Lesson 1 A private conversation 私人谈话Why did the writer complain to the people behind him? Last week I went to the theatre. I had a very good seat. The play was very interesting. I did not enjoy it. A young man and a young woman were sitting behind me. They were talking loudly. I got very angry. I could not hear the actors. I turned round. I looked at the man and the woman angrily. They did not pay any attention. In the end, I could not bear it. I turned round again. 'I can't hear a word!' I said angrily. 'It's none of your business,' the young man said rudely. 'This is a private conversation!'New words and expressions 生词和短语private adj. 私人的conversation n. 谈话theatre n. 剧场，戏院seat n. 座位play n. 戏loudly adv. 大声地angry adj. 生气的angrily adv. 生气地attention n. 注意bear v. 容忍business n. 事rudely adv. 无礼地，粗鲁地参考译文 上星期我去看戏。我的座位很好，戏很有意思，但我却无法欣赏。一青年男子与一青年女子坐在我的身后，大声地说着话。我非常生气，因为我听不见演员在说什么。我回过头去怒视着那一男一女，他们却毫不理会。最后，我忍不住了，又一次回过头去，生气地说：“我一个字也听不见了！” “不关你的事，”那男的毫不客气地说，“这是私人间的谈话！”

Lesson 2 Breakfast or lunch? 早餐还是午餐？ First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 Why was the writer's aunt surprised? It was Sunday. I never get up early on Sundays. I sometimes stay in bed until lunchtime. Last Sunday I got up very late. I looked out of the window. It was dark outside. 'What a day!' I thought. 'It's raining again.' Just then, the telephone rang. It was my aunt Lucy. 'I've just arrived by train,' she said. 'I'm coming to see you.' 'But I'm still having breakfast,' I said. 'What are you doing?' she asked. 'I'm having breakfast,' I repeated. 'Dear me,' she said. 'Do you always get up so late? It's one o'clock!'New words and expressions 生词和短语until prep. 直到outside adv. 外面ring v. （铃、电话等）响aunt n. 姑，姨，婶，舅母repeat v. 重复参考译文 那是个星期天，而在星期天我是从来不早起的，有时我要一直躺到吃午饭的时候。上个星期天，我起得很晚。我望望窗外，外面一片昏暗。“鬼天气！”我想，“又下雨了。”正在这时，电话铃响了。是我姑母露西打来的。“我刚下火车，”她说，“我这就来看你。” “但我还在吃早饭，”我说。 “你在干什么？”她问道。 “我正在吃早饭，”我又说了一遍。 “天啊，”她说，“你总是起得这么晚吗？现在已经1点钟了！”

Lesson 3 Please send me a card 请给我寄一张明信片 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 How many cards did the writer send? Postcards always spoil my holidays. Last summer, I went to Italy. I visited museums and sat in public gardens. A friendly waiter taught me a few words of Italian. Then he lent me a book. I read a few lines, but I did not understand a word. Everyday I thought about postcards. My holidays passed quickly, but I did not send cards to my friends. On the last day I made a big decision. I got up early and bought thirty-seven cards. I spent the whole day in my room, but I did not write a single card!New words and expressions 生词和短语send v. 寄，送postcard n. 明信片spoil v. 使索然无味，损坏museum n. 博物馆public adj. 公共的friendly adj. 友好的waiter n. 服务员，招待员lend v. 借给decision n. 决定whole adj. 整个的single adj. 唯一的，单一的参考译文 明信片总搅得我假日不得安宁。去年夏天，我去了意大利。我参观了博物馆，还去了公园。一位好客的服务员教了我几句意大利语，之后还借给我一本书。我读了几行，但一个字也不懂。我每天都想着明信片的事。假期过得真快，可我还没有给我的朋友们寄过一张明信片。到了最后一天，我作出了一项重大决定。我早早起了床，买来了37张明信片。我在房间里关了整整一天。然而竟连一张明信片也没写成！

Lesson 5 No wrong numbers 无错号之虞 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 What does 'No wrong numbers' mean? Mr.James Scott has a garage in Silbury and now he has just bought another garage in Pinhurst. Pinhurst is only five miles from Silbury, but Mr. Scott cannot get a telephone for his new garage, so he has just bought twelve pigeons. Yesterday, a pigeon carried the first message from Pinhurst to Silbury. The bird covered the distance in three minutes. Up to now, Mr.Scott has sent a great many requests for spare parts and other urgent messages from one garage to the other. In this way, he has begun his own private 'telephone' service.New words and expressions 生词和短语pigeon n. 鸽子message n. 信息cover v. 越过distance n. 距离request n. 要求，请求spare part 备件service n. 业务，服务参考译文 詹姆斯.斯科特先生在锡尔伯里有一个汽车修理部，现在他刚在平赫斯特买了另一个汽车修理部。平赫特离锡尔伯里只有5英里，但詹姆斯.斯科特先生未能为他新的汽车修理部搞到一部电话机，所以他买了只鸽子。昨天，一只鸽子把第一封信从平赫特带到锡尔伯里。这只鸟只用了3分钟就飞完了全程。到目前为止，斯科特先生从一个汽车修理部向另一个发送了大量索取备件的信件和其他紧急函件。就这样，他开始自己的私人“电话”业务。

Lesson 6 Percy Buttons 珀西.巴顿斯 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 Who is Percy Buttons? I have just moved to a house in Bridge Street. Yesterday a beggar knocked at my door. He asked me for a meal and a glass of beer. In return for this, the beggar stood on his head and sang songs. I gave him a meal. He ate the food and drank the beer. Then he put a piece of cheese in his pocket and went away. Later a neighbour told me about him. Everybody knows him. His name is Percy Buttons. He calls at every house in the street once a month and always asks for a meal and a glass of beer.New words and expressions 生词和短语beggar n. 乞丐food n. 食物pocket n. 衣服口袋call v. 拜访，光顾参考译文 我刚刚搬进了大桥街的一所房子。昨天一个乞丐来敲我的门，问我要一顿饭和一杯啤酒。作为回报，那乞丐头顶地倒立起来，嘴里还唱着歌。我给了他一顿饭。他把食物吃完，又喝了酒。然后把一块乳酪装进衣袋里走了。后来，一位邻居告诉了我他的情况。大家都认识他，他叫珀西.巴顿斯。他每月对这条街上的每户人家光顾一次，总是请求给他一顿饭和一杯啤酒。

Lesson 7 Too late 为时太晚 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 Did the detectives save the diamonds? The plane was late and detectives were waiting at the airport all morning. They were expecting a valuable parcel of diamonds from South Africa. A few hours earlier, someone had told the police that thieves would try to 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 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 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occasion n. 场合参考译文 “绿林少年”是一个流行歌曲演唱团。目前他们正在全国各地巡回演出，明天就要到达此地。他们将乘火车来，镇上的大部分青年人将到车站迎接他们。明晚他们将在工人俱乐部演出。“绿林少年”准备在此逗留5天。在此期间，他们将演出5场。同往常一样，警察的日子将不好过，他们将设法维持秩序。每逢这种场合，情况都是这样。

Lesson 14 Do you speak English? 你会讲英语吗？ First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 Did the young man speak English? I had an amusing experience last year. After I had left a small village in the south of France, I drove on to the next town. On the way, a young man waved to me. I stopped and he asked me for a lift. As soon as he had got into the car, I said good morning to him in French and he replied in the same language. Apart from a few words, I do not know any French at all. Neither of us spoke during the journey. I had nearly reached the town, when the young man suddenly said, very slowly, "Do you speak English?' As I soon learnt, he was English himself!'New words and expressions 生词和短语amusing adj. 好笑的，有趣的experience n. 经历wave v. 招手lift n. 搭便车reply v. 回答language n. 语言journey n. 旅行参考译文 去年我有过一次有趣的经历。在离开法国南部的一个小村庄后，我继续驶往下一个城镇。途中，一个青年人向我招手。我把车停下，他向我提出要求搭车。他一上车，我就用法语向他问早上好，他也同样用法语回答我。除了个别几个单词外，我根本不会法语。旅途中我们谁也没讲话。就要到达那个镇时，那青年突然开了口，慢慢地说道：“你会讲英语吗？” 我很快了解到，他自己就是个英国人！

Lesson 15 Good news 佳音 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 What was the good news? The secretary told me that Mr. Harmsworth would see me. I felt very nervous when I went into his office. He did not look up from his desk when I entered. After I had sat down, he said that business was very bad. He told me that the firm could not afford to pay such large salaries. Twenty people had already left. I knew that my turn had come. 'Mr.Harmsworth,' I said in a weak voice. 'Don't interrupt,' he said. Then he smiled and told me I would receive an extra thousand pounds a year!New words and expressions 生词和短语secretary n. 秘书nervous adj. 精神紧张的afford v. 负担得起weak adj. 弱的interrupt v. 插话，打断参考译文 秘书告诉我说哈姆斯沃斯先生要见我。我走进他的办公室，感到非常紧张。我进去的时候，他连头也没抬。待我坐下后，他说生意非常不景气。他还告诉我，公司支付不起这么庞大的工资开支，有20个人已经离去。我知道这次该轮到我了。 “哈姆斯沃斯先生，”我无力地说。 “不要打断我的话，”他说。 然后他微笑了一下告诉我说，我每年将得到1,000 英镑的额外收入。

恩人!!!!

Lesson 16 A polite request 彬彬有礼的要求 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 What was the polite request? If you park your car in the wrong place, a traffic policeman will soon find it. You will be very lucky if he lets you go without a ticket. However, this does not always happen. Traffic police are sometimes very polite. During a holiday in Sweden, I found this note on my car: 'sir, we welcome you to our city. This is a "No Parking" area. You will enjoy your stay here if you pay attention to our street signs. This note is only a reminder.' If you receive a request like this, you cannot fail to obey it!New words and expressions 生词和短语park v. 停放（汽车）traffic n. 交通ticket) n. 交通违规罚款单note n. 便条area n. 地段sign n. 指示牌reminder n. 提示fail v. 无视，忘记obey v. 服从参考译文 一旦你把汽车停错了地方，交通警很快就会发现。如果他没给你罚单就放你走了，算你走运。然而，情况并不都是这样，交通警有时也很客气。有一次在瑞典度假，我发现我的车上有这样一个字条：“先生，欢迎您光临我们的城市。此处是‘禁止停车’区。如果您对我们街上的标牌稍加注意，您在此会过得很愉快的。谨此提请注意。”如果你收到这样的恳求，你是不会不遵照执行的！

Lesson 17 Always young 青春常驻 First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 Why doesn't Aunt Jennifer tell anyone how old she is? My aunt Jennifer is an actress. She must be at least thirty-five years old. In spite of this, she often appears on the stage as a young girl. Jennifer will have to take part in a new play soon. This time, she will be a girl of seventeen. In the play, she must appear in a bright red dress and long black stockings. Last year in another play, she had to wear short socks and a bright, orange-coloured dress. If anyone ever asks her how old she is, she always answers, 'Darling, it must be terrible to be grown up!'New words and expressions 生词和短语appear v. 登场，扮演stage n. 舞台bright adj. 鲜艳的stocking n. （女用）长筒袜sock n. 短袜参考译文 我的姑姑詹妮弗是位演员，她至少也有35岁了。尽管如此，她却常在舞台上扮演小姑娘。詹妮弗很快又要参加一个新剧的演出。这一次，她将扮演一个17岁的少女。演出时她必须穿一条鲜红色的裙子和黑色的长筒袜。去年在演另一个剧时，她不得不穿短袜和一件鲜艳的橘红色的衣服。一旦有人问起她有多大年纪，她总是回答：“亲爱的，长成大人真可怕啊！”

Lesson 18 He often does this! 他经常干这种事！ First listen and then answer the question. 听录音，然后回答以下问题。 What had happened to the writer's bag? After I had had lunch at a village pub, I looked for my bag. I had left it on a chair beside the door and now it wasn't there! As I was looking for it, the landlord came in. 'Did you have a good meal?" he asked. 'Yes, thank you,' I answered, 'but I can't pay the bill. I haven't got my bag.' The landlord smiled and immediately went out. In a few minutes he returned with my bag and gave it back to me. 'I'm very sorry,' he said. 'My dog had taken in into the garden. He often does this!'New words and expressions 生词和短语pub n. 小酒店landlord n. 店主bill n. 帐单参考译文 我在一家乡村小酒店吃过午饭后，就找我的提包。我曾把它放在门边的椅子上，可这会儿不见了！当我正在寻找时，酒店老板走了进来。 “您吃得好吗？”他问。 “很好，谢谢。”我回答，“但我付不了帐，我的提包没有了。” 酒店老板笑了笑，马上走了出去。一会儿工夫他拿着我的提包回来了，把它还给了我。 “实在抱歉，”他说，“我的狗把它弄到花园里去了，他常干这种事！”

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。