新概念第二册-第15部分
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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 v。 告诉，通知
headmaster n。 校长
contribute v。 捐助，援助
gift n。 礼物，赠品
album n。 签名簿，相册
patience n。 耐心
encouragement n。 鼓励
farewell n。 告别
honour n。 敬意
coincidence n。 巧合
total n。 总数
devote v。 致力于
gardening n。 园艺
hobby n。 爱好，嗜好
参考译文
我刚刚收到母校的一封信，通知我说以前的校长斯图亚特。佩奇先生下星期就退休了。为了纪念这个日子，学校的学生——无论老同学还是新同学——将送他一件礼物。所有凑钱买此礼品的人都将自己的名字签在一本大签名簿上，签名簿将被送到校长的家里。我们不会忘记佩奇先生对我们既有耐心又充满理解，也不会忘记在我们不愿去上学时他给予我们的亲切鼓励。很多老同学都准备参加下星期四为他举行的告别宴会。佩奇先生退休的前一天正好是他执教满40年的日子，这真是奇妙的巧合。他退休后，将致力于园艺。对于他来说，这将是一种全新的爱好。但这没有关系，因为正如他常说的那样，人要活到老学到老。
Lesson 86
Out of control
失控
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
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 v。 转向
speedboat n。 快艇
desperately adv。 绝望地
companion n。 同伙，伙伴
water ski （由快艇牵引水橇）滑水
buoy n。 浮标
dismay n。 沮丧
tremendous adj。 巨大的
petrol n。 汽油
drift v。 漂动，漂流
gently adv。 缓慢地，轻轻地
参考译文
当那人试图让快艇转弯时，方向盘脱手了。他绝望地向他的伙伴挥手，他的伙伴在过去的15分钟里一直在滑水。他们两个还没来得及意识到究竟发生了什么事情，就被猛地抛入了海里。快艇撞上了一个浮标，但它仍在水面上快速行驶着。两个人刚开始向岸边游去，就突然惊愕地发现快艇正在转着圈行驶，它现在正以惊人的速度直冲他们驶来。不到1分钟的工夫，它从离他们只有几英尺远的地方呼啸着驶了过去。快艇过去之后，他们以最快的速度向前游去，因为他们知道快艇马上就要转回来。他们刚刚来得及游出危险区，快艇就又转完了一圈。然而这一次它的速度慢多了。汽油几乎已经用光。没过多久，噪音便彻底消失，快艇开始在水面上慢悠悠地漂流。
Lesson 87
A perfect alibi
极好的不在犯罪现场的证据
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
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 n。 不在犯罪现场
commit v。 犯（罪、错）
inspector n。 探长
employer n。 雇主
confirm v。 确认，证实
suggest v。 提醒
truth n。 真相
参考译文
“在凶杀发生的时候，我正坐在8点钟开往伦敦的火车上。”那人说。
“您总是赶这样早的火车？”探长问。
“当然是的，”那人回答。“我必须在10点钟上班，我的雇主会证明我是按时到了那儿的。”
“晚一点儿的车也能送您按时上班吗？”
“我认为可以，但我从来不乘晚一点儿的车。”
“您几点钟到的火车站？”
“7点50分。我买了张报纸，等着车来。”
“您没有注意到有什么异常情况发生吗？”
“当然没有。”
“我提醒您，”探长说，“您讲的不是实话。您乘的不是8点钟的火车，而是8点25分的，这次车同样能使您按时上班。您看，在凶杀发生的那天早晨，8点钟的那次车根本没有发。它在芬格林车站出了故障而被取消了。”
Lesson 88
Trapped in a mine
困在矿井里
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
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 v。 陷入，使陷于困境
surface n。 地面，表面
explosive n。 炸药
vibration n。 震动
collapse v。 坍塌
drill v。 钻孔
capsule n。 容器
layer n。 层
beneath prep。 在。。。。。。之下
lower v。 放下，降低
progress v。 进展，进行
smoothly adv。 顺利地
参考译文
6个人被困在矿井里已有17个小时了。如果不把他们尽快救到地面上来，他们就有可能丧生。然而，事实证明营救工作非常困难。如果用炸药爆破，震动会引起矿顶塌落。因此，营救人员在矿井的北侧钻了一个洞。他们准备用一种特制的容器把这6个人救上来。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。实际情况是，他们已连续钻了16个小时了，但离钻透还早着呢。与此同时，两个小时以前放下井去的一只麦克风使井下的人可以与其亲属保持联系。虽然他们的食物和饮料都快消耗尽了，但这些人的心情很好，坚信他们很快就会出去。他们一直被告知营救工作进行得非常顺利。如果他们知道了钻透那坚硬的岩石有多么困难，他们会丧失信心的。
Lesson 89
A slip of the tongue
口误
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Who made the only funny joke that evening and why？
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 artistes 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 Seed Bird Company。 Good ladies； evening and gentlemen！〃
New words and expressions 生词和短语
slip n。 小错误
comedy n。 喜剧
present v。 演出；adj。 出席，到场的
queue v。 排队
dull adj。 枯燥，无味
artiste n。 艺人
advertiser n。 报幕员
参考译文
人们总要想尽办法看不花钱的演出——哪怕是拙劣的演出。当“皮尤”鸟食公司将在我们当地影院演出喜剧节目的消息传开后，我们都赶紧跑去观看。我们不得不排了好几个小时才进得场去。在演出开始前场内肯定已有好几百人了。不幸的是，这次演出是我们看过的最乏味的演出了。那些没能进到场内的人没有必要感到失望，因为很多应该出场的专业演员都没有来。那天晚上唯一有趣的事情是节目开始时那个报幕员的开场白。他显然非常紧张，局促不安地在麦克风前站了好几分钟。但他刚一开口说话，人们便哄堂大笑起来。我们都明白那个可怜的人应该说些什么，而他实际说的却是：“这是‘浦伊’鸟食公司，好女士们，晚上和先生们！”
Lesson 90
What's for supper？
晚餐吃什么？
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What kind of fish are they？
Fish and chips has al
