o steal the diamonds。 When the plane arrived； some of the detectives were waiting inside the main building while others were waiting on the airfield。 Two men took the parcel off the plane and carried it into the Customs House。 While two detectives were keeping guard at the door； two others opened the parcel。 To their surprise； the precious parcel was full of stones and sand！
New words and expressions 生词和短语
detective n。 侦探
airport n。 机场
expect v。 期待，等待
valuable adj。 贵重的
parcel n。 包裹
diamond n。 钻石
steal v。 偷
main adj。 主要的
airfield n。 飞机起落的场地
guard n。 警戒，守卫
precious adj。 珍贵的
stone n。 石子
sand n。 沙子
参考译文
飞机误点了，侦探们在机场等了整整一上午。他们正期待从南非来的一个装着钻石的贵重包裹。数小时以前，有人向警方报告，说有人企图偷走这些钻石。当飞机到达时，一些侦探等候在主楼内，另一些侦探则守候在停机坪上。有两个人把包裹拿下飞机，进了海关。这时两个侦探把住门口，另外两个侦探打开了包裹。令他们吃惊的是，那珍贵的包裹里面装的全是石头和沙子！
Lesson 8
The best and the worst
最好的和最差的
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why is Joe's garden the most beautiful one in the town？
Joe Sanders has the most beautiful garden in our town。 Nearly everybody enters for 'The Nicest Garden Competition' each year； but Joe wins every time。 Bill Frith's garden is larger than Joe's。 Bill works harder than Joe and grows more flowers and vegetables； but Joe's garden is more interesting。 He has made neat paths and has built a wooden bridge over a pool。 I like gardens too； but I do not like hard work。 Every year I enter for the garden competition too； and I always win a little prize for the worst garden in the town！
New words and expressions 生词和短语
competition n。 比赛，竞赛
neat adj。 整齐的，整洁的
path n。 小路，小径
wooden adj。 木头的
pool n。 水池
参考译文
乔。桑德斯拥有我们镇上最漂亮的花园。几乎每个人都参加每年举办的“最佳花园竞赛”，而每次都是乔获胜。比尔。弗里斯的花园比乔的花园大，他比乔也更为勤奋，种植的花卉和蔬菜也更多，但乔的花园更富有情趣。他修筑了一条条整洁的小路，并在一个池塘上架了一座小木桥。我也喜欢花园，但我却不愿意辛勤劳动。每年的花园竞赛我也参加，但总因是镇上最劣的花园而获得一个小奖！
Lesson 9
A cold welcome
冷遇
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What does 'a cold welcome' refer to？
On Wednesday evening； we went to the Town Hall。 It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall clock。 It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time。 Fifteen minutes passed and then； at five to twelve； the clock stopped。 The big minute hand did not move。 We waited and waited； but nothing happened。 Suddenly someone shouted。 'It's two minutes past twelve！ The clock has stopped！' I looked at my watch。 It was true。 The big clock refused to welcome the New Year。 At that moment； everybody began to laugh and sing。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
welcome n。 欢迎；v。 欢迎
crowd n。 人群
gather v。 聚集
hand n。 （表或机器的）指针
shout v。 喊叫
refuse v。 拒绝
laugh v。 笑
参考译文
星期三的晚上，我们去了市政厅。 那是一年的最后一天，一大群人聚集在市政厅的大钟下面。再过20分钟，大钟将敲响12下。15分钟过去了，而就在11点55分时，大钟停了。那根巨大的分针不动了。 我们等啊等啊，可情况没有变化。突然有人喊道：“已经12点零2分了！那钟已经停了！”我看了一下我的手表，果真如此。那座大钟不愿意迎接新年。此时，大家已经笑了起来，同时唱起了歌。
Lesson 10
Not for jazz
不适于演奏爵士乐
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What happened to the clavichord？
We have an old musical instrument。 It is called a clavichord。 It was made in Germany in 1681。 Our clavichord is kept in the living room。 It has belonged to our family for a long time。 The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago。 Recently it was damaged by a visitor。 She tried to play jazz on it！ She struck the keys too hard and two of the strings were broken。 My father was shocked。 Now we are not allowed to touch it。 It is being repaired by a friend of my father's。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
jazz n。 爵士音乐
musical adj。 音乐的
instrument n。 乐器
clavichord n。 古钢琴
recently adv。 最近
damage v。 损坏
key n。 琴键
string n。 （乐器的）弦
shock v。 使不悦或生气，震惊
allow v。 允许，让
touch v。 触摸
参考译文
我家有件古乐器，被称作古钢琴，是1681年德国造的。我们的这架古钢琴存放在起居室里。我们家有这件乐器已经很久了， 是我祖父在很多年以前买的。可它最近被一个客人弄坏了，因为她用它来弹奏爵士乐。她在击琴键时用力过猛，损坏了两根琴弦。我父亲大为吃惊，不许我们再动它。父亲的一个朋友正在修理这件乐器。
Lesson 11
One good turn deserves another
礼尚往来
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Who paid for Tony's dinner？
I was having dinner at a restaurant when Tony Steele came in。 Tony worked in a lawyer's office years ago； but he is now working at a bank。 He gets a good salary； but he always borrows money from his friends and never pays it back。 Tony saw me and came and sat at the same table。 He has never borrowed money from me。 While he was eating； I asked him to lend me twenty pounds。 To my surprise； he gave me the money immediately。 'I have never borrowed any money from you；' Tony said； 'so now you can pay for my dinner！'
New words and expressions 生词和短语
turn n。 行为，举止
deserve v。 应得到，值得
lawyer n。 律师
bank n。 银行
salary n。 工资
immediately adv。 立刻
参考译文
我正在一家饭馆吃饭，托尼。斯蒂尔走了进来。托尼曾在一家律师事务所工作，而现在正在一家银行上班。他的薪水很高，但他却总是向朋友借钱，并且从来不还。托尼看见了我，就走过来和我坐到一张桌子前。他从未向我借过钱。当他吃饭时，我提出向他借20英镑。令我惊奇的是，他立刻把钱给了我。“我还从未向你借过钱，”托尼说道，“所以现在你可以替我付饭钱了！”
Lesson 12
Goodbye and good luck
再见，一路顺风
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Where is Captain Alison going and how？
Our neighbour； Captain Charles Alison； will sail from Portsmouth tomorrow。 We'll meet him at the harbour early in the morning。 He will be in his small boat； Topsail。 Topsail is a famous little boat。 It has sailed across the Atlantic many times。 Captain Alison will set out at eight o'clock； so we'll have plenty of time。 We'll see his boat and then we'll say goodbye to him。 He will be away for two months。 We are very proud of him。 He will take part in an important race across the Atlantic。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
luck n。 运气，幸运
captain n。 船长
sail v。 航行
harbour n。 港口
proud adj。 自豪
important adj。 重要的
参考译文
我们的邻居查尔斯。艾利森船长明天就要从朴次茅斯启航了。明天一大早我们将在码头为他送行。他将乘坐他的“涛波赛”号小艇。“涛波赛”号是艘有名的小艇，它已经多次横渡大西洋。艾利森船长将于8点钟启航，因此我们有充裕的时间。我们将参观他的船，然后和他告别。他要离开两个月，我们真为他感到自豪，他将参加一次重大的横渡大西洋的比赛。
Lesson 13
The Greenwood Boys
绿林少年
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why will the police have a difficult time？
The Greenwood Boys are a group of pop singers。 At present； they are visiting all parts of the country。 They will be arriving here tomorrow。 They will be coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station。 Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers' Club。 The Greenwood Boys will be staying for five days。 During this time； they will give five performances。 As usual； the police will have a difficult time。 They will be trying to keep order。 It is always the same on these occasions。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
group n。 小组，团体
pop singer 流行歌手
club n。 俱乐部
performance n。 演出
occasio