$课文83 大选之后
904. The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections.
前首相温特沃兹.莱恩先生在最近的大选中被击败。
905. He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad.
他现在退出了政界，到国外去了。
906. My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane's Radical Progressive Party.
我的朋友帕特里克一直是莱恩先生的激进党的强烈反对者。
907. After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister's house.
大选结束后，帕特里克来到了前首相的住处。
908. 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.
当他询问莱恩先生是否住在那里时，值班的警察告诉他这位前首相落选后出国去了。
909. On the following day, Patrick went to the house again.
第二天，帕特里克再次来到首相的住处。
910. The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question.
昨天的那位警察正从门口慢慢走过，帕特里克上前问了和昨天同样的问题。
911. Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer.
虽然那位警察这次有点疑心，但还是对他作了同样的回答。
912. The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question.
第三天，帕特里克又去了，提出了同前两天完全一样的问题。
913. This time, the policeman lost his temper. 'I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,' he shouted,
这一次警察火了。“我昨天和前天都告诉过您了，”他大叫着，
914. Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections.
“莱恩先生在大选中被击败了，
915. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!
他已经退出了政界去国外了！”
916. 'I know,' answered Patrick, 'but I love to hear you say it!'
“这我都知道，”帕特里克说，“可我就是喜欢听你说出这此！”
$课文84 罢工
917. Busmen have decided to go on strike next week.
公共汽车司机决定下星期罢工。
918. The strike is due to begin on Tuesday.
罢工定于星期二开始，
919. No one knows how long it will last.
谁也不知道会持续多久。
920. The busmen have stated that the strike will continue until general agreement is reached about pay and working conditions.
司机们声称此次罢工将一直持续到就工资和工作条件问题达成全面协议的时候为止。
921. Most people believe that the strike will last for at least a week.
多数人认为此次罢工至少会持续一个星期。
922. Many owners of private cars are going to offer 'free rides' to people on their way to work.
很多私人汽车的车主正准备为乘车上班的人们提供“免费乘车”的服务，
923. This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent.
这将在某种程度上减轻对火车的压力。
924. Meanwhile, a number of university students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts.
与此同时，有一部分大学生自愿在罢工期间驾驶公共汽车。
925. All the students are expert drivers,
所有的学生都是开车的能手，
926. but before they drive any of the buses, they will have to pass a special test.
但在驾驶公共汽车之前，他们必须通过一项专门测验。
927. The students are going to take the test in two days' time.
学生们准备在两天后就接受测验。
928. Even so, people are going to find it difficult to get to work.
即使这样，人们仍会感到上班有困难。
929. But so far, the public has expressed its gratitude to the students in letters to the Press.
但到目前为止，公众已经向新闻界写信表达他们对学生们的感激之情了。
930. Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast!
只有一两个人提出反对意见，说学生们会把车开得太快！
$课文85 活到老学到老
931. I have just received a letter from my old school, informing me that my former headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiring next week.
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。
932. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion.
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。
933. 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.
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。
934. 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.
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。
935. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour next Thursday.
很多老同学都准备参加下星期四为他举行的告别宴会。
936. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr. Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years.
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。
937. After he has retired, he will devote himself to gardening.
他退休后，将致力于园艺。
938. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby.
对于他来说，这将是一种全新的爱好。
939. But this does not matter, for, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn.
但这没有关系，因为正如他常说的那样，人要活到老学到老。
$课文86 失控
940. As the man tried to swing the speedboat round, the steering wheel came away in his hands.
当那人试图让快艇转弯时，方向盘脱手了。
941. He waved desperately to his companion, who had been water skiing for the last fifteen minutes.
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。
942. Both men had hardly had time to realize what was happening when they were thrown violently into the sea.
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。
943. The speedboat had struck a buoy, but it continued to move very quickly across the water.
快艇撞上了一个浮标，但它仍在水面上快速行驶着。
944. Both men had just begun to swim towards the shore, when they noticed with dismay that the speedboat was moving in a circle.
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，
945. It now came straight towards them at tremendous speed.
它现在正以惊人的速度直冲他们驶来。
946. In less than a minute, it roared past them only a few feet away.
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。
947. After it had passed, they swam on as quickly as they could because they knew that the boat would soon return.
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。
948. They had just had enough time to swim out of danger when the boat again completed a circle.
他们刚刚来得及游出危险区，快艇就又转弯了一圈。
949. On this occasion, however, it had slowed down considerably.
然而这一次它的速度慢多了。
950. The petrol had nearly all been used up.
汽油几乎已经用光。
951. Before long, the noise dropped completely and the boat began to drift gently across the water.
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。
$课文87 极好的不在犯罪现场的证据
952. 'At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8 o'clock train to London,' said the man.
“在凶*发生的时候，我正坐在8点钟开往伦敦的火车上。”那人说。
953. 'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.
“您总是赶这样早的火车？”探长问。
954. '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.'
“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。”
955. 'Would a later train get you to work on time?' asked the inspector.
“晚一点儿的车也能送您按时上班吗？”
956. I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.
“我认为可以，但我从来不乘晚一点儿的车。”
957. At what time did you arrive at the station?
“您几点钟到的火车站？”
958. At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.
“7点50分。我买了张报纸，等着车来。”
959. And you didn't notice anything unusual?
“您没有注意到有什么异常情况发生吗？”
960. Of course not.
“当然没有。”
961. 'I suggest,' said the inspector,
“我提醒您，”探长说，
962. that you are not telling the truth.
“您讲的不是实话。
963. 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.
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。
964. You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all.
您看，在凶*发生的那天早晨，8点钟的那次车根本没有发。
965. It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.
它在芬格林车站出了故障而被取消了。”
$课文88 困在矿井里
966. Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.
6个人被困在矿井里已有17个小时了。
967. If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.
如果不把他们尽快救到地面上来，他们就有可能丧生。
968. However, rescue operations are proving difficult.
然而，事实证明营救工作非常困难。
969. If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.
如果用炸药爆破，震动会引起矿顶塌落。
970. Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.
因此，营救人员在矿井的北侧钻了一个洞。
971. They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule.
他们准备用一种特制的容器把这6个人救上来。
972. If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil,
如果不是因为土壤下面有一层坚硬的岩石，
973. they would have completed the job in a few hours.
他们的营救工作仅用几个小时就可以完成了。
974. As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go.
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。
975. Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago,
与此同时，两个小时以前放下进去的一只麦克风
976. has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives.
使井下的人可以与其亲属保持联系。
977. Though they are running out of food and drink,
虽然他们的食物和饮料都快消耗尽了，
978. the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon.
但这些人的心情很好，坚信他们很快就会出去。
979. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly.
他们一直被告知营救工作进行得非常顺利。
980. If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.
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。
$课文89 口误
981. People will do anything to see a free show -- even if it is a bad one.
人们总要想尽办法看不花钱的演出--哪怕是拙劣的演出。
982. When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P. and U. Bird Seed Company,
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，
983. we all rushed to see it.
我们都赶紧跑去观看。
984. We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began.
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。
985. Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen.
不幸的是，这次演出是我们看过的最乏味的演出了。
986. Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed, as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come.
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。
987. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme.
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。
988. He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone.
他显然非常紧张，局促不安地在麦克风前站了好几分钟。
989. As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone burst out laughing.
但他刚一开口说话，人们便哄堂大笑起来。
990. We all know what the poor man should have said, but what he actually said was:
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：
991. 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!"
“这是‘浦伊’鸟食公司，好女士们，晚上和先生们！”
$课文90 晚餐吃什么？
992. Fish and chips has always been a favourite dish in Britain,
油煎鱼加炸土豆片一直是英国人喜爱的一道菜，
993. but as the oceans have been overfished, fish has become more and more expensive.
但是随着海洋里的滥捕滥捞，鱼已经变得越来越昂贵。
994. So it comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are terrifying the divers on North Sea oil rigs.
因此，听说北海石油钻井平台上的潜水员受到巨型鱼雷的恐吓，确实很让人吃惊。
995. Oil rigs have to be repaired frequently and divers, who often have to work in darkness a hundred feet under water,
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，
996. have been frightened out of their wits by giant fish bumping into them as they work.
他们曾在工作时被撞到他们身上的大鱼吓得惊惶失措。
997. Now they have had special cages made to protect them from these monsters.
现在他们有了特制的笼子，用来保护他们免受大鱼的侵袭。
998. The fish are not sharks or killer whales,
这些鱼并不是鲨鱼或逆戟鲸，
999. but favourite eating varieties like cod and skate which grow to unnatural sizes, sometimes as much as twelve feet in length.
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。
1000. Three factors have caused these fish to grow so large:
这些鱼能长得这么大是由3个因素造成的：
1001. the warm water round the hot oil pipes under the sea;
海底热的输油管道附近的温暖的海水；
1002. the plentiful supply of food thrown overboard by the crews on the rigs;
钻井平台工作人员抛到海里充足的食物；
1003. the total absence of fishing boats around the oil rigs.
钻井平台周围根本没有捕鱼船只。
1004. As a result, the fish just eat and eat and grow and grow in the lovely warm water. Who eats who?
结果是，这些鱼就在可爱的温暖的水流中吃呀吃，长呀长。究竟谁吃谁呢？
$课文91 三人同篮
1005. A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby.
一个飞行员发现了一只气球，它像是正飞往附近的一个皇家空军基地。
1006. He informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery.
他马上把情况报告了该基地，但那里的人没有一个能解释这到底是怎么回事。
1007. The officer in the control tower was very angry when he heard the news, because balloons can be a great danger to aircraft.
控制塔上的官员得知这一消息后，非常气愤，因为气球有可能给飞机造成极大的危险。
1008. He said that someone might be spying on the station and the pilot was ordered to keep track of the strange object.
他说可能有人正对基地进行侦察，因此命令那个飞行员跟踪那个奇怪的飞行物。
1009. The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time.
飞行员设法绕着气球飞了一阵。
1010. He could make out three men in a basket under it and one of them was holding a pair of binoculars.
他看清了气球下面有3个人呆在一只筐里，其中一个举着望远镜。
1011. When the balloon was over the station, the pilot saw one of the men taking photographs.
当气球飞临基地上空时，飞行员看见有一个人在拍照。
1012. Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airfield.
不久，气球开始降落，在一个停机坪附近着了陆。
1013. The police were called in, but they could not arrest anyone,
警察被召来了，但他们却不能逮捕任何人，
1014. for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station!
因为筐里是两名国会议员和一名基地的指挥官！
1015. As the Commanding Officer explained later, one half of the station did not know what the other half was doing!
正如指挥官后来解释的那样，基地的这半边不知道那半边正在干什么！
$课文92 自找麻烦
1016. It must have been about two in the morning when I returned home.
我回到家时，肯定已是凌晨两点左右了。
1017. I tried to wake up my wife by ringing the doorbell, but she was fast asleep,
我按响了门铃，试图唤醒我的妻子，但她睡得很熟。
1018. so I got a ladder from the shed in the garden, put it against the wall, and began climbing towards the bedroom window.
于是，我从花园的小棚里搬来了一个梯子，把它靠在墙边，开始向卧室的窗口爬去。
1019. I was almost there when a sarcastic voice below said, 'I don't think the windows need cleaning at this time of the night.'
快要爬到窗口时，下面一个人用讽刺的口吻说：“我看不必在夜里这个时候擦窗子吧。”
1020. I looked down and nearly fell off the ladder when I saw a policeman.
我向下面看去。当我看清是一个警察时，差一点儿从梯子上掉下去。
1021. I immediately regretted answering in the way I did, but I said, 'I enjoy cleaning windows at night.'
我回答了他的话，但马上又后悔不该那样说，我是这样说的：“我喜欢在夜里擦窗子。”
1022. 'So do I,' answered the policeman in the same tone. 'Excuse my interrupting you.
“我也是的，”警察用同样的声调回答，“请原谅我打断了您。
1023. I hate to interrupt a man when he's busy working, but would you mind coming with me to the station?
当一个人在忙着干活时，我是不愿意去打断他的，但请您跟我到警察局去一趟好吗？”
1024. 'Well, I'd prefer to stay here,' I said. 'You see. I've forgotten my key.'
“可我更愿意呆在这儿，”我说，“您瞧，我忘带钥匙了。”
1025. 'Your what?' he called.
“什么？”他大声问。
1026. 'My key,' I shouted.
“钥匙！”我喊道。
1027. Fortunately, the shouting woke up my wife who opened the window just as the policeman had started to climb towards me.
幸运得很，这喊声惊醒了我的妻子。就在警察开始向我爬上来时，她打开了窗子。
$课文93 崇高的礼物
1028. One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the United States of America in the nineteenth century by the people of France.
世界上最著名的纪念碑之一的自由女神雕像是在19世纪时由法国人民赠送给美国的。
1029. The great statue, which was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, took ten years to complete.
这座由雕像家奥古斯特.巴索尔德设计的巨大雕像是用10年时间雕像刻成的。
1030. The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been especially constructed by Eiffel.
这座雕像的主体是用铜制成的，由艾菲尔特制的金属框架支撑着。
1031. Before it could be transported to the United States, a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built.
在雕像被运往美国之前，必须为它选好一块场地，同时必须建造一个基座。
1032. The site chosen was an island at the entrance of New York Harbour.
场地选在了纽约港入口处的一个岛上。
1033. By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall had been erected in Paris.
到1884年，一座高度达151英尺的雕像在巴黎竖立起来了。
1034. The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent to America.
第二年，它被拆成若干小块，运到美国。
1035. By the end of October 1886, the statue had been put together again and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi.
到1886年10月底，这座雕像被重新组装起来，由巴索尔地正式赠送给美国人民。
1036. Ever since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America.
从那时起，这座伟大的纪念碑对通过纽约港进入美国定居的千百万人来说就一直是自由的象征。
$课文94 未来的冠军
1037. Experiments have proved that children can be instructed in swimming at a very early age.
实验证明，儿童在很小的时候就可以开始学习游泳。
1038. At a special swimming pool in Los Angeles,
在洛杉矶的一个特设的游泳池里，
1039. children become expert at holding their breath under water even before they can walk.
孩子们甚至在还没有学会走路时就已经能熟练地在水下屏住呼吸了。
1040. Babies of two months old do not appear to be reluctant to enter the water.
两个月的婴儿并未显得不愿意入水。
1041. It is not long before they are so accustomed to swimming that they can pick up weights from the floor of the pool.
他们很快便适应了游泳，以致能捡起池底的物品。
1042. A game that is very popular with these young swimmers is the underwater tricycle race.
这些幼小的游泳运动员非常喜爱的一种游戏是水下三轮车比赛。
1043. Tricycles are lined up on the floor of the pool seven feet under water.
三轮车并排放在7英尺深的游泳池底上。
1044. The children compete against each other to reach the other end of the pool.
孩子们比赛看谁先到达游泳池的另一端。
1045. Many pedal their tricycles, but most of them prefer to push or drag them.
很多孩子用脚蹬车，但多数孩子更愿意推或是拉着三轮车。
1046. Some children can cover the whole length of the pool without coming up for breath even once.
有些孩子能够跑完游泳池的全程而不用露出水面换气。
1047. Whether they will ever become future Olympic champions, only time will tell.
他们将来是否能成为奥林匹克的冠军，这只能由时间来作出回答。
1048. Meanwhile, they should encourage those among us who cannot swim five yards before they are gasping for air.
与此同时，他们对我们中的那些游不了5码就已喘不过气来的人应该是种鼓舞。
$课文95 纯属虚构
1049. When the Ambassador or Escalopia returned home for lunch, his wife got a shock.
当艾斯卡罗比亚国的大使回到家吃午饭时，把他的夫人吓了一跳。
1050. He looked pale and his clothes were in a frightful state.
他面色苍白，衣服也搞得不成样子。
1051. 'What has happened?' she asked. 'How did your clothes get into such a mess?'
“发生了什么事？”她问，“你的衣服怎么搞得一塌糊涂？”
1052. 'A fire extinguisher, my dear,' answered the Ambassador drily.
“灭火器弄的，亲爱的，”大使冷冷地回答，
1053. University students set the Embassy on fire this morning.
“今天上午大学生们放火点着了大使馆。”
1054. 'Good heavens!' exclaimed his wife. 'And where were you at the time?'
“天啊！”他的夫人惊叫，“那你当时在什么地方？”
1055. 'I was in my office as usual,' answered the Ambassador.
“我和往常一样，在办公室里，”大使回答说。
1056. The fire broke out in the basement. I went down immediately, of course,
“地下室突然着火，我当然马上下去了。
1057. and that fool, Horst, aimed a fire extinguisher at me.
但那个傻瓜霍斯特把灭火器对准了我。
1058. He thought I was on fire.
他认为是我着火了。
1059. I must definitely get that fellow posted.
我一定要把那个家伙打发走。”
1060. The Ambassador's wife went on asking questions, when she suddenly noticed a big hole in her husband's hat.
大使夫人继续提出问题，她突然又发现丈夫的帽子上有个洞。
1061. 'And how can you explain that?' she asked.
“那么你对那又作何解释呢？”她问。
1062. 'Oh, that,' said the Ambassador.
“那个嘛，”大使说，
1063. Someone fired a shot through my office window.
“有人向我办公室窗户开了一枪。
1064. Accurate, don't you think?
真够准的，是不是？
1065. Fortunately, I wasn't wearing it at the time.
幸亏我当时没戴帽子。
1066. If I had been, I would not have been able to get home for lunch.
如果真戴着它，我现在就不能回家来吃午饭了。”
$课文96 亡灵返乡
1067. A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.
日本每年过一次“亡灵节”。
1068. This festival is a cheerful occasion,
这个节日是个欢乐的日子，
1069. for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living.
因为在这一天，据说死去的人要回到他们的家里来，活着的人则对他们表示欢迎。
1070. As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them.
因为预料到他们在经过长途旅行之后会感到饥饿，所以为他们摆放好了食品。
1071. Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.
特制的灯笼挂在各家的门外，为的是帮助亡灵看清道路。
1072. All night long, people dance and sing.
整个夜晚人们载歌载舞。
1073. In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea
一大早，人们便把为死者摆放的食品扔进河中或海里，
1074. as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.
因为人们认为活着的人吃了这些东西是不吉利的。
1075. In towns that are near the sea,
在靠海的城镇中，
1076. the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before,
头天夜里挂在大街小巷的小灯笼
1077. are placed into the water when the festival is over.
在节后就放在了水里。
1078. Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.
成千上万只灯笼慢慢漂向大海，指引着亡灵返回另一个世界。
1079. This is a moving spectacle,
这是一个感人的场面，
1080. for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.
人们成群地伫立在海岸上，注视着灯笼远去，直到再也看不见为止。
