“我可以买那两张票吗？”我问。
“当然可以，不过这两张票是下星期三的，您是否还要呢？”
“我还是买下的好，”我垂头丧气地说。
Lesson 20
One man in a boat
独坐孤舟
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why is fishing the writer's favourite sport？
Fishing is my favourite sport。 I often fish for hours without catching anything。 But this does not worry me。 Some fishermen are unlucky。 Instead of catching fish； they catch old boots and rubbish。 I am even less lucky。 I never catch anything not even old boots。 After having spent whole mornings on the river； I always go home with an empty bag。 'You must give up fishing！' my friends say。 'It's a waste of time。' But they don't realize one important thing。 I'm not really interested in fishing。 I am only interested in sitting in a boat and doing nothing at all！
New words and expressions 生词和短语
catch v。 抓到
fisherman n。 钓鱼人，渔民
boot n。 靴子
waste n。 浪费
realize v。 意识到
参考译文
钓鱼是我特别喜爱的一项运动。我经常一钓数小时却一无所获，但我从不为此烦恼。有些垂钓者就是不走运，他们往往鱼钓不到，却钓上来些旧靴子和垃圾。我的运气甚至还不及他们。我什么东西也未钓到过 就连旧靴子也没有。我总是在河上呆上整整一上午，然后空着袋子回家。“你可别再钓鱼了！”我的朋友们说，“这是浪费时间。”然而他们没有认识到重要的一点，我并不是真的对钓鱼有兴趣，我感兴趣的只是独坐孤舟，无所事事！
Lesson 21
Mad or not？
是不是疯了
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why do people think the writer is mad？
Aeroplanes are slowly driving me mad。 I live near an airport and passing planes can be heard night and day。 The airport was built years ago； but for some reason it could not be used then。 Last year； however； it came into use。 Over a hundred people must have been driven away from their homes by the noise。 I am one of the few people left。 Sometimes I think this house will be knocked down by a passing plane。 I have been offered a large sum of money to go away； but I am determined to stay here。 Everybody says I must be mad and they are probably right。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
mad adj。 发疯
reason n。 原因
sum n。 量
determined adj。 坚定的，下决心的
参考译文
飞机正在逐渐把我逼疯。我住在一个机场附近，过往飞机日夜不绝于耳。机场是许多年前建的，但由于某种原因当时未能启用。然而去年机场开始使用了。有100多人肯定是被噪音逼得已经弃家远去，我是少数留下来的人中的一个。有时我觉得这房子就要被一架飞过的飞机撞倒。他们曾向我提供一大笔钱让我搬走，但我决定留在这儿。大家都说我肯定是疯了，也许他们说的是对的。
Lesson 22
A glass envelope
玻璃信封
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
How did Jane receive a letter from a stranger？
My daughter； Jane； never dreamed of receiving a letter from a girl of her own age in Holland。 Last year； we were travelling across the Channel and Jane put a piece of paper with her name and address on it into a bottle。 She threw the bottle into the sea。 She never thought of it again； but ten months later； she received a letter from a girl in Holland。 Both girls write to each other regularly now。 However； they have decided to use the post office。 Letters will cost a little more； but they will certainly travel faster。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
dream v。 做梦，梦想
age n。 年龄
channel n。 海峡
throw v。 扔，抛
参考译文
我的女儿简从未想过会接到荷兰一位同龄姑娘的来信。去年，当我们横渡英吉利海峡时，简把写有她姓名和住址的一张纸条装进了一只瓶子，又将瓶子扔进了大海。此后她就再没去想那只瓶子。但10个月以后，她收到了荷兰一位姑娘的来信。现在这两位姑娘定期通信了。然而她们还是决定利用邮局。这样会稍微多花点钱，但肯定是快得多了。
Lesson 23
A new house
新居
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why is the new house special？
I had a letter from my sister yesterday。 She lives in Nigeria。 In her letter； she said that she would come to England next year。 If she comes； she will get a surprise。 We are now living in a beautiful new house in the country。 Work on it had begun before my sister left。 The house was completed five months ago。 In my letter； I told her that she could stay with us。 The house has many large rooms and there is a lovely garden。 It is a very modern house； so it looks strange to some people。 It must be the only modern house in the district。
New words and expressions 生词和短语
complete v。 完成
modern adj。 新式的，与以往不同的
strange adj。 奇怪的
district n。 地区
参考译文
昨天我收到了姐姐的一封信，她住在尼日利亚。在信中她说她明年将到英国来。如果她来了，她会感到非常惊奇了。我们现在住在乡间的一栋漂亮的新住宅里。这栋房子在我姐姐离开之前就已动工了，是在5个月以前竣工的。我在信中告诉她，她可以和我们住在一起。这栋房子里有许多房间，还有一个漂亮的花园。它是一栋非常现代化的住宅，因此在有些人看来很古怪。它肯定是这个地区唯一的一栋现代化住宅。
Lesson 24
If could be worse
不幸中之万幸
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Had the writer's money been stolen？
I entered the hotel manager's office and sat down。 I had just lost 50 and I felt very upset。 'I left the money in my room；' I said； 'and it's not there now。' The manager was sympathetic； but he could do nothing。 'Everyone's losing money these days；' he said。 He started to complain about this wicked world but was interrupted by a knock at the door。 A girl came in and put an envelope on his desk。 It contained 50。 'I found this outside this gentleman's room；' she said。 'Well；' I said to the manager； 'there is still some honesty in this world！'
New words and expressions 生词和短语
manager n。 经理
upset adj。 不安
sympathetic adj。 表示同情的
complain v。 抱怨
wicked adj。 很坏的，邪恶的
contain v。 包含，内装
honesty n。 诚实
参考译文
我走进饭店经理的办公室，坐了下来。我刚刚丢了50英镑，感到非常烦恼。“我把钱放在房间里，”我说，“可现在没有了。”经理深表同情，但却无能为力。“现在大家都在丢钱，”他说。他开始抱怨起这个邪恶的世道来，却被一阵敲门声打断了。一个姑娘走了进来，把一个信封放在了他桌上。它里面装着50英镑。“这是我在这位先生的房门外捡到的，”她说。“是啊，”我对那位经理说，“这世界上还是有诚实可言的！”
Lesson 25
Do the English speak English？
英国人讲的是英语吗？
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why does the writer not understand the porter？
I arrived in London at last。 The railway station was big； black and dark。 I did not know the way to my hotel； so I asked a porter。 I not only spoke English very carefully； but very clearly as well。 The porter； however； could not understand me。 I repeated my question several times and at last he understood。 he answered me； but he spoke neither slowly nor clearly。 'I am a foreigner；' I said。 Then he spoke slowly； but I could not understand him。 My teacher never spoke English like that！ The porter and I looked at each other and smiled。 Then he said something and I understood it。 'You'll soon learn English！' he said。 I wonder。 In England； each person speaks a different language。 The English understand each other； but I don't understand them！ Do they speak English？
New words and expressions 生词和短语
railway n。 铁路
porter n。 搬运工
several quantifier 几个
foreigner n。 外国人
wonder v。 感到奇怪
参考译文
我终于到了伦敦。火车站很大，又黑又暗。我不知道去饭店的路该怎么走，于是向一个搬运工打听。我的英语讲得不但非常认真，而且咬字也非常清楚。然而搬运工却不明白我的话。我把问话重复了很多遍。他终于听懂了。他回答了，但他讲得既不慢也不清楚。“我是个外国人，”我说。于是他说得慢了，可我还是听不懂。我的老师从来不那样讲英语！我和搬运工相视一笑。接着，他说了点什么，这回我听懂了。“您会很快学会英语的！”他说。我感到奇怪。在英国，人们各自说着一种不同的语言。英国人之间相互听得懂，可我却不懂他们的话！他们说的是英语吗？
Lesson 26