
2. This time it was the postman and he wanted me to sign for a registered letter!
参考翻译这次是邮递员在敲门，他要我签收一封挂号信！
知识点：registered letter 挂号信
3. I picked up the receiver between two slicky fingers and was dismayed when I recognized the voice of Helen Bates.
我用两个沾满面糊的手指捏起了话筒。当我听出是海伦·贝茨的声音时，我非常沮丧。
知识点：1) pick sth. up 把某物捡起来
2) pick sb. up 接某人
3) pick up 领取；自然习得：Where did you pick up those tricks?
你从哪儿学到的这些骗人的花招？
