Lesson81 Escape 逃脱
Why did the prisoner attack the driver?
When he had killed the guard, the prisoner of war quickly dragged him into the bushes.
Working rapidly in the darkness, he soon changed into the dead man’s clothes.
Now, dressed in a blue uniform and with a rifle over his shoulder,
he marched boldly up and down in front of the camp.
He could hear shouting in the camp itself.
Lights were blazing and men were running here and there:
they had just discovered that a prisoner had escaped.
At that moment, a large black car with four officers inside it,
stopped at the camp gates.
The officers got out and the prisoner stood to attention and saluted as they passed.
When they had gone, he quickly jumped into the car
and drove off into the darkness.
The car had hardly gone half a mile when it ran out of petrol.
The prisoner got out and began to walk away from the camp.
Though he still wore a blue uniform, he was forced to hide in the bushes whenever a car passed.
At last, he found an empty barn about two miles away from the camp.
There he stayed until the following morning.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- prisoner (1.1) /ˈprɪzənə/ n. 囚犯
- drag (1.1) /dræɡ/ v. 拖，拉
- bush (1.1) /bʊʃ/ n. 灌木丛
- rapidly (1.2) /ˈræpɪdli/ adv. 迅速地
- rifle (1.3) /ˈraɪfl/ n. 步枪
- shoulder (1.3) /ˈʃəʊldə(r)/ n. 肩膀
- march (1.4) /mɑːtʃ/ v. 行进
- boldly (1.4) /ˈbəʊldli/ adv. 大胆地
- blaze (1.6) /bleɪz/ v. 闪耀，发亮
- salute (1.9) /səˈluːt/ v. 敬礼
- elderly (1.10) /ˈeldəli/ adj. 上了年纪的
- grey (1.10) /ɡreɪ/ adj. 灰色的
- sharp (1.12) /ʃɑːp/ adj. 猛烈的
- blow (1.12) /bləʊ/ v. 打击
- barn (1.16) /bɑːn/ n. 谷仓
Notes on the text 课文注释
- prisoner of war, 战俘。
- stand to attention, 立正。
- run out of, 用完。
参考译文
那个战俘杀死卫兵后，迅速把尸体拖进灌木丛。他在黑暗中麻利地换上了死者的衣服。现在，他身穿蓝色军装，肩扛步枪，在军营门前大胆地来回走着。他听得见营房里的喊叫声。灯火通明，人们在这里那里奔跌：他们刚刚发现有一个俘虏跑了。正在此时，一辆黑色大轿车在军营门口停了下来，车内坐着4个军官。军官们下了车，那个俘虏立正站好，向他们敬礼。他们走后，他迅速跳进轿车，驶入了黑暗之中。轿车还没开出半英里就没油了。那个俘虏下了车，步行离开军营。尽管他仍穿着蓝色军装，但每当有车经过时，他还是被迫躲进灌木丛。最后，他在离军营约2英里的地方找到了一个空谷仓。他就在那里待到第二天早晨。
Lesson82 Monster or fish? 是妖还是鱼？
What was the monster called?
Fishermen and sailors sometimes claim to have seen monsters in the sea.
Though people have often laughed at stories told by seamen,
there is no doubt that many strange creatures live in the depths of the oceans.
Many years ago, a peculiar fish was caught near Madagascar.
A small fishing boat was carried miles out to sea by the powerful fish as it pulled on the line.
Realizing that this was no ordinary fish, the fisherman made every effort not to damage it in any way.
When it was eventually brought to shore, it was found to be over thirteen feet long.
It had a head like a horse, big blue eyes, and shining silver skin.
The fish, which has since been sent to a museum where it is being examined by a scientist,
is called an oarfish.
Such creatures have rarely been seen alive by man as they live at a depth of six hundred feet.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- monster (title) /ˈmɒnstə(r)/ n. 怪物
- sailor (1.1) /ˈseɪlə(r)/ n. 水手
- claim (1.1) /kleɪm/ v. 声称
- seaman (1.2) /ˈsiːmən/ n. 水手
- creature (1.3) /ˈkriːtʃə(r)/ n. 生物
- depth (1.3) /depθ/ n. 深处
- peculiar (1.4) /pɪˈkjuːliə(r)/ adj. 奇异的
- Madagascar (1.4) /ˌmædəˈɡæskə(r)/ n. 马达加斯加
- examine (1.6) /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ v. 检查
- scientist (1.6) /ˈsaɪəntɪst/ n. 科学家
- coast (1.8) /kəʊst/ n. 海岸
- coelacanth (1.9) /ˈsiːləkænθ/ n. 腔棘鱼
- discovery (1.9) /dɪˈskʌvəri/ n. 发现
- pronounce (1.11) /prəˈnaʊns/ v. 发音
- weigh (1.15) /weɪ/ v. 重
Notes on the text 课文注释
- There is no doubt that…, 毫无疑问。
- cause a great deal of interest, 引起很大兴趣。
- be supposed to have done sth., 据说已经做了某事。
- die out, 灭绝。
参考译文
渔民和水手有时声称自己看见过海里的妖怪。虽然人们经常对水手讲的故事付之一笑，但毫无疑问，在海洋深处确实住着许多奇怪的生物。许多年以前，在马达加斯加附近捕到一条奇怪的鱼。它有5英尺长，长着一个像马一样的脑袋。一位科学家检查了这条鱼，把它命名为”海牛”。很长时间以来，谁也不相信科学家的话。后来，在1938年，在南非海岸又捕获一条相似的鱼。这条鱼被称作”腔棘鱼”，这种奇怪生物的发现引起了极大的兴趣。腔棘鱼（读作’seel-a-kanth’）属于一科鱼类，这种鱼被认为已在7,000万年前就绝种了。从那以后，又捕到了几条。腔棘鱼呈深褐色，长有像腿一样的鳍。它有5英尺长，重达100英镑。科学家认为这种鱼能告诉我们许多有关海洋生物开始在陆地上行走时期的情况。
Lesson83 After the elections 大选之后
Why did Patrick keep on asking the same question?
The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections.
He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad.
My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane’s Radical Progressive Party.
After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister’s house.
When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on duty told him that since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad.
On the following day, Patrick went to the house again.
The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question.
Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer.
The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question.
This time, the policeman lost his temper.
“I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,” he shouted.
“Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!”
“I know,” answered Patrick, “but I love to hear you say it!”
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- election (title) /ɪˈlekʃn/ n. 选举
- former (1.1) /ˈfɔːmə(r)/ adj. 前任的，从前的
- defeat (1.1) /dɪˈfiːt/ v. 击败
- serve (1.2) /sɜːv/ v. 任职
- term (1.3) /tɜːm/ n. 任期
- office (1.3) /ˈɒfɪs/ n. 职位
- retire (1.5) /rɪˈtaɪə(r)/ v. 退休
- politics (1.5) /ˈpɒlətɪks/ n. 政治
- opposition (1.7) /ˌɒpəˈzɪʃn/ n. 反对党
- pack (1.10) /pæk/ v. 挤满
- eager (1.11) /ˈiːɡə(r)/ adj. 热切的
- disappoint (1.12) /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/ v. 使失望
- violent (1.13) /ˈvaɪələnt/ adj. 猛烈的
- attack (1.13) /əˈtæk/ n. 抨击
- policy (1.14) /ˈpɒləsi/ n. 政策
- audience (1.15) /ˈɔːdiəns/ n. 听众
- cheer (1.15) /tʃɪə(r)/ v. 欢呼
- wildly (1.15) /ˈwaɪldli/ adv. 狂热地
- confidence (1.16) /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ n. 信心
- grandson (1.17) /ˈɡrænsʌn/ n. 孙子
- platform (1.23) /ˈplætfɔːm/ n. 讲台
- wave (1.24) /weɪv/ v. 挥手
- crowd (1.24) /kraʊd/ n. 人群
- hug (1.26) /hʌɡ/ v. 拥抱
Notes on the text 课文注释
- term of office, 任期。
- Member of Parliament, 议会议员。
- leader of the Opposition, 反对党领袖。
- look forward to, 盼望。
- roar with laughter, 哄堂大笑。
参考译文
前首相温特沃思·莱恩先生在最近的大选中被击败。
他曾任首相18年之久，
他的长期任职现已最终结束。
他看上去比他的65岁实际年龄要老得多，
他的朋友们唯恐他会从政治舞台上退下来。
但是，莱恩先生仍然是一名议员。
虽然他成了反对党的领袖，
但他在政治中仍然要发挥重要作用。
这是莱恩先生在落选后举行的第一次政治集会。
大厅里挤满了人，
人们急于听他讲话。
他们并未失望。
在对新政府的猛烈抨击中，
莱恩先生谈到了内政与外交政策方面所犯的错误。
当他说他的政党将重新上台时，听众欣喜若狂地欢呼起来。
“我们对未来充满信心，”他说。
帕特里克·莱恩，前首相的小孙子，
也在听众之中。
在讲话快要结束时，他突然站起来大声说：
“爷爷，您什么时候再当首相？”
听众轰然大笑，
莱恩先生忘记了下面要讲的话。
他眼含泪水，离开了讲台。
尽管如此，他还是笑着向人群挥手致意。
然后他回到座位上，帕特里克朝他跑过来。
莱恩先生把他抱起来，紧紧搂住他。
“我不知道，孩子，”他说，
“我不知道。”
Lesson84 On strike 罢工
Why did the workers go on strike?
Busmen have decided to go on strike next week. The strike is due to begin on Tuesday. No one knows how long it will last. The busmen have stated that the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions. Most people believe that the strike will last for at least a week. Many owners of private cars are going to offer ‘free rides’ to people on their way to work. This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent. Meanwhile, a number of university students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts. All the students are expert drivers, but before they drive any of the buses, they will have to pass a special test. The students are going to take the test in two days’ time. Even so, people are going to find it difficult to get to work. But so far, the public has expressed its gratitude to the students in letters to the Press. Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- strike (title) /straɪk/ n. 罢工
- busman (1.1) /ˈbʌsmən/ n. 公交车司机
- state (1.3) /steɪt/ v. 声明
- agreement (1.3-4) /əˈɡriːmənt/ n. 协议
- relieve (1.7) /rɪˈliːv/ v. 缓解
- pressure (1.7) /ˈprɛʃə/ n. 压力
- extent (1.7) /ɪkˈstɛnt/ n. 程度
- volunteer (1.8) /ˌvɒlənˈtɪə/ v. 自愿
- gratitude (1.11) /ˈɡrætɪtjuːd/ n. 感激
- Press (1.12) /prɛs/ n. 新闻界
- object (1.12) /əbˈdʒɛkt/ v. 反对
Notes on the text 课文注释
- go on strike, 罢工。
- be due to, 预计。
- free ride, 免费搭乘。
- to some extent, 在某种程度上。
- Only one or two people have objected that…, 只有一两个人反对……。
参考译文
公交车司机决定下周罢工。罢工定于星期二开始。没有人知道这次罢工将持续多久。公交车司机表示，罢工将持续到达成关于工资和工作条件的普遍协议。大多数人认为罢工将持续至少一周。许多私家车主将会在上班途中为人们提供”免费搭乘”。这将会在一定程度上缓解火车的压力。与此同时，一些大学生自愿在罢工期间驾驶公交车。所有的学生都是经验丰富的司机，但在驾驶任何公交车之前，他们必须通过一个特殊的测试。学生们将在两天后进行测试。尽管如此，人们仍然会发现上班很困难。但到目前为止，公众对学生们在报纸上的感谢信表示了感激。只有一两个人反对学生们会开得太快！
Lesson85 Never too old to learn 活到老学到老
How long has Mr. Page been teaching?
I have just received a letter from my old school, informing me that my former headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiring next week. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed towards the gift will sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster’s home. We shall all remember Mr. Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when we went so unwillingly to school. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years. After he has retired, he will devote himself to gardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby. But this does not matter, for, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- inform (1.1) /ɪnˈfɔːm/ v. 通知
- headmaster (1.2) /ˈhɛdˌmɑːstə/ n. 校长
- contribute (1.4) /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ v. 贡献
- gift (1.4) /ɡɪft/ n. 礼物
- album (1.5) /ˈælbəm/ n. 相册
- patience (1.6) /ˈpeɪʃəns/ n. 耐心
- encouragement (1.7) /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/ n. 鼓励
- farewell (1.9) /ˈfɛəˌwɛl/ n. 告别
- honour (1.9) /ˈɒnə/ n. 荣誉
- coincidence (1.9) /kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns/ n. 巧合
- total (1.10) /ˈtəʊtəl/ n. 总数
- devote (1.10) /dɪˈvəʊt/ v. 致力于
- gardening (1.11) /ˈɡɑːdnɪŋ/ n. 园艺
- hobby (1.11) /ˈhɒbi/ n. 爱好
Notes on the text 课文注释
- old and new 是 pupils of the school 的同位语。由并列连词连接的两个形容词在起承接作用时，要放在所修饰的词前面。
- All those who have contributed towards the gift, 所有贡献此礼品的人， contribute towards 是”为……贡献”的意思。
- remember … for …, 记得……的……。
- a farewell dinner in his honour, 为他举行的告别宴会， in one’s honour 是”为……表示敬意”的意思。
- It is a curious coincidence that …, 这真是奇妙的巧合。
- a total of，总共。
- devote oneself to ……，致力于……，to这里是介词，后接名词、动名词。
参考译文
我刚刚收到老学校的一封信，通知我前校长斯图尔特·佩奇先生将于下周退休。学校的老生和新生将会送他一份礼物以示庆祝。所有为这份礼物贡献的人都将在一个大相册上签名，送到校长的家里。我们都将铭记佩奇先生的耐心和理解，以及他在我们不情愿上学时给予的鼓励。许多前学生将参加下周四为他举行的告别晚宴。巧合的是，在他退休的前一天，佩奇先生将已经教书整整四十年。退休后，他将致力于园艺。对他来说，这将是一个全新的爱好。但这并不重要，因为他常常说，活到老学到老。