【明報專訊】DESMOND loved listening to music. His playlist covered a great variety of styles: Rock and Roll, Blues, classical music, etc. He loved Chopin as much as he did Ariana Grande.

Once he put on his headphones, he indulged himself in a different world without any noise including his mother's nagging voice.

Mum always kept on at Desmond, "Please take them off Desmond. Don't you need to concentrate on other things?" "Nope. It is the music that helps me do so."

He wore them before and after school. That made him famous. As did his modish accessories.

Worse, he bought a new piece of equipment!

"Hi Desmond." A girl saw Desmond on the street near their school one day.

Desmond just passed by and ignored her, enjoying his piano concerto.

"Why does he look so chilly?" One girl asked.

"I think it's just because he can't hear anything we say. Look at what he has put on. They're over-ear headphones!" One boy just sniped at Desmond, not designing to sing praises to his new gear.

There was one last road Desmond needed to cross. Seeing that the green light was still flashing, he started walking.

Vroommmm... A truck was going like a bomb! And it was about to blow Desmond off.

"Hey Desmond! Watch out!"

The boy cried out. Of course Desmond heard nothing. He was lost in a daydream. His classmates could even heard his footsteps quickening.

Beeeeeeeeep... Beeeeeeeeep... The truck tooted. The sound was so sharp that the passers-by covered their ears. Desmond turned his head slowly to the truck, and then ran like the wind.

It was too late. Desmond was hit by the truck and fell. He was so shocked that he started crying, "Mama... Mama!"

Luckily the truck had decelerated and Desmond didn't suffer much. Fresh tears stood on his face when Mum came to school.

Had Desmond taken off his headphones and listened to his classmates, he wouldn't have been injured. Noise is not always bad. Sometimes it helps you pay attention to the surroundings!

What are your earphones?

Do they stand in your way?

◆Food for thought

Of course the truck driver does something wrong. But it's also true that we shouldn't follow the rules blindly. What if others don't follow them? It's always good to know more about what's happening around you.

■Gear up

Circle the correct answers for the following questions.

(1) The earphones in the story symbolise ( facts / disturbance / beautiful music ).

(2) Which of the following items is different from the rest?

( earphones / earplugs / earbuds / headphones )

(3) If someone wears a pair of modish trousers, it means his or her trousers look ( disgusting / fashionable / cute / funny ).

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

nagging voice (n phr) 抱怨聲

modish (n) 時髦的

chilly (adj) 冷淡的

toot (v) 響號

[Smarties' Power English 第256期]