新概念3-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e。　Even　if　contact　were　eventually　established；　astronomers　would　not　be　able　to　rely　on　language　to　communicate　with　other　beings。　They　would　use　mathematics　as　this　is　the
only　truly　universal　language。　Numbers　have　the　same　value　anywhere。　For　this　reason；　intelligent　creatures　in　any　part　of　the　universe　would　be　able　to　understand　a　simple　arithmetical　sequence。　They　would　be　able　to　reply　to　our　signals　using　similar　methods。　The　next　step　would　be　to　try　to　develop　means　for　sending　television　pictures。　A　single　picture　would　tell　us　more　than　thousands　of　words。　In　an　age　when　anything　seems　to　be　possible；　it　would　be　narrow…minded　in　the　extreme　to　ridicule　these　attempts　to　find　out　if　there　is　life　in　other　parts　of　the　universe。　

Lesson56　The　river　beside　our　farm
The　river　which　forms　the　eastern　boundary　of　our　farm　has　always　played　an　important　part　in　our　lives。　Without　it　we　could　not　make　a　living。　There　is　only　enough　spring　water　to　supply　the　needs　of　the　house；　so　we　have　to　pump　from　the　river　for　farm　use。　We　tell　the　river　all　our　secrets。　We　know　instinctively；　just　as　beekeepers　with　their　bees；　that　misfortune　might　overtake　us　if　the　important　events　of　our　lives　were　not　related　to　it。
We　have　special　river　birthday　parties　in　the　summer。　Sometimes　we　go　up…stream　to　a　favourite　backwater；　some…　times　we　have　our　party　at　the　boathouse；　which　a　predecessor　of　ours　at　the　farm　built　in　the　meadow　hard　by　the　deepest　pool　for　swimming　and　diving。　In　a　heat…wave　we　choose　a　midnight　birthday　party　and　that　is　the　most　exciting　of　all。　We　welcome　the　seasons　by　the　river…　side；　crowning　the　youngest　girl　with　flowers　in　the　spring；　holding　a　summer　festival　on　Midsummer　Eve；　giving　thanks　for　the　harvest　in　the　autumn；　and　throwing　a　holly　wreath　into　the　current　in　the　winter。　After　a　long　period　of　rain　the　river　may　overflow　its　banks。　This　is　a　rare　occurrence　as　our　climate　seldom　god　to　extremes。　We　are　lucky　in　that　only　the　lower　fields；　which　make　up　a　very　small　proportion　of　our　farm；　are　affected　by　flooding；　but　other　farms　are　less　favourably　sited；　and　flooding　can　sometimes　spell　disaster　for　their　owners。　
One　bad　winter　we　watched　the　river　creep　up　the　lower　meadows。　All　the　cattle　had　been　moved　into　stalls　and　we　stood　to　lose　little。　We　were；　however；　worried　about　our　nearest　neighbours；　whose　farm　was　low　lying　and　who　were　newcomers　to　the　district。　As　the　floods　had　put　the　telephone　out　of　order；　we　could　not　find　out　how　they　were　managing。　From　an　attic　window　we　could　get　a　sweeping　view　of　the　river　where　their　land　joined　ours；　and　at　the　most　critical　juncture　we　took　turns　in　watching　that　point。　The　first　sign　of　disaster　was　a　dead　sheep　floating　down。　Next　came　a　horse；　swimming　bravely；　but　we　were　afraid　that　the　strength　of　the　current　would　prevent　its　landing　anywhere　before　it　became　exhausted。　Suddenly　a　raft　appeared；　looking　rather　like　Noah's　ark；　carrying　the　whole　family；　a　few　hens；　the　dogs；　a　cat；　and　a　bird　in　a　cage。　We　realized　that　they　must　have　become　unduly　frightened　by　the　rising　flood；　for　their　house；　which　had　sound　foundations；　would　have　stood　stoutly　even　if　it　had　been　almost　submerged。　The　men　of　our　family　waded　down　through　our　flooded　meadows　with　boathooks；　in　the　hope　of　being　able　to　grapple　a　corner　of　the　raft　and　pull　it　out　of　the　current　towards　our　bank。　We　still　think　it　a　miracle　that　they　were　able　to　do　so。

Lesson57　The　return　of　the　native
I　stopped　to　let　the　car　cool　off　and　to　study　the　map。　I　had　expected　to　be　near　my　objective　by　now；　but　everything　still　seemed　alien　to　me。　I　was　only　five　when　my　father　had　taken　me　abroad；　and　that　was　eighteen　years　ago。　When　my　mother　had　died　after　a　tragic　accident；　he　did　not　quickly　recover　from　the　shock　and　loneliness。　Everything　around　him　was　full　of　her　presence；　continually　re…opening　the　wound。　So　he　decided　to　emigrate。　In　the　new　country　he　became　absorbed　in　making　a　new　life　for　the　two　of　us；　so　that　he　gradually　ceased　to　grieve。　He　did　not　marry　again　and　I　was　brought　up　without　a　woman's　care；　but　I　lacked　for　nothing；　for　he　was　both　father　and　mother　to　me。　He　always　meant　to　go　back　one　day　but　not　to　stay。　His　roots　and　mine　had　become　too　firmly　embedded　in　the　new　land。　But　he　wanted　to　see　the　old　folk　again　and　to　visit　my　mother's　grave。　He　became　mortally　ill　a　few　months　before　we　had　planned　to　go　and；　when　he　knew　that　he　was　dying；　he　made　me　promise　to　go　on　my　own。
I　hired　a　car　the　day　after　landing　and　bought　a　comprehensive　book　of　maps；　which　I　found　most　helpful　on　the　cross　country　journey；　but　which　I　did　not　think　I　should　need　on　the　last　stage。　It　was　not　that　I　actually　remembered　anything　at　all。　But　my　father　had　described　over　and　over　again　what　we　should　see　at　every　milestone；　after　leaving　the　nearest　town；　so　that　I　was　positive　I　should　recognize　it　as　familiar　territory。　Well；　I　had　been　wrong；　for　I　was　now　lost。
I　looked　at　the　map　and　then　at　the　milometer。　I　had　come　ten　miles　since　leaving　the　town；　and　at　this　point；　according　to　my　father；　I　should　be　looking　at　farms　and　cottages　in　a　valley；　with　the　spire　of　the　church　of　our　village　showing　in　the　far　distance。　I　could　see　no　valley；　no　farms；　no　cottages　and　no　church　spireonly　a　lake。　I　decided　that　I　must　have　taken　a　wrong　turning　somewhere。　So　I　drove　back　to　the　town　and　began　to　retrace　the　route；　taking　frequent　glances　at　the　map。　I　landed　up　at　the　same　corner。　The　curious　thing　was　that　the　lake　was　not　marked　on　the　map。　I　felt　as　if　I　had　stumbled　into　a　nightmare　country；　as　you　sometimes　do　in　dreams。　And；　as　in　a　nightmare；　there　was　nobody　in　sight　to　help　me。　Fortunately　for　me；　as　I　was　wondering　what　to　do　next；　there　appeared　on　the　horizon　a　man　on　horseback；　riding　in　my　direction。　I　waited　till　he　came　near；　then　I　asked　him　the　way　to　our　old　village。　He　said　that　there　was　now　no　village。　I　thought　he　must　have　misunderstood　me。　so　I　repeated　its　name。　This　time　he　pointed　to　the　lake。　The　village　no　longer　existed　because　it　had　been　submerged；　and　all　the　valley　too。　The　lake　was　not　a　natural　one；　but　a　man　made　reservoir。　

Lesson58　A　little　spot　of　bother
The　old　lady　was　glad　to　be　back　at　the　block　of　flats　where　she　lived。　Her　shopping　had　tired　her　and　her　basket　had　grown　heavier　with　every　step　of　the　way　home。　In　the　lift　her　thoughts　were　on　lunch　and　a　good　rest；　but　when　she　got　out　at　her　own　floor；　both　were　forgotten　in　her　sudden　discovery　that　her　front　door　was　open。　She　was　thinking　that　she　must　reprimand　her　daily　maid　the　next　morning　for　such　a　monstrous　piece　of　negligence；　when　she　remembered　that　she　had　gone　shopping　after　the　maid　had　left　and　she　knew　that　she　had　turned　both　keys　in　their　locks。　She　walked　slowly　into　the　hall　and　at　once　noticed　that　all　the　room　doors　were　open；　yet　following　her　regular　practice　she　had　shut　them　before　going　out。　Looking　into　the　drawing　room；　she　saw　a　scene　of　confusion　over　by　her　writing　desk。　It　was　as　clear　as　daylight　then　that　burglars　had　forced　an　entry　during　her　absence。　Her　first　impulse　was　to　go　round　all　the　rooms　looking　for　the　thieves；　but　then　she　decided　that　at　her　age　it　might　be　more　prudent　to　have　someone　with　her；　so　she　went　to　fetch　the　porter　from　his　basement。　By　this　time　her　legs　were　beginning　to　tremble；　so　she　sat　down　and　accepted　a　cup　of　very　strong　tea；　while　he　telephoned　the　police。　Then；　her　composure　regained；　she　was　ready　to　set　off　with　the　porter's　assistance　to
search　for　any　intruders　who　might　still　be　lurking　in　her　flat。　
They　went　through　the　rooms；　being　careful　to　touch　nothing；　as　they　did　not　want　to　hinder　the　police　in　their　search　for　fingerprints。　The　chaos　was　inconceivable。　She　had　lived　in　the　flat　for　thirty　years　and　was　a　veritable　magpie　at　hoarding；　and　it　seemed　as　though　everything　she　possessed　had　been　tossed　out　and　turned　over　and　over。　At　least　sorting　out　the　things　she　should　have　discarded　years　ago　was　now　being　made　easier　for　her。　Then　a　police　inspector　arrived　with　a　constable　and　she　told　them　of　her　discovery　of　the　ransacked　flat。　The　inspector　began　to　look　for　fingerprints；　while　the　constable　checked　that　the　front　door　locks　had　not　been　forced；　thereby
proving　that　the　burglars　had　either　used　skeleton　keys　or　entered　over　the　balcony。　There　was　no　trace　of　fingerprints；　but　the　inspector　found　a　dirty　red　bundle　that　contained　jewellery　which　the　old　lady　said　was　not　hers。　So　their　entry　into　this　flat　was　apparently　not　the　burglars'　first　job　that　day　and　they　must　have　been　disturbed。　The　inspector　then　asked　the　old　lady　to　try　to　check　what　was　missing　by　the　next　day　and　advised　her　not　to　stay　alone　in　the　flat　for　a　few　nights。　The　old　lady　thought　he　was　a　fussy　creature；　but　since　the　porter　agreed　with　him；　she　rang　up　her　daughter　and　asked　for　her　help　in　what　she　described　as　a　little　spot　of　bother。　

Lesson59　Possession　amassing　and　collecting
People　tend　to　amass　possessions；　some…times　without　being　aware　of　doing　so。　Indeed　they　can　have　a　delightful　surprise　when　they　find　something　useful　which　they　did　not　know　they　owned。　Those　who　never　have　to　change　house　become　indiscriminate　collectors　of　what　can　only　be　described　as　clutter。　They　leave　un…　wanted　objects　in　drawers；　cupboards　and　attics　for　years；　in　the　belief　that　they　may　one　day　need　just　those　very　things。　As　they　grow　old；　people　also　accumulate　belongings　for　two　other　reasons；　lack　of　physical　and　mental　energy；　both　of　which　are　essential　in　turning　out　and　throwing　away；　and　sentiment。　Things　owned　for　a　long　time　are　full　of　associations　with　the　past；　perhaps　with　relatives　who　are　dead；　and　so　they　gradually　acquire　a　value　beyond　their　true　worth。　Some　things　are　collected　deliberately　in　the　home　in　an　attempt　to　avoid　waste。　Among　these　I　would　list　string　and　brown　paper；　kept　by　thrifty　people　when　a　parcel　has　been　opened；　to　save　buying　these　two　requisites。　Collecting　small　items　can　easily　become　a　mania。　I　know　someone　who　always　cuts　out　from　newspapers　sketches　of　model　clothes　that　she　would　like　to　buy；　if　she　had　the　money。　As　she　is　not　rich；　the　chanc