Lesson86 Out of Control 失控
What was the danger?
As the man tried to swing the speedboat round, the steering wheel came away in his hands.
He waved desperately to his companion, who had been water skiing for the last fifteen minutes.
Both men had hardly had time to realize what was happening when they were thrown violently into the sea.
The speedboat had struck a buoy, but it continued to move very quickly across the water.
Both men had just begun to swim towards the shore, when they noticed with dismay that the speedboat was moving in a circle.
It now came straight towards them at tremendous speed. In less than a minute, it roared past them only a few feet away.
After it had passed, they swam on as quickly as they could because they knew that the boat would soon return.
They had just had enough time to swim out of danger when the boat again completed a circle.
On this occasion, however, it had slowed down considerably.
The petrol had nearly all been used up.
Before long, the noise dropped completely and the boat began to drift gently across the water.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- swing (1.1) /swɪŋ/ (swung /swʌŋ/, swung) v. 转向
- speedboat (1.1) /ˈspiːdboʊt/ n. 快艇
- desperately (1.2) /ˈdespərətli/ adv. 绝望地
- companion (1.2) /kəmˈpænjən/ n. 同伙，伙伴
- water ski (1.3) /ˈwɔːtər ski/ (由快艇牵引水橇) 滑水
- buoy (1.5) /bɔɪ/ n. 浮标
- dismay (1.7) /dɪsˈmeɪ/ n. 沮丧
- tremendous (1.9) /trɪˈmendəs/ adj. 巨大的
- petrol (1.12) /ˈpetrəl/ n. 汽油
- drift (1.13) /drɪft/ v. 漂动，漂流
- gently (1.13) /ˈdʒentli/ adv. 缓慢地，轻轻地
Notes on the text 课文注释
- swing the speedboat round: 转动快艇的方向。
- come away: 脱离，脱落。
- water skiing: 滑水运动。
- thrown violently into the sea: 猛烈地被抛进海里。
- move in a circle: 做圆周运动。
- roared past them: 怒吼着从他们边们驶过。
- slowed down considerably: 显著减速。
- drift gently across the water: 在水上缓缓漂动。
参考译文
当那人试图转动快艇的方向时，方向盘在他的手中脱落了。
他绝望地向他的同伴挥手，这位同伴在过去的十五分钟里一直在滑水。
两人都还没来得及意识到发生了什么，就被猛烈地抛进了海里。
快艇撞上了一个浮标，但它继续在水面上快速移动。
两人才刚刚开始向岸边游去，就惊恐地发现快艇正在做圆周运动。
现在它正以极快的速度径直朝他们冲过来。不到一分钟，
它就在离他们几英尺远的地方怒吼着驶过。
快艇驶过后，他们尽可能快地继续游泳，因为他们知道快艇很快会再回来。
他们刚有足够的时间游出危险区域，快艇又完成了一个圆圈。
然而，这一次它显著减速了。
汽油几乎用完了。
不久，噪音完全消失，快艇开始在水上缓缓漂动。
Lesson87 A perfect alibi 极好的不在犯罪现场的证据
What was wrong with the man’s story?
‘At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8 o’clock train to London,’ said the man. ‘Do you always catch such an early train?’ asked the inspector. ‘Of course I do,’ answered the man. ‘I must be at work at 10 o’clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time.’ ‘Would a later train get you to work on time?’ asked the inspector. ‘I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.’ ‘At what time did you arrive at the station?’ ‘At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.’ ‘And you didn’t notice anything unusual?’ ‘Of course not.’ ‘I suggest,’ said the inspector, ‘that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the 8 o’clock train, but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time. You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8 o’clock train did not run at all. It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.’
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- alibi (title) /ˈælɪbaɪ/ n. 不在犯罪现场
- commit (1.1) /kəˈmɪt/ v. 犯（罪，错）
- inspector (1.3) /ɪnˈspektə/ n. 探长
- employer (1.5) /ɪmˈplɔɪə/ n. 雇主
- confirm (1.5) /kən ˈfɜːm/ v. 确认，证实
- suggest (1.13) /səˈdʒest/ v. 提醒
- truth (1.13) /truːθ/ n. 真相
Notes on the text 课文注释
- At the time the murder was committed, 可以看作是这样从句修饰 time 。at the time 意为 at the moment when something happened。
- on time, 准时。
- And you didn’t notice anything unusual? 难道你没有注意到有什么异常情况吗？这是由陈述句后加问号表示的问句。
- the 8.25 是指 8 点 25 分的火车。
参考译文
“在谋杀案发生的时候，我正乘坐8点钟开往伦敦的火车，”那个人说。 “你总是赶这么早的火车吗？”探长问。 “当然是的，”那个人回答说。”我必须在10点钟上班。我的雇主可以证明我是准时到那儿的。” “晚一点的火车也能让你准时上班吗？”探长问。 “我想可以，但我从不坐晚一点的火车。” “你是什么时候到达车站的？” “7点50分。我买了份报纸，等着火车。” “你没注意到有什么异常情况吗？” “当然没有。” “我认为，”探长说，”你没有说实话。我认为你没有乘8点的火车，而是乘了8点25分的车，那趟车也能让你准时上班。你要知道，在谋杀案发生的那个早晨，8点的火车根本没有发车。它在费恩格林站出了故障，被从线路上撤走了。”
Lesson88 Trapped in a mine 困在矿井里
Why is the rescue taking so long?
Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours. If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives. However, rescue operations are proving difficult. If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine. They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule. If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they would have completed the job in a few hours. As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives. Though they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- trap(title)/træp/v.陷入，使陷于困境
- surface(1.2)/ˈsɜːfɪs/n.地面，表面
- explosive(1.3)/ɪkˈspləʊsɪv/n.炸药
- vibration(1.4)/vaɪˈbreɪʃn/n.震动
- collapse(1.4)/kəˈlæps/v.坍塌
- drill(1.5)/drɪl/v.钻孔
- capsule(1.6)/ˈkæpsjuːl/n.容器
- layer(1.7)/ˈleɪə/n.层
- beneath(1.7)/bɪˈniːθ/prep.在……之下
- lower(1.9)/ˈləʊə/v.放下，降低
- progress(1.11)/prəʊˈɡres/v.进展，进行
- smoothly(1.12)/ˈsmuːðli/adv.顺利地
Notes on the text 课文注释
- rescue operations,营救工作。
- If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they would have completed the job in a few hours.如果不是因为土壤下面有一层坚硬的岩石，他们的营救工作仅用几个小时就可以完成了。
- As it is,事实上，实际上。
- they still have a long way to go,他们离完成还有很远。
- keep in touch with,与……保持联系。
- run out of,用完，用尽。
- lose heart,失望，丧失信心。
参考译文
6个人被困在矿井里已有17个小时了。如果他们不能很快被带到地面，他们可能会丧生。然而，营救工作证明是很困难的。如果使用炸药，震动会引起矿井顶部坍塌。因此，营救人员在矿井北侧钻了一个洞。他们打算用一个特制的容器把人救上来。如果不是因为土壤下面有一层坚硬的岩石，他们的营救工作仅用几个小时就可以完成了。实际上，他们已经钻了16个小时，但还有很长的路要走。与此同时，一个两小时前放下矿井的麦克风使得这些人可以与他们最亲近的亲属保持联系。虽然他们的食物和饮料就要用完了，但是这些人都很高兴，并且相信他们很快就会出来。他们被告知营救工作进行得很顺利。如果他们知道在坚硬的岩石上钻孔是多么困难的话，他们会失去信心的。
Lesson89 A slip of the tongue 口误
What made the audience very amused?
People will do anything to see a free show –
even if it is a bad one.
When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented
at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company,
we all rushed to see it.
We had to queue for hours to get in
and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began.
Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen.
Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed,
as many of the artists who should have appeared did not come.
The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme.
He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone.
As soon as he opened his mouth,
everyone burst out laughing.
We all know what the poor man should have said,
but what he actually said was:
‘This is the Poo and Ee Bird Seed Company.
Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!’
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- slip (title) /slɪp/ n. 小错误
- comedy (1.3) /ˈkɒmədi/ n. 喜剧
- present (1.3) /prɪˈzent/ v. 演出
- queue (1.5) /kjuː/ v. 排队
- dull (1.7) /dʌl/ adj. 枯燥的
- artist (1.8) /ˈɑːtɪst/ n. 艺人
- advertiser (1.9) /ˈædvətaɪzə(r)/ n. 报幕员
- awkwardly (1.11) /ˈɔːkwədli/ adv. 局促不安地
- burst (1.13) /bɜːst/ v. 爆发出
- actually (1.15) /ˈæktʃuəli/ adv. 实际上
Notes on the text 课文注释
- get round, 传开，散布（消息）。
- queue for hours, 排队数小时。
- need not have felt disappointed, 本不必感到失望。
- burst out laughing, 突然大笑起来。
- what he actually said, 他实际说的话。
参考译文
人们总是不惜任何代价去看免费的演出—— 即使是拙劣的演出。 当P.和U.鸟食公司将在我们当地影院演出喜剧节目的消息传开后， 我们都赶去观看。 我们不得不排队数小时才能进场， 就在演出开始前，场内肯定已有好几百人了。 不幸的是，这是我们看过的最乏味的演出之一。 那些未能进场的人不必感到失望， 因为许多应该登台的演员都没有来。 那天晚上唯一有趣的事情来自节目开始时的报幕员。 他显然非常紧张，局促不安地在麦克风前站了好几分钟。 他一开口说话， 所有人都突然大笑起来。 我们都知道这个可怜的人本应该说什么， 但他实际说的是： “这是’皮尤’和’伊’鸟食公司。 晚上好，女士们和先生们！”
Lesson90 What’s for supper? 晚餐吃什么？
What kind of fish are they?
Fish and chips has always been a favourite dish in Britain,
but as the oceans have been overfished,
fish has become more and more expensive.
So it comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are terrifying the divers on North Sea oil rigs.
Oil rigs have to be repaired frequently and divers,
who often have to work in darkness a hundred feet under water,
have been frightened out of their wits by giant fish bumping into them as they work.
Now they have had special cages made to protect them from these monsters.
The fish are not sharks or killer whales,
but favourite eating varieties like cod and skate
which grow to unnatural sizes,
sometimes as much as twelve feet in length.
Three factors have caused these fish to grow so large:
the warm water round hot oil pipes under the sea;
the plentiful supply of food thrown overboard by the crews on the rigs;
and the total absence of fishing boats around the oil rigs.
As a result,
the fish just eat and eat and grow and grow in the lovely warm water.
Who eats who?
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- chip (1.1) /tʃɪp/ n. 油煎土豆片
- overfish (1.2) /ˌəʊvəˈfɪʃ/ v. 过度捕捞
- giant (1.3) /ˈdʒaɪənt/ adj. 巨大的
- terrify (1.4) /ˈterɪfaɪ/ v. 吓，使恐怖
- diver (1.4) /ˈdaɪvə(r)/ n. 潜水员
- oil rig (1.4) /ˈɔɪl rɪɡ/ n. 石油钻塔
- wit (1.6) /wɪt/ n. 理智，头脑
- cage (1.7) /keɪdʒ/ n. 笼子
- shark (1.8) /ʃɑːk/ n. 鲨鱼
- whale (1.8) /weɪl/ n. 鲸
- variety (1.9) /vəˈraɪəti/ n. 品种
- cod (1.9) /kɒd/ n. 鳕鱼
- skate (1.9) /skeɪt/ n. 鳐
- factor (1.10) /ˈfæktə(r)/ n. 因素
- crew (1.11) /kruː/ n. 全体工作人员
Notes on the text 课文注释
- fish and chips, 油煎鱼加炸土豆片。
- North Sea, 北海。
- who often have to work in darkness a hundred feet under water, (潜水员)常常要在水面100英尺以下摸黑工作。这是一个非限定性定语从句，对主句中的名词divers进行补充说明，因此这个从句与主句用逗号隔开。
- be frightened out of their wits, 被吓得不知所措。
- favourite eating varieties, 深受人们喜爱的食用品种。
- as a result, 结果是。
参考译文 油煎鱼加炸土豆片一直是英国人喜爱的一道菜， 但是随着海洋里的滥捕滥捞， 鱼已经变得越来越昂贵。 因此，当听说北海石油钻井平台上的潜水员受到巨型鱼类的恐吓时，确实很让人吃惊。 石油钻井平台需要经常修理，潜水员常常要在水面100英尺以下摸黑工作， 他们曾在工作时被撞到他们身上的巨型鱼类吓得不知所措。 现在他们有了特制的笼子，用来保护他们免受这些庞然大物的伤害。 这些鱼并不是鲨鱼或逆戟鲸， 而是深受人们喜爱的食用鱼品种，如鳕鱼和鳐鱼， 只不过它们长得出奇地大，有时长达12英尺。 这些鱼能长得这么大是由3个因素造成的： 海底输油管道附近的温暖的海水； 钻井平台工作人员抛到海里充足的食物； 钻井平台周围完全没有捕鱼船只。 结果是， 这些鱼就在可爱的温暖的水流中吃啊吃，长啊长。 究竟谁吃谁呢？