Kids' imaginations are in overdrive when it comes to composing Christmas lists - as they ask for a live walrus, the power of invisibility and Taylor Swift.
每到寫圣誕禮物清單的時候，孩子們的想象力總是超乎尋常的——他們想要一只活海象、隱身的能力還有泰勒·斯威夫特。

Christmas is less than two months away, and little ones are already planning their letters to Santa.
距離圣誕節還有不到兩個月了，小孩子們已開始為寫給圣誕老人的信打草稿。

But one survey has revealed the weirdest items to turn up on Christmas lists, and they include mythical monsters and mega-selling popstars.
但一項調查揭示了出現在孩子們的圣誕清單上的最奇怪的禮物，包括神話中的怪物和專輯銷量達數百萬的流行歌手。

Conducted by GAME, the study also reveals a significant break from festive tradition when it comes to writing wish lists.
這項由GAME公司進行的調查還顯示，人們寫愿望清單的方式已經大大脫離節日傳統。

One in three, 29%, children now use technology such as iPads or mobile phones instead of the traditional pen and paper, while a further one in five (19%) will rely on parents to take note of all the things they point at during TV adverts and during trips to the shops.
約三分之一（29%）的孩子使用iPad或智能電話等科技產品來列清單，而不再用傳統的紙和筆。另外還有約五分之一（19%）的孩子會在看電視廣告和逛商店的時候指出自己想要的禮物，由父母一一記下。

With more than three million lists likely to be drafted, parents are gearing up for a flurry of requests including many that even Santa would struggle to fulfil.
這個圣誕節孩子們很可能列出超過300萬份禮物清單，父母們則正加緊準備以滿足孩子的種種要求，這其中有很多要求即使是圣誕老人也很難做到。

As part of the study, parents were asked to reveal some of the weird and wonderful items that made it onto their child's Christmas lists.
作為調查的一部分內容，父母被要求透露出現在自家孩子的圣誕禮物清單上的一些奇特和有趣的禮物。

These are the top 10 most obscure items: a real dragon egg, pet unicorn, iPhone 7, glasses for a cat, that daddy's job will be ok, a live walrus, Taylor Swift, flight to the moon, Ferrari, and the power of invisibility.
以下是10大最難達成的要求：一個真的恐龍蛋、寵物獨角獸、iPhone 7、喵星人專用眼鏡、爸爸不會失業、一只活海象、泰勒·斯威夫特、月球之旅、法拉利還有隱身的能力。

Fred Prego, marketing director at GAME, says: "Choosing what to get your kids at Christmas can be a bit of a minefield.
GAME公司的市場總監弗雷德·普雷戈（Fred Prego）說：“圣誕節為孩子們準備什么禮物有點像是一個雷區。”

"As the research shows, most kids will be making note of the things that they want this half term and a lot of lists are going to be written."
“這項調查顯示，大多數孩子會在這個期中假記下他們想要的東西，預計會有很多清單出爐。”

Vocabulary

unicorn：獨角獸

compose：(用心) 寫(信、詩、演講稿)

overdrive：超過限度的行為(或狀態)

walrus：海象

obscure：復雜難懂的，難處理的

half term：(2或3天的)期中假日

英文來源：鏡報

譯者：張卉

審校&編輯：劉明