Lesson1Aprivateconversation私人談話LastweekIwenttothetheatre.Ihadaverygoodseat.Theplaywasveryinteresting.Ididnotenjoyit.Ayoungmanandayoungwomanweresittingbehindme.Theyweretalkingloudly.Igotveryangry.Icouldnotheartheactors.Iturnedround.Ilookedatthemanandthewomanangrily.Theydidnotpayanyattention.Intheend,Icouldnotbearit.Iturnedroundagain.‘Ican'thearaword!’Isaidangrily.‘It'snoneofyourbusiness,’theyoungmansaidrudely.‘Thisisaprivateconversation!’Lesson2

Breakfastorlunch?

早餐還是午餐？ItwasSunday.InevergetupearlyonSundays.Isometimesstayinbeduntillunchtime.LastSundayIgotupverylate.Ilookedoutofthewindow.Itwasdarkoutside.‘Whataday!’Ithought.‘It'srainingagain.’Justthen,thetelephonerang.ItwasmyauntLucy.‘I'vejustarrivedbytrain,’shesaid.‘I'mcomingtoseeyou.’‘ButI'mstillhavingbreakfast,’Isaid.‘Whatareyoudoing?’sheasked.‘I'mhavingbreakfast,’Irepeated.‘Dearme,’shesaid.‘Doyoualwaysgetupsolate?It'soneo'clock!’

Lesson3

Pleasesendmeacard

寄張明信片Postcardsalwaysspoilmyholidays.Lastsummer,IwenttoItaly.Ivisitedmuseumsandsatinpublicgardens.AfriendlywaitertaughtmeafewwordsofItalian.Thenhelentmeabook.Ireadafewlines,butIdidnotunderstandaword.EverydayIthoughtaboutpostcards.Myholidayspassedquickly,butIdidnotsendcardstomyfriends.OnthelastdayImadeabigdecision.Igotupearlyandboughtthirty-sevencards.Ispentthewholedayinmyroom,butIdidnotwriteasinglecard!Lesson4

Anexcitingtrip

沖動人心的旅行Ihavejustreceivedaletterfrommybrother,Tim.HeisinAustralia.Hehasbeenthereforsixmonths.Timisanengineer.HeisworkingforabigfirmandhehasalreadyvisitedagreatnumberofdifferentplacesinAustralia.HehasjustboughtanAustraliancarandhasgonetoAliceSprings,asmalltowninthecentreofAustralia.HewillsoonvisitDarwinFromthere,hewillflytoPerth.Mybrotherhasneverbeenabroadbefore,soheisfindingthistripveryexciting.Lesson5

Nowrongnumbers

無錯號之虞Mr.JamesScotthasagarageinSilburyandnowhehasjustboughtanothergarageinPinhurst.PinhurstisonlyfivemilesfromSilbury,butMr.Scottcannotgetatelephoneforhisnewgarage,sohehasjustboughttwelvepigeons.Yesterday,apigeoncarriedthefirstmessagefromPinbursttoSilbury.Thebirdcoveredthedistancethefirstthreeminutes.Uptonow,Mr.Scotthassentagreatmanyrequestsforsparepartsandotherurgentmessagesfromonegaragetotheother.Inthisway,hehasbegunhisownprivate‘telephone’service.Lesson6

PercyButtons

珀西·巴頓斯IhavejustmovedtoahouseinBridgeStreet.Yesterdayabeggarknockedatmydoor.Heaskedmeforamealandaglassofbeer.Inreturnforthis,thebeggarstoodonhisheadandsangsongs.Igavehimameal.Heatethefoodanddrankthebeer.Thenheputapieceofcheeseinhispocketandwentaway.Lateraneighbourtoldmeabouthim.Everybodyknowshim.HisnameisPercyButtons.Hecallsateveryhouseinthestreetonceamonthandalwaysasksforamealandaglassofbeer.Lesson7

Toolate

為時太晚Theplanewaslateanddetectiveswerewaitingattheairportallmorning.TheywereexpectingavaluableparcelofdiamondsfromSouthAfrica.Afewhoursearlier,someonehadtoldthepolicethatthieveswouldtrytostealthediamonds.Whentheplanearrived,someofthedetectiveswerewaitinginsidethemainbuildingwhileotherswerewaitingontheairfield.TwomentooktheparcelofftheplaneandcarrieditintotheCustomsHouse.Whiletwodetectiveswerekeepingguardatthedoor,twoothersopenedtheparcel.Totheirsurprise,thepreciousparcelwasfullofstonesandsand!Lesson8

Thebestandtheworst

最好的和最差的JoeSandershasthemostbeautifulgardeninourtown.Nearlyeverybodyentersfor‘TheNicestGardenCompetition’eachyear,butJoewinseverytime.BillFrith'sgardenislargerthanJoe's.BillworksharderthanJoeandgrowsmoreflowersandvegetables,butJoe'sgardenismoreinteresting.Hehasmadeneatpathsandhasbuiltawoodenbridgeoverapool.Ilikegardenstoo,butIdonotlikehardwork.EveryyearIenterforthegardencompetitiontoo,andIalwayswinalittleprizefortheworstgardeninthetown!Lesson9

Acoldwelcome

冷遇OnWednesdayevening,wewenttotheTownHall.ItwasthelastdayoftheyearandalargecrowdofpeoplehadgatheredundertheTownHallclock.Itwouldstriketwelveintwentyminutes'time.Fifteenminutespassedandthen,atfivetotwelve,theclockstopped.Thebigminutehanddidnotmove.Wewaitedandwaited,butnothinghappened.Suddenlysomeoneshouted,‘It'stwominutespasttwelve!Theclockhasstopped!’Ilookedatmywatch.Itwastrue.ThebigclockrefusedtowelcometheNewYear.Atthatmoment,everybodybegantolaughandsing.Lesson10

Notforjazz

不適于演奏爵士樂Wehaveanoldmusicalinstrument.Itiscalledaclavichord.ItwasmadeinGermanyin1681.Ourclavichordiskeptinthelivingroom.Ithasbelongedtoourfamilyforalongtime.Theinstrumentwasboughtbymygrandfathermanyyearsago.Recentlyitwasdamagedbyavisitor.Shetriedtoplayjazzonit!Shestruckthekeystoohardandtwoofthestringswerebroken.Myfatherwasshocked.Nowwearenotallowedtotouchit.Itisbeingrepairedbyafriendofmyfather's.Lesson11

Onegoodturndeservesanother

禮尚往來IwashavingdinneratarestaurantwhenTonySteelecamein.Tonyworkedinalawyer'sofficeyearsago,butheisnowworkingatabank.Hegetsagoodsalary,buthealwaysborrowsmoneyfromhisfriendsandneverpaysitback.Tonysawmeandcameandsatatthesametable.Hehasneverborrowedmoneyfromme.Whilehewaseating,Iaskedhimtolendmetwentypounds.Tomysurprise,hegavemethemoneyimmediately.‘Ihaveneverborrowedanymoneyfromyou,’Tonysaid,‘sonowyoucanpayformydinner!’Lesson12

Goodbyeandgoodluck

再見，一路順風Ourneighbour,CaptainCharlesAlison,willsailfromPortsmouthtomorrow.We'llmeethimattheharbourearlyinthemorning.Hewillbeinhissmallboat,Topsail.Topsailisafamouslittleboat.IthassailedacrosstheAtlanticmanytimes.CaptainAlisonwillsetoutateighto'clock,sowe'llhaveplentyoftime.We'llseehisboatandthenwe'llsaygoodbyetohim.Hewillbeawayfortwomonths.Weareveryproudofhim.HewilltakepartinanimportantraceacrosstheAtlantic.Lesson13

TheGreenwoodBoys

綠林少年TheGreenwoodBoysareagroupofpopsingers.Atpresent,theyarevisitingallpartsofthecountry.Theywillbearrivingheretomorrow.Theywillbecomingbytrainandmostoftheyoungpeopleinthetownwillbemeetingthematthestation.TomorroweveningtheywillbesingingattheWorkers'Club.TheGreenwoodBoyswillbestayingforfivedays.Duringthistime,theywillgivefiveperformances.Asusual,thepolicewillhaveadifficulttime.Theywillbetryingtokeeporder.Itisalwaysthesameontheseoccasions.Lesson14

DoyouspeakEnglish?

你會講英語嗎？Ihadanamusingexperiencelastyear.AfterIhadleftasmallvillageinthesouthofFrance,Idroveontothenexttown.Ontheway,ayoungmanwavedtome.Istoppedandheaskedmeforalift.Assoonashehadgotintothecar,IsaidgoodmorningtohiminFrenchandherepliedinthesamelanguage.Apartfromafewwords,IdonotknowanyFrenchatall.Neitherofusspokeduringthejourney.Ihadnearlyreachedthetown,whentheyoungmansuddenlysaid,veryslowly,‘DoyouspeakEnglish?’AsIsoonlearnt,hewasEnglishhimself!Lesson15

Goodnews

佳音ThesecretarytoldmethatMr.Harmsworthwouldseeme.IfeltverynervouswhenIwentintohisoffice.HedidnotlookupfromhisdeskwhenIentered.AfterIhadsatdown,hesaidthatbusinesswasverybad.Hetoldmethatthefirmcouldnotaffordtopaysuchlargesalaries.Twentypeoplehadalreadyleft.Iknewthatmyturnhadcome.‘Mr.Harmsworth,’Isaidinaweakvoice.‘Don'tinterrupt,’hesaid.ThenhesmiledandtoldmeIwouldreceiveanextrathousandpoundsayear!Lesson16

Apoliterequest

彬彬有禮的要求Ifyouparkyourcarinthewrongplace,atrafficpolicemanwillsoonfindit.Youwillbeveryluckyifheletsyougowithoutaticket.However,thisdoesnotalwayshappen.Trafficpolicearesometimesverypolite.DuringaholidayinSweden,Ifoundthisnoteonmycar:‘Sir,wewelcomeyoutoourcity.Thisisa“NoParking”area.Youwillenjoyyourstayhereifyoupayattentiontoourstreetsigns.Thisnoteisonlyareminder.’Ifyoureceivearequestlikethis,youcannotfailtoobeyit!Lesson17

Alwaysyoung

青春常駐MyauntJenniferisanactress.Shemustbeatleastthirty-fiveyearsold.Inspiteofthis,sheoftenappearsonthestageasayounggirl.Jenniferwillhavetotakepartinanewplaysoon.Thistime,shewillbeagirlofseventeen.Intheplay,shemustappearinabrightreddressandlongblackstockings.Lastyearinanotherplay,shehadtowearshortsocksandabright,orange-coloureddress.Ifanyoneeverasksherhowoldsheis,shealwaysanswers,‘Darling,itmustbeterribletobegrownup!’Lesson18

Heoftendoesthis!

他經(jīng)常干這種事！AfterIhadhadlunchatavillagepub,Ilookedformybag.Ihadleftitonachairbesidethedoorandnowitwasn'tthere!AsIwaslookingforit,thelandlordcamein.‘Didyouhaveagoodmeal?’heasked.‘Yes,thankyou,’Ianswered,‘butIcan'tpaythebill.Ihaven'tgotmybag.’Thelandlordsmiledandimmediatelywentout.Inafewminuteshereturnedwithmybagandgaveitbacktome.‘I'mverysorry,’hesaid.‘Mydoghadtakenitintothegarden.Heoftendoesthis!’Lesson19

Soldout

票已售完Theplaymaybeginatanymoment,’Isaid.‘Itmayhavebegunalready,’Susananswered.Ihurriedtotheticketoffice.‘MayIhavetwoticketsplease?’Iasked.‘I'msorry,we'vesoldout,’thegirlsaid.‘Whatapity!’Susanexclaimed.Justthen,amanhurriedtotheticketoffice.‘CanIreturnthesetwotickets?’heasked.‘Certainly,’thegirlsaid.Iwentbacktotheticketofficeatonce.‘CouldIhavethosetwoticketsplease?’Iasked.‘Certainly,’thegirlsaid,‘butthey'refornextWednesday'sperformance.Doyoustillwantthem?’‘Imightaswellhavethem,’Isaidsadly.Lesson20

Onemaninaboat

獨坐孤舟Fishingismyfavouritesport.Ioftenfishforhourswithoutcatchinganything.Butthisdoesnotworryme.Somefishermenareunlucky.Insteadofcatchingfish,theycatcholdbootsandrubbish.Iamevenlesslucky.Inevercatchanythingnotevenoldboots.Afterhavingspentwholemorningsontheriver,Ialwaysgohomewithanemptybag.‘Youmustgiveupfishing!’myfriendssay.‘It'sawasteoftime.’Buttheydon'trealizeoneimportantthing.I'mnotreallyinterestedinfishing.Iamonlyinterestedinsittinginaboatanddoingnothingatall!Lesson21

Madornot?

是不是瘋了？Aeroplanesareslowlydrivingmemad.Ilivenearanairportandpassingplanescanbeheardnightandday.Theairportwasbuiltyearsago,butforsomereasonitcouldnotbeusedthen.Lastyear,however,itcameintouse.Overahundredpeoplemusthavebeendrivenawayfromtheirhomesbythenoise.Iamoneofthefewpeopleleft.SometimesIthinkthishousewillbeknockeddownbyapassingplane.Ihavebeenofferedalargesumofmoneytogoaway,butIamdeterminedtostayhere.EverybodysaysImustbemadandtheyareprobablyright.Lesson22

Aglassenvelope

玻璃信封Mydaughter,Jane,neverdreamedofreceivingaletterfromagirlofherownageinHolland.Lastyear,weweretravellingacrosstheChannelandJaneputapieceofpaperwithhernameandaddressonitintoabottle.Shethrewthebottleintothesea.Sheneverthoughtofitagain,buttenmonthslater,shereceivedaletterfromagirlinHolland.Bothgirlswritetoeachotherregularlynow.However,theyhavedecidedtousethepostoffice.Letterswillcostalittlemore,buttheywillcertainlytravelfaster.Lesson23

Anewhouse

新居Ihadaletterfrommysisteryesterday.ShelivesinNigeria.Inherletter,shesaidthatshewouldcometoEnglandnextyear.Ifshecomes,shewillgetasurprise.Wearenowlivinginabeautifulnewhouseinthecountry.Workonithadbegunbeforemysisterleft.Thehousewascompletedfivemonthsago.Inmyletter,Itoldherthatshecouldstaywithus.Thehousehasmanylargeroomsandthereisalovelygarden.Itisaverymodernhouse,soitlooksstrangetosomepeople.Itmustbetheonlymodernhouseinthedistrict.Lesson24

Itcouldbeworse

不幸中之萬幸Ienteredthehotelmanager'sofficeandsatdown.Ihadjustlost￡50

andIfeltveryupset.‘Ileftthemoneyinmyroom,’Isaid,‘a(chǎn)ndit'snottherenow.’Themanagerwassympathetic,buthecoulddonothing.‘Everyone'slosingmoneythesedays,’hesaid.Hestartedtocomplainaboutthiswickedworldbutwasinterruptedbyaknockatthedoor.Agirlcameinandputanenvelopeonhisdesk.Itcontained￡50.‘Ifoundthisoutsidethisgentleman'sroom,’shesaid.‘Well,’Isaidtothemanager,‘thereisstillsomehonestyinthisworld!’Lesson25

DotheEnglishspeakEnglish?

講的是英語嗎？IarrivedinLondonatlast.Therailwaystationwasbig,blackanddark.Ididnotknowthewaytomyhotel,soIaskedaporter.InotonlyspokeEnglishverycarefully,butveryclearlyaswell.Theporter,however,couldnotunderstandme.Irepeatedmyquestionseveraltimesandatlastheunderstood.Heansweredme,buthespokeneitherslowlynorclearly.‘Iamaforeigner,’Isaid.Thenhespokeslowly,butIcouldnotunderstandhim.MyteacherneverspokeEnglishlikethat!TheporterandIlookedateachotherandsmiled.ThenhesaidsomethingandIunderstoodit.‘You'llsoonlearnEnglish!’hesaid.Iwonder.InEngland,eachpersonspeaksadifferentlanguage.TheEnglishunderstandeachother,butIdon'tunderstandthem!DotheyspeakEnglish?Lesson26

Thebestartcritics

最正確藝術(shù)評論家IamanartstudentandIpaintalotofpictures.Manypeoplepretendthattheyunderstandmodernart.Theyalwaystellyouwhatapictureis‘a(chǎn)bout’.Ofcourse,manypicturesarenot‘a(chǎn)bout’anything.Theyarejustprettypatterns.Weliketheminthesamewaythatwelikeprettycurtainmaterial.Ithinkthatyoungchildrenoftenappreciatemodernpicturesbetterthananyoneelse.Theynoticemore.Mysisterisonlyseven,butshealwaystellsmewhethermypicturesaregoodornot.Shecameintomyroomyesterday.‘Whatareyoudoing?’sheasked.‘I'mhangingthispictureonthewall,’Ianswered.‘It'sanewone.Doyoulikeit?’Shelookedatitcriticallyforamoment.‘It'sallright,’shesaid,‘butisn'titupsidedown?’Ilookedatitagain.Shewasright!Itwas!Lesson27

Awetnight

雨夜Lateintheafternoon,theboysputuptheirtentinthemiddleofafield.Assoonasthiswasdone,theycookedamealoveranopenfire.Theywereallhungryandthefoodsmelledgood.Afterawonderfulmeal,theytoldstoriesandsangsongsbythecampfire.Butsometimelateritbegantorain.Theboysfelttiredsotheyputoutthefireandcreptintotheirtent.Theirsleepingbagswerewarmandcomfortable,sotheyallsleptsoundly.Inthemiddleofthenight,twoboyswokeupandbeganshouting.Thetentwasfullofwater!Theyallleaptoutoftheirsleepingbagsandhurriedoutside.Itwasrainingheavilyandtheyfoundthatastreamhadformedinthefield.Thestreamwounditswayacrossthefieldandthenflowedrightundertheirtent!Lesson28

Noparking

禁止停車JasperWhiteisoneofthoserarepeoplewhobelievesinancientmyths.Hehasjustboughtanewhouseinthecity,buteversincehemovedin,hehashadtroublewithcarsandtheirowners.Whenhereturnshomeatnight,healwaysfindsthatsomeonehasparkedacaroutsidehisgate.Becauseofthis,hehasnotbeenabletogethisowncarintohisgarageevenonce.Jasperhasputup‘NoParking’signsoutsidehisgate,butthesehavenothadanyeffect.Nowhehasputanuglystoneheadoverthegate.ItisoneoftheugliestfacesIhaveeverseen.IaskedhimwhatitwasandhetoldmethatitwasMedusa,theGorgon.Jasperhopesthatshewillturncarsandtheirownerstostone.Butnoneofthemhasbeenturnedtostoneyet!Lesson29

Taxi!

出租汽車！CaptainBenFawcetthasboughtanunusualtaxiandhasbegunanewservice.The‘taxi’isasmallSwissaeroplanecalleda‘PilatusPorter’.Thiswonderfulplanecancarrysevenpassengers.Themostsurprisingthingaboutit,however,isthatitcanlandanywhere:orsnow,water,orevenonaploughedfield.CaptainFawcett'sfirstpassengerwasadoctorwhoflewfromBirminghamtoalonelyvillageintheWelshmountains.Sincethen,CaptainFawcetthasflownpassengerstomanyunusualplaces.Oncehelandedontheroofofablockofflatsandonanotheroccasion,helandedinadesertedcarpark.CaptainFawcetthasjustrefusedastrangerequestfromabusinessman.ThemanwantedtoflytoRockall,alonelyislandintheAtlanticOcean,butCaptainFawcettdidnottakehimbecausethetripwastoodangerous.Lesson30

Footballorpolo？

足球還是水球？TheWayleisasmallriverthatcutsacrosstheparknearmyhome.IlikesittingbytheWayleonfineafternoons.ItwaswarmlastSunday,soIwentandsatontheriverbankasusual.Somechildrenwereplayinggamesonthebankandthereweresomepeoplerowingontheriver.Suddenly,oneofthechildrenkickedaballveryhardanditwenttowardsapassingboat.Somepeopleonthebankcalledouttothemanintheboat,buthedidnothearthem.Theballstruckhimsohardthathenearlyfellintothewater.Iturnedtolookatthechildren,butthereweren'tanyinsight:theyhadallrunaway!Themanlaughedwhenherealizedwhathadhappened.Hecalledouttothechildrenandthrewtheballbacktothebank.Lesson31

Successstory

成功者的故事YesterdayafternoonFrankHawkinswastellingmeabouthisexperiencesasayoungman.Beforeheretired,Frankwastheheadofaverylargebusinesscompany,butasaboyheusedtoworkinasmallshop.Itwashisjobtorepairbicyclesandatthattimeheusedtoworkfourteenhoursaday.Hesavedmoneyforyearsandin1958

heboughtasmallworkshopofhisown.Inhistwenties,Frankusedtomakesparepartsforaeroplanes.Atthattimehehadtwohelpers.Inafewyearsthesmallworkshophadbecomealargefactorywhichemployedsevenhundredandtwenty-eightpeople.Franksmiledwhenherememberedhishardearlyyearsandthelongroadtosuccess.Hewasstillsmilingwhenthedooropenedandhiswifecamein.Shewantedhimtorepairtheirgrandson'sbicycle!Lesson32

Shoppingmadeeasy

購物變得很方便Peoplearenotsohonestastheyoncewere.Thetemptationtostealisgreaterthaneverbeforeespeciallyinlargeshops.Adetectiverecentlywatchedawell-dressedwomanwhoalwayswentintoalargestoreonMondaymornings.OneMonday,therewerefewerpeopleintheshopthanusualwhenthewomancamein,Soitwaseasierforthedetectivetowatchher.Thewomanfirstboughtafewsmallarticles.Afteralittletime,shechoseoneofthemostexpensivedressesintheshopandhandedittoanassistantwhowrappeditupforherasquicklyaspossible.Thenthewomansimplytooktheparcelandwalkedoutoftheshopwithoutpaying.Whenshewasarrested,thedetectivefoundoutthattheshopassistantwasherdaughter.Thegirl‘gave’hermotheratreedressonceaweek!Lesson33

Outofthedarkness

沖出黑暗Nearlyaweekpassedbeforethegirlwasabletoexplainwhathadhappenedtoher.Oneafternoonshesetoutfromthecoastinasmallboatandwascaughtinastorm.Towardsevening,theboatstruckarockandthegirljumpedintothesea.Thensheswamtotheshoreafterspendingthewholenightinthewater.Duringthattimeshecoveredadistanceofeightmiles.Earlynextmorning,shesawalightahead.Sheknewshewasneartheshorebecausethelightwashighuponthecliffs.Onarrivingattheshore,thegirlstruggleduptheclifftowardsthelightshehadseen.Thatwasallsheremembered.Whenshewokeupadaylater,shefoundherselfinhospital.Lesson34

Quickwork

破案“神速”DanRobinsonhasbeenworriedallweek.LastTuesdayhereceivedaletterfromthelocalpolice.Intheletterhewasaskedtocallatthestation.Danwonderedwhyhewaswantedbythepolice,buthewenttothestationyesterdayandnowheisnotworriedanymore.Atthestation,hewastoldbyasmilingpolicemanthathisbicyclehadbeenfoundFivedaysago,thepolicemantoldhim,thebicyclewaspickedupinasmallvillagefourhundredmilesaway.Itisnowbeingsenttohishomebytrain.Danwasmostsurprisedwhenheheardthenews.Hewasamusedtoo,becauseheneverexpectedthebicycletobefound,ItwasstolentwentyyearsagowhenDanwasaboyoffifteen!Lesson35

Stopthief!

捉賊RoyTrentonusedtodriveataxi.Ashortwhileago,however,hebecameabusdriverandhehasnotregrettedit.Heisfindinghisnewworkfarmoreexciting.WhenhewasdrivingalongCatfordStreetrecently,hesawtwothievesrushoutofashopandruntowardsawaitingcar.Oneofthemwascarryingabagfullofmoney.Royactedquicklyanddrovethebusstraightatthethieves.Theonewiththemoneygotsuchafrightthathedroppedthebag.Asthethievesweretryingtogetawayintheircar,Roydrovehisbusintothebackofit.Whilethebatteredcarwasmovingaway,Roystoppedhisbusandtelephonedthepolice.Thethieves'carwasbadlydamagedandeasytorecognize.Shortlyafterwards,thepolicestoppedthecarandbothmenwerearrested.Lesson36

AcrosstheChannel

橫渡海峽DebbieHartisgoingtoswimacrosstheEnglishChanneltomorrow.SheisgoingtosetoutfromtheFrenchcoastatfiveo'clockinthemorning.Debbieisonlyelevenyearsoldandshehopestosetupanewworldrecord.SheisastrongswimmerandmanypeoplefeelthatsheissuretosucceedDebbie'sfatherwillsetoutwithherinasmallboat.Mr.Harthastrainedhisdaughterforyears.TomorrowhewillbewatchingheranxiouslyassheswimsthelongdistancetoEngland.Debbieintendstotakeshortrestseverytwohours.Shewillhavesomethingtodrinkbutshewillnoteatanysolidfood.MostofDebbie'sschoolfriendswillbewaitingforherontheEnglishcoast.AmongthemwillbeDebbie'smother,whoswamtheChannelherselfwhenshewasagirl.Lesson37

TheOlympicGames

奧林匹克運動會TheOlympicGameswillbeheldinourcountryinfouryears'time.Asagreatmanypeoplewillbevisitingthecountry,thegovernmentwillbebuildingnewhotels,animmensestadium,andanewOlympic-standardswimmingpool.Theywillalsobebuildingnewroadsandaspecialrailwayline.TheGameswillbeheldjustoutsidethecapitalandthewholeareawillbecalled‘OlympicCity’.Workerswillhavecompletedthenewroadsbytheendofthisyear.Bytheendofnextyear,theywillhavefinishedworkonthenewstadium.ThefantasticmodernbuildingshavebeendesignedbyKurtGunter.Everybodywillbewatchinganxiouslyasthenewbuildingsgoup.WeareallveryexcitedandarelookingforwardtotheOlympicGamesbecausetheyhaveneverbeenheldbeforeinthiscountry.Lesson38

Everythingexcepttheweather

唯沒考慮天氣Myoldfriend,Harrison,hadlivedintheMediterraneanformanyyearsbeforehereturnedtoEngland.HehadoftendreamedofretiringinEnglandandhadplannedtosettledowninthecountry.Hehadnosoonerreturnedthanheboughtahouseandwenttolivethere.Almostimmediatelyhebegantocomplainabouttheweather,foreventhoughitwasstillsummer,itrainedcontinuallyanditwasoftenbitterlycold.Aftersomanyyearsofsunshine,Harrisongotashock.HeactedasifhehadneverlivedinEnglandbefore.Intheend,itwasmorethanhecouldbear.Hehadhardlyhadtimetosettledownwhenhesoldthehouseandleftthecountry.Thedreamhehadhadforsomanyyearsendedthere.Harrisonhadthoughtofeverythingexcepttheweather.Lesson39

AmIallright?

我是否痊愈?WhileJohnGilbertwasinhospital,heaskedhisdoctortotellhimwhetherhisoperationhadbeensuccessful,butthedoctorrefusedtodoso.Thefollowingday,thepatientaskedforabedsidetelephone.Whenhewasalone,hetelephonedthehospitalexchangeandaskedforDoctorMillington.Whenthedoctoransweredthephone,Mr.Gilbertsaidhewasinquiringaboutacertainpatient,aMr.JohnGilbert.HeaskedifMr.Gilbert'soperationhadbeensuccessfulandthedoctortoldhimthatithadbeen.HethenaskedwhenMr.Gilbertwouldbeallowedtogohomeandthedoctortoldhimthathewouldhavetostayinhosptialforanothertwoweeks.ThenDr.Millingtonaskedthecallerifhewasarelativeofthepatient.‘No,’thepatientanswered,‘IamMr.JohnGilbert.’Lesson40

Foodandtalk

進餐與交談Lastweekatadinnerparty,thehostessaskedmetositnexttoMrs.Rumbold.Mrs.Rumboldwasalarge,unsmilingladyinatightblackdress.ShedidnotevenlookupwhenItookmyseatbesideher.Hereyeswerefixedonherplateandinashorttime,shewasbusyeating.Itriedtomakeconversation.‘Anewplayiscomingto“TheGlobe”soon,’Isaid.‘Willyoubeseeingit?’‘No,’sheanswered.‘Willyoubespendingyourholidaysabroadthisyear?’Iasked.‘NO,’sheanswered.‘WillyoubestayinginEngland?’Iasked.“No,’sheanswered.Indespair,Iaskedherwhethershewasenjoyingherdinner.‘Youngman,’sheanswered,‘ifyouatemoreandtalkedless,wewouldbothenjoyourdinner!’Lesson41

Doyoucallthatahat?

你把那個叫帽子嗎？‘Doyoucallthatahat?’Isaidtomywife.‘Youneedn'tbesorudeaboutit,’mywifeansweredasshelookedatherselfinthemirror.Isatdownononeofthosemodernchairswithholesinitandwaited.Wehadbeeninthehatshopforhalfanhourandmywifewasstillinfrontofthemirror.‘Wemustn'tbuythingswedon'tneed,’Iremarkedsuddenly.Iregrettedsayingitalmostatonce.‘Youneedn'thavesaidthat,’mywifeanswered.‘Ineedn'tremindyouofthatterribletieyouboughtyesterday.’‘Ifinditbeautiful,’Isaid.‘Amancanneverhavetoomanyties.’‘Andawomancan'thavetoomanyhats，’sheanswered.Tenminuteslaterwewalkedoutoftheshoptogether.Mywifewaswearingahatthatlookedlikealighthouse!Lesson42

Notverymusical

并非很懂音樂AswehadhadalongwalkthroughoneofthemarketsofOldDelhi,westoppedatasquaretohavearest.Afteratime,wenoticedasnakecharmerwithtwolargebasketsat