新概念英语三文章(4篇)

篇一：新概念英语三文章

　　新概念英语第三册

　　Lesson1Apumaatlarge

　　Pumasarelarge,cat-likeanimalswhicharefoundinAmerica.WhenreportscameintoLondonZoothatawildpumahadbeenspottedforty-fivemilessouthofLondon,theywerenottakenseriously.However,astheevidencebegantoaccumulate,expertsfromtheZoofeltobligedtoinvestigate,forthedescriptionsgivenbypeoplewhoclaimedtohaveseenthepumawereextraordinarilysimilar.

　　Thehuntforthepumabeganinasmallvillagewhereawomanpickingblackberriessaw"alargecat"onlyfiveyardsawayfromher.Itimmediatelyranawaywhenshesawit,andexpertsconfirmedthatapumawillnotattackahumanbeingunlessitiscornered（adj.被困得走投无路的）.Thesearchproveddifficult,forthepumawasoftenobservedatoneplaceinthemorningandatanotherplacetwentymilesawayintheevening.Whereveritwent,itleftbehinditatrailofdeaddeerandsmallanimalslikerabbits.Pawprintswereseeninanumberofplacesandpumafurwasfoundclingingtobushes.Severalpeoplecomplainedof"cat-likenoises"atnightandabusinessmanonafishingtripsawthepumaupatree.Theexpertswerenowfullyconvincedthattheanimalwasapuma,butwherehaditcomefrom?Asnopumashadbeenreportedmissingfromanyzoointhecountry,thisonemusthavebeeninthepossessionofaprivatecollectorandsomehowmanagedtoescape.Thehuntwentonforseveralweeks,butthepumawasnotcaught.Itisdisturbingtothinkthatadangerouswildanimalisstillatlargeinthequietcountryside.

　　美洲狮是一种体形似猫的大动物，产于美洲。当伦敦动物园接到报告说，在伦敦以南45英里处发现一只美洲狮时，这些报告并没有受到重视。可是，随着证据越来越多，动物园的专家们感到有必要进行一番调查，因为凡是声称见到过美洲狮的人们所描述的情况竟是出奇地相似。

　　搜寻美洲狮的工作是从一座小村庄开始的。那里的一位妇女在采摘黑莓时的看见“一只大猫”，离她仅5码远，她刚看见它，它就立刻逃走了。专家证实，美洲狮非被逼得走投无路，是决不会伤人的。事实上搜寻工作很困难，因为常常是早晨在甲地发现那只美洲狮，晚上却在20英里外的乙地发现它的踪迹。无论它走哪儿，一路上总会留下一串死鹿及死兔子之类的小动物，在许多地方看见爪印，灌木丛中发现了粘在上面的美洲狮毛。有人抱怨说夜里听见“像猫一样的叫声”；一位商人去钓鱼，看见那只美洲狮在树上。专家们如今已经完全肯定那只动物就是美洲狮，但它是从哪儿来的呢？由于全国动物园没有一家报告丢了美洲狮，因此那只美洲狮一定是某位私人收藏豢养的，不知怎么设法逃出来了。搜寻工作进行了好几个星期，但始终未能逮住那只美洲狮。想到在宁静的乡村里有一头危险的野兽继续逍遥流窜，真令人担心。

　　Lesson2Thirteenequalsone

　　Ourvicarisalwaysraisingmoneyforonecauseoranother,buthehasnevermanagedtogetenoughmoneytohavethechurchclockrepaired.Thebigclockwhichusedtostrikethehoursdayandnightwasdamagedmanyyearsagoandhasbeensilenteversince."Onenight,however,ourvicarwokeupwithastart:theclockwasstrikingthehours!Lookingathiswatch,hesawthatitwasoneo"clock,butthebellstruckthirteentimesbeforeitstopped.Armedwithatorch,thevicarwentupintotheclocktowertoseewhatwasgoingon.Inthetorchlight,hecaughtsightofafigurewhomheimmediatelyrecognizedasBillWilkins,ourlocalgrocer."WhateverareyoudoinguphereBill?"askedthevicarinsurprise.

　　"I"mtryingtorepairthebell,"answeredBill."I"vebeencomingupherenightafternightforweeksnow.Yousee,Iwashopingtogiveyouasurprise.""Youcertainlydidgivemeasurprise!"saidthevicar."You"veprobablywokenupeveryoneinthevillageaswell.Still,I"mgladthebellisworkingagain."

　　"That"sthetrouble,vicar,"answeredBill."It"sworkingallright,butI"mafraidthatatoneo"clockitwillstrikethirteentimesandthere"snothingIcandoaboutit."

　　"We"llgetusedtothatBill,"saidthevicar."Thirteenisnotasgoodasonebutit"sbetterthannothing.Nowlet"sgodownstairsandhaveacupoftea."

　　我们教区的牧师总是为各种各样的事筹集资金。但始终未能筹足资金把教堂的钟修好。教堂的钟很大，以前不分昼夜打点报时，但很多年前遭到毁坏，从此便无声无息了。

　　新概念英语第三册

　　一天夜里，我们的牧师突然被惊醒了，大钟又在“打点”报时了！他一看表，才1点钟，可是那钟一边敲了13下才停。牧师拿着一支电筒走上钟楼想去看看究竟发生了什么事情。借着电筒光。他看见一个人，马上认出那是本地杂货店主经比尔.威尔金斯。

　　“你究竟在这上面干什么，比尔？”牧师惊讶地问。

　　“我想把这口钟修好，”比尔回答说。“好几个星期了，我天天夜里到钟楼上来。嗯，我是想让你大吃一惊。”

　　“你确实使我大吃了一惊！”牧师说，“也许同时你把村里所有的人都吵醒了。不过，钟又能报时了，我还是很高兴的。”

　　“问题就在这里，牧师，”比尔回答说。“不错，钟能报时了，但是，恐怕每到1点钟，它总要敲13下，对此我已无能为力了。”

　　“大家慢慢就习惯了，比尔，”牧师说。“13下是不如1下好，但总比1下也不敲强。来，咱们下楼去喝杯茶吧。”

　　Lesson3Anunknowngoddess

　　Sometimeago，aninterestingdiscoverywasmadebyarchaeologistsontheAegean（adj.爱琴海的；n.）islandofKea．AnAmericanteamexploredatemplewhichstandsinanancientcityonthepromontoryofAyiaIrini．Thecityatonetimemusthavebeenprosperous，foritenjoyedahighlevelofcivilization．Houses--oftenthreestoreyshigh--werebuiltofstone．Theyhadlargeroomswithbeautifullydecoratedwalls．Thecitywasevenequippedwithadrainagesystem，foragreatmanyclaypipeswerefoundbeneaththenarrowstreets．

　　ThetemplewhichthearchaeologistsexploredwasusedasaplaceofworshipfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.untilRomantimes.Inthemostsacredroomofthetemple,clayfragmentsoffifteenstatueswerefound.Eachoftheserepresentedagoddessandhad,atonetime,beenpainted.ThebodyofonestatuewasfoundamongremainsdatingfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.ItsmissingheadhappenedtobeamongremainsofthefifthcenturyB.C.ThisheadmusthavebeenfoundinClassicaltimesandcarefullypreserved.Itwasveryoldandpreciouseventhen.Whenthearchaeologistsreconstructedthefragments,theywereamazedtofindthatthegoddessturnedouttobeaverymodern-lookingwoman.Shestoodthreefeethighandherhandsrestedonherhip.Shewaswearingafull-lengthskirtwhichswepttheground.Despitehergreatage,shewasverygracefulindeed,but,sofar,thearchaeologistshavebeenunabletodiscoverheridentity.不久之前，在爱琴海的基亚岛上，考古工作者有一项有趣的发现。一个美国考古队在阿伊亚.依里尼海角的一座古城里考察了一座庙宇。这座古城肯定一度很繁荣，因为它曾享有高度的文明，房子一般有3层楼高，用石块修建。里面房间很大，墙壁装饰华丽。城里甚至还敷设了排水系统，因为在狭窄的街道底下发现了许许多多陶土制作的排水管道。

　　考古工作者考察的这座庙宇从公元前15世纪直到罗马时代一直是祭祀祈祷的场所。在庙中最神圣的一间殿堂里发现了15尊陶雕像的碎片。每一尊雕像代表一位女神，而且一度上过色。其中有一尊雕像，她的躯体是在公元前15世纪的历史文物中发现的，而她那身异处的脑袋却碰巧是在公元前5世纪的文物中找到的。她的脑袋一定是在古希腊罗马时代就为人所发现，并受到精心的保护。却使在当时，它也属历史悠久的珍奇之物。考古工作者把这些碎片重新拼装起来后，惊奇地发现那位女神原来是一位相貌十分摩登的女郎。她身高3英尺，双手叉腰。身穿一条拖地长裙，尽管上了年纪，但体态确实优美。不过，考古工作者至今未能确定这位女神的身份。

　　Lesson4ThedoublelifeofAlfredBloggs

　　Thesedays,peoplewhodomanualworkoftenreceivefarmoremoneythanclerkswhoworkinoffices.Peoplewhoworkinofficesarefrequentlyreferredtoas"whitecollarworkers"forthesimplereasonthattheyusuallywearacollarandtietogotowork.Suchishumannature,thatagreatmanypeopleareoftenwillingtosacrificehigherpayfortheprivilegeofbecomingwhitecollarworkers.Thiscangiverisetocurioussituations,asitdidinthecaseofAlfredBloggswhoworkedasadustmanfortheEllesmereCorporation.Whenhegotmarried,Alfwastooembarrassedtosayanythingtohiswifeabouthisjob.HesimplytoldherthatheworkedfortheCorporation.Everymorning,helefthomedressedinasmartblacksuit.Hethenchangedintooveralls(n.工作服)andspentthenexteighthoursasadustman.Beforereturninghomeatnight,hetookashowerandchangedbackintohissuit.Alfdidthisforovertwoyearsandhisfellowdustmenkepthissecret.Alf"swifehasneverdiscovered

　　新概念英语第三册

　　thatshemarriedadustmanandsheneverwill,forAlfhasjustfoundanotherjob.Hewillsoonbeworkinginanofficeasajuniorclerk.Hewillbeearningonlyhalfasmuchasheusedto,buthefeelsthathisriseinstatusiswellworththelossofmoney.Fromnowon,hewillwearasuitalldayandotherswillcallhim"Mr.Bloggs",not"Alf".

　　如今，从事体力劳动的人的收入一般要比坐办公室的人高出许多。坐办公室的之所以常常被称作“白领工人”，就是因为他们通常是穿着硬领白衬衫，系着领带去上班。许多人常常情愿放弃较高的薪水以换取做白领工人的殊荣，此乃人之常情。而这常常会引起种种奇怪的现象，在埃尔斯米尔公司当清洁工的艾尔弗雷德.布洛斯就是一个例子。

　　艾尔弗结婚时，感到非常难为情，而没有将自己的职业告诉妻子。他只说在埃尔斯米尔公司上班。每天早晨，他穿上一身漂亮的黑色西装离家上班，然后换上工作服，当8个小时清洁工。晚上回家前，他洗个淋浴，重新换上那身黑色西服。两年多以来，艾尔弗一直这样，他的同事也为他保守秘密。艾尔弗的妻子一直不知道她嫁给了一个清洁工，而且她永远也不会知道了，因为艾尔弗已找到薪职，不久就要坐办公室里工作了。他将来挣的钱只有他现在的一半。不过他觉得，地位升高了，损失点儿钱也值得。从此，艾尔弗可以一天到晚穿西服了。别人将称呼他为“布洛格斯先生”，而不再叫他“艾尔弗”了。

　　Lesson5Thefacts

　　Editorsofnewspapersandmagazinesoftengotoextremestoprovidetheirreaderswithunimportantfactsandstatistics.Lastyearajournalisthadbeeninstructedbyawell-knownmagazinetowriteanarticleonthepresident"spalaceinanewAfricanrepublic.Whenthearticlearrived,theeditorreadthefirstsentenceandthenrefusedtopublishit.Thearticlebegan:"Hundredsofstepsleadtothehighwallwhichsurroundsthepresident"spalace."Theeditoratoncesentthejournalistafaxinstructinghimtofindouttheexactnumberofstepsandtheheightofthewall.

　　Thejournalistimmediatelysetouttoobtaintheseimportantfacts,buthetookalongtimetosendthem.Meanwhile,theeditorwasgettingimpatient,forthemagazinewouldsoongotopress.Hesentthejournalisttwourgenttelegrams,butreceivednoreply.Hesentyetanothertelegraminformingthejournalistthatifhedidnotreplysoonhewouldbefired.Whenthejournalistagainfailedtoreply,theeditorreluctantlypublishedthearticleasithadoriginallybeenwritten.Aweeklater,theeditoratlastreceivedatelegramfromthejournalist.Notonlyhadthepoormanbeenarrested,buthehadbeensenttoprisonaswell.However,hehadatlastbeenallowedtosendacableinwhichheinformedtheeditorthathehadbeenarrestedwhilecountingthe1084stepsleadingtothe15-footwallwhichsurroundedthepresident"spalace.

　　报刊杂志的编辑常常为了向读者提供成立一些关紧要的事实和统计数字而走向极端。去年，一位记者受一家有名的杂志的委托写一篇关于非洲某个新成立共和国总统府的文章。稿子寄来后，编辑看第一句话就拒绝予以发表。文章的开头是这样的：“几百级台阶通向环绕总统的高墙。”编辑立即给那位记者发去传真，要求他核实一下台阶的确切数字和围墙的高度。

　　记者立即出发去核实这些重要的事实，但过了好长时间不见他把数字寄来，在此期间，编辑等得不耐烦了，因为杂志马上要付印。他给记者先后发去两份传真，但对方毫无反应。于是他又发了一份传真，通知那位记者说，若再不迅速答复，将被解雇。但记者还是没有回复。编辑无奈，勉强按原样发稿了。一周之后，编辑终于接到记者的传真。那个可怜的记者不仅被捕了，而且还被送进了监狱。不过，他终于获准发回了一份传真。在传真中他告诉编辑，就在他数通向15英尺高的总统府围墙的1，084级台阶时，被抓了起来。

　　Lesson6Smash-and-grab

　　TheexpensiveshopsinafamousarcadenearPiccadillywerejustopening.Atthistimeofthemorning,thearcadewasalmostempty.MrTaylor,theownerofajewelleryshopwasadmiringanewwindowdisplay.Twoofhisassistantshadbeenworkingbusilysince8o"clockandhadonlyjustfinished.Diamondnecklacesandringshadbeenbeautifullyarrangedonabackgroundofblackvelvet.Aftergazingatthedisplayforseveralminutes,MrTaylorwentbackintohisshop.Thesilencewassuddenlybrokenwhenalargecar,withitsheadlightsonanditshornblaring,roareddownthearcade.Itcametoastopoutsidethejeweler"s.Onemanstayedatthewheelwhiletwootherswithblackstockingsovertheirfacesjumpedoutandsmashedthewindowoftheshopwithironbars.Whilethiswasgoingon,MrTaylorwasupstairs.Heandhisstaffbeganthrowingfurnitureoutofthewindow.Chairsandtableswentflyingintothearcade.One

　　新概念英语第三册

　　ofthethieveswasstruckbyaheavystatue,buthewastoobusyhelpinghimselftodiamondstonoticeanypain.Theraidwasalloverinthreeminutes,forthemenscrambledbackintothecaranditmovedoffatafantasticspeed.Justasitwasleaving,MrTaylorrushedoutandranafteritthrowingashtraysandvases,butitwasimpossibletostopthethieves.Theyhadgotawaywiththousandsofpoundsworthofdiamonds.

　　皮卡迪利大街附近的一条著名拱廊街道上，几家高档商店刚刚开始营业。在早晨的这个时候，拱廊街上几乎空无一人。珠宝店主泰勒先生正在欣赏新布置的橱窗。他手下两名店员从早上8点就开始忙碌，这时刚刚布置完毕。钻石项链、戒指漂亮地陈列在黑色丝绒上面。泰勒先生站在橱窗外凝神欣赏了几分钟就回到了店里。

　　宁静突然被打破，一辆大轿车亮着前灯，响着喇叭，呼啸着冲进了拱廊街，在珠宝店门口停了下来。一人留在驾驶座上，另外两个用黑色长筒丝袜蒙面的人跳下车来。他们用铁棒把商店橱窗的玻璃砸碎。这开始发生时，泰勒先生正在楼上。他与店员动手向窗外投掷家具，椅子，桌子飞落花流水在拱廊街上。一个窃贼被一尊很重的雕像击中，但由于他忙着抢钻石首饰，竟连疼痛都顾不上了。这场抢劫只持续了3分钟，因为窃贼争先恐后地爬上轿车，以惊人的速度开跑了。就在轿车离开的时候，泰勒先生从店里冲了出来，跟在车后追赶，一边还往车上扔烟灰缸、花瓶。但他已无法抓住那些窃贼了。他们已带着价值数千镑的首饰逃之夭夭了。

　　Lesson7Mutilatedladies

　　Childrenoftenhavefarmoresensethantheirelders.ThissimpletruthwasdemonstratedratherdramaticallyduringacivildefenceexerciseinasmalltowninCanada.Mostoftheinhabitantswereaskedtotakepartintheexerciseduringwhichtheyhadtopretendthattheircityhadbeenbombed.Air-raidwarningsweresoundedandthousandsofpeoplewentintospecialair-raidshelters.DoctorsandnursesremainedabovegroundwhilePolicepatrolledthestreetsincaseanyonetriedtoleavetheshelterstoosoon.

　　Thepolicedidnothavemuchtodobecausethecitizenstooktheexerciseseriously.Theystayedundergroundfortwentyminutesandwaitedforthesirentosoundagain.Onleavingtheair-raidshelters,theysawthatdoctorsandnurseswerebusy.Agreatmanypeoplehadvolunteeredtoactascasualties.Theatricalmake-upandartificialbloodhadbeenusedtomaketheinjurieslookrealistic.AlotofPeoplewerelying"dead"inthestreets.Thelivinghelpedtocarrythedeadandwoundedtospecialstations.AChildofsixwasbroughtinbytwoadults.Thechildwassupposedtobedead.Withtheatricalmake-uponhisface,helookedasifhehaddiedofshock.Somepeopleweresomovedbythesightthattheybegantocry.However,thechildsuddenlysatupandadoctoraskedhimtocommentonhisdeath.Thechildlookedaroundforamomentandsaid,"Ithinkthey"reallcrazy!"

　　这种事情在你身上出现过吗？你有没有把裤子塞洗衣机，然后又想在裤子的后兜有一张大面值的纸币？当你把裤子抢救出来时，你有没有发现那张纸币已经变得比白纸还白？当英国人犯这种错误时，他们不必感到绝望（而许多国家的人都有这种绝望的感觉）。对英国人来说，值得庆幸的是英国银行有一个残钞鉴别组，负责理那些把钱塞进机器或塞给狗的人提出的索赔要求。看起来，狗很喜欢咀嚼钱币。

　　最近的一个案例与简.巴特林有关，她的未婚夫约翰拥有一家生意兴隆家具店。有一天约翰的生意很好，他把一只装有3,000英镑的钱包放进微波炉内保存。然后，他和简一起去骑马。回家后，简用微波炉煮了晚饭，无意中之中把她未婚夫的钱包也一起煮了。可以想像他们发现一只煮得很好看的钱包，钞票已化成灰时的沮丧心情。约翰去找银行经理，经理把约翰的钱包和纸币的残留物送到英国银行在纽卡斯尔的一个专门部门——残钞鉴别组。他们鉴定了这些残留物。约翰拿回了他损失的全部数额。“只要有东西可供识别，我们会把钱还给人家的，”银行的一位女发言人说。“去年，我们对21，000起索赔要求支付了150万英镑。”

　　Lesson8Afamousmonastery

　　TheGreatStBernardPassconnectsSwitzerlandtoItaly.At2470metres,itisthehighestmountainpassinEurope.ThefamousmonasteryofStBernard,whichwasfoundedintheeleventhcentury,liesaboutamileaway.Forhundredsofyears,StBernarddogshavesavedthelivesoftravellerscrossingthedangerousPass.Thesefriendlydogs,whichwerefirstbroughtfromAsia,wereusedaswatch-dogseveninRomantimes.Nowthatatunnelhasbeenbuiltthrough

　　新概念英语第三册

　　themountains,thePassislessdangerous,buteachyear,thedogsarestillsentoutintothesnowwheneveratravellerisindifficulty.Despitethenewtunnel,therearestillafewpeoplewhorashlyattempttocrossthePassonfoot.

　　Duringthesummermonths,themonasteryisverybusy,foritisvisitedbythousandsofpeoplewhocrossthePassincars,Astherearesomanypeopleabout,thedogshavetobekeptinaspecialenclosure.Inwinter,however,lifeatthemonasteryisquitedifferent.Thetemperaturedropsto-30andveryfewpeopleattempttocrossthePass.ThemonksPreferwintertosummerfortheyhavemoreprivacy.Thedogshavegreaterfreedom,too,fortheyareallowedtowanderoutsidetheirenclosure.TheonlyregularvisitorstothemonasteryinwinterarepartiesofskierswhogothereatChristmasandEaster.Theseyoungpeople,wholovethepeaceofthemountains,alwaysreceiveawarm.WelcomeatStBernard"smonastery.

　　圣伯纳德大山口连接着瑞士与意大利，海拔2,473O米，是欧洲最高的山口。11世纪建造的著名的圣伯纳德修道院位于离山口1英里远的地方。几百年来，圣伯纳德修道院驯养狗拯救了许多翻越这道山口的旅游者的生命。那些最先从亚洲引进的狗，待人友好，早在罗马时代就给人当看门狗了。如今由于山里开挖了隧道，翻越山口已不那么危险了。但每年还要派狗到雪山地里去帮助那些遇到困难的旅游者，尽管修通了隧道，但仍有一些人想冒险徒步跨越圣伯纳德山口。

　　夏天的几个月里，修道院十分忙碌，因为有成千上万的人驾车通过山口，顺道来修道院参观。由于来人太多，狗被关在专门的围栏里。然而到了冬天，修道院里的生活则是另一番景象。气温下降到零下30度，试图跨越山口的人寥寥无几。修道士们喜欢冬天，而不太喜欢夏天。因为在冬天，他们可以更多地过无人打扰的生活。狗也比较自由，被放出围栏，四处遛达。冬天常来修道院参观的只有一批批滑雪者。他们在圣诞节或复活节到那儿去。这些热爱高山清静环境的年轻人每年都受到圣伯纳德道院的热烈欢迎。

　　LessonFlyingcats飞猫

　　Catsneverfailtofascinatehumanbeings.Theycanbefriendlyandaffectionatetowardshumans,buttheyleadmysteriouslivesoftheirownaswell.Theyneverbecomesubmissivelikedogsandhorses.Asaresult,humanshavelearnedtorespectfelineindependence.Mostcatsremainsuspiciousofhumansalltheirlives.Oneofthethingsthatfascinatesusmostaboutcatsisthepopularbeliefthattheyhaveninelives.Apparently,theyisagooddealoftruthinthisidea.Acat’sabilitytosurvivefallsisbasedonfact.

　　RecentlytheNewYorkAnimalMedicalCentremadeastudyof132catsoveraperiodoffivemonths.Allthesecatshadoneexperienceincommon:theyhadfallenoffhighbuildings,yetonlyeightofthemdiedfromshockorinjuries.Ofcourse,NewYorkistheidealplaceforsuchaninterestingstudy,becausethereisnoshortageoftallbuildings.Thereareplentyofhigh-risewindowsillstofallfrom!Onecat,Sabrina,fell32storeys,yetonlysufferedfromabrokentooth.?Catsbehavelikewell-trainedparatroopers,?adoctorsaid.Itseemsthatthefurthercatsfall,thelesstheyarelikelytoinjurethemselves.Inalongdrop,theyreachspeedsof60milesanhourandmore.Athighspeeds,fallingcatshavetimetorelax.Theystretchouttheirlegslikeflyingsquirrel.Thisincreasestheirair-resistanceandreducestheshockofimpactwhentheyhittheground.

　　猫总能引起人们的极大兴趣。它们可以对人友好，充满柔情。但是，它们又有自己神秘的生活方式。它们从不像狗和马一样变得那么顺从。结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。在它们的一生中，大多数猫都对人存有戒心。最使我们感兴趣的一件事情就是一种通俗的信念——猫有九条命。显然，这种说法里面包含着许多真实性。猫在跌落时能够大难不死是有事实作为依据的。

　　最近，纽约动物医疗中心对132只猫进行了为期5个月的综合研究。所有这些猫有一个共同的经历：它们都曾从高层建筑上摔下来过，但只有其中的8只猫死于震荡或跌伤。当然，纽约是进行这种有趣的试验的一个理想的地方，因为那里根本不缺乏高楼大厦，有的是高层的窗槛从上往下坠落。有一只叫萨伯瑞的猫从32层楼上掉下来，但只摔断一颗牙。“猫就像训练有素的跳伞队员，”一位医生说。看起来，猫跌落的距离越长，它们就越不会伤害自己。在一个长长的跌落过程中，它们可以达到每小时60里甚至更快的速度。在高速下落中，猫有时间放松自己。它们伸展四肢，就像飞行中的松鼠一样。这样就加大了空气阻力，并减少了它们着地时冲击力带来的震动。

　　Lesson10ThelossofTitanic

　　新概念英语第三册

　　Thegreatship,Titanic,sailedforNewYorkfromSouthamptononApril10th,1912.Shewascarrying1316passengersandacrewof89l.Evenbymodernstandards,the46,000tonTitanicwasacolossalship.Atthattime,however,shewasnotonlythelargestshipthathadeverbeenbuilt,butwasregardedasunsinkable,forshehadsixteenwater-tightcompartments.Eveniftwoofthesewereflooded,shewouldstillbeabletofloat.Thetragicsinkingofthisgreatlinerwillalwaysberemembered,forshewentdownonherfirstvoyagewithheavylossoflife.Fourdaysaftersettingout,whiletheTitanicwassailingacrosstheicywatersoftheNorthAtlantic,ahugeicebergwassuddenlyspottedbyalook-out.Afterthealarmhadbeengiven,thegreatshipturnedsharplytoavoidadirectcollision.TheTitanicturnedjustintime,narrowlymissingtheimmensewalloficewhichroseover100feetoutofthewaterbesideher.Suddenly,therewasaslighttremblingsoundfrombelow,andthecaptainwentdowntoseewhathadhappened.Thenoisehadbeensofaintthatnoonethoughtthattheshiphadbeendamaged.Below,thecaptainrealizedtohishorrorthattheTitanicwassinkingrapidly,forfiveofhersixteenwater-tightcompartmentshadalreadybeenflooded!Theordertoabandonshipwasgivenandhundredsofpeopleplungedintotheicywater.Astherewerenotenoughlife-boatsforeverybody,1500liveswerelost.

　　巨轮“泰坦尼克”号1912年4月10日从南安普敦起锚驶向纽约。船上载有1,316名乘客与891名船员。却使用现代标准来衡量，45,000吨的“泰坦尼克”号与算得上一艘巨轮了。当时，这艘轮船不仅是造船史上建造的最大的一艘船，而且也被认为是不会沉没的。因为船由16个密封舱组成，即使有两个舱进水，仍可漂浮的水面上。然而，这艘巨轮首航就下沉，造成大批人员死亡。人们将永远记着这艘巨轮的沉没惨剧。

　　“泰坦尼克”起航后的第4天，它正行驶在北大西洋冰冷的海面上。突然，了望员发现一座冰山。警报响过不久，巨轮急转弯，以避免与冰山正面相撞。“泰坦尼克”这个弯拐得及时，紧贴着高出海面100英尺的巨大的冰墙擦过去。突然，从船舱下部传来一声微颤音，船长走下船舱去查看究竟。由于这个声音非常轻，没人会想到船身已遭损坏。在下面，船长惊恐的地发现“泰坦尼克”号正在急速下沉，16个密封舱已有5个进水。于是，他发出弃船的命令，几百人跳进了冰冷刺骨的海水里。由于没有足够的救生艇运载所有乘客，结果，1,500人丧生。

　　Lesson11Notguilty

　　GoingthroughtheCustomsisatiresomebusiness.Thestrangestthingaboutitisthatreallyhonestpeopleareoftenmadetofeelguilty.Thehardenedprofessionalsmuggler,ontheotherhand,isnevertroubledbysuchfeelings,evenifhehasfivehundredgoldwatcheshiddeninhissuitcase.WhenIreturnedfromabroadrecently,aparticularlyofficiousyoungCustomsOfficerclearlyregardedmeasasmuggler."Haveyouanythingtodeclare?"heasked,lookingmeintheeye.

　　"No,"Iansweredconfidently."Wouldyoumindunlockingthissuitcaseplease?""Notatall,"Ianswered.

　　TheOfficerwentthroughthecasewithgreatcare.AllthethingsIhadpackedsocarefullyweresooninadreadfulmess.IfeltsureIwouldneverbeabletoclosethecaseagain.Suddenly,IsawtheOfficer"sfacelightup.Hehadspottedatinybottleatthebottomofmycaseandhepouncedonitwithdelight.

　　"Perfume,eh?"heaskedsarcastically."Youshouldhavedeclaredthat."Perfumeisnotexemptfromimportduty.""Butitisn"tperfume,"Isaid."It"shair-oil."ThenIaddedwithasmile,"It"sastrangemixtureImakemyself."AsIexpected,hedidnotbelieveme."Tryit!"Isaidencouragingly.TheOfficerunscrewedthecapandputthebottletohisnostrils.HewasgreetedbyanunpleasantsmellwhichconvincedhimthatIwastellingthetruth.Afewminuteslater,Iwasabletohurryawaywithpreciouschalk-marksonmybaggage.

　　现在的海关官员往往相当宽容。但是，当你通过绿色通道，没有任何东西需要申报时，他们仍可以拦住你。甚至是最诚实的人也常弄得觉得有罪似的，而老练的职业走私犯却使手提箱里藏着500只金表，却也处之泰然。最近一次，我也出国归来，碰上一位特别好管闲事的年轻海关官员，他显然把我当成走私犯。

　　新概念英语第三册

　　“您有什么需要申报的吗？”他直盯着我的眼睛问。

　　“没有。”我自信地回答说。

　　“请打开这只手提箱好吗？”

　　“好的。”我回答说。

　　那位官员十分仔细地把箱子检查了一遍。所有细心包装好的东西一会儿工夫就乱成一团。我相信那箱子再也关不上了。突然，我看到官员脸上露出了得意的神色。他在我的箱底发现了一只小瓶，高兴地一把抓了起来。

　　“香水，嗯？”他讥讽地说道，“你刚才应该申报，香水要上进口税的。”

　　“不，这不是香水，”我说，“是发胶。”接着我脸带微笑补充说：“这是一种我自己配制的奇特的混合物。”

　　“你就闻一闻吧！”我催促说。

　　海关官员拧开瓶盖，把瓶子放到鼻子底下。一股怪味袭来，使他相信了我说的真话。几分钟后，我终于被放行，手提划着宝贵的粉笔记号的行李，匆匆离去。

　　Lesson12Lifeonadesertisland

　　Mostofushaveformedanunrealisticpictureoflifeonadesertisland.Wesometimesimagineadesertislandtobeasortofparadisewherethesunalwaysshines.Lifethereissimpleandgood.Ripefruitfallsfromthetreesandyouneverhavetowork.Theothersideofthepictureisquitetheopposite.Lifeonadesertislandiswretched.YoueitherstarvetodeathorlivelikeRobinsonCrusoe,waitingforaboatwhichnevercomes.Perhapsthereisanelementoftruthinboththesepictures,butfewofushavehadtheopportunitytofindout.

　　Twomenwhorecentlyspentfivedaysonacoralislandwishedtheyhadstayedtherelonger.TheyweretakingabadlydamagedboatfromtheVirginIslandstoMiamitohaveitrepaired.Duringthejourney,theirboatbegantosink.Theyquicklyloadedasmallrubberdinghywithfood,matches,andtinsofbeerandrowedforafewmilesacrosstheCaribbeanuntiltheyarrivedatatinycoralisland.Therewerehardlyanytreesontheislandandtherewasnowater,butthisdidnotprovetobeaproblem.Themencollectedrain-waterintherubberdinghy.Astheyhadbroughtaspeargunwiththem,theyhadplentytoeat.Theycaughtlobsterandfisheveryday,and,asoneofthemputit"atelikekings".Whenapassingtankerrescuedthemfivedayslater,bothmenweregenuinelysorrythattheyhadtoleave.

　　我们许多人对于荒岛生活有一种不切实际的想法。我们有时想象荒岛是阳光终日普照的天堂。在那里，生活简单又美好。成熟的水果从树上掉下来，人们根本无需劳动。另一种想法恰恰相反，认为荒岛生活很可怕，要么饿死，要么像鲁滨孙那样，天天盼船来，却总没见船影。也许，这两种都像都有可信之处。但很少有人能有机会去弄个究竟。

　　最近有两个人在一座珊瑚岛上呆了5天，他们真希望在那儿再多呆一些日子。他们驾着一条严重损坏的小船从维尔京群岛阿密修理。途中，船开始下沉，他们迅速把食物、火柴、罐装啤酒往一只救生筏上装。然后在加勒比海上划行了几英里，到了一座珊瑚岛上。岛上几乎没有一颗树，也没有淡水，但这不算什么问题。他们用像皮艇蓄积雨水。由于他们随身带了一支捕鱼枪，因此，吃饭不愁。他们天天捕捉龙虾和鱼，正如其中一位所说，吃得“像国王一样好”。5天后，一条油轮从那儿路过，搭救了他们。这二位不得不离开那个荒岛时，还真的感到遗憾呢！

　　Lesson13It’sonlyme

　　Afterherhusbandhadgonetowork,MrsRichardssentherchildrentoschoolandwentupstairstoherbedroom.Shewastooexcitedtodoanyhouseworkthatmorning,forintheeveningshewouldbegoingtoafancydresspartywithherhusband.Sheintendedtodressupasaghostandasshehadmadehercostumethenightbefore,shewasimpatienttotryiton.Thoughthecostumeconsistedonlyofasheet,itwasveryeffective.Afterputtingiton,MrsRichardswentdownstairs.Shewantedtofindoutwhetheritwouldbecomfortabletowear.

　　JustasMrsRichardswasenteringthedining-room,therewasaknockonthefrontdoor.Sheknewthatitmustbethebaker.Shehadtoldhimtocomestraightinifevershefailedtoopenthedoorandtoleavethebreadonthekitchentable.Notwantingtofrightenthepoorman,MrsRichardsquicklyhidinthesmallstore-roomunderthestairs.Sheheardthefrontdooropenandheavyfootstepsinthehall.Suddenlythedoorofthestore-roomwasopenedandamanentered.

　　新概念英语第三册

　　MrsRichardsrealizedthatitmustbethemanfromtheElectricityBoardwhohadcometoreadthemeter.Shetriedtoexplainthesituation,saying"It"sonlyme",butitwastoolate.Themanletoutacryandjumpedbackseveralpaces.WhenMrsRichardswalkedtowardshim,hefled,slammingthedoorbehindhim.

　　理查兹夫人等丈夫上班走后，把孩子送去上学，然后来到楼上自己的卧室。那天上午，她兴奋得什么家务活都不想做，因为晚上她要同丈夫一起参加一个化装舞会。她打算装扮成鬼的模样。头天晚上她已把化装服做好，这时她急于想试试。尽管化装服仅由一个被单制成，却十分逼真。理查兹夫人穿上化装服后下了楼，想看穿起来是否舒服。

　　理查兹夫人刚刚走进餐厅，前门就传来敲门声。她知道来了一定面包师。她曾告诉过面包师，如果她不去开门，他可直接进门，把面包放在厨房的桌上。理查兹夫人不想吓唬这个可怜人，便赶紧躲到了楼梯下的小储藏室里。她听见前门被打开，走廊里响起重重的脚步声。突然贮藏门开了，一个男人走了进来。理查兹夫人这才想到一定是供电局来人查电表了。她说了声“是我，别怕！”然后想进行一番解释，但已来不及了。那人大叫了一声，惊退了几步。理查兹夫人朝他走去，只见他“砰”的一声关上门逃走了。

　　Lesson14Anoblegangster

　　TherewasatimewhentheownersofshopandbusinessesinChicagohadtopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor"protection"Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly,thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop.Obtaining"protechonmoney"isnotamoderncrime.Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury,anEnglishman,SirJohnHawkwood,madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.Sixhundredyearsago,SirJohnHawkwoodarrivedinItalywithabandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence.HesoonmadeanameforhimselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto.WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother,Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehedemanded.Intimesofpeace,whenbusinesswasbad,Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand,afterburningdownafewfarms,wouldoffertogoawayifprotectionmoneywaspaidtothem.Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway.Inspiteofthis,theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero.Whenhediedattheageofeighty,theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturepaintedwhichwasdedicatedtothememoryof"themostvaliantsoldierandmostnotableleader,SignorGiovanniHaukodue".

　　曾经有一个时期,芝加哥的店主和商行的老板们不得不拿出大笔的钱给歹徒以换取"保护"。如果交款不及时,歹徒们就会很快捣毁他的商店,让他破产.榨取"保护金"并不是一种现代的罪恶行径.早在14世纪,英国人约翰.霍克伍德就有过非凡的发现:"人们情愿拿出大笔的钱,也不愿毕生的心血毁于歹徒之手.

　　600年前,约翰.霍克伍德爵士带着一队士兵来到意大利,在佛罗伦萨附近驻扎下来,很快就出了名.意大利人叫他乔凡尼.阿库托.每次意大利各城邦之间打伏,霍克伍德把他的士兵雇佣给愿给他出高价的君主。和平时期,当生意萧条时,霍克伍德便带领士兵进入某个城邦,纵火烧毁一两个农场,然后提出,如向他们缴纳保护金,他们便主动撤离。霍克伍德用这种方法挣了大笔钱.尽管如此,意大利人还是把他视作某种英雄。他80岁那年死去时,佛罗伦萨人为他举行了国葬,并为他画像以纪念这位"骁勇无比的战士、杰出的领袖乔凡尼.阿库托先生."Lesson15Fiftypenceworthoftrouble

　　Childrenalwaysappreciatesmallgiftsofmoney.Father,ofcourse,providesaregularsupplyofpocket-money,butunclesandauntsarealwaysasourceofextraincome.Withsomechildren,smallsumsgoalongway.Ifsixpencesarenotexchangedforsweets,theyrattleformonthsinsidemoney-boxes.Onlyverythriftychildrenmanagetofillupamoney-box.Formostofthem,sixpenceisasmallpricetopayforasatisfyingbarofchocolate.Mynephew,George,hasamoney-boxbutitisalwaysempty.VeryfewofthesixpencesIhavegivenhimhavefoundtheirwaythere.Igavehimsixpenceyesterdayandadvisedhimtosaveit.Instead,heboughthimselfsixpenceworthoftrouble.Onhiswaytothesweetshop,hedroppedhissixpenceanditrolledalongthepavementandthendisappeareddownadrain.Georgetookoffhisjacket,rolleduphissleevesandpushedhisrightarmthroughthedraincover.Hecouldnotfindhissixpenceanywhere,andwhatismore,hecouldnotgethisarmout.Acrowdofpeoplegatheredroundhimandaladyrubbedhis

　　新概念英语第三册

　　armwithsoapandbutter,butGeorgewasfirmlystuck.Thefire-brigadewascalledandtwofiremenfreedGeorgeusingaspecialtypeofgrease.Georgewasnottooupsetbyhisexperiencebecausetheladywhoownsthesweetshopheardabouthistroublesandrewardedhimwithalargeboxofchocolates.

　　孩子们总是喜欢得到一些零花钱。爸爸妈妈当然经常给孩子零花钱，但是，叔舅婶姨也是孩子们额外收入来源。对于有些孩子来说，少量的钱可以花很长一段时间。如果50便士不拿来换糖吃，则可以放在储蓄罐里叮当响上好几月。但是能把储蓄罐装满的只有屈指可数的几个特别节俭的孩子。对大部分孩子来说，用50便士来买一大块好的巧克力，是算不了什么的。

　　我的外甥乔治有一个储蓄罐，但总是空空的。我给了不少50便士的硬币，但没有几个存到储蓄罐里。昨天，我给了他50便士让存起来，却拿这钱给自己买了50便士的麻烦。在他去糖果店的路上，50便士掉在地上，在人行道上跳了几下，掉进了阴沟里。乔治脱掉外套，卷起袖子，将右胳膊伸进了阴沟盖。但他摸了半天也没找到那50便士硬币，他的胳膊反倒退不出来了。这时在他周围上了许多人，一位女士在乔治胳膊上抹了肥皂，黄油，但乔治的胳膊仍然卡得紧紧的。有人打电话叫来消防队，两位消防队员使用了一种特殊的润滑剂才使乔治得以解脱。不过，此事并没使乔治过于伤心，因为糖果店老板娘听说了他遇到的麻烦后，赏给他一大盒巧克力。

　　Lesson16Maryhadalittlelamb

　　MaryandherhusbandDimitrilivedinthetinyvillageofPerachorainsouthernGreece.OneofMary"sprizepossessionswasalittlewhitelambwhichherhusbandhadgivenher.Shekeptittiedtoatreeinafieldduringthedayandwenttofetchiteveryevening.Oneevening,however,thelambwasmissing.Theropehadbeencut,soitwasobviousthatthelambhadbeenstolen.WhenDimitricameinfromthefields,hiswifetoldhimwhathadhappened.Dimitriatoncesetouttofindthethief.

　　Heknewitwouldnotprovedifficultinsuchasmallvillage.Aftertellingseveralofhisfriendsaboutthetheft,Dimitrifoundoutthathisneighbour,Aleko,hadsuddenlyacquiredanewlamb.DimitriimmediatelywenttoAleko"shouseandangrilyaccusedhimofstealingthelamb.Hetoldhimhehadbetterreturnitorhewouldcallthepolice.AlekodeniedtakingitandledDimitriintohisback-yard.Itwastruethathehadjustboughtalamb,heexplained,buthislambwasblack.Ashamedofhavingactedsorashly,DimitriapologizedtoAlekoforhavingaccusedhim.WhiletheyweretalkingitbegantorainandDimitristayedinAleko"shouseuntiltherainstopped.Whenhewentoutsidehalfanhourlater,hewasastonishedtofindthatthelittleblacklambwasalmostwhite.Itswool,whichhadbeendyedblack,hadbeenwashedcleanbytherain!

　　玛丽与丈夫迪米特里住在希腊南部一个叫波拉考拉的小村庄里。玛丽最珍贵的财产之一就是丈夫送给她的一只白色小羔羊。白天，玛丽把羔羊拴在地里的一颗树上，每天晚上把它牵回家。可是，一天晚上，那只小羔羊失踪了。绳子被人割断，很明显小羔羊是被人偷走了。

　　迪米特里从地里回来，妻子把情况跟他一说，他马上出去找偷羔羊的人。他知道在这样一个小村庄里抓住小偷并不困难。把失窃的事告诉几个朋友后，迪米特里发出他的邻居阿列科家突然多了一只小羔羊。迪米特里立刻去了阿列科家，气呼呼地指责他偷了羔羊，告诉他最好把羊交还，否则就去叫警察。阿列科不承认，并把迪米特里领进院子。不错，他的确刚买了一只羔羊，阿列科解释说，但他的羔羊是黑色的。迪米特里为自己的鲁莽而感到不好意思，向阿列科道了歉，说是错怪了他。就在他俩说话的时候，天下起了雨，迪米特里便呆在阿列科家里避雨，一直等到雨停为止。半小时后，当他从屋里出来时，他惊奇地发现小黑羔羊全身几乎都变成白色。原来羊毛上染的黑色被雨水冲掉了！

　　Lesson17Thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworld

　　Verrazano,anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown,sailedintoNewYorkHarbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.Hedescribeditas"averyagreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhichflowedagreatriver."ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredtobeagreatexplorer,hisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal,foronNovember21st,1964,thegreatestbridgeintheworldwasnamedafterhim.

　　TheVerrazanoBridge,whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann,joinsBrooklyntoStatenIsland.Ithasaspanof4260feet.Thebridgeissolongthattheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccountbyitsdesigner.Twogreat

　　新概念英语第三册

　　towerssupportfourhugecables.Thetowersarebuiltonimmenseunderwaterplatformsmadeofsteelandconcrete.Theplatformsextendtoadepthofover100feetunderthesea.Thesealonetooksixteenmonthstobuild.Abovethesurfaceofthewater,thetowersrisetoaheightofnearly700feet.Theysupportthecablesfromwhichthebridgehasbeensuspended.Eachofthefourcablescontains26,108lengthsofwire.Ithasbeenestimatedthatifthebridgewerepackedwithcars,itwouldstillonlybecarryingathirdofitstotalcapacity.However,sizeandstrengtharenottheonlyimportantthingsaboutthisbridge.Despiteitsimmensity,itisbothsimpleandelegant,fulfillingitsdesigner"sdreamtocreate"anenormousobjectdrawnasfaintlyaspossible".

　　1524年，一位鲜为人知的意大利人维拉萨诺驾船驶进纽约港，并将该港名为安古拉姆。他对该港作了这样的描述：“地理位置十分适宜，位于两座小山的中间，一条大河从中间流过”。虽然维拉萨诺绝对算不上一个伟大的探险家，但他的名字将流芳百世，因为1964年11月21日建成的一座世界上最长的吊桥是以他的名字命名。

　　维拉萨诺大桥由奥斯马.阿曼设计，连结着布鲁克林与斯塔顿岛，桥长4,260英尺。由于桥身太长，设计者不得不考虑了地表的形状。两座巨塔支撑着4根粗大的钢缆。塔身建在巨大的水下钢盘混凝土平台上。平台深入海底100英尺。仅这两座塔就花了16个月才建成。塔身高出水面将近700英尺。高塔支撑着钢缆，而钢缆又悬吊着大桥，4根钢缆中的每根由26，108股钢绳组成。据估计，若桥上摆满了汽车，也只不过是桥的总承载力的1/3。然而，这座桥重要特点不仅是它的规模与强度。尽管此桥很大，但它的结构简单，造型优美，实现了设计者企图创造一个“尽量用细线条勾画出一个庞然大物”的梦想。

　　Lesson18Electriccurrentsinmodernart

　　Modernsculpturerarelysurprisesusanymore.Theideathatmodernartcanonlybeseeninmuseumsismistaken.Evenpeoplewhotakenointerestinartcannothavefailedtonoticeexamplesofmodernsculptureondisplayinpublicplaces.Strangeformsstandingardens,andoutsidebuildingsandshops.Wehavegotquiteusedtothem.Someso-called"modern"pieceshavebeenondisplayfornearlyfiftyyears.

　　Inspiteofthis,somepeople--includingmyself--weresurprisedbyarecentexhibitionofmodernsculpture.ThefirstthingIsawwhenIenteredtheartgallerywasanoticewhichsaid:"Donottouchtheexhibits.Someofthemaredangerous!"Theobjectsondisplaywerepiecesofmovingsculpture.Oddlyshapedformsthataresuspendedfromtheceilingandmoveinresponsetoagustofwindarequitefamiliartoeverybody.Theseobjects,however,weredifferent.Linedupagainstthewall,therewerelongthinwiresattachedtometalspheres.Thesphereshadbeenmagnetizedandattractedorrepelledeachotherallthetime.Inthecentreofthehall,therewereanumberoftallstructureswhichcontainedcolouredlights.Theselightsflickeredcontinuouslyliketrafficlightswhichhavegonemad.Sparkswereemittedfromsmallblackboxesandredlampsflashedonandoffangrily.Itwasratherlikeanexhibitionofprehistoricelectronicequipment.ThesePeculiarformsnotonlyseemeddesignedtoshockpeopleemotionally,buttogivethemelectricshocksaswell!

　　现代雕塑不再使我们感到惊讶了。那种认为现代艺术只能在博物馆里才能看到的观点是错误的。即使是对艺术不感兴趣的人也不会注意到在公共场所展示的现代艺术品。公园里、大楼和商店外竖立着的奇形怪状的雕塑，对这些，我们已经司空见惯了。有些所谓的“现代”艺术品在那里已经陈列了近80年了。

　　尽管如此，最近举办的一次现代雕塑展览还是使一些人（包括我在内）大吃了一惊。走进展厅首先看到的是一张告示，上面写着“切勿触摸展品，某些展品有危险！”展品都是些活动的雕像。人们所熟悉的是悬挂在天花板上、造型奇特、随风飘荡的雕塑品。这些展品却使人大开眼界。靠墙排列着许多细长的电线，而电线又连着金属球。金属球经过磁化，互相之间不停地相互吸引或相互排斥。展厅中央是装有彩色灯泡的许多高高的构件，灯泡一刻不停地闪烁着，就像失去了控制的红绿灯。小黑盒子里迸出火花，红色灯泡发怒似地忽明忽暗。这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。好像设计这些奇形怪状的展品不仅是为了给人感情上的强烈刺激，而且还想给人以电击似的！

　　Lesson19Averydearcat

　　KidnappersarerarelyinterestedinAnimals,buttheyrecentlytookconsiderableinterestinMrsEleanorRamsay"scat.MrsEleanorRamsay,averywealthyoldlady,hassharedaflatwithhercat,Rastus,foragreatmanyyears.Rastus

　　新概念英语第三册

　　leadsanorderlylife.Heusuallytakesashortwalkintheeveningsandisalwayshomebyseveno"clock.Oneevening,however,hefailedtoarrive.MrsRamsaygotveryworried.Shelookedeverywhereforhimbutcouldnotfindhim.ThreedayafterRastus"disappearance,MrsRamsayreceivedananonymousletter.ThewriterstatedthatRastuswasinsafehandsandwouldbereturnedimmediatelyifMrsRamsaypaidaransomof&1000.MrsRamsaywasinstructedtoplacethemoneyinacardboardboxandtoleaveitoutsideherdoor.Atfirst,shedecidedtogotothepolice,butfearingthatshewouldneverseeRastusagain--theletterhadmadethatquiteclear--shechangedhermind.Shedrew&1000fromherbankandfollowedthekidnapper"sinstructions.Thenextmorning,theboxhaddisappearedbutMrsRamsaywassurethatthekidnapperwouldkeephisword.Sureenough,Rastusarrivedpunctuallyatseveno"clockthatevening.Helookedverywell,thoughhewasratherthirsty,forhedrankhalfabottleofmilk.ThepolicewereastoundedwhenMrsRamsaytoldthemwhatshehaddone.SheexplainedthatRastuswasverydeartoher.Consideringtheamountshepaid,hewasdearinmorewaysthanone!

　　绑架者很少对动物感兴趣。最近，绑架者却盯上了埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太的猫。埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太是一个非常富有的老妇人，多年来，一直同她养的猫拉斯一起住在一所公寓里。拉斯特斯生活很有规律，傍晚常常出去溜达一会儿，并且总是在7点钟以前回来。可是，有一天晚上，它出去后再也没回来。拉姆齐太太急坏了，四处寻找，但没有找着。

　　拉斯特斯失踪3天后，拉姆齐太太收到一封匿名信。写信人声称拉斯特斯安然无恙，只要拉姆齐太太愿意支付1,000英镑赎金，可以立即将猫送还。他让拉姆齐太太把钱放在一个纸盒里，然后将纸盒放在门口。一开始拉姆齐太太打算报告警察，但又害怕再也见不到拉斯特斯——这点，信上说得十分明白——于是便改变了主意。她从银行取出1,000英镑，并照绑架者的要求做了。第二天早晨，放钱的盒子不见了。但拉姆齐太太确信绑架者是会履行诺言的。果然，当天晚上7点正，拉斯特斯准时回来了。它看上去一切正常，只是口渴得很，喝了半瓶牛奶。拉姆齐太太把她所做的事告诉了警察，警察听后大为吃惊。拉姆齐太太解释说她心疼她的猫拉斯特斯。想到她所花的那笔钱，她的心疼就具有双重意义了。

　　Lesson20Pioneerpilots

　　In1908LordNorthcliffeofferedaprizeof&1000tothefirstmanwhowouldflyacrosstheEnglishChannel.Overayearpassedbeforethefirstattemptwasmade.OnJuly19th,1909,intheearlymorning,HubertLathamtookofffromtheFrenchcoastinhisplanethe"AntoinetteIV".HehadtravelledonlysevenmilesacrosstheChannelwhenhisenginefailedandhewasforcedtolandonthesea.The"Antoinette"floatedonthewateruntilLathamwaspickedupbyaship.

　　Twodayslater,LouisBleriotarrivednearCalaiswithaplanecalled"No.XI".Bleriothadbeenmakingplanessince1905andthiswashislatestmodel.Aweekbefore,hehadcompletedasuccessfuloverlandflightduringwhichhecoveredtwenty-sixmiles.Latham,howeverdidnotgiveupeasily.He,too,arrivednearCalaisonthesamedaywithanew"Antonette".ItlooksasiftherewouldbeanexcitingraceacrosstheChannel.BothplanesweregoingtotakeoffonJuly25th,butLathamfailedtogetupearlyenough.Aftermakingashorttestflightat4.15a.m.,Bleriotsetoffhalfanhourlater.Hisgreatflightlastedthirtysevenminutes.WhenhelandednearDover,thefirstpersontogreethimwasalocalpoliceman.LathammadeanotherattemptaweeklaterandgotwithinhalfamileofDover,buthewasunluckyagain.Hisenginefailedandhelandedontheseaforthesecondtime.

　　1908年，诺斯克利夫勋爵拿出1,000英镑，作为对第一个飞越英吉利海峡的人的奖励。然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。1909年7月19日凌晨，休伯特.莱瑟姆驾驶“安特瓦特4号”飞机从法国海岸起飞，但他只在海峡上空飞行7英里，引擎就发生了故障，他只好降落在海面上。“安特瓦特”号飞机在海上漂浮，后来有船经过，莱瑟姆方才获救。

　　两天之后，路易斯.布莱里奥驾驶一名为“11号”的飞机来到加来附近。布莱里奥从1905年起便开始研制飞机，“11号”飞机是他制作的最新型号。一周以前，他曾成功地进行了一次26英里的陆上飞行。但是莱瑟姆不肯轻易罢休。同一天，他驾驶一架新的“安特瓦特”号飞机来到了加来附近。看来会有一场激烈的飞越英吉利海峡的竞争。两天飞机都打算在7月25日起飞，但莱瑟姆那天起床晚了。布莱里奥凌晨4点15分作了一次短距离试飞，半小时后便正式出发了。他这次伟大

　　11新概念英语第三册

　　的飞行持续37分钟。当他在多佛着陆后，第一个迎接他的是当地一名警察。莱瑟姆一周以后也作了一次尝试，飞到离多佛不到半英里的地方。这次他又遭厄运，因引擎故障第二次降落在海面上。

　　Lesson21DanielMendoza

　　BoxingmatcheswereverypopularinEnglandtwohundredyearsago.Inthosedays,boxersfoughtwithbarefistsforPrizemoney.Becauseofthis,theywereknownas"prize-fighters".However,boxingwasverycrude,fortherewerenorulesandaprize-fightercouldbeseriouslyinjuredorevenkilledduringamatch.

　　OneofthemostcolourfulfiguresinboxinghistorywasDanielMendozawhowasbornin1764.Theuseofgloveswasnotintroduceduntil1860whentheMarquisofQueensberrydrewupthefirstsetOfrules.Thoughhewastechnicallyaprize-fighter,Mendozadidmuchtochangecrudeprize-fightingintoasport,forhebroughtsciencetothegame.Inhisday,Mendozaenjoyedtremendouspopularity.Hewasadoredbyrichandpooralike.Mendozarosetofameswiftlyafteraboxing-matchwhenhewasonlyfourteenyearsold.ThisattractedtheattentionofRichardHumphrieswhowasthenthemosteminentboxerinEngland.HeofferedtotrainMendozaandhisyoungpupilwasquicktolearn.Infact,MendozasoonbecamesosuccessfulthatHumphriesturnedagainsthim.Thetwomenquarrelledbitterlyanditwasclearthattheargumentcouldonlybesettledbyafight.AmatchwasheldatStiltonwherebothmenfoughtforanhour.ThepublicbetagreatdealofmoneyonMendoza,buthewasdefeated.MendozametHumphriesintheringonalateroccasionandhelostforasecondtime.Itwasnotuntilhisthirdmatchin1790thathefinallybeatHumphriesandbecameChampionofEngland.Meanwhile,hefoundedahighlysuccessfulAcademyandevenLordByronbecameoneofhispupils.Heearnedenormoussumsofmoneyandwaspaidasmuchas&100forasingleappearance.Despitethis,hewassoextravagantthathewasalwaysindebt.AfterhewasdefeatedbyaboxercalledGentlemanJackson,hewasquicklyforgotten.Hewassenttoprisonforfailingtopayhisdebtsanddiedinpovertyin1836.

　　两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。不过，拳击是十分野蛮的，因为当时没有任何比赛规则，职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤，甚至丧命。

　　拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔.门多萨，他生于1764年。1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则，拳击比赛这才用上了手套。虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，他作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。门多萨在的全盛时期深受大家欢迎，无论是富人还是穷人都对他祟拜备至。

　　门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。事实上，门多萨不久便名声大振，致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。后来，门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量，门多萨又输了一场。直到1790年他们第3次对垒，门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯，成了全英拳击冠军。同时，他建立了一所拳击学校，办得很成功，连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。

　　Lesson22Byheart

　　Someplaysaresosuccessfulthattheyrunforyearsonend.Inmanyways,thisisunfortunateforthepooractorswhoarerequiredtogoonrepeatingthesamelinesnightafternight.Onewouldexpectthemtoknowtheirpartsbyheartandneverhavecausetofalter.Yetthisisnotalwaysthecase.AfamousactorinahighlysuccessfulplaywasoncecastintheroleofanaristocratwhohadbeenimprisonedintheBastillefortwentyyears.Inthelastact,agaolerwouldalwayscomeontothestagewithaletterwhichhewouldhandtotheprisoner.Eventhoughthenoblewasexpectedtoreadtheletterateachperformance,healwaysinsistedthatitshouldbewrittenoutinfull.Onenight,thegaolerdecidedtoplayajokeonhiscolleaguetofindoutif,aftersomanyperformances,hehadmanagedtolearnthecontentsoftheletterbyheart.Thecurtainwentuponthefinalactoftheplayandrevealedthearistocratsittingalonebehindbarsinhisdarkcell.Justthen,

　　12新概念英语第三册

　　thegaolerappearedwiththepreciousletterinhishands.Heenteredthecellandpresentedthelettertothearistocrat.Butthecopyhegavehimhadnotbeenwrittenoutinfullasusual.Itwassimplyablanksheetofpaper.Thegaolerlookedoneagerly,anxioustoseeifhisfellow-actorhadatlastlearnthislines.Thenoblestaredattheblanksheetofpaperforafewseconds.Then,squintinghiseyes,hesaid:"Thelightisdim.Readthelettertome."Andhepromptlyhandedthesheetofpapertothegaoler.Findingthathecouldnotrememberawordofthelettereither,thegaolerreplied:"Thelightisindeeddim,sire.Imustgetmyglasses."Withthis,hehurriedoffthestage.Muchtothearistocrat"samusement,thegaolerreturnedafewmomentslaterwithapairofglassesandtheusualcopyoftheletterwhichheproceededtoreadtotheprisoner.

　　有些剧目十分成功，以致连续上演好几年。这样一来，可怜的演员们可倒霉了。因为他们需要一夜连着一夜地重复同样的台词。人们以为，这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟，绝不会临场结巴的，但情况却并不总是这样。

　　有一位名演员曾在一出极为成功的剧目中扮演一个贵族角色，这个贵族已在巴士底狱被关押了20年。在最后一幕中，狱卒手持一封信上场，然后将信交给狱中那位贵族。尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信。但他还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。

　　一天晚上，狱卒决定与他的同事开一个玩笑，看看他反复演出这么多场之后，是否已将信的内容记熟了。大幕拉开，最后一幕戏开演，贵族独自一人坐在铁窗后阴暗的牢房里。这时狱卒上场，手里拿着那封珍贵的信。狱卒走进牢房，将信交给贵族。但这回狱卒给贵族的信没有像往常那样把全文写全，而是一张白纸。狱卒热切地观察着，急于想了解他的同事是否记熟了台词。贵族盯着纸看了几秒钟，然后，眼珠一转，说道：“光线太暗，请给我读一下这封信。”说完，他一下子把信递给狱卒。狱卒发现自己连一个字也记不住，于是便说：“陛下，这儿光线的确太暗了，我得去眼镜拿来。”他一边说着，一边匆匆下台。贵族感到非常好笑的是：一会儿工夫，狱卒重新登台，拿来一副眼镜以及平时使用的那封信，然后为那囚犯念了起来。

　　Lesson23Oneman’smeatisanotherman’spoison

　　Peoplebecomequiteillogicalwhentheytrytodecidewhatcanbeeatenandwhatcannotbeeaten.IfyoulivedintheMediterranean,forinstance,youwouldconsideroctopusagreatdelicacy.Youwouldnotbeabletounderstandwhysomepeoplefinditrepulsive.Ontheotherhand,yourstomachwouldturnattheideaoffryingpotatoesinanimalfat--thenormallyacceptedpracticeinmanynortherncountries.Thesadtruthisthatmostofushavebeenbroughtuptoeatcertainfoodsandwesticktothemallourlives.Nocreaturehasreceivedmorepraiseandabusethanthecommongardensnail.Cookedinwine,snailsareagreatluxuryinvariouspartsoftheworld.Therearecountlesspeoplewho,eversincetheirearlyyears,havelearnedtoassociatesnailswithfood.Myfriend,Robert,livesinacountrywheresnailsaredespised.Ashisflatisinalargetown,hehasnogardenofhisown.Foryearshehasbeenaskingmetocollectsnailsfrommygardenandtakethemtohim.Theideaneverappealedtomeverymuch,butoneday,afteraheavyshower,IhappenedtobewalkinginmygardenwhenInoticedahugenumberofsnailstakingastrollonsomeofmyprizeplants.Actingonasuddenimpulse,Icollectedseveraldozen,puttheminapaperbag,andtookthemtoRobert.Robertwasdelightedtoseemeandequallypleasedwithmylittlegift.IleftthebaginthehallandRobertandIwentintotheliving-roomwherewetalkedforacoupleofhours.IhadforgottenallaboutthesnailswhenRobertsuddenlysaidthatImuststaytodinner.Snailswould,ofcourse,bethemaindish.IdidnotfancytheideaandIreluctantlyfollowedRobertoutoftheroom.Toourdismay,wesawthatthereweresnailseverywhere:theyhadescapedfromthepaperbagandhadtakencompletepossessionofthehall!Ihaveneverbeenabletolookatasnailsincethen.

　　在决定什么能吃而什么不能吃的时候，人们往往变得不合情理。比如，如果你住在地中海地区，你会把章鱼视作是美味佳肴，同时不能理解为什么有人一见章鱼就恶心。另一方面，你一想到动物油炸土豆就会反胃，但这在北方许多国家却是一种普通的烹任方法。不无遗憾的是，我们中的大部分人，生来就只吃某几种食品，而且一辈子都这样。

　　13新概念英语第三册

　　没有一种生物所受到的赞美和厌恶会超过花园里常见的蜗牛了。蜗牛加酒烧煮后，便成了世界上许多地方的一道珍奇的名菜。有不计其数的人们从小就知道蜗牛可做菜。但我的朋友罗伯特却住在一个厌恶蜗牛的国家中。他住在大城市里的一所公寓里，没有自己的花园。多年来，他一直让我把我园子里的蜗牛收集起来给他捎去。一开始，他的这一想法没有引起我多大兴趣。后来有一天，一场大雨后，我在花园里漫无目的散步，突然注意到许许多多蜗牛在我的一些心爱的花木上慢悠悠的蠕动着。我一时冲动，逮了几十只，装进一只纸袋里，带着去找罗伯特。罗伯特见到我很高兴，对我的薄礼也感到满意。我把纸袋放在门厅里，与罗伯特一起进了起居室，在那里聊了好几个钟头。我把蜗牛的事已忘得一干二净，罗伯特突然提出一定要我留下来吃晚饭，这才提醒了我。蜗牛当然是道主菜。我并不喜欢这个主意，所以我勉强跟着罗伯特走进了起居室。使我们惊愕的是门厅里到处爬满了蜗牛：它们从纸袋里逃了出来，爬得满厅都是！从那以后，我再也不能看一眼蜗牛了。

　　Lesson24Askeletoninthecupboard

　　Weoftenreadinnovelshowaseeminglyrespectablepersonorfamilyhassometerriblesecretwhichhasbeenconcealedfromstrangersforyears.TheEnglishlanguagepossessesavividsayingtodescribethissortofsituation.Theterriblesecretiscalled"askeletoninthecupboard".Atsomedramaticmomentinthestorytheterriblesecretbecomesknownandareputationisruined.Thereader"shairstandsonendwhenhereadsinthefinalpagesofthenovelthattheheroine,adearoldladywhohadalwaysbeensokindtoeverybody,had,inheryouth,poisonedeveryoneofherfivehusbands.

　　Itisallverywellforsuchthingstooccurinfiction.Tovaryingdegrees,weallhavesecretswhichwedonotwantevenourclosestfriendstolearn,butfewofushaveskeletonsinthecupboard.TheonlypersonIknowwhohasaskeletoninthecupboardisGeorgeCarlton,andheisveryproudofthefact.Georgestudiedmedicineinhisyouth.Insteadofbecomingadoctor,however,hebecameasuccessfulwriterofdetectivestories.Ioncespentanuncomfortableweek-endwhichIshallneverforgetathishouse.Georgeshowedmetotheguestroomwhich,hesaid,wasrarelyused.Hetoldmetounpackmythingsandthencomedowntodinner.AfterIhadstackedmyshirtsandunderclothesintwoemptydrawers,IdecidedtohanginthecupboardoneofthetwosuitsIhadbroughtwithme.Iopenedthecupboarddoorandthenstoodinfrontofitpetrified.Askeletonwasdanglingbeforemyeyes.Thesuddenmovementofthedoormadeitswayslightlyanditgavemetheimpressionthatitwasabouttoleapoutatme.Droppingmysuit,IdasheddownstairstotellGeorge.Thiswasworsethan"aterriblesecret";thiswasarealskeleton!ButGeorgewasunsympathetic."Oh,that,"hesaidwithasmileasifheweretalkingaboutanoldfriend."That"sSebastian.YouforgetthatIwasamedicalstudentonceuponatime."

　　在小说中，我们经常读到一个表面上受人尊重的人物或家庭，却有着某种多年不为人所知的骇人听闻的秘密。英语中有一个生动的说法来形容这种情况。惊人的秘密称作“柜中骷髅”。在小说的某个戏剧性时刻，可怕的秘密泄漏出来，接着便是某人的声誉扫地。当读者到小说最后几页了解到书中女主人公，那位一向待大家很好的可爱的老妇人年轻时一连毒死了她的5个丈夫时，不禁会毛骨悚然。

　　这种事发生在小说中是无可非议的。尽管我们人人都有各种大小秘密。连最亲密的朋友都不愿让他们知道，但我们当中极少有人有柜中骷髅。我所认识的唯一的在柜中藏骷嵝的人便是乔治.卡尔顿，他甚至引以为自豪。乔治年轻时学过医，然而，他后来没当上医生，却成了一位成功的侦探小说作家。有一次，我在他家里度周末，过得很不愉快。这事我永远不会忘记。乔治把我领进客房，说这间很少使用。他让我打开行装后下楼吃饭。我将衬衫、内衣放进两个空抽屉里，然后我想把随身带来的两套西服中的一套挂到大衣柜里去。我打开柜门，站在柜门前一下惊呆了。一具骷髅悬挂在眼前，由于柜门突然打开，它也随之轻微摇晃起来，让我觉得它好像马上要跳出柜门朝我扑过来似的。我扔下西服冲下楼去告诉乔治。这是比“骇人听闻的秘密”更加惊人的东西，这是一具真正的骷髅啊！但乔治却无动于衷。“噢，是它呀！他笑着说道，俨然在谈论一位老朋友。“那是塞巴斯蒂安。你忘了我以前是学医的了。”

　　Lesson25TheCuttySark

　　Oneofthemostfamoussailingshipsofthenineteenthcentury,theCuttySark,canstillbeseenatGreenwich.Shestandsondrylandandisvisitedbythousandsofpeopleeachyear.Sheservesasanimpressivereminderofthegreat

　　14新概念英语第三册

　　shipsofthepast.Beforetheywerereplacedbysteam-ships,sailingvesselsliketheCuttySarkwereusedtocarryteafromChinaandwoolfromAustralia.TheCuttySarkwasoneofthefastestsailingshipsthathaseverbeenbuilt.TheonlyothershiptomatchherwastheThermopylae.BoththeseshipssetoutfromShanghaionJune18th,1872onanexcitingracetoEngland.Thisrace,whichwentonforexactlyfourmonths,wasthelastofitskind.Itmarkedtheendofthegreattraditionofshipswithsailsandthebeginningofanewera.ThefirstofthetwoshipstoreachJavaaftertheracehadbegunwastheThermopylae,butontheIndianOcean,theCuttySarktookthelead.Itseemedcertainthatshewouldbethefirstshiphome,butduringtheraceshehadalotofbadluck.InAugust,shewasstruckbyaveryheavystormduringwhichherrudderwastornaway.TheCuttySarkrolledfromsidetosideanditbecameimpossibletosteerher.Atemporaryrudderwasmadeonboardfromspareplanksanditwasfittedwithgreatdifficulty.Thisgreatlyreducedthespeedoftheship,fortherewasdangerthatifshetravelledtooquickly,thisrudderwouldbetornawayaswell.Becauseofthis,theCuttySarklostherlead.Aftercrossingtheequator,thecaptaincalledinataporttohaveanewrudderfitted,butbynowtheThermopylaewasoverfivehundredmilesahead.Thoughthenewrudderwasfittedattremendousspeed,itwasimpossiblefortheCuttySarktowin.ShearrivedinEnglandaweekaftertheThermopylae.Eventhiswasremarkable,consideringthatshehadhadsomanydelays.Thereisnodoubtthatifshehadnotlostherruddershewouldhavewontheraceeasily.

　　人们在格林威治仍可看到19世纪最有名的帆船之一“卡蒂萨克”号。它停在陆地上，每年接待成千上万的参观者。它给人们留下深刻的印象，使人们回忆起历史上的巨型帆船，在蒸汽船取代帆船之前。“卡蒂萨克”号之类的帆船被用来从中国运回茶叶，从澳大利亚运回羊毛。“卡蒂萨克”号是帆船制造史上建造的最快的一艘帆船。唯一可以与之一比高低的是“塞姆皮雷”号帆船。两船于1872年6月18日同时从上海启航驶往英国，途中展开了一场激烈的比赛。这场比赛持续了整整4个月，是这类比赛中的最后一次，它标志着帆船伟大传统的结束与一个新纪元的开始。

　　比赛开始后，“赛姆皮雷”号率先抵达爪哇岛。但在印度洋上，“卡萨萨克”号驶到了前面。看来，它首先返抵英国是确信无疑的了，但它却在比赛中连遭厄运。8月份“卡蒂萨克”号遭到一场特大风暴的袭击，失去了一只舵。船身左右摇晃，无法操纵。船员用备用的木板在船上赶制了一只应急用的舵，并克服重重困难将舵安装就位，这样一来，大大降低了船的航速。因为船不能开得太快，否则就有危险，应急舵也会被刮走。因为这个缘故，“卡蒂萨克”号落到了后面。跨越赤道后，船长将船停靠在一个港口，在那儿换了一只舵。但此时，“赛姆皮雷”号早已在500多英里之遥了。尽管换装新舵时分秒必争，但“卡蒂萨克”号已经不可能取胜了，它抵达英国时比“塞姆皮雷”号晚了1个星期。但考虑到路上的多次耽搁，这个成绩也已很不容易了。毫无疑问，如果中途没有失去舵，“卡帝萨克”号肯定能在比赛中轻易夺冠。

　　Lesson26Wanted:alargebiscuittin

　　Noonecanavoidbeinginfluencedbyadvertisements.Muchaswemayprideourselvesonourgoodtaste,wearenolongerfreetochoosethethingswewant,foradvertisingexertsasubtleinfluenceonus.Intheireffortstopersuadeustobuythisorthatproduct,advertisershavemadeaclosestudyofhumannatureandhaveclassifiedallourlittleweaknesses.Advertisersdiscoveredyearsagothatallofuslovetogetsomethingfornothing.AnadvertisementwhichbeginswiththemagicwordFREEcanrarelygowrong.Thesedays,advertisersnotonlyofferfreesamplesbutfreecars,freehouses,andfreetripsroundtheworldaswell.Theydevisehundredsofcompetitionswhichwillenableustowinhugesumsofmoney.Radioandtelevisionhavemadeitpossibleforadvertiserstocapturetheattentionofmillionsofpeopleinthisway.Duringaradioprogramme,acompanyofbiscuitmanufacturersonceaskedlistenerstobakebiscuitsandsendthemtotheirfactory.Theyofferedtopay$2apoundforthebiggestbiscuitbakedbyalistener.Theresponsetothiscompetitionwastremendous.Beforelong,biscuitsofallshapesandsizesbeganarrivingatthefactory.Oneladybroughtinabiscuitonawheelbarrow.Itweighednearly500pounds.Alittlelater,amancamealongwithabiscuitwhichoccupiedthewholebootofhiscar.Allthebiscuitsthatweresentwerecarefullyweighed.Thelargestwas713pounds.Itseemedcertainthatthiswouldwintheprize.Butjustbeforethecompetitionclosed,alorryarrivedatthefactorywithatrulycolossalbiscuitwhichweighed2400pounds.Ithadbeenbakedbyacollegestudentwhohadusedover10015新概念英语第三册

　　poundsofflour,800poundsofsugar,200poundsoffat,and400poundsofvariousotheringredients.Itwassoheavythatacranehadtobeusedtoremoveitfromthelorry.Themanufacturershadtopaymoremoneythantheyhadanticipated,fortheyboughtthebiscuitfromthestudentfor$4800.

　　没有人能避免受广告的影响。尽管我们可以自夸自己的鉴赏力如何敏锐，但我们已经无法独立自主地选购自己所需的东西了。这是因为广告在我们身上施加着一种潜移默化的影响。做广告的人在力图劝说我们买下这种产品或那种产品之前，已经仔细地研究了人的本性，并把人的弱点进行了分类。

　　做广告的人们多年前就发现我们大家都喜欢免费得到东西。凡是用“免费”这个神奇的词开头的广告很少会失败的。目前，做广告的人不仅提供免费样品，而且还提供免费汽车，免费住房，免费周游世界。他们设计数以百计的竞赛，竞赛中有人可赢得巨额奖金。电台、电视使做广告的人可以用这种手段吸引成百万人的注意力。

　　有一次，在电台播放的节目里，一个生产饼干的公司请听众烘制饼干送到他们的工厂去。他们愿意以每磅10美元的价钱买下由听众烘制的最大的饼干。这次竞赛在听众中引起极其热烈的反响。不久，形状各异，大小不一的饼干陆续送到工厂。一位女士用手推车运来一个饼干，重达500磅左右。相隔不一会儿，一个男子也带来一个大饼干，那个饼干把汽车的行李箱挤得满满的。凡送来的饼干都仔细地称量。最重的一个达713磅，看来这个饼干获奖无疑了。但就在竞赛截止时间将到之际，一辆卡车驶进了工厂，运来了一个特大无比、重达2,400磅的饼干。它是由一个大学生烘制的，用去1,000多磅的面粉、800磅食糖、200磅动物脂肪及400磅其他各种原料。饼干份量太重了，用了一台起重机才把它从卡车上卸下。饼干公司不得不付出比他们预计多得多的钱，因为为买下那学生烘制的饼干他们支付了24,000美元。

　　Lesson27Nothingtosellandnothingtobuy

　　Ithasbeensaidthateveryonelivesbysellingsomething.Inthelightofthisstatement,teacherslivebysellingknowledge,philosophersbysellingwisdomandpriestsbysellingspiritualcomfort.Thoughitmaybepossibletomeasurethevalueofmaterialgoodsintermsofmoney,itisextremelydifficulttoestimatethetruevalueoftheserviceswhichpeopleperformforus.Therearetimeswhenwewouldwillinglygiveeverythingwepossesstosaveourlives,yetwemightgrudgepayingasurgeonahighfeeforofferinguspreciselythisservice.Theconditionsofsocietyaresuchthatskillshavetobepaidforinthesamewaythatgoodsarepaidforatashop.Everyonehassomethingtosell.

　　Trampsseemtobetheonlyexceptiontothisgeneralrule.Beggarsalmostsellthemselvesashumanbeingstoarousethepityofpassers-by.Butrealtrampsarenotbeggars.Theyhavenothingtosellandrequirenothingfromothers.Inseekingindependence,theydonotsacrificetheirhumandignity.Atrampmayaskyouformoney,buthewillneveraskyoutofeelsorryforhim.HehasdeliberatelychosentoleadthelifeheleadsandisfullyawareoftheconsequencesHe,mayneverbesurewherethenextmealiscomingfrom,butheisfreefromthethousandsofanxietieswhichafflictotherpeople.Hisfewmaterialpossessionmakeitpossibleforhimtomovefromplacetoplacewithease-Byhavingtosleepintheopen,hegetsfarclosertotheworldofnaturethanmostofuseverdo.Hemayhunt,beg,orstealoccasionallytokeephimselfalive;hemayevenintimesofrealneed,doalittlework;buthewillneversacrificehisfreedom.Weoftenspeakoftrampswithcontemptandputtheminthesameclassasbeggars,buthowmanyofuscanhonestlysaythatwehavenotfeltalittleenviousoftheirsimplewayoflifeandtheirfreedomfromcare?

　　据说每个人都靠出售某种东西来维持生活。根据这种说法，教师靠卖知识为生，哲学家靠卖智慧为生，牧师靠卖精神安慰为生。虽然物质产品的价值可以用金钱来衡量，但要估算别人为我们为所提供的服务的价值却是极其困难的。有时，我们为了挽救生命，愿意付出我们所占有的一切。但就在外科大夫给我们提供了这种服务后，我们却可能为所支付的昂贵的费用而抱怨。社会上的情况就是如此，技术是必须付钱去买的，就像在商店里要花钱买商品一样。人人都有东西可以出售。

　　在这条普遍的规律前面，好像只有流浪汉是个例外，乞丐出售的几乎是他本人，以引起过路人的怜悯。但真正的流浪并不是乞丐。他们既不出售任何东西，也不需要从别人那儿得到任何东西，在追求独立自由的同时，他们并不牺牲为人的尊严。游浪汉可能会向你讨钱，但他从来不要你可怜他。他是故意在选择过那种生活的，并完全清楚以这种方式生活的后果。他可能从不知道下顿饭有无着落，但他不像有人那样被千万桩愁事所折磨。他几乎没有什么财产，这使他能够轻松自如地在各地奔波。由于被迫在露天睡觉，他比我们中许多人都离大自然近得多。为了生存，他可能会去打猎、乞讨，偶尔

　　16新概念英语第三册

　　偷上一两回；确实需要的时候，他甚至可能干一点儿活，但他决不会牺牲自由。说起流浪汉，我们常常带有轻蔑并把他们与乞丐归为一类。但是，我们中有多少人能够坦率地说我们对流浪汉的简朴生活与无忧无虑的境况不感到有些羡慕呢？

　　Lesson28Fivepoundstoodear

　　Smallboatsloadedwithwaresspedtothegreatlinerasshewasenteringtheharbour.Beforeshehadanchored,themenfromtheboatshadclimbedonboardandthedecksweresooncoveredwithcolourfulrugsfromPersia,silksfromIndia,coppercoffeepots,andbeautifulhand-madesilver-ware.Itwasdifficultnottobetempted.Manyofthetouristsonboardhadbegunbargainingwiththetradesmen,butIdecidednottobuyanythinguntilIhaddisembarked.IhadnosoonergotofftheshipthanIwasassailedbyamanwhowantedtosellmeadiamondring.Ihadnointentionofbuyingone,butIcouldnotconcealthefactthatIwasimpressedbythesizeofthediamonds.Someofthemwereasbigasmarbles.Themanwenttogreatlengthstoprovethatthediamondswerereal.Aswewerewalkingpastashop,heheldadiamondfirmlyagainstthewindowandmadeadeepimpressionintheglass.Ittookmeoverhalfanhourtogetridofhim.Thenextmantoapproachmewassellingexpensivepensandwatches.Iexaminedoneofthepensclosely.Itcertainlylookedgenuine.Atthebaseofthegoldcap,thewords"madeintheU.S.A."hadbeenneatlyinscribed.Themansaidthatthepenwasworth&10,butasaspecialfavour,hewouldletmehaveitfor&8.IshookmyheadandheldupafingerindicatingthatIwaswillingtopayapound.Gesticulatingwildly,themanactedasifhefoundmyofferoutrageous,butheeventuallyreducedthepriceto&3.Shruggingmyshoulders,Ibegantowalkawaywhen,amomentlater,heranaftermeandthrustthepenintomyhands.Thoughhekeptthrowinguphisarmsindespair,hereadilyacceptedthepoundIgavehim.Ifeltespeciallypleasedwithmywonderfulbargain--untilIgotbacktotheship.NomatterhowhardItried,itwasimpossibletofillthisbeautifulpenwithinkandtothisdayithasneverwrittenasingleword!当一艘大型班船进港的时候，许多小船载着各种杂货快速向客轮驶来。大船还未下锚。小船上的人就纷纷爬上客轮。一会儿工夫，甲板上就摆满了色彩斑斓的波斯地毯。印度丝绸。铜咖啡壶以及手工制作的漂亮的银器。要想不为这些东西所动心是很困难的。船上许多游客开始同商贩讨价还价起来，但我打定主意上岸之前什么也不买。

　　我刚下船，就被一个人截住，他向我兜售一枚钻石戒指。我根本不想买，但我不能掩饰这样一个事实：其钻石之大给我留下了深刻的印象。有的钻石像玻璃球那么大。那人竭力想证明那钻石是真货。我们路过一家商店时，他将一颗钻石使劲地往橱窗上一按，在玻璃上留下一道深痕。我花了半个多小时才摆脱了他的纠缠。

　　向我兜售的第二个人是卖名贵钢笔和手表的。我仔细察看了一枝钢笔，那看上去确实不假，金笔帽下方整齐地刻有“美国制造”字样。那人说那支笔值50英镑，作为特别优惠，他愿意让我出30英镑成交。我摇摇头，伸出5根手指表示我只愿出5镑钱。那人激动地打着手势，仿佛我的出价使他不能容忍。但他终于把价钱降到了10英镑。我耸耸肩膀掉头走开了。一会儿，他突然从后追了上来，把笔塞到我手里。虽然他绝望地举起双手，但他毫不迟疑地收下了我付给他的5镑钱。在回到船上之前，我一直为我的绝妙的讨价还价而洋洋得意。然而不管我如何摆弄，那枝漂亮的钢笔就是吸不进墨水来。直到今天，那枝笔连一个字也没写过！

　　lesson29Funnyornot?

　　Whetherwefindajokefunnyornotlargelydependsonwherewehavebeenbroughtup.Thesenseofhumourismysteriouslyboundupwithnationalcharacteristics.AFrenchman,forinstance,mightfindithardtolaughataRussianjoke.Inthesameway,aRussianmightfailtoseeanythingamusinginajokewhichwouldmakeanEnglishmanlaughtotears.

　　Mostfunnystoriesarebasedoncomicsituations.Inspiteofnationaldifferences,certainfunnysituationshaveauniversalappeal.Nomatterwhereyoulive,youwouldfinditdifficultnottolaughat,say,CharlieChaplin"searlyfilms.However,anewtypeofhumour,whichstemslargelyfromAmerica,hasrecentlycomeintofashion.Itiscal1ed"sickhumour".Comediansbasetheirjokesontragicsituationslikeviolentdeathorseriousaccidents.Manypeoplefindthissortofjokedistasteful.Thefollowingexampleof"sickhumour"willenableyoutojudgeforyourself.

　　1新概念英语第三册

　　AmanwhohadbrokenhisrightlegwastakentohospitalafewweeksbeforeChristmas.Fromthemomenthearrivedthere,hekeptonpesteringhisdoctortotellhimwhenhewouldbeabletogohome.HedreadedhavingtospendChristmasinhospital.Thoughthedoctordidhisbest,thepatient"srecoverywasslow.OnChristmasday,themanstillhadhisrightleginplaster.Hespentamiserabledayinbedthinkingofallthefunhewasmissing.Thefollowingday,however,thedoctorconsoledhimbytellinghimthathischancesofbeingabletoleavehospitalintimeforNewYearcelebrationsweregood.Themantookheartand,sureenough,onNewYear"sEvehewasabletohobblealongtoaparty.Tocompensateforhisunpleasantexperiencesinhospital,themandrankalittlemorethanwasgoodforhim.Intheprocess,heenjoyedhimselfthoroughlyandkepttellingeverybodyhowmuchhehatedhospitals.Hewasstillmumblingsomethingabouthospitalsattheendofthepartywhenheslippedonapieceoficeandbrokehisleftleg.

　　我们觉得一则笑话是否好笑，很大程度取决于我们是在哪儿长大的。幽默感与民族有着神秘莫测的联系。譬如，法国人听完一则俄国笑话可能很难发笑。同样的道理，一则可以令英国人笑出泪来的笑话，俄国人听了可能觉得没有什么可笑之处。

　　大部分令人发笑的故事都是根据喜剧情节编写的。尽管民族不同，有些滑稽的情节却能产生普遍的效果。比如说，不管你生活在哪里，你看查理.卓别林的早期电影很难不发笑。然而，近来一种新式幽默流行了起来，这种幽默主要来自美国。它被叫作“病态幽默”。喜剧演员根据悲剧情节诸如暴死，重大事故等来编造笑话。许多人认为这种笑话是低级庸俗的。下面是个“病态幽默”的实例，你可据此自己作出判断。

　　圣诞节前几周，某人摔断了右腿被送进医院。从他进医院那一刻时，他就缠住医生，让医生告诉他什么时候能回家。他十分害怕在医院过圣诞。尽管医生竭力医治，但病人恢复缓慢。圣诞节那天，他的右腿还上着石膏，他在床上郁郁不乐地躺了一天，想着他错过的种种欢乐。然而，第二天，医生安慰他说，出院欢度新年的可能性还是很大的，那人听后振作了精神。果然，除夕时他可以一瘸一拐地去参加晚会了。为了补偿住院这一段不愉快的经历，那人喝得稍许多了一点。在晚会上他尽情娱乐，一再告诉大家他是多么讨厌医院。晚会结束时，他嘴里还在嘟哝着医院的事，突然踩到一块冰上滑倒了，摔断了左腿。

　　Lesson30Thedeathofaghost

　　ForyearsvillagersbelievedthatEndleyfarmwashaunted.Thefarmwasownedbytwobrothers,JoeandBertCox.Theyemployedafewfarmhands,butnoonewaswillingtoworktherelong.Everytimeaworkergaveuphisjob,hetoldthesamestory.Farmlabourerssaidthattheyalwayswokeuptofindtheworkhadbeendoneovernight.Hayhadbeencutandcowshedshadbeencleaned.Afarmworker,whostayedupallnight,claimedtohaveseenafigurecuttingcorninthemoonlight.Intime,itbecameanacceptedfactthattheCoxbrothersemployedaconscientiousghostthatdidmostoftheirworkforthem.Noonesuspectedthattheremightbesomeoneelseonthefarmwhohadneverbeenseen.Thiswasindeedthecase.Ashorttimeago,villagerswereastonishedtolearnthattheghostofEndleyhaddied.Everyonewenttothefuneral,forthe"ghost"wasnoneotherthanEricCox,athirdbrotherwhowassupposedtohavediedasayoungman.Afterthefuneral,JoeandBertrevealedasecretwhichtheyhadkeptforoverfortyyears.Erichadbeentheeldestsonofthefamily.HehadbeenobligedtojointhearmyduringthefirstWorldWar.Ashehatedarmylifehedecidedtodeserthisregiment.Whenhelearntthathewouldbesentabroad,hereturnedtothefarmandhisfartherhidhimuntiltheendofthewar.Fearingtheauthorities,Ericremainedinhidingafterthewaraswell.HisfathertoldeverybodythatErichadbeenkilledinaction.TheonlyotherpeoplewhoknewthesecretwereJoeandBert.Theydidnoteventelltheirwives.Whentheirfatherdied,theythoughtittheirdutytokeepEricinhiding.Alltheseyears,Erichadlivedasarecluse（隐遁者,寂寞者）.Heusedtosleepduringthedayandworkatnight,quiteunawareofthefactthathehadbecometheghostofEndley.Whenhedied,however,hisbrothersfounditimpossibletokeepthesecretanylonger.

　　1新概念英语第三册

　　多年来，村民们一直认为恩得利农场在闹鬼。恩得利农场属于乔.考科斯和鲍勃.考科斯兄弟俩所有。他们雇了几个农工，但谁也不愿意在那儿长期工作下去。每次雇工辞职后都叙述着同样的故事。雇工们说，常常一早起来发现有人在夜里把活干了，干草已切好，牛棚也打扫干净了。有一个彻夜未眠的雇工还声称他看见一个人影在月光下收割庄稼。随着时间的流逝，考科斯兄弟雇了一个尽心尽责的鬼，他们家的活大部分都让鬼给干了，这件事成了公认的事实。

　　谁也没想到农场竟会有一个从未露面的人。但事实上确有此人。不久之前，村民们惊悉恩得利农场的鬼死了。大家都去参加了葬礼，因为那“鬼”不是别人，正是农场主的兄弟埃里克.考科斯。人们以为埃里克年轻时就死了。葬礼之后，乔和鲍勃透露了他们保守了长达50多年的秘密。

　　埃里克是这家长子。年龄比他两个弟弟大很多，第二次世界大战期间被迫参军。他讨厌军旅生活，决定逃离所在部队。当他了解自己将被派遣出国时，他逃回农场，父亲把他藏了起来，直到战争结束。由于害怕当局，埃里克战后继续深藏不露。他的父亲告诉大家，埃里克在战争中被打死了。除此之外，只有乔与鲍知道这个秘密。但他俩连自己的妻子都没告诉。父亲死后，他们兄弟俩认为有责任继续把埃里克藏起来。这些年来，埃里克过着隐士生活，白天睡觉，夜里出来干活，一点不知道自己已成了恩得利家场的活鬼。他死后，他的弟弟们才觉得无法再保守这个秘密了。

　　Lesson31Alovableeccentric

　　Trueeccentricsneverdeliberatelysetouttodrawattentiontothemselves.Theydisregardsocialconventionswithoutbeingconsciousthattheyaredoinganythingextraordinary.Thisinvariablywinsthemtheloveandrespectofothers,fortheyaddcolourtothedullroutineofeverydaylife.

　　Uptothetimeofhisdeath,RichardColsonwasoneofthemostnotablefiguresinourtown.Hewasashrewdandwealthybusiness-man,buttheordinarytown-folkhardlyknewanythingaboutthissideofhislife.HewasknowntousallasDickieandhiseccentricityhadbecomelegendarylongbeforehedied.Dickiedislikedsnobs(势利小人)intensely.Thoughheownedalargecar,hehardlyeverusedit,preferringalwaystogoonfoot.Evenwhenitwasrainingheavily,herefusedtocarryanumbrella.Oneday,hewalkedintoanexpensiveshopafterhavingbeencaughtinaparticularlyheavyshower.Hewantedtobuya&300furcoatforhiswife,buthewasinsuchabedraggledconditionthatanassistantrefusedtoservehim.Dickielefttheshopwithoutawordandreturnedcarryingalargeclothbag.Asitwasextremelyheavy,hedumpeditonthecounter.Theassistantaskedhimtoleave,butDickiepaidnoattentiontohimandrequestedtoseethemanager.Recognizingwhothecustomerwas,themanagerwasmostapologeticand"reprimandedtheassistantseverely.WhenDickiewasgiventhefurcoat,hepresentedtheassistantwiththeclothbag.Itcontained&300inpennies.Heinsistedontheassistant"scountingthemoneybeforeheleft72,000penniesinall!Onanotheroccasion,heinvitedanumberofimportantcriticstoseehisprivatecollectionofmodernpaintings.Thisexhibitionreceivedagreatdealofattentioninthepress,forthoughthepicturesweresupposedtobetheworkoffamousartists,theyhadinfactbeenpaintedbyDickie.Ittookhimfouryearstostagethiselaboratejokesimplytoprovethatcriticsdonotalwaysknowwhattheyaretalkingabout.

　　真正古怪的人从不有意引人注意。他们不顾社会习俗，意识不到自己所作所为有什么特殊之处。他们总能赢得别人的喜爱与尊敬，因为他们给平淡单一的日常生活增添了色彩。

　　理查德.科尔森生前是我们镇上最有名望的人之一。他是个精明能干、有钱的商人，但镇上大部分人对他生活中的这一个方面几乎一无所知。大家都管他叫迪基。早在他去世前很久，他的古怪行为就成了传奇故事了。

　　迪基痛恨势利小人。尽管他有一辆豪华小轿车，但却很少使用，常常喜欢以步代车。即使大雨倾盆，他也总是拒绝带伞。一天，他遇上一场瓢泼大雨，淋得透湿。他走进一家高级商店，要为妻子买一块价值300英镑的手表。但店员见他浑身泥水的样子，竟不肯接待他。迪基二话没说就走了。一会儿，他带着一个大布口袋回到店里。布袋很沉，他重重地把布袋扔在柜台上。店员让迪基走开，他置之不理，并要求见经理。经理认出了这位顾客，表示了深深的歉意，还严厉地训斥了店员。店员为迪基拿出了那块手表，迪基把布口袋递给他，口袋里面装着300镑的便士。他坚持要店员点清那些硬币后他才离去。这些硬币加在一起共有30,000枚！

　　还有一次，他邀请一些著名评论家来参观他私人收藏的现代画。这次展览引起报界广泛注意，因为这些画名义上是名家的作品，事实上是迪基自己画的。他花了4年时间策划这出精心设计的闹剧，只是想证明评论家们有时并不解他们所谈论的事情。

　　1新概念英语第三册

　　Lesson32Alostship

　　Thesalvageoperationhadbeenacompletefailure.Thesmallship,Elkor,whichhadbeensearchingtheBarentsSeaforweeks,wasonitswayhome.Aradiomessagefromthemainlandhadbeenreceivedbytheship"scaptaininstructinghimtogiveupthesearch.Thecaptainknewthatanotherattemptwouldbemadelater,forthesunkenshiphewastryingtofindhadbeencarryingapreciouscargoofgoldbullion.

　　Despitethemessage,thecaptainoftheElkordecidedtotryoncemore.Thesea-bedwasscouredwithpowerfulnetsandtherewastremendousexcitementonboardwhenachestwasraisedfromthebottom.Thoughthecrewwereatfirstundertheimpressionthatthelostshiphadbeenfound,thecontentsofthesea-chestprovedthemwrong.Whattheyhadinfactfoundwasashipwhichhadbeensunkmanyyearsbefore.Thechestcontainedthepersonalbelongingsofaseaman,AlanFielding.Therewerebooks,clothingandphotographs,togetherwithletterswhichtheseamanhadoncereceivedfromhiswife.ThecaptainoftheElkororderedhismentosalvageasmuchaspossiblefromthewreck.Nothingofvaluewasfound,butthenumerousitemswhichwerebroughttothesurfaceprovedtobeofgreatinterest.Fromaheavygunthatwasraised,thecaptainrealizedthattheshipmusthavebeenacruiser.Inanothersea-chest,whichcontainedthebelongingsofaship"sofficer,therewasanunfinishedletterwhichhadbeenwrittenonMarch14th,1943.ThecaptainlearntfromtheletterthatthenameofthelostshipwastheKaren.Themostvaluablefindofallwastheship"slogbook,partsofwhichitwasstillpossibletoread.Fromthisthecaptainwasabletopiecetogetheralltheinformationthathadcometolight.TheKarenhadbeensailinginaconvoytoRussiawhenshewastorpedoedbyanenemysubmarine.ThiswaslaterconfirmedbyanavalofficialattheMinistryofDefenceaftertheElkorhadreturnedhome.AlltheitemsthatwerefoundweresenttotheWarMuseum.

　　打捞工作彻底失败了。小船“埃尔科”号在巴伦支海搜寻了几个星期之后，正在返航途中。返航前，该船船长收到了大陆发来的电报，指示他们放弃这次搜寻。船长知道日后还会再作尝试，因为他试图寻找的沉船上载有一批珍贵的金条。尽管船长接了电报，他还是决定再试一试。他们用结实的网把海床搜索了一遍。当一只箱子从海底被打捞上来时，甲板上人们激动不已。船员们开始认为沉船找着了，但海底沉箱内的物品证明他们弄错了。事实上，他们发现的是另一艘沉没多年的船。

　　木箱内装有水手艾伦.菲尔丁的私人财物，其中有书箱、衣服、照片以及水手收到的妻子的来信。“埃尔科”号船长命令船员们尽量从沉船中打捞物品，但没发现什么值钱的东西，不过打捞出来的众多的物品还是引起了大家极大的兴趣。从捞起的一门大炮来看，船长认为那艘船一定是艘巡洋舰。另一只海底沉箱中装的是船上一位军官的财物，其中有一封写于1943年3月14日的信，但没有写完。从这封信中船长了解到沉船船名是“卡伦”号。打捞到的东西中最有价值的是船上的航海日志，其中有一部分仍然清晰可读。据此，船长可以将所有的那些已经搞清的材料拼凑起来。“卡伦”号当年在为其他船只护航驶往俄国的途中突然遭到敌方潜水艇鱼雷的袭击。这一说法在“埃尔科”号返航后得到的国防部一位海军官员的证实。那次打捞到的所有物品均被送往军事博物馆。

　　Lesson33Adaytoremember

　　Wehaveallexperienceddayswheneverythinggoeswrong.Adaymaybeginwellenough,butsuddenlyeverythingseemstogetoutofcontrol.Whatinvariablyhappensisthatagreatnumberofthingschoosetogowrongatpreciselythesamemoment.Itisasifasingleunimportanteventsetupachainofreactions.Letussupposethatyouarepreparingamealandkeepinganeyeonthebabyatthesametime.Thetelephoneringsandthismarksthepreludetoanunforeseenseriesofcatastrophes.Whileyouareonthephone,thebabypullsthetable-clothoffthetablesmashinghalfyourbestcrockeryandcuttinghimselfintheprocess.Youhanguphurriedlyandattendtobaby,crockery,etc.Meanwhile,themealgetsburnt.Asifthiswerenotenoughtoreduceyoutotears,yourhusbandarrives,unexpectedlybringingthreegueststodinner.ThingscangowrongonabigscaleasanumberofpeoplerecentlydiscoveredinParramatta,asuburbofSydney.Duringtherushhouroneeveningtwocarscollidedandbothdriversbegantoargue.Thewomanimmediatelybehindthetwocarshappenedtobealearner.Shesuddenlygotintoapanicandstoppedhercar.Thismadethedriverfollowingher

　　2新概念英语第三册

　　brakehard.Hiswifewassittingbesidehimholdingalargecake.Asshewasthrownforward,thecakewentrightthroughthewindscreenandlandedontheroad.Seeingacakeflyingthroughtheair,alorry-driverwhowasdrawingupalongsidethecar,pulledupallofasudden.Thelorrywasloadedwithemptybeerbottlesandhundredsofthemslidoffthebackofthevehicleandontotheroad.Thisledtoyetanotherangryargument.Meanwhile,thetrafficpiledupbehind.Ittookthepolicenearlyanhourtogetthetrafficonthemoveagain.Inthemeantime,thelorry-driverhadtosweepuphundredsofbrokenbottles.Onlytwostraydogsbenefitedfromallthisconfusion,fortheygreedilydevouredwhatwasleftofthecake.Itwasjustoneofthosedays!我们大家都有过事事不顺心的日子。一天开始时，可能还不错，但突然间似乎一切都失去了控制。情况经常是这样的，许许多多的事情都偏偏赶在同一时刻出问题，好像是一件无关紧要的小事引起了一连串的连锁反应。假设你在做饭，同时又在照看孩子。这时电话铃响了。它预示着一连串意想不到的灾难的来临。就在你接电话时，孩子把桌布从桌子上扯下来，将家中最好的陶瓷餐具半数摔碎，同时也弄伤了他自己。你急急忙忙挂上电话，赶去照看孩子和餐具。这时，饭又烧糊了。好像这一切还不足以使你急得掉泪，你的丈夫接着回来了，事先没打招呼就带来3个客人吃饭。

　　就像许多人最近在悉尼郊区帕拉马塔发现的那样，有时乱子会闹得很大。一天傍晚交通最拥挤时，一辆汽车撞上前面一辆汽车，两个司机争吵起来。紧跟其后的一辆车上的司机碰巧是个初学者，她一惊之下突然把车停了下来。她这一停使得跟在后头的司机也来个急刹车。司机妻子正坐在他身边，手里托着块大蛋糕。她往前一冲，蛋糕从挡风玻璃飞了出去掉到马路上。此时，一辆卡车正好从后边开到那辆汽车边上，司机看见一块蛋糕从天而降，紧急刹车。卡车上装着空啤酒瓶。成百只瓶子顺势从卡车后面滑出车外落在马路上。这又引起一场唇枪舌剑的争吵。与此同时，后面的车辆排成了长龙，警察花了将近一个小时才使车辆又开起来。在这段时间里，卡车司机不得不清扫那几百只破瓶子。只有两只野狗从这一片混乱中得到好处，它们贪婪地吃掉了剩下的蛋糕。这就是事事不顺心的那么一天！

　　Lesson34Ahappydiscovery

　　Antiqueshopsexertapeculiarfascinationonagreatmanypeople.Themoreexpensivekindofantiqueshopwhererareobjectsarebeautifullydisplayedinglasscasestokeepthemfreefromdustisusuallyaforbiddingplace.Butnoonehastomusterupcouragetoenteralesspretentiousantiqueshop.Thereisalwayshopethatinitslabyrinthofmusty,dark,disorderedroomsarealraritywillbefoundamongstthepilesofassortedjunkthatlitterthefloors.Noonediscoversararitybychance.Atrulydedicatedsearcherforarttreasuresmusthavepatience,andaboveall,theabilitytorecognizetheworthofsomethingwhenheseesit.Todothis,hemustbeatleastasknowledgeableasthedealer.Likeascientistbentonmakingadiscovery,hemustcherishthehopethatonedayhewillbeamplyrewarded.

　　Myoldfriend,FrankHalliday,isjustsuchaperson.Hehasoftendescribedtomehowhepickedupamasterpieceforamere&5.OneSaturdaymorning,Frankvisitedanantiqueshopinmyneighbourhood.Ashehadneverbeentherebefore,hefoundagreatdealtointeresthim.ThemorningpassedrapidlyandFrankwasabouttoleavewhenhenoticedalargepacking-caselyingonthefloor.Thedealertoldhimthatithadjustcomein,butthathecouldnotbebotheredtoopenit.Frankbeggedhimtodosoandthedealerreluctantlypriseditopen.Thecontentsweredisappointing.Apartfromaninteresting-lookingcarveddagger,theboxwasfullofcrockery,muchofitbroken.FrankgentlyliftedthecrockeryoutoftheboxandsuddenlynoticedaminiaturePaintingatthebottomofthepacking-case.AsitscompositionandlineremindedhimofanItalianpaintingheknewwell,hedecidedtobuyit.Glancingatitbriefly,thedealertoldhimthatitwasworth&5.Frankcouldhardlyconcealhisexcitement,forheknewthathehadmadearealdiscovery.ThetinypaintingprovedtobeanunknownmasterpiecebyCorreggioandwasworththousandsofpounds.

　　古玩店对许多人来说有一种特殊的魅力。高档一点的古玩店为了防尘，把文物漂亮地陈列在玻璃柜子里，那里往往令人望而却步。而对不太装腔作势的古玩店，无论是谁都不用壮着胆子才敢往里进。人们还常常有希望在发霉、阴暗、杂乱无章、迷宫般的店堂里，从杂乱地摆放在地面上的、一堆堆各式各样的破烂货里找到一件稀世珍品。

　　无论是谁都不会一下子就发现一件珍品。一个到处找便宜的人必须具有耐心，而且最重要的是看到珍品时要有鉴别珍品的能力。要做到这一点，他至少要像古董商一样懂行。他必须像一个专心致志进行探索的科学家那样抱有这样的希望，即终有一天，他的努力会取得丰硕的成果。

　　21新概念英语第三册

　　我的老朋友弗兰克.哈利戴正是这样一个人。他多次向我详细讲他如何只花50英镑便买到一位名家的杰作。一个星期六的上午，弗兰克去了我家附近的一家古玩店。由于他从未去过那儿，结果他发现许多有趣的东西。上午很快过去了，弗兰克正准备离去，突然看见地板上放着一只体积很大的货箱。古董商告诉他那只货箱刚到不久，但他嫌麻烦不想把它打开。经弗兰克恳求，古董商才勉强把货箱撬开了。箱内东西令人失望。除了一柄式样别致、雕有花纹的匕首外，货箱内装满陶器，而且大部分都已破碎裂。弗兰克轻轻地把陶器拿出箱子，突然发现在箱底有一幅微型画，画面构图与纸条使他想起一幅他所熟悉的意大利画，于是他决定将画买了下来。古董商漫不经心看了一眼那幅画，告诉弗兰克那画值50英镑。弗兰克几乎无法掩饰自己兴奋的心情，因为他明白自己发现了一件珍品。那幅不大的画原来是柯勒乔的一幅未被发现的杰作，价值几十万英镑。

　　Lesson35Justicewasdone

　　Thewordjusticeisusuallyassociatedwithcourtsoflaw.Wemightsaythatjusticehasbeendonewhenaman"sinnocenceorguilthasbeenprovedbeyonddoubt.Justiceispartofthecomplexmachineryofthelaw.Thosewhoseekit,undertakeanarduousjourneyandcanneverbesurethattheywillfindit.Judges,howeverwiseoreminent,arehumanandcanmakemistakes.

　　Therearerareinstanceswhenjusticealmostceasestobeanabstractconception.Rewardorpunishmentareoutquiteindependentofhumaninterference.Atsuchtimes,justiceactslikealivingforce.Whenweuseaphraselikeitserveshimright,weare,inpart,admittingthatacertainsetofcircumstanceshasenabledjusticetoactofitsownaccord.

　　Whenathiefwascaughtonthepremisesofalargefurstoreonemorning,theshopassistantsmusthavefounditimpossibletoresistthetemptationtosay"itserveshimright".Theshopwasanold-fashionedonewithmanylarge,disusedfireplacesandtall,narrowchimneys.Towardsmidday,agirlheardamuffledcrycomingfrombehindoneofthewalls.Asthecrywasrepeatedseveraltimes,sherantotellthemanagerwhopromptlyrangupthefire-brigade.Thecryhadcertainlycomefromoneofthechimneys,butasthereweresomanyofthem,thefiremencouldnotbecertainwhichoneitwas.Theylocatedtherightchimneybytappingatthewallsandlisteningfortheman"scries.Afterchippingthroughawallwhichwaseighteeninchesthick,theyfoundthatamanhadbeentrappedinthechimney.Asitwasextremelynarrow,themanwasunabletomove,butthefiremenwereeventuallyabletofreehimbycuttingahugeholeinthewall.Thesorry-looking,blackenedfigurethatemerged,atonceadmittedthathehadtriedtobreakintotheshopduringthenightbuthadgotstuckinthechimney.Hehadbeentherefornearlytenhours.Justicehadbeendoneevenbeforethemanwashandedovertothepolice.

　　“正义”这个词常常是同法庭连在一起的。当某人被证据确凿地证明无罪的时候，我们也许会说正义得到了伸张。正义是复杂的法律机器组成部分。那些寻求正义的人走的是一条崎岖的道路，从来没有把握他们最终将到正义。法官无论如何聪明与有名，毕竟也是人，也会出差错的。

　　在个别情况下，正义不再是一种抽象概念。奖惩的实施是不受人意志支配的。在这种时候，正义像一种有生命的力量行使其职能。当我们说“他罪有应得”这句话的时候，我们部分承认了某种特定的环境使得正义自动地起了作用。

　　一天上午，当一个小偷在一家大型珠宝店里被人抓住的时候，店员一定会忍不住说：“他罪有应得。”那是一座老式的、经过改造的房子，店里有许多废置不用的大壁炉和又高又窄的烟囱。快到中午的时候，一个女售货员听见从一堵墙里传出一种闷声闷气的叫声。由于这种喊叫声重复了几次，她跑去报告经理，经理当即给消防队挂了电话。喊叫声肯定是从烟囱里传出来的，然而，因为烟囱太多，消防队员无法确定到底是哪一个。他们通过叫击烟囱倾叫声而确定传出声音的那个烟囱。他们凿透了18英寸厚的墙壁，发现有个人卡在烟囱里。由于烟囱太窄，那人无法动弹。消防队员在墙上挖了个大洞，才终于把他解救出来。那个看来满脸沮丧、浑身漆黑的家伙从烟囱里一出来，就承认头天夜里他企图到店里行窍，但让烟囱卡住了。他已经在烟囱里被困了将近10个小时。甚至在那人还没被送交给警察之前，正义就已得到了伸张。

　　Lesson36Achanceinamillion

　　WearelesscredulousthanweusedtobeInthenineteenthcentury,anovelistwouldbringhisstorytoaconclusionbypresentinghisreaderswithaseriesofcoincidences--mostofthemwildlyimprobable.Readershappilyacceptedthefactthatanobscuremaid-servantwasreallythehero"smother.Along-lostbrother,whowaspresumeddead,wasreallyalive

　　22新概念英语第三册

　　allthetimeandwickedlyplottingtobringaboutthehero"sdown-fall.Andsoon.Modernreaderswouldfindsuchnaivesolutionstotallyunacceptable.Yet,inreallife,circumstancesdosometimesconspiretobringaboutcoincidenceswhichanyonebutanineteenthcenturynovelistwouldfindincredible.AGermantaxi-driver,FranzBussman,recentlyfoundabrotherwhowasthoughttohavebeenkilledtwentyyearsbefore.Whileonawalkingtourwithhiswife,hestoppedtotalktoaworkman.Aftertheyhadgoneon,MrsBussmancommentedontheworkman"scloseresemblancetoherhusbandandevensuggestedthathemightbehisbrother.Franzpouredscornontheidea,pointingoutthathisbrotherhadbeenkilledinactionduringthewar.ThoughMrsBussmanwasfullyacquaintedwiththisstory,shethoughtthattherewasachanceinamillionthatshemightberight.Afewdayslater,shesentaboytotheworkmantoaskhimifhisnamewasHansBussman,Needlesstosay,theman"snamewasHansBussmanandhereallywasFranz"slong-lostbrother.Whenthebrotherswerere-united,Hansexplainedhowitwasthathewasstillalive.Afterhavingbeenwoundedtowardstheendofthewar,hehadbeensenttohospitalandwasseparatedfromhisunit.ThehospitalhadbeenbombedandHanshadmadehiswaybackintoWesternGermanyonfoot.Meanwhile,hisunitwaslostandallrecordsofhimhadbeendestroyed.Hansreturnedtohisfamilyhome,butthehousehadbeenbombedandnooneintheneighbourhoodknewwhathadbecomeoftheinhabitants.Assumingthathisfamilyhadbeenkilledduringanair-raid,HanssettleddowninaVillagefiftymilesawaywherehehadremainedeversince.

　　我们不再像以往那样轻易相信别人了。在19世纪，小说家常在小说结尾处给读者准备一系列的巧合——大部分是牵强附会，极不可能的。当时的读者却愉快地接受这样一些事实，一个低贱的女佣实际上是主人公的母亲；主人公一位长期失散的兄弟，大家都以为死了，实际上一直活着，并且正在策划暗算主人公；如此等等，现代读者会觉得这种天真的结局完全无法接受。不过，在现实生活中，有时确实会出现一些巧合，这些巧合除了19世纪小说家外谁也不会相信。

　　当我是个孩子的时候，我祖父给我讲了一位德国出租汽车司机弗朗兹。巴斯曼如何找到了据信已在20年前死去的兄弟的事。一次，他与妻子徒步旅行。途中，停下来与一个工人交谈，接着他们继续往前走去。巴斯曼夫人说那工人与她丈夫相貌很像，甚至猜测他可能就是她丈夫的兄弟。弗朗兹对此不屑一顾，指出他兄弟已经在战争中阵亡了。尽管巴斯曼夫人熟知这个情况，但她仍然认为自己的想法仍有百万分之一的可能性。几天后，她派了一个男孩去问那人是否叫汉斯.巴斯曼。不出巴斯曼夫人所料，那人的名字真是汉斯.巴斯曼，他确实是弗朗兹失散多年的兄弟。兄弟俩团聚之时，汉斯说明了他活下来的经过，战争即将结束时，他负伤被送进医院，并与部队失去联系。医院遭到轰炸，汉斯步行回到了西德。与此同时，他所在部队被击溃，他的所有档案材料全部毁于战火。汉斯重返故里，但他的家已被炸毁，左邻右舍谁也不知原住户的下落，汉斯以为全家人都在空袭中遇难，于是便在距此50英里外的一座村子里定居下来，直至当日。

　　Lesson37TheWesthavenExpress

　　Wehavelearnttoexpectthattrainswillbepunctual.Afteryearsofpre-conditioning,mostofushavedevelopedanunshakablefaithinrailwaytime-tables.Shipsmaybedelayedbystorms;airflightsmaybecancelledbecauseofbadweather;buttrainsmustbeontime.Onlyanexceptionallyheavysnowfallmighttemporarilydislocaterailwayservices.Itisalltooeasytoblametherailwayauthoritieswhensomethingdoesgowrong.Thetruthisthatwhenmistakesoccur,theyaremorelikelytobeoursthantheirs.Afterconsultingmyrailwaytime-table,InotedwithsatisfactionthattherewasanexpresstraintoWesthaven.Itwentdirectfrommylocalstationandthejourneylastedamerehourandseventeenminutes.WhenIboardedthetrain,Icouldnothelpnoticingthatagreatmanylocalpeoplegotonaswell.Atthetime,thisdidnotstrikemeasodd.Ireflectedthattheremustbeagreatmanypeoplebesidesmyselfwhowishedtotakeadvantageofthisexcellentservice.NeitherwasIsurprisedwhenthetrainstoppedatWidley,atinystationafewmilesalongtheline.Evenamightyexpresstraincanbeheldupbysignals.Butwhenthetraindawdledatstationafterstation,Ibegantowonder.Itsuddenlydawnedonmethatthisexpresswasnotroaringdownthelineatninetymilesanhour,butbarelychuggingalongatthirty.Onehourand

　　23新概念英语第三册

　　seventeenminutespassedandwehadnotevencoveredhalfthedistance.IaskedapassengerifthiswastheWesthavenExpress,buthehadnotevenheardofit.Ideterminedtolodgeacomplaintassoonaswearrived.Twohourslater,Iwastalkingangrilytothestation-masteratWesthaven.Whenhedeniedthetrain"sexistence,Iborrowedhiscopyofthetime-table.TherewasanoteoftriumphinmyvoicewhenItoldhimthatitwasthereinblackandwhite.Glancingatitbriefly,hetoldmetolookagain.Atinyasteriskconductedmetoafootnoteatthebottomofthepage.Itsaid:"Thisservicehasbeensuspended."

　　我们已经习惯于相信火车总是准点的。经过多年的适应，大多数人对火车时刻表产生了一种不可动摇的信念。轮船船期可能因风暴而推延，飞机航班可能因恶劣天气而取消，唯有火车必然是准点的。只有非同寻常的大雪才可能暂时打乱铁路运行。因此，一旦铁路上真出了问题，人们便不加思索地责备铁路当局。事实上，差错很可能是我们自己，而不是铁路当局的。

　　我查看了列车时刻表，满意地了解到有一趟去威斯特海温的快车。这是趟直达车，旅途总共才需1小时17分钟。上车后，我不禁注意到许多当地人也上了车。一开始，我并不感到奇怪，我想除我之外，想利用快车之便的也一定大有人在。火车开出几英里即在一个小站威德里停了下来。对此，我不觉得奇怪，因为即便是特别快车也可能被信号拦住。但是，当火车一站接着一站往前蠕动时，我便产生了怀疑。我突然感到这趟快车并没以时速90英里的速度呼啸前进，而是卟哧卟哧地向前爬行，时速仅30英里。1小时17分过去了，走了还不到一半路程。我问一位乘客，这是不是开往威斯特海温的那趟快车，他说从未听说过有这么一趟快车。我决定到目的地就给铁路部门提意见。两小时后，我气呼呼地同威斯特海温站站长说起此事。他说根本没有这趟车。于是我借他本人的列车时刻表，我带着一种胜利者的调子告诉他那趟车白纸黑字。明明白白印在时刻表上。他迅速地扫视了一眼，让我再看一遍。一个小小的星形符号把我的目光引到了那页底部一个说明上。上面写着：“此趟列车暂停运行。”

　　Lesson38Thefirstcalendar

　　Futurehistorianswillbeinauniquepositionwhentheycometorecordthehistoryofourowntimes.Theywillhardlyknowwhichfactstoselectfromthegreatmassofevidencethatsteadily

　　accumulates.Whatismoretheywillnothavetorelysolelyonthewrittenword.Films,gramophonerecords,andmagnetictapeswillprovidethemwithabewilderingamountofinformation.Theywillbeable,asitwere,toseeandhearusinaction.Butthehistorianattemptingtoreconstructthedistantpastisalwaysfacedwithadifficulttask.Hehastodeducewhathecanfromthefewscantycluesavailable.Evenseeminglyinsignificantremainscanshedinterestinglightonthehistoryofearlyman.

　　Uptonow,historianshaveassumedthatcalendarscameintobeingwiththeadventofagriculture,forthenmanwasfacedwitharealneedtounderstandsomethingabouttheseasons.Recentscientificevidenceseemstoindicatethatthisassumptionisincorrect.Historianshavelongbeenpuzzledbydots,linesandsymbolswhichhavebeenengravedonwalls,bones,andtheivorytuskofmammoths.ThenomadswhomadethesemarkingslivedbyhuntingandfishingduringthelastIceAge,whichbeganabout35,000B.C.andendedabout10,000B.C.Bycorrelatingmarkingsmadeinvariouspartsoftheworld,historianshavebeenabletoreadthisdifficultcode.Theyhavefoundthatitisconnectedwiththepassageofdaysandthephasesofthemoon.Itis,infact,a,primitivetypeofcalendar.Ithaslongbeenknownthatthehuntingscenesdepictedonwallswerenotsimplyaformofartisticexpression.Theyhadadefinitemeaning,fortheywereasnearasearlymancouldgettowriting.Itispossiblethatthereisadefiniterelationbetweenthesepaintingsandthemarkingsthatsometimesaccompanythem.Itseemsthatmanwasmakingarealefforttounderstandtheseasons20,000yearsearlierthanhasbeensupposed.

　　未来的历史学家在写我们这一段历史的时候会别具一格。对于逐渐积累起来的庞大材料，他们几乎不知道选取哪些好，而且，也不必完全依赖文字材料。电影、录像、光盘和光盘驱动器只是能为他们提供令人眼花缭乱的大量信息的几种手段。他们能够身临其境般地观看我们做事，倾听我们讲话。但是，历史学家企图重现遥远的过去可是一项艰巨的任务，他们必须根据现有的不充分的线索进行推理。即使看起来微不足道的遗物，也可能揭示人类早期历史的一些有趣的内容。

　　24新概念英语第三册

　　历史学家迄今认为日历是随农业的问世而出现的，因为当时人们面临着了解四季的实际需要，但近期科学研究发现，好像这种假设是不正确的。

　　长期以来，历史学家一直对雕刻在墙壁上、骨头上、古代长毛象的象牙上的点、线和形形色色的符号感到困惑不解。这些痕迹是游牧人留下的，他们生活在从公元前约35，000年到公元前10，000年的冰川期的末期，以狩猎、捕鱼为生。历史学家通过把世界各地留下的这种痕迹放在一起研究，终于弄懂了这种费解的代码。他们发现代码与昼夜更迭和月亮圆缺有关，事实上是一种最原始的日历。大家早就知道，画在墙上的狩猎图景并不是单纯的艺术表现形式，它们有着一定的含义，因为它们已接近古代人的文字形式。有时，这种图画与墙壁上的刻痕共存，它们之间可能有一定的联系。看来人类早就致力于探索四季变迁了，比人们想像的要早20,000年。

　　Lesson39Nothingtoworryabout

　　TheroughroadacrosstheplainsoonbecamesobadthatwetriedtogetBrucetodrivebacktothevillagewehadcomefrom.Eventhoughtheroadwaslitteredwithbouldersandpittedwithholes,Brucewasnotintheleastperturbed.Glancingathismap,heinformedusthatthenextvillagewasameretwentymilesaway.ItwasnotthatBrucealwaysunderestimateddifficulties.Hesimplyhadnosenseofdangeratall.Nomatterwhattheconditionswere,hebelievedthatacarshouldbedrivenasfastasitcouldpossiblygo.Aswebumpedoverthedustytrack,weswervedtoavoidlargeboulders.Thewheelsscoopedupstoneswhichhammeredominouslyunderthecar.Wefeltsurethatsoonerorlaterastonewouldripaholeinourpetroltankordamagetheengine.Becauseofthis,wekeptlookingback,wonderingifwewereleavingatrailofoilandpetrolbehindus.Whatareliefitwaswhentheboulderssuddenlydisappeared,givingwaytoastretchofplainwheretheonlyobstacleswereclumpsofbushes.Buttherewasworsetocome.Justaheadofustherewasahugefissure.Inresponsetorenewedpleadings,Brucestopped.Thoughweallgotouttoexaminethefissure,heremainedinthecar.Weinformedhimthatthefissureextendedforfiftyyardsandwastwofeetwideandfourfeetdeep.Eventhishadnoeffect.Bruceengagedlowgearanddroveataterrifyingspeed,keepingthefrontwheelsastridethecrackashefolloweditszig-zagcourse.Beforewehadtimetoworryaboutwhatmighthappen,wewerebackontheplainagain.Bruceconsultedthemaponcemoreandtoldusthatthevillagewasnowonlyfifteenmilesaway.Ournextobstaclewasashallowpoolofwaterabouthalfamileacross.Brucechargedatit,butinthemiddle,thecarcametoagrindinghalt.Ayellowlightonthedash-boardflashedangrilyandBrucecheerfullyannouncedthattherewasnooilintheengine!

　　穿越平原的道路高低不平，开车走了不远，路面愈加崎岖。我们想劝说布鲁斯把车开回我们出发的那个村庄去。尽管路面布满石头，坑坑洼洼，但布鲁斯却一点儿不慌乱。他瞥了一眼地图，告诉我们前面再走不到20英里就是一个村庄。这并不是说布鲁斯总是低估困难，而是他压根儿没有一点儿危险感。他认为不管路面情况如何，车必须以最高速度前进。

　　我们在尘士飞扬的道路上颠簸，车子东拐西弯，以躲开那些大圆石。车轮搅起的石块锤击车身，发出不祥的锤击声。我们想念迟早会飞起一个石块把油箱砸开一个窟窿，或者把发动机砸坏。因此，我们不时地掉过头，怀疑车后是否留下了机油和汽油的痕迹。

　　突然大石块不见了，前面是一片平地，唯一的障碍只有一簇簇灌木丛。这使我们长长地松了口气。但是更糟糕的事情在等着我们，离我们不远处，出现一个大裂缝。我们再次央求布鲁斯小心，他这才把车停了下来。我们纷纷下车察看那个大裂缝，他却呆在车上。我们告诉他那个大裂缝长50码，宽2英尺，深4英尺。这也没有对他产生任何影响。布鲁斯挂上慢档，把两只前轮分别搁在裂缝的两边，顺着弯弯曲曲的裂缝，以发疯的速度向前开去。我们还未来得及担心后果，车已重新开上了平地。布鲁斯又看了一眼地图，告诉我们那座村庄离我们只有15英里了。下一个障碍是一片约半英里宽的浅水塘。布鲁斯向水塘冲去，但车开到水塘当中，嘎吱一声停住了。仪表盘一盏黄灯闪着刺眼的光芒，布鲁斯兴致勃勃地宣布发动机里没油了！

　　Lesson40Who’swho

　　Ithasneverbeenexplainedwhyuniversitystudentsseemtoenjoypracticaljokesmorethananyoneelse.Studentsspecializeinaparticulartypeofpracticaljoke:thehoax.Invitingthefire-brigadetoputoutanon-existentfireisacrude

　　25新概念英语第三册

　　formofdeceptionwhichnoself-respectingstudentwouldeverindulgein,Studentsoftencreateamusingsituationswhicharefunnytoeveryoneexceptthevictims.Whenastudentrecentlysawtwoworkmenusingapneumaticdrilloutsidehisuniversity,heimmediatelytelephonedthepoliceandinformedthemthattwostudentsdressedupasworkmenweretearinguptheroadwithapneumaticdrill.Assoonashehadhungup,hewentovertotheworkmenandtoldthemthatifapolicemanorderedthemtogoaway,theywerenottotakehimseriously.Headdedthatastudenthaddressedupasapolicemanandwasplayingallsortsofsillyjokesonpeople.Boththepoliceandtheworkmenweregratefultothestudentforthispieceofadvanceinformation.

　　Thestudenthidinanarchwaynearbywherehecouldwatchandheareverythingthatwenton.Sureenough,apolicemanarrivedonthesceneandpolitelyaskedtheworkmentogoaway.Whenhereceivedaveryrudereplyfromoneoftheworkmen,hethreatenedtoremovethembyforce.Theworkmentoldhimtodoashepleasedandthepolicemantelephonedforhelp.Shortlyafterwards,fourmorepolicemenarrivedandremonstratedwiththeworkmen.Asthemenrefusedtostopworking,thepoliceattemptedtoseizethepneumaticdrill.Theworkmenstruggledfiercelyandoneofthemlosthistemper.Hethreatenedtocallthepolice.Atthis,thepolicepointedoutironicallythatthiswouldhardlybenecessaryasthemenwerealreadyunderarrest.Pretendingtospeakseriously,oneoftheworkmenaskedifhemightmakeatelephonecallbeforebeingtakentothestation.Permissionwasgrantedandapolicemanaccompaniedhimtoacall-box.Onlywhenhesawthatthemanwasactuallytelephoningthepolicedidherealizethattheyhadallbeenthevictimsofahoax.

　　谁也弄不清为什么大学生好像比任何人都更喜欢恶作剧。大学生擅长一种特殊的恶作剧——戏弄人。请消防队来扑灭一场根本没有的大火是一种低级骗局，有自尊心的大学生决不会去做。大学生们常常做的是制造一种可笑的局面，使大家笑上一场，当然受害者是笑不出来的。

　　最近有个学生看见两个工人在学校门外用风钻干活，马上打电话报告警察，说有两个学生装扮成工人，正在用风钻破坏路面。挂上电话后，他又马上来到工人那儿，告诉他们若有个警察来让他们走开，不要把他当回事，还对工人说，有个学生常装扮成警察无聊地同别人开玩笑。警察与工人都对那个学生事先通报情况表示感谢。

　　那个学生躲在附近一拱形的门廊里，在那儿可以看见、听到现场发生的一切。果然，警察来了，不礼貌地请工人离开此地；但其中一个工人粗鲁地回了几句。于是警察威胁要强行使他们离开。工人说，悉听尊便。警察去打电话叫人。一会儿工夫，又来了4个警察，规劝工人离开。由于工人拒绝停下手中的活，警察想夺风钻。两个工人奋力抗争，其中一个发了火，威胁说要去叫警察。警察听后讥讽地说，这大可不必，因为他俩已被逮捕了。其中一个工人装模作样地问道，在被带往警察局之前，是否可以打一个电话。警察同意了，陪他来到一个投币地电话前，当他看到那个工人真的是给警察挂电话，才恍然大悟，原来他们都成一场骗局的受害者。

　　Lesson41IllusionsofPastoralpeace

　　Thequietlifeofthecountryhasneverappealedtome.Citybornandcitybred,Ihavealwaysregardedthecountryassomethingyoulookatthroughatrainwindow,orsomethingyouoccasionallyvisitduringtheweek-end.Mostofmyfriendsliveinthecity,yettheyalwaysgointorapturesatthemerementionofthecountry.Thoughtheyextolthevirtuesofthepeacefullife,onlyoneofthemhasevergonetoliveinthecountryandhewasbackintownwithinsixmonths.Evenhestilllivesundertheillusionthatcountrylifeissomehowsuperiortotownlife.Heisforevertalkingaboutthefriendlypeople,thecleanatmosphere,theclosenesstonatureandthegentlepaceofliving.Nothingcanbecompared,hemaintains,withthefirstcockcrow,thetwitteringofbirdsatdawn,thesightoftherisingsunglintingonthetreesandpastures.Thisidyllicpastoralsceneisonlypartofthepicture.Myfriendfailstomentionthelongandfriendlesswintereveningswhichareinterruptedonlybyanoccasionalvisittothelocalcinema-virtuallytheonlyformofentertainment.Hesaysnothingaboutthepoorselectionofgoodsintheshops,oraboutthoseunfortunatepeoplewhohavetotravelfromthecountrytothecityeverydaytogettowork.Whypeoplearepreparedtotolerateafourhourjourneyeachdayforthedubiousprivilegeoflivinginthe

　　26新概念英语第三册

　　countryisbeyondmyken.Theycouldbesavedsomuchmiseryandexpenseiftheychosetoliveinthecitywheretheyrightlybelong.

　　Ifyoucandowithoutthefewpastoralpleasuresofthecountry,youwillfindthecitycanprovideyouwiththebestthatlifecanoffer.Youneverhavetotravelmilestoseeyourfriends.Theyinvariablylivenearbyandarealwaysavailableforaninformalchatoranevening"sentertainment.Someofmyacquaintancesinthecountrycomeuptotownonceortwiceayeartovisitthetheatreasaspecialtreat.Forthemthisisamajoroperationwhichinvolvesconsiderableplanning.Astheplaydrawstoitsclose,theywonderwhethertheywillevercatchthatlasttrainhome.Thecitydwellerneverexperiencesanxietiesofthissort.Thelatestexhibitions,films,orplaysareonlyashortbusrideaway.Shopping,too,isalwaysapleasure.Thereissomuchvarietythatyouneverhavetomakedowithsecondbest.Countrypeoplerunwildwhentheygoshoppinginthecityandstaggerhomeloadedwithasmanyofthenecessitiesoflifeastheycancarry.Noristhecitywithoutitsmomentsofbeauty.Thereissomethingcomfortingaboutthewarmglowshedbyadvertisementsoncoldwetwinternights.Fewthingscouldbemoreimpressivethanthepeacethatdescendsondesertedcitystreetsatweek-endswhenthethousandsthattraveltoworkeverydayaretuckedawayintheirhomesinthecountry.Ithasalwaysbeenamysterytomewhycitydwellers,whoappreciateallthesethings,obstinatelypretendthattheywouldprefertoliveinthecountry.

　　宁静的乡村生活从来没有吸引过我。我生在城市，长在城市，总认为乡村是透过火车车窗看到的那个样了，或偶尔周末去游玩一下景象。我的许多朋友都住在城市，但他们只要一提起乡村，马上就会变得欣喜若狂。尽管他们都交口称赞宁静的乡村生活的种种优点，但其中只有一个人真去农村住过，而且不足6个月就回来了。即使他也仍存有幻觉，好像乡村生活就是比城市生活优越。他滔滔不绝地大谈友好的农民，洁净的空气，贴近大自然的环境和悠闲的生活节奏。他坚持认为，凌晨雄鸡第一声啼叫，黎明时分小鸟吱喳欢叫，冉冉升起的朝阳染红树木、牧场，此番美景无与伦比。但这种田园诗般的乡村风光仅仅是一个侧面。我的朋友没有提到在电视机前度过的漫长寂寞的冬夜——电视是唯一的娱乐形式。他也不说商店货物品种单调，以及那些每天不得不从乡下赶到城里工作的不幸的人们。人们为什么情愿每天在路上奔波4个小时去换取值得怀疑的乡间的优点，我是无法理解的。要是他们愿意住在本来属于他们的城市，则可以让他们省去诸多不便与节约大量开支。

　　如果你愿舍弃乡下生活那一点点乐趣的话，那么你会发出城市可以为你提供生活最美好的东西。你去看朋友根本不用跋涉好几英里，因为他们都住在附近，你随时可以同他们聊天或在晚上一起娱乐。我在乡村有一些熟人，他们每年进城来看一回或几回戏，并把此看作一种特殊的享受。看戏在他们是件大事，需要精心计划。当戏快演完时，他们又为是否能赶上末班火车回家而犯愁。这种焦虑，城里人是从未体验过的。坐公共汽车几站路，就可看到最新的展览、电影、戏剧。买东西也是一种乐趣。物品种繁多，从来不必用二等品来凑合。乡里人进城采购欣喜若狂，每次回家时都买足了外来商品，直到拿不动方才罢休，连走路都摇摇晃晃的。城市也并非没有良辰美景。寒冷潮湿的冬夜里，广告灯箱发出的暖光，会给人某种安慰。周末，当成千上万进城上班的人回到他们的乡间寓所之后，空旷的街市笼罩着一种宁静气氛，没有什么能比此时的宁静更令人难忘了。城里人对这一切心里很明白，却偏要执拗地装出他们喜欢住在乡村的样子，这对我来说一直是个谜。

　　Lesson42ModernCavemen

　　Caveexploration,orpotholing,asithascometobeknown,isarelativelynewsport.Perhapsitisthedesireforsolitudeorthechanceofmakinganunexpecteddiscoverythatluresmendowntothedepthsoftheearth.Itisimpossibletogiveasatisfactoryexplanationforapot-holer"smotives.Forhim,caveshavethesamepeculiarfascinationwhichhighmountainshavefortheclimber.Theyarouseinstinctswhichcanonlybedimlyunderstood.ExploringreallydeepcavesisnotataskfortheSundayafternoonrambler.Suchundertakingsrequirethepreciseplanningandforesightofmilitaryoperations.Itcantakeaslongaseightdaystorigupropeladdersandtoestablishsupplybasesbeforeadescentcanbemadeintoaverydeepcave.Precautionsofthissortarenecessary,foritisimpossibletoforetelltheexactnatureofthedifficultieswhichwillconfrontthepotholer.ThedeepestknowncaveintheworldistheGouffreBergernearGrenoble.Itextendstoadepthof3723feet.Thisimmensechasmhasbeenformedbyanundergroundstreamwhichhastunnelled

　　2新概念英语第三册

　　acoursethroughaflawintherocks.TheentrancetothecaveisonaplateauintheDauphineAlps.Asitisonlysixfeetacross,itisbarelynoticeable.ThecavemightneverhavebeendiscoveredhadnottheentrancebeenspottedbythedistinguishedFrenchpotholer,Berger.Sinceitsdiscovery,ithasbecomeasortofpotholers"Everest.Thoughanumberofdescentshavebeenmade,muchofitstillremainstobeexplored.

　　AteamofpotholersrecentlywentdowntheGouffreBerger.Afterenteringthenarrowgapontheplateau,theyclimbeddownthesteepsidesofthecaveuntiltheycametoanarrowcorridor.Theyhadtoedgetheirwayalongthis,sometimeswadingacrossshallowstreams,orswimmingacrossdeeppools.Suddenlytheycametoawaterfallwhichdroppedintoanundergroundlakeatthebottomofthecave.Theyplungedintothelake,andafterloadingtheirgearonaninflatablerubberdinghy,letthecurrentcarrythemtotheotherside.Toprotectthemselvesfromtheicywater,theyhadtowearspecialrubbersuits.Atthefarendofthelake,theycametohugepilesofrubblewhichhadbeenwashedupbythewater.Inthispartofthecave,theycouldhearaninsistentboomingsoundwhichtheyfoundwascausedbyasmallwater-spoutshootingdownintoapoolfromtheroofofthecave.Squeezingthroughacleftintherocks,thepotholersarrivedatanenormouscavern,thesizeofahugeconcerthall.Afterswitchingonpowerfularclights,theysawgreatstalagmites—someofthemoverfortyfeethigh--risingupliketree-trunkstomeetthestalactitessuspendedfromtheroof.Roundabout,pilesoflime-stoneglistenedinallthecoloursoftherainbow.Intheeeriesilenceofthecavern,theonlysoundthatcouldbeheardwasmadebywaterwhichdrippedcontinuouslyfromthehighdomeabovethem.

　　洞穴勘查——或洞穴勘探——是一项比较新的体育活动。寻求独处的愿望或寻求意外发现的机会的欲望吸引人们来到地下深处。要想对洞穴探险者的动机作出满意的解释是不可能的。对洞穴探险者来说，洞穴有一种特殊的魅力，就像高山对登山者有特殊魅力一样。为什么洞空能引发人的那种探险本能，人们对此只能有一种模模糊糊的理解。

　　探测非常深的洞穴不是那些在星期日下午漫步的人所能胜任的。这种活动需要有军事行动般的周密布署和预见能力。有时需要花费整整8天时间来搭起绳梯，建立供应基地，然后才能到一个很深的洞穴里。作出这样的准备是必要的，因为无法预见到洞穴探险者究竟会遇到什么性质的困难。世界上最深的洞穴是格里诺布尔附近的高弗.伯杰洞，深达3,723英尺。这个深邃的洞穴是由一条地下暗泉冲刷岩石中的缝隙并使之慢慢变大而形成的。此洞的洞口在丹芬阿尔卑斯山的高原上，仅6英尺宽，很难被发现。若不是法国著名洞穴探险家伯杰由于偶然的机会发现了这个洞口的话，这个洞也许不会为人所知。自从被发现以后，这个洞成了洞穴探险者的珠穆朗玛峰，人们多次进入洞内探险，但至今尚有不少东西有待勘探。

　　最近，一队洞穴探险者下到了高弗.伯杰洞里。他们从高原上的窄缝进去，顺着笔直陡峭的洞壁往下爬。来到一条狭窄的走廊上。他们不得不侧着身子往前走，有时过浅溪，有时游过深潭。突然，他们来到一道瀑布前，那瀑布奔泻而下，注入洞底一处地下湖里。他们跳入湖中，把各种器具装上一只充气的橡皮艇，听任水流将他们带往对岸。湖水冰冷刺骨，他们必须穿上一种特制的橡皮服以保护自己。在湖的尽头，他们见到一大堆一大堆由湖水冲刷上岸的碎石。在这儿，他们可以听见一种连续不断的轰鸣声。后来他们发现这是由山洞顶部的一个小孔里喷出的水柱跌落到水潭中发出的声音。洞穴探险者从岩石缝里挤身过去，来到一个巨大的洞里，其大小相当于一个音乐厅。他们打开强力弧光灯，看见一株株巨大的石笋，有的高达40英尺，像树干似地向上长着，与洞顶悬挂下来的钟乳石相接。周围是一堆堆石灰石，像彩虹一样闪闪发光。洞里有一种可怕的寂静，唯一的可以听见的声响是高高的圆顶上不间断地滴水的嘀嗒声。

　　Lesson43Fullyinsured

　　Insurancecompaniesarenormallywillingtoinsureanything.Insuringpublicorprivatepropertyisastandardpracticeinmostcountriesintheworld.If,however,youwereholdinganopenairgardenpartyorafeteitwouldbeequallypossibletoinsureyourselfintheeventofbadweather.Needlesstosay,thebiggertheriskaninsurancecompanytakes,thehigherthepremiumyouwillhavetopay.Itisnotuncommontohearthataship-pingcompanyhasmadeaclaimforthecostofsalvagingasunkenship.Buttheclaimmadebyalocalauthoritytorecoverthecostofsalvagingasunkenpiedishmustsurelybeunique.

　　Admittedlyitwasanunusualpiedish,foritwaseighteenfeetlongandsixfeetwide.Ithadbeenpurchasedbyalocalauthoritysothatanenormouspiecouldbebakedforanannualfair.Thepiecommitteedecidedthatthebestwaytotransportthedishwouldbebycanal,sotheyinsureditforthetrip.Shortlyafteritwaslaunched,thepiecommitteewent

　　2新概念英语第三册

　　toalocalinntocelebrate.Atthesametime,anumberofteenagersclimbedontothedishandheldalittlepartyoftheirown.Moderndancesprovedtobemorethanthediskcouldbear,forduringthepartyitcapsizedandsankinsevenfeetofwater.

　　Thepiecommitteetelephonedalocalgarageownerwhoarrivedinarecoverytrucktosalvagethepiedish.Shiveringintheirwetclothes,theteenagerslookedonwhilethreemendivedrepeatedlyintothewatertolocatethedish.Theyhadlittledifficultyinfindingit,buthaulingitoutofthewaterprovedtobeaseriousproblem.Thesidesofthedishweresosmooththatitwasalmostimpossibletoattachhawsersandchainstotherimwithoutdamagingit.Eventuallychainswerefixedtooneendofthedishandapowerfulwinchwasputintooperation.Thedishrosetothesurfaceandwasgentlydrawntowardsthecanalbank.Foroneagonizingmoment,thedishwasperchedprecariouslyonthebankofthecanal,butitsuddenlyoverbalancedandslidbackintothewater.Themenwerenowobligedtotryoncemore.Thistimetheyfixedheavymetalclampstobothsidesofthedishsothattheycouldfastenthechains.Thedishnowhadtobeliftedverticallybecauseoneedgewasrestingagainstthesideofthecanal.Thewinchwasagainputintooperationandoneofthemenstartedupthetruck.Severalminuteslater,thedishwassuccessfullyhauledabovethesurfaceofthewater.Waterstreamedintorrentsoveritssideswithsuchforcethatitsetupahugewaveinthecanal.Therewasdangerthatthewavewouldreboundofftheothersideofthebankandsendthedishplungingintothewateragain.Byworkingattremendousspeed,themenmanagedtogetthedishontodrylandbeforethewavereturned.

　　保险公司一般说来愿意承保一切东西。承办公共财产或私人财产保险是世界上大部分国家的正常业务。如果你要举办一次露天游园会或盛宴，为避免碰上不好的天气而遭受损失也同样可以保险，不用说，保险公司承担风险越大，你付的保险费也就越高。航运公司为打捞沉船而提出索赔，这是常有的事，但某地当局为打捞一只焙制馅饼的盘子提出索赔，倒是件新鲜的事儿。

　　这个馅饼盘子确实少见，有18英尺长，6英尺宽。某地方当局买下它用来焙制一个巨大的馅饼为一年一度交易会助兴。馅饼委员会确认运输这只盘子的最佳方案是通过运河水运。于是，他们对这只盘子的运输安全投了保。盘子下水后不久，馅饼委员会成员们来到当地一家小酒店庆贺。就在这个时候，许多十几岁的孩子爬盘子举行他们自己的集会。他们跳起了舞，盘子难以承受。舞会进行过程中，盘子倾覆，沉入了7英尺深的水中。

　　馅饼委员会给当地汽车修理库老板打电话，他闻讯后开着一辆急修车前来打捞盘子。那些孩子们穿着湿衣服哆嗦，看着3个工人轮潜入水中以确定盘子的位置。他们没费多大事儿就找到了盘子。可是把盘子捞出却是一个很大的难题。盘子四边十分光滑，要在盘边拴上绳索或链条而同时又不损坏它是很难办到的。不过，他们终于将链条固定在盘子的一端，一台大功率的绞车开动起来。盘子慢慢浮出水面，被轻轻地拽向运河岸边。在令人忐忑不安的瞬间，盘子晃晃悠悠地上了岸，但它突然失去了平衡，又跌回水中。工人们只得再来一次。这次，他们用沉重的金属夹子把盘子夹住，以便往盘子上安装铁链。这次，盘子必须垂直吊出水面，因为盘子的一边紧靠着运河河岸。绞盘机再次启动，一位工人发动了急修车的引擎。几分钟后，盘子被成功地拽出了水面。波浪从盘子两侧急涌而出，在运河里掀起一股大浪。但是当波浪从河对岸折回来时，就有再次把盘子拖进水里的危险。工人们动作迅速，终于赶在那股大浪返回之前把盘子拽到了岸上。

　　Lesson44Speedandcomfort

　　Peopletravellinglongdistancesfrequentlyhavetodecidewhethertheywouldprefertogobyland,sea,orair.Hardlyanyonecanpositivelyenjoysittinginatrainformorethanafewhours.Traincompartmentssoongetcrampedandstuffy.Itisalmostimpossibletotakeyourmindoffthejourney.Readingisonlyapartialsolution,forthemonotonousrhythmofthewheelsclickingontherailssoonlullsyoutosleep.Duringtheday,sleepcomesinsnatches.Atnight,whenyoureallywishtogotosleep,yourarelymanagetodoso.Ifyouareluckyenoughtogetacouchette,youspendhalfthenightstaringatthesmallbluelightintheceiling,orfumblingtofindyourpassportwhenyoucrossafrontier.Inevitablyyouarriveatyourdestinationalmostexhausted.Longcarjourneysareevenlesspleasant,foritisquiteimpossibleeventoread.Onmotor-waysyoucan,atleast,travelfairlysafelyathighspeeds,butmoreoftenthannot,thegreaterpartofthejourneyisspentonnarrow,bumpyroadswhicharecrowdedwithtraffic.Bycomparison,tripsbyseaofferagreatvarietyofcivilizedcomforts.Youcanstretchyourlegsonthespaciousdecks,playgames,swim,meetinterestingpeople

　　2新概念英语第三册

　　andenjoygoodfood--alwaysassuming,ofcourse,thattheseaiscalm.Ifitisnot,andyouarelikelytogetsea-sick,noformoftransportcouldbeworse.Evenifyoutravelinidealweather,seajourneystakealongtime.Relativelyfewpeoplearepreparedtosacrificeuptoathirdoftheirholidaysforthepleasureoftravellingonaship.

　　Aeroplaneshavethereputationofbeingdangerousandevenhardenedtravellersareintimidatedbythem.Theyalsohavethegravedisadvantageofbeingthemostexpensiveformoftransport.Butnothingcanmatchthemforspeedandcomfort.Travellingataheightof30,000feet,farabovetheclouds,andatover500milesanhourisanexhilaratingexperience.Youdonothavetodevisewaysoftakingyourmindoffthejourney,foranaeroplanegetsyoutoyourdestinationrapidly.Forafewhours,yousettlebackinadeeparmchairtoenjoytheflight.Therealescapistcanwatchafreefilmshowandsipchampagneonsomeservices.Butevenwhensuchrefinementsarenotavailable,thereisplentytokeepyouoccupied.Anaeroplaneoffersyouanunusualandbreathtakingviewoftheworld.Yousoareffortlesslyoverhighmountainsanddeepvalleys.Youreallyseetheshapeoftheland.Ifthelandscapeishiddenfromview,youcanenjoytheextraordinarysightofunbrokencloudplainsthatstretchoutformilesbeforeyou,whilethesunshinesbrilliantlyinaclearsky.Thejourneyissosmooththatthereisnothingtopreventyoufromreadingorsleeping.Howeveryoudecidetospendyourtime,onethingiscertain:youwillarriveatyourdestinationfreshanduncrumpled.Youwillnothavetospendthenextfewdaysrecoveringfromalongandarduousjourney.

　　出远门的人常常需要决定是走旱路、水路，还是坐飞机。很少有人能够真正喜欢坐几个小时以上的火车。车厢很快就变得拥挤、闷热，想摆脱开旅途的困扰是很难的。看书只能解决部分问题。车轮与铁轨间单调的嘎喳声很快就会送你进入梦乡。白天是忽睡忽醒，到了夜晚，你真想睡了，却很难入睡。即使你走运弄到一个卧铺，夜间有一半时间你会盯着车顶那盏小蓝灯而睡不着觉；要不然就为查票摸索你的车票。一旦抵达目的地，你总是疲惫不堪。乘汽车作长途旅行则更加不舒服，因为连看书都几乎不可能。在公路上还好，你至少能以相当快的速度安全地向前行。但旅行的大部分时间都花在路上，而且只有很少的服务设施，交通也很拥挤。相比之下，坐船旅行或环游可以得到文明世界的各种享受。你可以在甲板上伸展四肢、做游戏，还能也很见到各种有趣的人，能享用各种美味佳肴——当然，这一切只有在大海风平浪静的情况下才有可能。如果大海肆虐起来，你就可能晕船，那种难受劲儿是任何一种别的旅行的方式都不会带来的。即使风平浪静，坐船旅行也要占用很长时间。没有多少人会为享受坐船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期的时间。

　　飞机以危险而著称，连老资格的旅行者也怕飞机。飞机另一个缺点是昂贵。但就速度与舒适而言，飞机是无与伦比的。腾云驾雾，在30，000英尺高空以500英里的时速旅行，这种经历令人心旷神怡。你不必想办法去摆脱旅途的困扰，因为飞机会迅速地把你送到目的地。几小时之内，你躺在扶手椅上，享受着旅途的欢乐。真正会享受的人还可以在某些航班上看一场电影和喝香槟。即使没有这些消遣条件，也总是有事可做。飞机上，你可以观察世界上非同寻常的奇妙的美景。你毫不费劲地飞越高山幽谷，你确能饱览大地的风貌。如果这种景色被遮住了，你可以观赏一下展现在你面前的、一望数英里的、连绵不断的云海，同时阳光灿烂，天空清澈明朗。旅途平稳，丝毫不妨碍你阅读或睡眠。不管你打算如何消磨时间，有件事是可以肯定的，即当你抵达目的地时，你感到精神焕发，毫无倦意，用不着因为漫长的旅途的辛苦而花几天时间休息来恢复精神。

　　Lesson45Thepowerofpress

　　Indemocraticcountriesanyeffortstorestrictthefreedomofthepressarerightlycondemned.However,thisfreedomcaneasilybeabused.Storiesaboutpeopleoftenattractfarmorepublicattentionthanpoliticalevents.Thoughwemayenjoyreadingaboutthelivesofothers,itisextremelydoubtfulwhetherwewouldequallyenjoyreadingaboutourselves.Actingonthecontentionthatfactsaresacred,reporterscancauseuntoldsufferingtoindividualsbypublishingdetailsabouttheirprivatelives.Newspapersexertsuchtremendousinfluencethattheycannotonlybringaboutmajorchangestothelivesofordinarypeoplebutcanevenoverthrowagovernment.

　　Thestoryofapoorfamilythatacquiredfameandfortuneovernight,dramaticallyillustratesthepowerofthepress.ThefamilylivedinAberdeen,asmalltownof23,000inhabitantsinSouthDakota.Astheparentshadfivechildren,lifewasaperpetualstruggleagainstpoverty.Theywereexpectingtheirsixthchildandfacedwithevenmorepressingeconomic

　　3新概念英语第三册

　　problems.Iftheyhadonlyhadonemorechild,thefactwouldhavepassedunnoticed.Theywouldhavecontinuedtostruggleagainsteconomicoddsandwouldhavelivedinobscurity.Buttheysuddenlybecametheparentsofquintuplets,fourgirlsandaboy,aneventwhichradicallychangedtheirlives.Thedayafterthebirthofthefivechildren,anaeroplanearrivedinAberdeenbringingsixtyreportersandphotographers.Thenewswasofnationalimportance,forthepoorcouplehadbecometheparentsoftheonlyquintupletsinAmerica.

　　Therisetofamewasswift.Televisioncamerasandnewspaperscarriedthenewstoeveryoneinthecountry.Newspapersandmagazinesofferedthefamilyhugesumsfortheexclusiverightstopublishstoriesandphotographs.Giftspouredinnotonlyfromunknownpeople,butfrombabyfoodandsoapmanufacturerswhowishedtoadvertisetheirproducts.Theoldfarmhousethefamilylivedinwastobereplacedbyanew$100,000home.Reporterskeptpressingforinterviewssolawyershadtobeemployedtoactasspokesmenforthefamilyatpressconferences.Theeventbroughtseriouschangestothetownitself.Planswereannouncedtobuildahugenewhighway,asAberdeenwasnowlikelytoattractthousandsoftourists.SignpostserectedontheoutskirtsofthetowndirectedtouristsnottoAberdeen,butto"Quint-CityU.S.A."Thelocalauthoritiesdiscussedthepossibilityoferectinga"quintmuseum"tosatisfythecuriosityofthepublicandtoprotectthefamilyfrominquisitivetourists.Whilethefivebabieswerestillquietlysleepinginoxygententsinahospitalnursery,theirparentswerepayingthepriceforfame.Itwouldneveragainbepossibleforthemtoleadnormallives.Theyhadbecomethevictimsofcommercialization,fortheirnameshadacquiredamarketvalue.Thetownitselfreceivedsomuchattentionthatalmosteveryoneoftheinhabitantswasaffectedtoagreaterorlessdegree.

　　在民主国家里，任何限制新闻自由的企图都理所当然地受到谴责。然而，这种自由很容易被滥用。常人轶事往往比政治事件更能引起公众注意。我们都喜欢看关于别人生活的报道，但是否同样喜欢看关于自己生活的报道，就很难说了。记者按事实至上的论点行事，发表有关别人生活的细节，有时会给当事人造成极大的痛苦。新闻具有巨大的威力。它们不仅可以给寻常人家的生活带来重大的变化，甚至还能推翻一个政府。

　　下面这户穷人一夜之间出名发财的故事戏剧性地说明了新闻报道威力。这户人家住在南达科他州一个人口为23，000的小镇上，镇名为阿拜丁。家里已有5个孩子，全家人常年在贫困中挣扎。第6个孩子即将问世，他们面临着更为严峻的经济问题。如果他们只添了1个孩子，这件事本来就不会引起任何人的注意。这家人会继续为克服经济上的拮据而奋斗，并默默无闻地活下去。但是他们出人意料生了个五胞胎，4女1男。这事使他们的生活发生了根本的变化。五胞胎降生第二天，一架飞机飞抵阿拜丁，随机带来60名记者与摄影师。

　　这一家迅速出了名。电视摄像机和报纸把消息传送到全国。报纸、杂志出高价向他们购买文字、图片的独家报道权。不但素昧平生的人寄来了大量的礼物，而且婴儿食品、婴儿肥皂制造厂商为了替自己产品做广告也寄来了大量的礼物。这家人住的旧家舍将由一座价值50万美元的新住宅所取代。由于记者纷纷要求会见，他们不得不请了律师充当他们家的发言人举行记者招待会。眼下，五胞胎还静静地躺在医院婴儿室的氧气帐里，他们的父母却为这名声付出了代价，他们再也无法过正常的生活。他们成了商业化的受害者，因为他们的名字具有了市场价值。这些孩子立即成了商品，而不是5个新的家庭成员。

　　Lesson46Doityourself

　　Sogreatisourpassionfordoingthingsforourselves,thatwearebecomingincreasinglylessdependentonspecializedlabour.Noonecanpleadignoranceofasubjectanylonger,fortherearecountlessdo-it-yourselfpublications.Armedwiththerighttoolsandmaterials,newly-wedsgailyembarkonthetaskofdecoratingtheirownhomes.Menofallagesspendhoursoftheirleisuretimeinstallingtheirownfireplaces,laying-outtheirowngardens;buildinggaragesandmakingfurniture.Somereallykeenenthusiastsgosofarastobuildtheirownrecordplayersandradiotransmitters.Shopscaterforthedo-it-yourselfcrazenotonlybyrunningspecialadvisoryservicesfornovices,butbyofferingconsumersbitsandpieceswhichtheycanassembleathome.Suchthingsprovideanexcellentoutletforpent-upcreativeenergy,butunfortunatelynotallofusarebornhandymen.

　　31新概念英语第三册

　　Wivestendtobelievethattheirhusbandsareinfinitelyresourcefulandversatile.Evenhusbandswhocanhardlydriveanailinstraightaresupposedtobebornelectricians,carpenters,plumbersandmechanics.Whenlightsfuse,furnituregetsrickety,pipesgetclogged,orvacuumcleanersfailtooperate,wivesautomaticallyassumethattheirhusbandswillsomehowputthingsright.

　　Theworstthingaboutthedo-it-yourselfgameisthatsometimeshusbandsliveunderthedelusionthattheycandoanythingevenwhentheyhavebeenrepeatedlyprovedwrong.Itisaquestionofprideasmuchasanythingelse.LastspringmywifesuggestedthatIcallinamantolookatourlawn-mower.Ithadbrokendowntheprevioussummer,andthoughIpromisedtorepairit,Ihadnevergotroundtoit.IwouldnothearofthesuggestionandsaidthatIwouldfixitmyself.OneSaturdayafternoon,Ihauledthemachineintothegardenandhadacloselookatit.AsfarasIcouldsee,itonlyneededaminoradjustment:aturnofascrewhere,alittletighteningupthere,adropofoilanditwouldbeasgoodasnew.Inevitablytherepairjobwasnotquitesosimple.Themowerfirmlyrefusedtomow,soIdecidedtodismantleit.Thegardenwassoonlitteredwithchunksofmetalwhichhadoncemadeupalawn-mower.ButIwasextremelypleasedwithmyselfIhadtracedthecauseofthetrouble.Oneofthelinksinthechainthatdrivesthewheelshadsnapped.AfterbuyinganewchainIwasfacedwiththeinsurmountabletaskofputtingtheconfusingjigsawpuzzletogetheragain.IwasnotsurprisedtofindthatthemachinestillrefusedtoworkafterIhadreassembledit,forthesimplereasonthatIwasleftwithseveralcuriouslyshapedbitsofmetalwhichdidnotseemtofitanywhere.Igaveupindespair.Theweekspassedandthegrassgrew.Whenmywifenaggedmetodosomethingaboutit,ItoldherthateitherIwouldhavetobuyanewmowerorletthegrassgrow.Needlesstosayourhouseisnowsurroundedbyajungle.Buriedsomewhereindeepgrassthereisarustinglawn-mowerwhichIhavepromisedtorepaironeday.

　　现在我们自己动手做事的热情很高，结果对于专业工人的依赖越来越少了。由于出版了不计其数的教人自己动手做事的书报杂志，没有人再能说对某事一无所知。新婚夫妇找来合适的工具和材料，喜气洋洋地开始布置新房。特别是男人，常利用空闲时间安装壁炉、布置花园、建造车库、制作家具。有些热衷于自己动手的人甚至自己组装电脑。为了满足自己动手热的需要，商店不仅为初学者提供专门的咨询服务，而且为顾客准备了各种零件，供他们买回家去安装。这些东西为人们潜在的创造力提供了一个绝妙的用武之地。但不幸的是，我们并非人人都是能工巧匠。

　　妻子常常认为她们的丈夫无比聪明能干。甚至那些连一枚钉子都钉不直的男人都被认为是天生的电工、木匠、水管工和机械师。每当电灯保险丝烧断、家具榫头松动、管道堵塞、吸尘器不动时，有些妻子认为丈夫总有办法。自己动手的例子中最糟糕的是，有时甚至是男人尽管接连失败却还误以为自己什么都行，原因就是要面子。

　　今年春天，妻子让我请人检查一下我家的割草机。那台割草机去年夏天就坏了，尽管我答应修，但一直没抽出时间，我不愿听妻子的建议，说我自己会修。一个星期六的下午，我把割草机拉到了花园里，仔细检查了一番。在我看来，只需稍加调整即可。这儿紧紧螺丝，那儿固定一下，再加几滴油，就会像新的一样了。事实上，修理工作远不是那么简单。修完后割草机还是纹丝不动。于是，我决定把它拆开。一会儿工夫，割草机便被拆成一个个金属零件，乱七八糟地堆在花园里。但我却非常高兴，因为我找到了毛病所在。驱动轮子的链条断了一节。我买来一根新链条后，面临的就是如何把这些令人眼花缭乱的拼板重新组装起来。等我装完后，那台割草机仍然一动不动，对此我倒并不感到吃惊。原因很简单，因为还剩下几个形状奇特的零件似乎哪里也装不上去。我无可奈何，只好罢休。几个星期过去了，草长了起来。妻子喋喋不休让我想点办法。我告诉她，要么买一台新割草机，要么让草长下去。不用说，我家现在已被丛林包围。深草丛中的某个地方有一台正在生锈的割草机，那就是我曾答应某日要修理的割草机。

　　Lesson47Throughtheearth’scrust

　　Satellitesorbitingroundtheearthhaveprovidedscientistswithavastamountofinformationaboutconditionsinouterspace.Bycomparison,relativelylittleisknownabouttheinternalstructureoftheearth.Ithasprovedeasiertogoupthantogodown.Thedeepestholeevertobeboredonlandwentdown25,340feet--considerablylessthantheheightofMountEverest.Drillingaholeundertheseahasprovedtobeevenmoredifficult.Thedeepestholeboredunderseahasbeenabout20,000feet.Untilrecently,

　　32新概念英语第三册

　　scientistshavebeenunabletodeviseadrillwhichwouldbecapableofcuttingthroughhardrockatgreatdepths.Thisproblemhasnowbeensolved.Scientistshavedevelopedamethodwhichsoundssurprisinglysimple.AnewdrillwhichisbeingtestedatLeonaValleyRanchinTexasisdrivenbyaturbineenginewhichispropelledbyliquidmudpumpedintoitfromthesurface.Asthediamondtipofthedrillrevolves,itislubricatedbymud.Scientistshavebeenamazedtofindthatitcancutthroughthehardestrockwithgreatease.Thedrillhasbeendesignedtoborethroughtheearthtoadepthof35,000feet.Itwillenablescientiststoobtainsamplesofthemysteriouslayerwhichliesimmediatelybelowtheearth"scrust.ThislayerisknownastheMohorovicicDiscontinuity,butiscommonlyreferredtoas"theMoho".Beforeitispossibletodrillthisdeephole,scientistswillhavetoovercomeanumberofproblems.Geologicaltestswillbecarriedouttofindthepointatwhichtheearth"scrustisthinnest.Thethreepossiblesiteswhicharebeingconsideredareallatsea:twointheAtlanticOceanandoneinthePacific.Oncetheyhavedetermindedonasite,theywillhavetoerectadrillingvesselwhichwillnotbesweptawaybyoceancurrents.Thevesselwillconsistofanimmenseplatformwhichwillriseto70feetabovethewater.Itwillbesupportedbysixhollowcolumnswhichwilldescendtoadepthof60feetbelowtheoceansurfacewheretheywillbefixedtoahugefloat.Atallsteeltowerrisingtoaheightofnearly200feetwillrestontheplatform.Thedrillwillbestoredinthetowerandwillhavetobeloweredthroughabout15,000feetofwaterbeforeoperationscanbegin.Withinthetower,therewillbealaboratory,livingaccommodationandahelicopterlandingstation.Keepingtheplatforminpositionatseawillgiverisetofurtherproblems.Todothis,scientistswillhavetodevisemethodsusingradarandunderwatertelevision.If,duringtheoperationsthedrillhastobewithdrawn,itmustbepossibletore-insertit.Greatcarewillthereforehavetobetakentokeeptheplatformsteadyandmakeitstrongenoughtowithstandhurricanes.Iftheprojectissuccessful,scientistswillnotonlylearnagreatdealabouttheearth,butpossiblyaboutthenatureoftheuniverseitself.

　　污染就是我们为这个人口过密，过度工业化的星球所付出的代价。当我们开始考虑垃圾问题时，我们只有4种对付垃圾的方法：倾倒、焚烧、把垃圾变成再生材料或试图少产生一些垃圾。我们一直在试这4种方式，但是，我们在世界范围内仅产生的垃圾的量就有把我们覆盖的危险。

　　然而，垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。日益增长的对廉价食物的需求导致了另一种形式的污染。工业化的农作方式生产出廉价的肉类制品——牛肉、猪肉和鸡肉。使用杀虫剂和化肥生产出廉价的谷物和蔬菜。为了廉价食物我们付出代价已经太高了：牛肉中的疯牛病，鸡肉和鸡蛋中的沙门氏菌，奶制品中的利斯特杆菌。如果你想放弃肉类而变成一位素食者，那么你可以两者择一：或是选用价格昂贵、有机培植的蔬菜，或是当你认为在享用新鲜色拉和新鲜蔬菜或饮用一杯无害的水的时候，实际上每次都不断吃进杀虫剂。

　　但是，还有一种更加隐蔽有害的污染，它专门影响城镇地区，侵袭我们的日常生活，那就是噪音。防盗警报器在白天和黑夜的任何时候都会响起来，它的作用只是骚扰过路行人，而实际上却帮助窃贼入室行窃。在街上，汽车的防盗警报不断对我们吼叫，这是人们极度烦燥的一个原因，最近一个有关噪音的作用的调查（令人吃惊地）指出，夜间连续不断的狗叫声，在一个从1级至7级刻度表上应列为最严重的噪间污染。这个调查揭示了我们所不喜欢的大量的噪间的来源：夏天呜呜作响的割草机，公寓楼里深夜聚会的喧哗声，大声吵闹的邻居，各式各样的车辆，特别是穿越寂静的村庄的集装箱卡车，从头顶飞过的飞机和直升机，被带到公共场所、音量开到最大的大功率收音机。新技术也为噪音作了它的贡献。许多人都反对移动式电话，特别是在如饭店，公共交通车等公共场所使用移动电话。用移动电话大声交谈干扰我们的思路，破坏我们和朋友在一起轻声聊天所得到的乐趣。这个有关噪音的污染调查还揭示了一种出人意外而同时可能会引人意外而同时可能会引人发笑的老式噪音源。它竟然是鼾声。人类是这方面的罪魁祸首。调查指出，20%的35岁左右的男人打鼾；而到60岁这个年龄段，这个数字上升到令人惊愕的60%。与这些数字相比，只有5%的女性经常打鼾；而其余则经常被与她们同睡、像吹号似地打着呼噜的男人吵醒或弄得睡不着。不管噪声来自何方，有一点是肯定的：看来寂静已变成一种珍贵的回忆。

　　Lesson48Thesilentvillage

　　33新概念英语第三册

　　Inthismuch-travelledworld,therearestillthousandsofplaceswhichareinaccessibletotourists.Wealwaysassumethatvillagersinremoteplacesarefriendlyandhospitable.Butpeoplewhoarecutoffnotonlyfromforeigntourists,butevenfromtheirowncountrymencanbehostiletotravellers.Visitstoreallyremotevillagesareseldomenjoyable--asmywifeandIdiscoveredduringatourthroughtheBalkans.

　　Wehadspentseveraldaysinasmalltownandvisitedanumberofoldchurchesinthevicinity.Theseattractedmanyvisitorsfortheywerenotonlyofgreatarchitecturalinterest,butcontainedalargenumberofbeautifullypreservedfrescoesaswell.Onthedaybeforeourdeparture,severalbusloadsoftouristsdescendedonthetown.Thiswasmorethanwecouldbear,sowedecidedtospendourlastdayexploringthecountryside.Takingapathwhichledoutofthetown,wecrossedafewfieldsuntilwecametoadensewood.Weexpectedthepathtoendabruptly,butwefoundthatittraceditswaythroughthetrees.Wetrampedthroughthewoodforovertwohoursuntilwearrivedatadeepstream.Wecouldseethatthepathcontinuedontheotherside,butwehadnoideahowwecouldgetacrossthestream.Suddenlymywifespottedaboatmooredtothebank.Inittherewasaboatmanfastasleep.Wegentlywokehimupandaskedhimtoferryustotheotherside.Thoughhewasreluctanttodosoatfirst,weeventuallypersuadedhimtotakeus.Thepathledtoatinyvillageperchedonthesteepsidesofamountain.Theplaceconsistedofastragglingunmaderoadwhichwaslinedoneithersidebysmallhouses.Evenunderaclearbluesky,thevillagelookedforbidding,asallthehouseswerebuiltofgreymudbricks.Thevillageseemeddeserted,theonlysignoflifebeinganugly-lookingblackgoattiedtoatreeonashortlengthofropeinafieldnearby.Sittingdownonadilapidatedwoodenfencenearthefield,weopenedacoupleoftinsofsardinesandhadapicniclunch.Allatonce,Inoticedthatmywifeseemedtobefilledwithalarm.LookingupIsawthatweweresurroundedbychildreninragswhowerelookingatussilentlyasweate.Weofferedthemfoodandspoketothemkindly,buttheyremainedmotionless.Iconcludedthattheyweresimplyshyofstrangers.Whenwelaterwalkeddownthemainstreetofthevillage,wewerefollowedbyasilentprocessionofchildren.Thevillagewhichhadseemeddeserted,immediatelycametolife.Facesappearedatwindows.Meninshirtsleevesstoodoutsidetheirhousesandglaredatus.Oldwomeninblackshawlspeeredatusfromdoor-ways.Themostfrighteningthingofallwasthatnotasoundcouldbeheard.Therewasnodoubtthatwewereunwelcomevisitors.Weneedednofurtherwarning.Turningbackdownthemainstreet,wequickenedourpaceandmadeourwayrapidlytowardsthestreamwherewehopedtheboatmanwaswaiting.

　　在这个旅游频繁的世界上，仍有成千上万个游人足迹未至的地方。人们总是以为偏僻的地方的村民们热情好客。但是，那些不但与外国旅游者隔绝，而且与本国同胞隔绝的人们有可能对游客抱有敌意。到真正偏僻的村庄去旅游并不是一件愉快的事情。我与妻子在一次周游巴尔干半岛时对此深有体会。

　　我们在一座小镇上逗留了几天，参观了附近的许多古老的教堂。这些教堂吸引大量游客，不仅是因为建筑风格奇特，而且还有大量保存完好的壁画。我们离开小镇的前一天，镇上来了几辆满载游客的公共汽车。人多得使我们难以忍受，于是我们决定利用最后一天去乡间一游。我们走上了一条出镇的小路，穿过几块农田，来到一片茂密的树林。我们原以为小路会到此突然终止。没想到它到树林中继续向前延伸。我们在树林中跋涉了两个多小时，到了一条深溪边。我们可以看到小路在深溪对岸继续向前伸展，但却不知如何越过这道深溪。突然，妻子发现岸边泊着一条小船，船上有一船夫在呼呼大睡。我们轻轻地把他唤醒，请他把我们摆渡过溪。一开始，他很不愿意，但经劝说，终于同意了。

　　顺着小路，我们来到一个座落在陡峭山坡上的小村庄。这儿有一条未经修筑的弯弯曲曲的道路，路两边排列着一些矮小的农舍。农舍全用灰色的土坯建成，因此，即使在晴朗的蓝天底下，村庄看上去也会令人感到难以亲近。村里似乎无人居住，唯一的生命迹象是附近田里一只面目可憎的黑山羊，用一截短绳拴在一棵树上。我们在田边一堵东倒西歪的篱笆墙上坐下来，打开几听沙丁鱼罐头，吃了一顿野外午餐。突然，我注意到妻子十分惊恐。我抬头一看，发现我们被一群衣衫褴褛的小孩团团围住了，他们在默不作声地看着我们吃饭。我们给他们东西吃，客客气气地同他们交谈，但他们却一动也不动。我认为这不过是他们在陌生人面前表现出的害羞。后来，我们在村里的主要街道上行走的时候，一队默不作声的孩子跟在我们后头。刚才还似乎空荡荡的村庄一下子活跃了起来，窗口露出了一张张面孔，只穿着衬衣的男人们站在屋子外

　　34新概念英语第三册

　　面凶狠地盯着我们，披黑纱巾的老妇人站在门口偷偷地瞅着我们。最令人害怕的是到处没有一点声音。毫无疑问，我们的来访是不受欢迎的。我们不需要进一步的警告了。便掉转身子，沿着那条主要街道加快步伐，快速地朝深溪边走去，希望船夫还在那儿等着我们。

　　Lesson49TheIdealServant

　　ItisagoodthingmyauntHarrietdiedyearsago.Ifshewerealivetodayshewouldnotbeabletoairherviewsonherfavouritetopicofconversation:domesticservants.AuntHarrietlivedinthatleisurelyagewhenservantswereemployedtodohousework.Shehadahuge,ramblingcountryhousecalled"TheGables".Shewassentimentallyattachedtothishouse,foreventhoughitwasfartoobigforherneeds,shepersistedinlivingtherelongafterherhusband"sdeath.Beforeshegrewold,auntHarrietusedtoentertainlavishly.IoftenvisitedTheGableswhenIwasaboy.Nomatterhowmanyguestswerepresent,thegreathousewasalwaysimmaculate.Theparquetfloorsshonelikemirrors;highlypolishedsilverwasdisplayedingleamingglasscabinets;evenmyuncle"shugecollectionofbookswaskeptmiraculouslyfreefromdust.AuntHarrietpresidedoveraninvisiblearmyofservantsthatcontinuouslyscrubbed,cleaned,andpolished.Shealwaysreferredtothemas"theshiftingpopulation",fortheycameandwentwithsuchfrequencythatIneverevengotachancetolearntheirnames,Thoughmyauntpursuedwhatwas,inthosedays,anenlightenedpolicyinthatsheneverallowedherdomesticstafftoworkmorethaneighthoursaday,shewasextremelydifficulttoplease.Whileshealwaysdecriedtheficklenessofhumannature,shecarriedonanunrelentingsearchfortheidealservanttotheendofherdays,evenaftershehadbeensadlydisillusionedbyBessie.BessieworkedforauntHarrietforthreeyears.Duringthattimeshesogainedmyaunt"sconfidence,thatshewasputinchargeofthedomesticstaff.AuntHarietcouldnotfindwordstopraiseBessie"sindustryandefficiency.Inadditiontoallherotherqualifications,Bessiewasanexpertcook.SheactedtheroleoftheperfectservantforthreeyearsbeforeauntHarrietdiscoveredher"littleweakness".AfterbeingabsentfromTheGablesforaweek,myauntunexpectedlyreturnedoneafternoonwithapartyofguestsandinstructedBessietopreparedinner.Notonlywasthemealwellbelowtheusualstandard,butBessieseemedunabletowalksteadily.Shebumpedintothefurnitureandkeptmumblingabouttheguests.Whenshecameinwiththelastcourse—ahugepudding-shetrippedonthecarpetandthepuddingwentflyingthroughtheair,narrowlymissedmyaunt,andcrashedonthediningtablewithconsiderableforce.Thoughthisoccasionedgreatmirthamongtheguests,auntHarrietwashorrified.ShereluctantlycametotheconclusionthatBessiewasdrunk.Theguestshad,ofcourse,realizedthisfromthemomentBessieopenedthedoorforthemand,longbeforethefinalcatastrophe,hadhadadifficulttimetryingtoconcealtheiramusement.Thepoorgirlwasdismissedinstantly.Afterherdeparture,auntHarrietdiscoveredthattherewerepilesofemptywinebottlesofallshapesandsizesneatlystackedinwhathadoncebeenBessie"swardrobe.Theyhadmysteriouslyfoundtheirwaytherefromthewine-cellar!

　　我的姑妈哈丽特好多年前就去世了，这倒是件好事。如果她活到今天，她将不能就她热衷的话题“佣人”发表意见了。哈丽特生活在一个悠闲的年代，家务事都由雇来的佣人代劳。她在乡下有一幢巨大杂乱的房子，叫作“山墙庄园”。她对这幢房子在感情上难舍难分。房子实在太大了，但在丈夫去世多年后，她仍然执意长年住在那儿。哈丽特姑妈年轻时，喜欢大摆宴席，招待宾客。我小时候常去“山墙庄园”作客。不管去多少宾客，大房子里总是收拾得干干净净。镶木地板洁如明镜，擦得发亮的银器陈列在明亮的玻璃柜里，连姑夫的大量藏书也保存得很好，奇迹般地一尘不染。哈丽特姑妈统率着一支看不见的佣人大军，他们不停地擦拭、清扫、刷洗。她称这些佣人叫“流动人口”，因为他们来匆匆，所以我甚至都没有机会知道他们的姓名。姑妈待佣人在当时算是开明的，从来不让佣人每天工作超过8小时，但他们很难使她称心如意。她一方面总是批评人的本性朝三暮四，另一方面她又持之以恒地寻找一个理想的佣人。即使在贝西大大地伤她的心之后，她还在找，一直到她死去。

　　贝西在哈丽特家干了3年。在此期间，她赢得了姑母的赏识，甚至当上了大管家。哈丽特不知该用什么言辞来赞扬贝西的勤奋与高效。贝西除了有各种本领以外，还是一个烹饪大师。她担任“理想仆人”角色3年之后，哈丽特终于发现她有“小小的弱点”。一次，姑妈有一个星期没在“山墙庄园”住。一天下午，她出其不意地回来了，带来一大批客人，吩咐贝西准备

　　35新概念英语第三册

　　晚饭。结果，不仅饭菜远不如平时做得好，而且贝西走起路来似乎东倒西歪。她撞到了家具上，嘴里还不断咕咕哝哝议论客人。当她端着最后一道菜——一大盘布丁——走进屋来时，在地毯上绊了一跤。布丁飞到半空，从姑母身边擦过，然后狠狠地砸在餐桌上。这件事引起了客人们的欢笑，但哈丽特却着实吓了一跳。她不得不认定贝西是喝醉了。客人们自然从贝西为他们开门那一刻起就看出来了，在好长一段时间里，即最后这个乱子发生前，他们努力克制才没笑出声来。贝西当即被解雇了。贝西走后，哈丽特姑妈发现在贝西以前用过的衣柜里整整齐齐地放着一堆堆形状各导、大小不一的酒瓶子。这些酒瓶神不知鬼不觉地从酒窖来到了这里。

　　Lesson50NewYearResolutions

　　TheNewYearisatimeforresolutions.Mentally,atleast,mostofuscouldcompileformidablelistsof"do"s"and"don"ts".Thesameoldfavouritesrecuryearinyearoutwithmonotonousregularity.Weresolvetogetupearliereachmorning,eatless,findmoretimetoplaywiththechildren,doathousandandonejobsaboutthehouse,benicetopeoplewedon"tlike,drivecarefully,andtakethedogforawalkeveryday.Pastexperiencehastaughtusthatcertainaccomplishmentsarebeyondattainment.Ifweremaininveteratesmokers,itisonlybecausewehavesooftenexperiencedthefrustrationthatresultsfromfailure.Mostofusfailinoureffortsatself-improvementbecauseourschemesaretooambitiousandweneverhavetimetocarrythemout.Wealsomakethefundamentalerrorofannouncingourresolutionstoeverybodysothatwelookevenmorefoolishwhenweslipbackintoourbadoldways.Awareofthesepitfalls,thisyearIattemptedtokeepmyresolutionstomyself.Ilimitedmyselftotwomodestambitions:todophysicalexerciseseverymorningandtoreadmoreofanevening.Anall-nightpartyonNewYear"sEve,providedmewithagoodexcusefornotcarryingouteitherofthesenewresolutionsonthefirstdayoftheyear,butonthesecond,Iappliedmyselfassiduouslytothetask.ThedailyexerciseslastedonlyelevenminutesandIproposedtodothemearlyinthemorningbeforeanyonehadgotup.Theself-disciplinerequiredtodragmyselfoutofbedelevenminutesearlierthanusualwasconsiderable.Nevertheless,Imanagedtocreepdownintotheliving-roomfortwodaysbeforeanyonefoundmeout.Afterjumpingaboutonthecarpetandtwistingthehumanframeintouncomfortablepositions,Isatdownatthebreakfasttableinanexhaustedcondition.Itwasthisthatbetrayedme.Thenextmorningthewholefamilytroopedintowatchtheperformance.ThatwasreallyunsettlingbutIfendedoffthetauntsandjibesofthefamilygood-humouredlyandsooneverybodygotusedtotheidea.However,myenthusiasmwaned.ThetimeIspentatexercisesgraduallydiminished.Littlebylittletheelevenminutesfelltozero.ByJanuary10th,IwasbacktowhereIhadstartedfrom.IarguedthatifIspentlesstimeexhaustingmyselfatexercisesinthemorningIwouldkeepmymindfreshforreadingwhenIgothomefromwork.Resistingthehypnotizingeffectoftelevision,Isatinmyroomforafeweveningswithmyeyesgluedtoabook,onenight,however,feelingcoldandlonely,Iwentdownstairsandsatinfrontofthetelevisionpretendingtoread.Thatprovedtobemyundoing,forIsoongotbacktomyoldbadhabitofdozingoffinfrontofthescreen.Istillhaven"tgivenupmyresolutiontodomorereading.Infact,Ihavejustboughtabookentitled"HowtoReadaThousandWordsaMinute".Perhapsitwillsolvemyproblem,butIjusthaven"thadtimetoreadit!

　　新年是下决心的时候，至少在大多数人的心里会编排出一份“应做什么”和“不应做什么”的令人生畏的单子。相同的决心以单调的规律年复一年地出现。我们决心每天早晨起得早些；吃得少些；多花点时间与孩子们一起做游戏；做大量的家务；对不喜欢的人友善一些；小心驾车；每天都要带着狗散步；等等。以往的经验告诉我们有些事是办不到的。如果我们烟瘾大，戒不掉，那是因为屡戒屡败，失去信心。我们大多数人想自我完善却遭到失败，这是因为我们的规划过于宏大，而又根本没有时间去实施。我们还犯有一个根本性的错误，即把我们的决心向大家宣布。这样一旦滑回到那些老习惯上去，我们在别人的眼里会显得更加难堪。我深知这些问题，于是，今年我对自己的计划要严加保密，只给自己定下两项适中的任务；每天早上锻炼身体，每天晚上多看点书。新年除夕举办的一次通宵晚会，使我理直气壮地在新年头一天免去了这两项任务。不过，新年第二天，我全力以赴地照着去做了。

　　早锻炼一共只有11分钟，我打算在别人起床之前进行。这就要求我比平时早11分钟把自己从床上拽起来，这种自我约束是很艰苦的。不过开头两天我还是成功地蹑手蹑脚地来到楼下起居室，被谁也没发现。我在地毯上跳来蹦过去，扭曲身子，摆出各种姿势，弄得浑身不舒服，然后坐到桌边吃早饭，一副筋疲力尽的样子。正是这副模样泄露了我的秘密。

　　36新概念英语第三册

　　第二天早晨全家人结队来到起居室看我表演。这真叫人不好意思，但我心平气和地顶住全家人的嘲笑和奚落。不久，大家对我习以为常了，而这时我的热情却减退了。我花在锻炼上的时间逐渐减少，慢慢地从11分钟减到了零。到了1月10日，我恢复了原来的作息时间。我辩解说，早晨少耗费精力锻炼，晚上下班回家看书时头脑更清醒些。有几天晚上，我极力摆脱了电视的诱惑，坐在自己的房间里，两眼盯在书上。可是，有一天夜里，我感到又冷又孤单，便来到楼下坐在电视机前假装看书。这下我可完了，因为不一会儿，我就恢复了以前的坏习惯，在屏幕前打起瞌睡来。但我还没有放弃多看些书的决心。事实上，我刚买来一本叫《一分钟读一千字的诀窍》的书。也许这本书能解决我的问题，但我一直还没时间去看这本书！

　　Lesson51Automation

　　Oneofthegreatestadvancesinmoderntechnologyhasbeentheinventionofcomputers.Theyarealreadywidelyusedinindustryandinuniversitiesandthetimemaycomewhenitwillbepossibleforordinarypeopletousethemaswell.Computersarecapableofdoingextremelycomplicatedworkinallbranchesoflearning.Theycansolvethemostcomplexmathematicalproblemsorputthousandsofunrelatedfactsinorder.Thesemachinescanbeputtovarieduses.Forinstance,theycanprovideinformationonthebestwaytopreventtrafficaccidents,ortheycancountthenumberoftimestheword"and"hasbeenusedintheBible.Becausetheyworkaccuratelyandathighspeeds,theysaveresearchworkersyearsofhardwork.Thiswholeprocessbywhichmachinescanbeusedtoworkforushasbeencalledautomation.Inthefuture,automationmayenablehumanbeingstoenjoyfarmoreleisurethantheydotoday.Thecomingofautomationisboundtohaveimportantsocialconsequences.

　　Sometimeagoanexpert,onautomation,SirLeonBagrit,pointedoutthatitwasamistaketobelievethatthesemachinescould"think".Thereisnopossibilitythathumanbeingswillbe"controlledbymachines".Thoughcomputersarecapableoflearningfromtheirmistakesandimprovingontheirperformancetheyneeddetailedinstructionsfromhumanbeingsinordertobeabletooperate.Theycannever,asitwere,leadindependentlives,or"ruletheworld"bymakingdecisionsoftheirown.SirLeonsaidthatinthefuture,computerswouldbedevelopedwhichwouldbesmallenoughtocarryinthepocket.Ordinarypeoplewouldthenbeabletousethemtoobtainvaluableinformation.Computerscouldbepluggedintoanationalnetworkandbeusedlikeradios.Forinstance,peoplegoingonholidaycouldbeinformedaboutweatherconditions;cardriverscouldbegivenalternativerouteswhentherearetrafficjams.Itwillalsobepossibletomaketinytranslatingmachines.Thiswillenablepeoplewhodonotshareacommonlanguagetotalktoeachotherwithoutanydifficultyortoreadforeignpublications.Itisimpossibletoassesstheimportanceofamachineofthissort,formanyinternationalmisunderstandingsarecausedsimplythroughourfailuretounderstandeachother.Computerswillalsobeusedinhospitals.Byprovidingamachinewithapatient"ssymptoms,adoctorwillbeabletodiagnosethenatureofhisillness.Similarly,machinescouldbeusedtokeepacheckonapatient"shealthrecordandbringituptodate.Doctorswillthereforehaveimmediateaccesstoagreatmanyfactswhichwillhelpthemintheirwork.Book-keepersandaccountants,too,couldberelievedofdullclericalwork,forthetedioustaskofcompilingandcheckinglistsoffigurescouldbedoneentirelybymachines.Computersarethemostefficientservantsmanhaseverhadandthereisnolimittothewaytheycanbeusedtoimproveourlives.

　　众所周知，预测未来是非常困难的。举个例子吧，在20世纪70年代中叶又有谁能想得到在20世纪末的时候，家庭用的计算机会像电视机一样普遍？在70年代，计算机已经相当普及了，但只用在大公司，政府部门和大的组织之中，它们被称为主机。计算机主机确实很大，常常占据了装有空调的多间房间，雇用专职的技师，而且得用专门编写的软件才能运行。虽然这种大计算机仍然存在，但它们的许多功能已被体积小但功能齐全的个人电脑——即我们常说的PC机——所代替了。

　　1975年，美国推出了一台被称为“牛郎星”的原始机型。严格地说起来，它可以被称为第一台“家用电脑”，而且它也指了今后的方向。70年代末，在牛郎星之后又出现了一种被称为“苹果”的机型。80年代初，计算机行业的王牌公司美国国际商用机器公司（IBM）生产出了世界上第一台个人电脑。这种电脑采用了一种被称为磁盘操作系统（DOS）的工作程序，3新概念英语第三册

　　而这种程序是由当时规模不大的微软公司生产的。IBM的个人电脑被大规模地模仿。从那些简陋的初级阶段，我们看到了现在都已普及的、使用简便的家用电脑和多媒体的微机的发展。

　　想一想这些发展的时间多么短，就更觉得英国人莱昂.巴格瑞特有着非凡的能力。他在60年代就能预言我们今天知道的计算机的一些用途。巴格瑞特根本不接受计算机可以学会自己去“思考”和计算可以“统治世界”这种想法，而这种想法是当时的人们都愿意相信的。巴格瑞特预示有一天计算机可以小到拿在手上，计算机可以使办公室人员和会计免除那些枯燥、重复的劳动。计算机的所有这些功能现在都变得很平常。当然了，莱昂.巴格瑞特根本没有可能预测到国际交互网——就是把计算机连结到电话线路上，以便和世界上任何一个地方的人立即进行联系的一个世界范围的通讯系统——的发展。他也无法预测到我们可以利用国际交互网获取有关任何已知专题的信息，以便在家里的屏幕上阅读，如果愿意的话甚至可以将其打印出来。计算机已经变得体积越来越小，功能越来越多，价格越来越低，这就是莱昂.巴格瑞特的预测非凡的地方。如果他或是像他的什么人今天还活着的话，他大概可以告诉我们下一个50年后会发生什么事情。

　　Lesson52Mudismud

　　Mycousin,Harry,keepsalargecuriouslyshapedbottleonpermanentdisplayinhisstudy.Despitethefactthatthebottleistintedadelicateshadeofgreen,anobservantvisitorwouldsoonnoticethatitisfilledwithwhatlookslikeathickgreyishsubstance.IfyouweretoaskHarrywhatwasinthebottle,hewouldtellyouthatitcontainedperfumedmud.Ifyouexpresseddoubtorsurprise,hewouldimmediatelyinviteyoutosmellitandthentorubsomeintoyourskin.Thisbriefexperimentwoulddispelanyfurtherdoubtsyoumightentertain.Thebottlereallydoescontainperfumedmud.HowHarrycameintothepossessionofthisoutlandishstuffmakesaninterestingstorywhichheisfondofrelating.Further-more,theacquisitionofthisbottlecuredhimofabadhabithehadbeendevelopingforyears.

　　Harryusedtoconsideritagreatjoketogointoexpensivecosmeticshopsandmakeoutrageousrequestsforgoodsthatdonotexist.Hewouldinventfancifulnamesonthespot.Onenteringashop,hewouldaskforanewperfumecalled"ScentedShadow"orfor"insolublebathcubes".Ifashopgirltoldhimshehadnotheardofit,hewouldpretendtobeconsiderablyputout.Helovedtobetoldthatoneofhisimaginaryproductswastemporarilyoutofstockandhewouldfaithfullypromisetocallagainatsomefuturedate,butofcourseheneverdid.HowHarrymanagedtokeepastraightfaceduringtheseperformancesisquitebeyondme.

　　Harrydoesnotneedtobepromptedtoexplainhowheboughthispreciousbottleofmud.Oneday,hewenttoanexclusiveshopinLondonandaskedfor"Myrolite".TheshopassistantlookedpuzzledandHarryrepeatedtheword,slowlystressingeachsyllable.Whenthegirlshookherheadinbewilderment,Harrywentontoexplainthat"myrolite"wasahard,amber-likesubstancewhichcouldbeusedtoremovefreckles.Thisexplanationevidentlyconveyedsomethingtothegirlwhosearchedshelfaftershelf.Sheproducedallsortsofweirdconcoctions,butnoneofthemmetwithHarry"srequirements.WhenHarryputonhisactofbeingmildlyannoyed,thegirlpromisedtoordersomeforhim.Intoxicatedbyhissuccess,Harrythenaskedforperfumedmud.Heexpectedthegirltolookathiminblankastonishment.However,itwashisturntobesurprised,forthegirl"seyesimmediatelylitupandshe"fetchedseveralbottieswhichsheplacedonthecounterforHarrytoinspect.Foronce,Harryhadtoadmitdefeat.Hepickedupwhatseemedtobethesmallestbottleanddiscreetlyaskedtheprice.Hewasgladtogetawaywithamerefiveguineasandhebeatahastyretreat,clutchingthepreciousbottleunderhisarm.Fromthenon,Harrydecidedthatthislittlegamehehadinventedmightprovetobeexpensive.Thecuriousbottlewhichnowadornsthebookcaseinhisstudywashisfirstandlastpurchaseofrarecosmetics.

　　我的堂兄哈里在他的书房里一直摆着一只形状古怪的大瓶子。尽管那只瓶子呈淡绿色，但细心的客人很快就会发现瓶里装的是一种看上去黏稠，颜色发灰的东西。要是你问哈里瓶里装着什么，他会告诉你是香水泥。如果你表示怀疑或惊奇，他会立即请你闻一闻，然后取出一些抹在你的皮肤上。这一简单的试验会消除你可能存有的一切疑虑。瓶里装的的确是香水泥。哈里如何得到这种稀奇古怪的东西的，这里有个有趣的故事，而且他挺爱把它讲给别人听。此外，得到这瓶香水泥还治好了他多年的一个坏习惯。

　　3新概念英语第三册

　　哈里曾认为走进一家名贵化妆品商店，荒唐地提出要买一种根本不存在的商品是件开心的事儿。他会当场编造出一些稀奇古怪的货名。他走进商店后，会提出要一种名叫“香影”的新型香水或什么“不溶浴皂”。要是女售货员告诉他从未听说过这些东西，他会装出十分遗憾和不安的样子。他爱听售货员说他想像出来的那种东西暂时脱销，于是他就煞有介事地许诺改天再来光顾。当然，他再也不会来了。我实在想像不出哈里在这些表演中是怎样装出一本正经的样子的。

　　毋须暗示哈里就会向你讲起他买下那瓶珍贵香水泥的经过。一天，他去伦敦一家高级商店要买一种叫“密诺莱特”的东西，店员露出诧异的神色。哈里又慢慢地，一字一顿说了一遍这个词，那个女售货员还是迷惑不解地摇了摇头。哈里便进一步解释“密诺莱特”是一种质地坚硬、状似琥珀的东西，可以用来除去雀斑。他的解释显然对女售货员有些启示。她一个货架接着一个货架地寻找，拿出各种各样稀奇古怪的化妆品，但没有一样能够符合哈里的要求。哈里装出不高兴的样子时，女售货员答应为他定货。哈里为他的骗术而感到洋洋得意，又提出要买香水泥。他原想女售货员会惊奇地望着他，不知所措，没料到这回该轮到他自己吃惊了。因为那女售货员听完哈里的话后，马上眼睛一亮，拿出几瓶东西放在柜台上让哈里挑选。哈里只好认输。他挑出一个看上去最小的瓶子，谨慎地问了价。他庆幸自己只破费了20英镑便得以脱身。他把那宝贵的瓶子放在腋下夹着，溜之大吉。从那以后，他认识到自己发明的小小恶作剧是要付出很大的代价的。在他书房的书柜里摆着那瓶形状古怪的香水泥就是他第一次也是最后一次购买的稀有化妆品。

　　Lesson53Inthepublicinterest

　　TheScandinaviancountriesaremuchadmiredallovertheworldfortheirenlightenedsocialpolicies.Swedenhasevolvedanexcellentsystemforprotectingtheindividualcitizenfromhigh-handedorincompetentpublicofficers.Thesystemhasworkedsowell,thatithasbeenadoptedinothercountrieslikeDenmark,Norway,Finland,andNewZealand.EvencountrieswithlargepopulationslikeBritainandtheUnitedStatesareseriouslyconsideringimitatingtheSwedes.TheSwedeswerethefirsttorecognizethatpublicofficialslikecivilservants,collectorscanmakemistakesoractover-zealouslyinthebeliefthattheyareservingthepublic.Aslongagoas1809,theSwedishParliamentintroducedaschemetosafeguardtheinterestoftheindividual.AparliamentarycommitteerepresentingallpoliticalpartiesappointsapersonwhoissuitablyqualifiedtoinvestigateprivategrievancesagainsttheState.Theofficialtitleofthepersonis"Justiteombudsman",buttheSwedescommonlyrefertohimasthe"J.O."or"Ombudsman".TheOmbudsmanisnotsubjecttopoliticalpressure.Heinvestigatescomplaintslargeandsmallthatcometohimfromalllevelsofsociety.Ascomplaintsmustbemadeinwriting,theOmbudsmanreceivesanaverageof1200lettersayear.Hehaseightlawyerassistantstohelphimandheexamineseverysingleletterindetail.ThereisnothingsecretiveabouttheOmbudsman"swork,forhiscorrespondenceisopentopublicinspection.Ifacitizen"scomplaintisjustified,theOmbudsmanwillactonhisbehalf.Theactionhetakesvariesaccordingtothenatureofthecomplaint.Hemaygentlyreprimandanofficialorevensuggesttoparliamentthatalawbealtered.ThefollowingcaseisatypicalexampleoftheOmbudsman"swork.

　　AforeignerlivinginaSwedishvillagewrotetotheOmbudsmancomplainingthathehadbeenill-treatedbythepolice,simplybecausehewasaforeigner.TheOmbudsmanimmediatelywrotetotheChiefofPoliceinthedistrictaskinghimtosendarecordofthecase.Therewasnothingintherecordtoshowthattheforeigner"scomplaintwasjustifiedandtheChiefofPolicestoutlydeniedtheaccusation.ItwasimpossiblefortheOmbudsmantotakeaction,butwhenhereceivedasimilarcomplaintfromanotherforeignerinthesamevillage,heimmediatelysentoneofhislawyerstoinvestigatethematter.Thelawyerascertainedthatapolicemanhadindeeddealtroughlywithforeignersonseveraloccasions.Thefactthatthepolicemanwasprejudicedagainstforeignerscouldnotberecordedinheofficialfiles.ItwasonlypossiblefortheOmbudsmantofindthisoutbysendingoneofhisrepresentativestocheckthefacts.Thepolicemaninquestionwasseverelyreprimandedandwasinformedthatifanyfurthercomplaintswerelodgedagainsthim,hewouldbeprosecuted.TheOmbudsman"spromptactionatonceputanendtoanunpleasantpracticewhichmighthavegoneunnoticed.

　　斯堪的纳维亚半岛各国实行开明的社会政策，受到全世界的推崇。在瑞典，已逐渐形成了一种完善的制度以保护每个公民不受专横的和不称职的政府官员的欺压。由于这种制度行之有效，已被其他国家采纳。

　　是瑞典人首先认识到政府工作人员如文职人员、警官、卫生稽查员、税务人员等等也会犯错误或者自以为在为公众服务而把事情做过了头。早在1809年，瑞典论会就建立一个保护公民利益的制度。议会内有一个代表各政党利益的委员会，3新概念英语第三册

　　由它委派一位称职的人选专门调查个人对国家的意见。此人官衔为“司法特派员”，但瑞典人一般管他叫“J.O.”，即“司法特派员”。司法特派员不受任何政治压力的制约。他听取社会各阶层的各种大小意见，并进行调查。由于意见均需用书面形式提出，司法特派员每年平均收到1,200封信。他有8位律师作他的助手协助工作，每封信都详细批阅。司法特派员的工作没有什么秘密可言，他的信件是公开的，供公众监督。如果公民的意见正确，司法特派员便为他伸张正义。司法特员采取的行动因意见的性质不同而有所不同。他可以善意地批评某位官员，也可以甚至向议会提议修改某项法律。下述事件是司法特派员工作的一个典型例子。

　　一个住在瑞典乡村的外国人写信给司法特派员，抱怨说他受到警察的虐待，原因就是因为他是个外国人。司法特派员立即写信给当地警察局长，请他寄送与此事有关的材料。材料中没有任何文字记载证明外国人所说的情况符合事实，警察局长矢口否认这一指控。司法特派员难以处理。但是，当他又收到住在同一村庄的另一个外国人写的一封内容类似的投诉信时，他立即派出一位律师前去调查。律师证实有个警察确实多次粗鲁地对待外国人。警察歧视外国人的事在官方档案中不可能加以记载，司法特派员只有派他的代表去核对事实才能了解真相。当事的警察受到严厉的斥责，并被告知，如果再有人投诉他，他将受到起诉。司法特派员及时采取的行动，迅速制止了这一起不愉快的事件，不然这件事可能因未得到人们注意而不了了之。

　　Lesson54Instinctorcleverness?

　　Wehavebeenbroughtuptofearinsects.Weregardthemasunnecessarycreaturesthatdomoreharmthangood.Mancontinuallywageswaronitem,fortheycontaminatehisfood,carrydiseases,ordevourhiscrops.Theystingorbitewithoutprovocation;theyflyuninvitedintoourroomsonsummernights,orbeatagainstourlightedwindows.Weliveindreadnotonlyofunpleasantinsectslikespidersorwasps,butofquiteharmlessoneslikemoths.Readingaboutthemincreasesourunderstandingwithoutdispellingourfears.Knowingthattheindustriousantlivesinahighlyorganizedsocietydoesnothingtopreventusfrombeingfilledwithrevulsionwhenwefindhordesofthemcrawlingoveracarefullypreparedpicniclunch.Nomatterhowmuchwelikehoney,orhowmuchwehavereadabouttheuncannysenseofdirectionwhichbeespossess,wehaveahorrorofbeingstung.Mostofourfearsareunreasonable,buttheyareimpossibletoerase.Atthesametime,however,insectsarestrangelyfascinaing.Weenjoyreadingaboutthem,especiallywhenwefindthat,liketheprayingmantis,theyleadperfectlyhorriblelives.Weenjoystaringatthementrancedastheygoabouttheirbusiness,unaware(wehope)ofourpresence.Whohasnotstoodinaweatthesightofaspiderpouncingonafly,oracolumnofantstriumphantlybearinghomeanenormousdeadbeetle?

　　LastsummerIspentdaysinthegardenwatchingthousandsofantscrawlingupthetrunkofmyprizepeachtree.Thetreehasgrownagainstawarmwallonashelteredsideofthehouse.Iamespeciallyproudofit,notonlybecauseithassurvivedseveralseverewinters,butbecauseitoccasionallyproduceslusciouspeaches.Duringthesummer,Inoticedthattheleavesofthetreewerebeginningtowither.Clustersoftinyinsectscalledaphidesweretobefoundontheundersideoftheleaves.Theywerevisitedbyalaopcolonyofantswhichobtainedasortofhoneyfromthem.Iimmediatelyembarkedonanexperimentwhich,eventhoughitfailedtogetridoftheants,keptmefascinatedfortwenty-fourhours.Iboundthebaseofthetreewithstickytape,makingitimpossiblefortheantstoreachtheaphides.Thetapewassostickythattheydidnotdaretocrossit.Foralongtime,Iwatchedthemscurryingaroundthebaseofthetreeinbewilderment.Ievenwentoutatmidnightwithatorchandnotedwithsatisfaction(andsurprise)thattheantswerestillswarmingaroundthestickytapewithoutbeingabletodoanythingaboutit.Igotupearlynextmorninghopingtofindthattheantshadgivenupindespair.Instead,Isawthattheyhaddiscoveredanewroute.Theywereclimbingupthewallofthehouseandthenontotheleavesofthetree.IrealizedsadlythatIhadbeencompletelydefeatedbytheiringenuity.Theantshadbeenquicktofindananswertomythoroughlyunscientificmethods!

　　我们自幼就在对昆虫的惧怕中长大。我们把昆虫当作害多益少的无用东西。人类不断同昆虫斗争，因为昆虫弄脏我们的食物，传播疾病，吞噬庄稼。它们无缘无故地又叮又咬；夏天的晚上，它们未经邀请便飞到我们房间里，或者对着露出亮光的窗户乱扑乱撞。我们在日常生活中，不但憎恶如蜘蛛、黄蜂之类令人讨厌的昆虫，而且憎恶并无大害的飞蛾等。阅读有

　　4新概念英语第三册

　　关昆虫的书能增加我们对它们的了解，却不能消除我们的恐惧的心理。即使知道勤奋的蚂蚁生活具有高度组织性的社会里，当看到大群蚂蚁在我们精心准备的午间野餐上爬行时，我们也无法抑制对它们的反感。不管我们多么爱吃蜂蜜，或读过多少关于蜜蜂具有神秘的识别方向的灵感的书，我们仍然十分害怕被蜂蜇。我们的恐惧大部分是没有道理的，但去无法消除。同时，不知为什么昆虫又是迷人的。我们喜欢看有关昆虫的书，尤其是当我们了解螳螂等过着一种令人生畏的生活时，就更加爱读有关昆虫的书了。我们喜欢入迷地看它们做事，它们不知道（但愿如此）我们就在它们身边。当看到蜘蛛扑向一只苍蝇时，一队蚂蚁抬着一只巨大的死甲虫凯旋归时，谁能不感到敬畏呢？

　　去年夏天，我花了好几天时间站在花园里观察成千只蚂蚁爬上我那棵心爱的桃树的树干。那棵树是靠着房子有遮挡的一面暖墙生长的。我为这棵树感到特别自豪，不仅因为它度过了几个寒冬终于活了下来，而且还因为它有时结出些甘甜的桃子来。到了夏天，我发现树叶开始枯萎，结果在树叶背面找到成串的叫作蚜虫小虫子。蚜虫遭到一窝蚂蚁的攻击，蚂蚁从它们身上可以获得一种蜜。我当即动手作了一项试验，这项试验尽管没有使我摆脱这些蚂蚁，却使我着迷了24小时。我用一条胶带把桃树底部包上，不让蚂蚁接近蚜虫。胶带极粘，蚂蚁不敢从上面爬过。在很长一段时间里，我看见蚂蚁围着大树底部来回转悠，不知所措。半夜，我还拿着电筒来到花园里，满意地（同时惊奇地）发现那些蚂蚁还围着胶带团团转。无能为力。第二天早上，我起床后希望看见蚂蚁已因无望而放弃了尝试，结果却发现它们又找到一条新的路径。它们正在顺着房子的外墙往上爬，然后爬上树叶。我懊丧地感到败在了足智多谋的蚂蚁的手下。蚂蚁已很快找到了相应的对策，来对付我那套完全不科学的办法！

　　Lesson55Fromtheearth:greatings

　　Radioastronomyhasgreatlyincreasedourunderstandingoftheuniverse.Radiotelescopeshaveonebigadvantageoverconventionaltelescopesinthattheycanoperateinallweatherconditionsandcanpickupsignalscomingfromverydistantstars.Thesesignalsareproducedbycollidingstarsornuclearreactionsinouterspace.Themostpowerfulsignalsthathavebeenreceivedhavebeenemittedbywhatseemtobetrulycolossalstarswhichscientistshavenamed"quasars".Abetterunderstandingofthesephenomenamaycompletelyalterourconceptionofthenatureoftheuniverse.TheradiotelescopeatJodrellBankinEnglandwasformanyyearsthelargestintheworld.Anewtelescope,overtwicethesize,wasrecentlybuiltatSugarGroveinWestVirginia.Astronomersnolongerregardasfancifultheideathattheymayonedaypickupsignalswhichhavebeensentbyintelligentbeingsonotherworlds.Thispossibilitygivesrisetointerestingspeculations.Highlyadvancedcivilizationsmayhaveexistedonotherplanetslongbeforeintelligentformsoflifeevolvedontheearth.Conversely,intelligentbeingwhicharejustbeginningtodeveloponremoteworldsmaybereadytopickupoursignalsinthousandsofyears"time,orwhenlifeonearthhasbecomeextinct.Suchspeculationsnolongerbelongtotherealmofsciencefiction,forastronomersarenowexploringthechancesofcommunicatingwithlivingcreatures(iftheyexist)ondistantplanets.ThisundertakingwhichhasbeennamedProjectOzmawasbegunin1960,butitmaytakeagreatmanyyearsbeforeresultsareobtained.

　　Awareofthefactthatitwouldbeimpossibletowaitthousandsormillionsofyearstoreceiveananswerfromadistantplanet,scientistsengagedinProjectOzmaareconcentratingtheirattentiononstarswhicharerelativelyclose.OneofthemostlikelystarsisTauCetiwhichiselevenlightyearsaway.Ifsignalsfromtheearthwerereceivedbyintelligentcreaturesonaplanetcirclingthisstar,wewouldhavetowaittwenty-twoyearsforananswer.TheGreenBanktelescopeinWestVirginiahasbeenspeciallydesignedtodistinguishbetweenrandomsignalsandsignalswhichmightbeincode.Evenifcontactwereeventuallyestablished,astronomerswouldnotbeabletorelyonlanguagetocommunicatewithotherbeings.Theywouldusemathematicsasthisistheonlytrulyuniversallanguage.Numbershavethesamevalueanywhere.Forthisreason,intelligentcreaturesinanypartoftheuniversewouldbeabletounderstandasimplearithmeticalsequence.Theywouldbeabletoreplytooursignalsusingsimilarmethods.Thenextstepwouldbetotrytodevelopmeansforsendingtelevisionpictures.Asinglepicture

　　41新概念英语第三册

　　wouldtellusmorethanthousandsofwords.Inanagewhenanythingseemstobepossible,itwouldbenarrow-mindedintheextremetoridiculetheseattemptstofindoutifthereislifeinotherpartsoftheuniverse.

　　天文学方面最新发展使得我们能够在银河系和其他星系发现行星。这是一个重要的成就，因为相对来说，行星很小，而且也不发光。寻找行星证明相当困难，但是要在行星上发现生命会变得无比艰难。第一个需要解答的问题是一颗行星是否有能够维持生命的条件。举例来说，在我们的太阳系里，对于生命来说，金星的温度太高，而火星的温度则太低。只有地球提供理想的条件，而即使在这里，植物和动物的进化也用了40亿年的时间。

　　一颗行星是否能够维持生命取决于它的恒星——即它的“太阳”——的大小和亮度。设想一下，一颗恒星比我们的太阳还要大，还要亮，还要热20倍，那么一颗行星为了维持生命就要离开的它的恒星非常远。反之，如果恒星很小，维持生命的行星就要在离恒星很近的轨道上运行，而且要有极好的条件才能使生命得以发展，但是，我们如何才能找到这样一颗行星呢？现在，没有一台现存的望远镜可以发现生命的存在。而开发这样一台望远镜将会是21世纪天文学的一个重要的研究课题。

　　使用放置在地球上的望远镜是无法观察到其他行星的生命的。地球周围温暖的大气层和望远镜散出的热量使得我们根本不可能找到比行星更小的物体。即使是一台放置在围绕地球的轨道上的望远镜——如非常成功的哈勃望远镜——也因为太阳系中的尘埃微粒而无法胜任。望远镜要放置在木星那样遥远的行星上才有可能在外层空间搜寻生命。因为我们越是接近太阳系的边缘，尘埃就越稀薄。一旦我们找到这样一颗行星，我们就要想办法将它的恒星射过来的光线遮暗，这样我们就能彻底“看见”这颗行星，并分析它的大气层。首先我们要寻找植物，而不是那种“小绿人”。行星上最容易生存下来的是细菌。正是细菌生产出我们在地球上呼吸的氧气。在地球上发展的大部分进程中，细菌是地球上唯一的生命形式。作为地球上的居民，我们总存有这样的希望：小绿人来拜访我们，而我们可以和他们交流。但是，这种希望总是只在科幻小说中存在。如果我们能够在另一颗行星上找到诸如细菌的那种低等生命，那么这个发现将彻底改变我们对我们自己的看法。正如美国国家航空和宇宙航空局的丹尼尔.戈尔丁指出的“在其他地方发现生命会改变一切。任何人类的努力和想法都会发生变化。”

　　Lesson56Theriverbesideourfarm

　　Theriverwhichformstheeasternboundaryofourfarmhasalwaysplayedanimportantpartinourlives.Withoutitwecouldnotmakealiving.Thereisonlyenoughspringwatertosupplytheneedsofthehouse,sowehavetopumpfromtheriverforfarmuse.Wetelltheriveralloursecrets.Weknowinstinctively,justasbeekeeperswiththeirbees,thatmisfortunemightovertakeusiftheimportanteventsofourliveswerenotrelatedtoit.Wehavespecialriverbirthdaypartiesinthesummer.Sometimeswegoup-streamtoafavouritebackwater,some-timeswehaveourpartyattheboathouse,whichapredecessorofoursatthefarmbuiltinthemeadowhardbythedeepestpoolforswimminganddiving.Inaheat-wavewechooseamidnightbirthdaypartyandthatisthemostexcitingofall.Wewelcometheseasonsbytheriver-side,crowningtheyoungestgirlwithflowersinthespring,holdingasummerfestivalonMidsummerEve,givingthanksfortheharvestintheautumn,andthrowingahollywreathintothecurrentinthewinter.Afteralongperiodofraintherivermayoverflowitsbanks.Thisisarareoccurrenceasourclimateseldomgodtoextremes.Weareluckyinthatonlythelowerfields,whichmakeupaverysmallproportionofourfarm,areaffectedbyflooding,butotherfarmsarelessfavourablysited,andfloodingcansometimesspelldisasterfortheirowners.

　　Onebadwinterwewatchedtherivercreepupthelowermeadows.Allthecattlehadbeenmovedintostallsandwestoodtoloselittle.Wewere,however,worriedaboutournearestneighbours,whosefarmwaslowlyingandwhowerenewcomerstothedistrict.Asthefloodshadputthetelephoneoutoforder,wecouldnotfindouthowtheyweremanaging.Fromanatticwindowwecouldgetasweepingviewoftheriverwheretheirlandjoinedours,andatthemostcriticaljuncturewetookturnsinwatchingthatpoint.Thefirstsignofdisasterwasadeadsheepfloatingdown.Nextcameahorse,swimmingbravely,butwewereafraidthatthestrengthofthecurrentwouldpreventitslandinganywherebeforeitbecameexhausted.Suddenlyaraftappeared,lookingratherlikeNoah"sark,carryingthewholefamily,afewhens,thedogs,acat,andabirdinacage.Werealizedthattheymusthavebecomeundulyfrightenedbytherisingflood,fortheirhouse,whichhadsoundfoundations,wouldhavestoodstoutlyevenifithadbeenalmostsubmerged.Themen

　　42新概念英语第三册

　　ofourfamilywadeddownthroughourfloodedmeadowswithboathooks,inthehopeofbeingabletograppleacorneroftheraftandpullitoutofthecurrenttowardsourbank.Westillthinkitamiraclethattheywereabletodoso.

　　形成我们农场东部边界的一条河流一直在我们生活中发挥着重要作用。要是没有这条河，我们就无法生存下去。泉水只能满足家庭生活用水，因此我们必须从河里抽水以用于农业生产。我们向那条河倾诉我们的秘密。我们本能地懂得，就像养蜂人和他的蜜蜂那样，要是我们不把生活中的重大的事件告诉那条河，就可能大祸临头。

　　夏天，我们为这条河举办特殊的生日宴会。有时，我们溯流而上来到我们喜爱的回水河汊举办；有时在船坞举办。那船坞是农场一位前辈在一块草地上盖的，草地紧挨着一个专供游泳、跳水的深水池。天气炎热时，我们便选择在半夜举办生日聚会，这种聚会是最令人激动的。我们在河边迎接一年四季。春天在河边为最年轻的姑娘戴上花冠，夏天在河边欢庆“仲夏前夜”，秋天在河边丰收而感恩，冬天往河中抛撒一个冬表花环。

　　久雨这后，河水会泛滥成灾，但是在我们这里，气候很少发生异常，河水极少泛滥。值得庆幸的是，只有低洼的受到洪水影响，而低洼地在我们农场比例很小。其他农场地势欠佳，洪水有时会给农场主带来灾难。

　　有一年冬天，天气不好，我们眼看着河水浸没了地势较低的草场。所有的牲口已提前转移到畜圈里，没有造成什么损失。不过，我们很为我们的近邻担心。他们的农场地势低洼，而且他们又新来乍到。由于洪水造成了电话中断，我们无法了解他们情况。从顶楼窗口看去，我们农场与他们农场接壤处的那段河流一览无余。在最紧急的时刻，我们轮流监视那段河流的险情。灾难的第一迹象是一只死羊顺流而下，接着一匹活马勇敢地与水搏击。但我们担心，洪水力量将使它上岸之前就筋疲力尽了。突然，出现了一只筏子，看起来很像诺亚方舟，上面载着他们全家老小，还有几只母鸡、几只狗，一只猫与一只鸟笼，那里头有一只小鸟。我们意识到他们一定是被不断上涨的洪水吓坏了。因为他们的房子地基牢固，即使洪水几乎灭顶也不会倒塌。我家的男人们手拿船篙过被水淹没草场，希望能够钩住筏子一角，将它拽出激流，拖回岸边。他们终于成功了。至今我们仍认为这是个奇迹。

　　Lesson57Thereturnofthenative

　　Istoppedtoletthecarcooloffandtostudythemap.Ihadexpectedtobenearmyobjectivebynow,buteverythingstillseemedalientome.Iwasonlyfivewhenmyfatherhadtakenmeabroad,andthatwaseighteenyearsago.Whenmymotherhaddiedafteratragicaccident,hedidnotquicklyrecoverfromtheshockandloneliness.Everythingaroundhimwasfullofherpresence,continuallyre-openingthewound.Sohedecidedtoemigrate.Inthenewcountryhebecameabsorbedinmakinganewlifeforthetwoofus,sothathegraduallyceasedtogrieve.HedidnotmarryagainandIwasbroughtupwithoutawoman"scare;butIlackedfornothing,forhewasbothfatherandmothertome.Healwaysmeanttogobackonedaybutnottostay.Hisrootsandminehadbecometoofirmlyembeddedinthenewland.Buthewantedtoseetheoldfolkagainandtovisitmymother"sgrave.Hebecamemortallyillafewmonthsbeforewehadplannedtogoand,whenheknewthathewasdying,hemademepromisetogoonmyown.Ihiredacarthedayafterlandingandboughtacomprehensivebookofmaps,whichIfoundmosthelpfulonthecrosscountryjourney,butwhichIdidnotthinkIshouldneedonthelaststage.ItwasnotthatIactuallyrememberedanythingatall.Butmyfatherhaddescribedoverandoveragainwhatweshouldseeateverymilestone,afterleavingthenearesttown,sothatIwaspositiveIshouldrecognizeitasfamiliarterritory.Well,Ihadbeenwrong,forIwasnowlost.Ilookedatthemapandthenatthemilometer.Ihadcometenmilessinceleavingthetown,andatthispoint,accordingtomyfather,Ishouldbelookingatfarmsandcottagesinavalley,withthespireofthechurchofourvillageshowinginthefardistance.Icouldseenovalley,nofarms,nocottagesandnochurchspire--onlyalake.IdecidedthatImusthavetakenawrongturningsomewhere.SoIdrovebacktothetownandbegantoretracetheroute,takingfrequentglancesatthemap.Ilandedupatthesamecorner.Thecuriousthingwasthatthelakewasnotmarkedonthemap.IfeltasifIhadstumbledintoanightmarecountry,asyousometimesdoindreams.And,asinanightmare,therewasnobodyinsighttohelpme.Fortunatelyforme,asIwaswonderingwhattodonext,thereappearedonthehorizonamanonhorseback,ridinginmydirection.Iwaitedtillhecamenear,thenIaskedhimthewaytoouroldvillage.Hesaidthattherewasnownovillage.Ithoughthemusthavemisunderstoodme.soIrepeateditsname.Thistimehepointedtothelake.The

　　43新概念英语第三册

　　villagenolongerexistedbecauseithadbeensubmerged,andallthevalleytoo.Thelakewasnotanaturalone,butamanmadereservoir.

　　我停下车，让汽车发动机冷却一下，同时查看一下地图。我本想离目的地已经不远，但周围一切对我仍很陌生。我5岁那年，父亲就带我出了国，那是18年前的事了。当时我母亲在一次事故中惨死，父亲未能很快从悲痛与孤独中恢复过来。他身边的一切都是母亲的影子不断勾起他的伤感。于是他决定移居他国。在这个新的国家里，父亲专心致志地为我们俩开创一种新的生活，慢慢地不伤心了。父亲没有再娶，因此，我在没有母亲的环境里长大成人。但我却什么都不缺，他既当父亲又当母亲。他总想将来回国看看，但却不愿长期住下去，因为他与我一样已经把根深深地扎在异国的土地上。

　　但是，他想看一看家乡父老乡亲，为我的母亲扫墓。就在他计划回国的前几个月，他突然身患绝症。他知道自己已奄奄一息，于是他要我答应一定单独回故乡一趟。

　　我下飞机后租了一辆车，并买了一本详尽的地图册。在乡间行车途中，我觉得它非常有用，但快到家了，我倒觉得它没什么用了。这倒并非是我背熟了地图，而是父亲曾详细给我讲了，在过了离故乡最近的那个小镇后，在每一个路标处可见到些什么。因此，我相信这段路对我来说会是很熟悉的。唉，实际我错了，我现在迷路了。

　　我看了看地图，又查了一下里程表。从小镇出来，我走了10英里。照父亲的说法，我面前应是一个山谷，有农场与村舍，还可远远望见老家村子里的教堂的尖顶。可现在我却看不出山谷，看不见农舍，也看见教学尖顶，看见只是一片湖泊。我想一定是什么地方拐错了弯儿。于是我驾车返回小镇，重新按路线行驶。结果又来到刚才那个拐弯处。奇怪的是那个湖没有在地图上标出。我感到自己就像平时作梦那样迷迷糊糊地闯进了恶梦境地。就像在恶梦里一样，见不到一个人可以帮助我。不过，我是幸运的，正当我走投无路之时，从天边出现一个骑马的人向我骑来。等他走近了，问他去老家的路。他说那村子已经没有了。我想他一定误解了我的意思，于是又说一遍村庄的名字。这次他用手指了一下那个湖。村庄已不复存在，因为已经为水所淹，山谷也被水淹没了。这不是一个天然湖泊，是一座人工修建的水库。

　　Lesson58Alittlespotofbother

　　Theoldladywasgladtobebackattheblockofflatswhereshelived.Hershoppinghadtiredherandherbaskethadgrownheavierwitheverystepofthewayhome.Intheliftherthoughtswereonlunchandagoodrest;butwhenshegotoutatherownfloor,bothwereforgotteninhersuddendiscoverythatherfrontdoorwasopen.Shewasthinkingthatshemustreprimandherdailymaidthenextmorningforsuchamonstrouspieceofnegligence,whensherememberedthatshehadgoneshoppingafterthemaidhadleftandsheknewthatshehadturnedbothkeysintheirlocks.Shewalkedslowlyintothehallandatoncenoticedthatalltheroomdoorswereopen,yetfollowingherregularpracticeshehadshutthembeforegoingout.Lookingintothedrawingroom,shesawasceneofconfusionoverbyherwritingdesk.Itwasasclearasdaylightthenthatburglarshadforcedanentryduringherabsence.Herfirstimpulsewastogoroundalltheroomslookingforthethieves,butthenshedecidedthatatherageitmightbemoreprudenttohavesomeonewithher,soshewenttofetchtheporterfromhisbasement.Bythistimeherlegswerebeginningtotremble,soshesatdownandacceptedacupofverystrongtea,whilehetelephonedthepolice.Then,hercomposureregained,shewasreadytosetoffwiththeporter"sassistancetosearchforanyintruderswhomightstillbelurkinginherflat.

　　Theywentthroughtherooms,beingcarefultotouchnothing,astheydidnotwanttohinderthepoliceintheirsearchforfingerprints.Thechaoswasinconceivable.Shehadlivedintheflatforthirtyyearsandwasaveritablemagpieathoarding;anditseemedasthougheverythingshepossessedhadbeentossedoutandturnedoverandover.Atleastsortingoutthethingssheshouldhavediscardedyearsagowasnowbeingmadeeasierforher.Thenapoliceinspectorarrivedwithaconstableandshetoldthemofherdiscoveryoftheransackedflat.Theinspectorbegantolookforfingerprints,whiletheconstablecheckedthatthefrontdoorlockshadnotbeenforced,therebyprovingthattheburglarshadeitherusedskeletonkeysorenteredoverthebalcony.Therewasnotraceoffingerprints,buttheinspectorfoundadirtyredbundlethatcontainedjewellerywhichtheoldladysaidwasnothers.Sotheirentryintothisflatwasapparentlynottheburglars"firstjobthatdayandtheymusthavebeendisturbed.Theinspectorthenaskedtheoldladytotrytocheckwhatwasmissingbythenextdayandadvisedhernottostayaloneintheflatforafewnights.

　　44新概念英语第三册

　　Theoldladythoughthewasafussycreature,butsincetheporteragreedwithhim,sherangupherdaughterandaskedforherhelpinwhatshedescribedasalittlespotofbother.

　　老妇人回到了她居住的公寓楼，心里很高兴。去商店买东西把她搞得筋疲力尽；在回家的路上，她每走一步，就感到手里的篮子又重了一点。她乘上电梯后，只想着午餐和好好休息一下。但她到自己的楼层走出电梯后，就把这两件事忘了个干净，因为她突然发现她家的大门开着。她心想明天上午一定要好好训斥那个干家务的帮手，她竟如此疏忽大意。但突然记起来了，帮手是在她出去买东西之前走的，她还记得曾用了两把钥匙把大门锁上了。她慢慢地走进前厅，立即发现所有的房门都敞开着，而她记得在出门买东西前，她按老规矩是把房门一一锁上的。她往起居室里看去，写字台边一片狼籍。事情很清楚，在她外出时，窃贼曾闯进家门。她第一个条件反射是各个房间搜寻一下窃贼，但转念一想，像她这个年纪，最好找个人一起去。于是她到地下室去找看门的人。这时她两腿累得开始发抖，于是坐了下来，喝了一杯浓茶。与此同时，看门的人给警察挂了电话。此刻老妇人也镇定了下来，准备在看门人的协助下搜寻可能仍躲藏在她房里的窍贼。

　　他俩搜遍这每一个房间，小心翼翼地不接触任何东西，因为他们怕妨碍警察寻找指纹。房间里的紊乱状况是无法想像的。老妇人在这套公寓里住了30年，她又是个名副其实的收藏家。看来她的每一件东西都被翻了出来，并且被里里外外看了遍。这样一来，她倒是容易将那些几年前就该扔掉的东西找出来了。过了一会儿，一位巡官带着一名警察来了。她向他们讲述了发现公寓遭劫的经过。巡官开始搜寻指纹，警察经检查发现大门锁头并无撬过的迹象。由此可以证明，窍贼或者是用万能钥匙，或者是翻越阳台进来的。巡官没有发现指纹，却发现了一个装有珠宝的、肮脏的红包袱。老妇人说那不是她的。很明显，闯进这套公寓的窃贼那天并不是首次作案，而且他一定受了惊吓。巡官请老妇人在次日之前设法查清丢了些什么，并劝她几夜之内不要独自一人在公寓过夜。老妇人觉得巡官大惊小怪，但既然看门人也同意他的意见，她只得打电话向女儿求援，说她碰到了一点儿小麻烦。

　　Lesson59Possessionamassingandcollecting

　　Peopletendtoamasspossessions,some-timeswithoutbeingawareofdoingso.Indeedtheycanhaveadelightfulsurprisewhentheyfindsomethingusefulwhichtheydidnotknowtheyowned.Thosewhoneverhavetochangehousebecomeindiscriminatecollectorsofwhatcanonlybedescribedasclutter.Theyleaveun-wantedobjectsindrawers,cupboardsandatticsforyears,inthebeliefthattheymayonedayneedjustthoseverythings.Astheygrowold,peoplealsoaccumulatebelongingsfortwootherreasons,lackofphysicalandmentalenergy,bothofwhichareessentialinturningoutandthrowingaway,andsentiment.Thingsownedforalongtimearefullofassociationswiththepast,perhapswithrelativeswhoaredead,andsotheygraduallyacquireavaluebeyondtheirtrueworth.Somethingsarecollecteddeliberatelyinthehomeinanattempttoavoidwaste.AmongtheseIwouldliststringandbrownpaper,keptbythriftypeoplewhenaparcelhasbeenopened,tosavebuyingthesetworequisites.Collectingsmallitemscaneasilybecomeamania.Iknowsomeonewhoalwayscutsoutfromnewspaperssketchesofmodelclothesthatshewouldliketobuy,ifshehadthemoney.Assheisnotrich,thechancesthatshewilleverbeabletoaffordsuchpurchasesareremote;butsheisneversufficientlystrongrmindedtobeabletostopthepractice.Itisaharmlesshabit,butitlittersupherdesktosuchanextentthateverytimesheopensit,loosebitsofpaperfalloutineverydirection.Collectingasaserioushobbyisquitedifferentandhasmanyadvantages.Itprovidesrelaxationforleisurehours,asjustlookingatone"streasuresisalwaysajoy.Onedoesnothavetogooutsideforamusement,sincethecollectionishousedathome.Whateveritconsistsof,stamps,records,firsteditionsofbooks,china,glass,antiquefurniture,pictures,modelcars,stuffedbirds,toyanimals,thereisalwayssomethingtodoinconnectionwithit,fromfindingtherightplaceforthelatestadditiontoverifyingfactsinreferencebooks.Thishobbyeducatesonenotonlyinthechosensubject,butalsoingeneralmatterswhichhavesomebearingonit.Therearealsootherbenefits.Onewantstomeetlike-mindedcollectors,togetadvice,tocomparenotes,toexchangearticles,toshowoffthelatestfind.Soone"scircleoffriendsgrows.Soonthehobbyleadstotravel,perhapstoameetinginanothertown,possiblyatripabroadinsearchofararespecimen,forcollectorsarenotconfinedtoanyonecountry.Overtheyearsonemaywellbecomeanauthorityonone"shobbyandwillveryprobablybeaskedtogiveinformaltalkstolittle

　　45新概念英语第三册

　　gatheringsandthen,ifsuccessful,tolargeraudiences.Inthiswayself-confidencegrows,firstfrommasteringasubject,thenfrombeingabletotalkaboutit.Collecting,byoccupyingsparetimesoconstructively,makesapersoncontented,withnotimeforboredom.

　　人们喜欢收藏东西，有时并没有意识到自己在这样做。确实，一旦无意之中从自己的收藏品中找到某件有用的东西时，可以给人一种惊喜的感觉。那些从来不必搬家的人们成了一种无所无容的收藏家。他们专门收藏那些只能被称作杂货的东西。他们在抽屉里，碗柜中、阁楼上堆放着一些不用的东西，一放就是好几年，相信总有一天需要的正好是那些东西。人们年老之后也喜欢收藏东西，不过是出于两个不同的原因：一是体力，精力均告不佳，这二者是清除无用的东西必不可少的因素；另一原因是感情因素。东西搁得时间久了，便会充满着与过去岁月的联系，比方说与死去的亲戚有关。因此这些东西慢慢获得了一种超出它本身的价值。

　　居家度日，有目的地收藏某些东西是为了防止浪费。这些东西中我想举出线绳和包装纸为例。节俭的人们打开包裹后便把这两样必备的东西收藏起来。省得日后去买。收集小玩艺儿很容易着迷。我认识一个人，她总喜欢从报纸上剪下流行服装的图样，等以后有钱时去买服装。由于她并不富裕，她买得起这些服装的可能性十分渺茫。但她又缺乏足够坚强的意志把这一收集活动停下来。这种习惯无害，只把写字台里堆得满满当当，以致每次打开抽屉总能带出许多纸片四处飞扬。

　　作为一种严肃的业余爱好的收藏活动完全是另外一回事，它具有许多益处。它可以使人在闲暇中得到休息，因为欣赏自己收藏的珍品总会充满了乐趣。人们不必走到户外去寻求娱乐，因为收藏品都是存放在家中。不管收藏品是什么，邮票、唱片、头版书籍、瓷器、玻璃杯、老式家具、绘画、模型汽车、鸟类标本，还是玩具动物，从为新增添的收藏品寻找摆放位置到核对参考书中的事实，总归有事可做。这种爱好不仅能使人从选择的专题中受到教育，而且也能从与之有关的一般事物中获得长进。除此之外，还有其他的益处。收藏者要会见情趣相投的收藏者，以获取教益，交流经验、交换收藏品，炫耀自己的最新收藏。朋友的圈子就这样不断扩大。用不了多久，有这种爱好的人便开始旅行，也许是去另一个城市参加会议，也可能是出国寻找一件珍品，因为收藏家是不分国籍的。一人积了多年经验会成为自己这种爱好的权威，很可能应邀在小型集会上作非正式的讲话。如果讲得好，可能向更多人发表演说。这样，你自信心不断增强，先是因为掌握一门学问，接下来是因为能够就此发表见解。收藏活动通过富有建设性地利用业余时间使人感到心满意足，不再有无聊之日。

　　Lesson60TheimportanceofPunctuality

　　Punctualityisanecessaryhabitinallpublicaffairsofacivilizedsociety.Withoutit,nothingcouldeverbebroughttoaconclusion;everythingwouldbeinastateofchaos.Onlyinasparsely-populatedruralcommunityisitpossibletodisregardit.Inordinarylivingtherecanbesometoleranceofunpunctuality.Theintellectual,whoisworkingonsomeabstruseproblem,haseverythingcoordinatedandorganizedforthematterinhand.Heisthereforeforgiven,iflateforadinnerparty.Butpeopleareoftenreproachedforunpunctualitywhentheironlyfaultiscuttingthingsfine.Itishardforenergetic,quick-mindedpeopletowastetime,sotheyareoftentemptedtofinishajobbeforesettingouttokeepanappointment.Ifnoaccidentsoccurontheway,likepuncturedtyres,diversionsoftraffic,suddendescentoffog,theywillbeontime.Theyareoftenmoreindustrious,usefulcitizensthanthosewhoareneverlate.Theover-punctualcanbeasmuchatrialtoothersastheunpunctual.Theguestwhoarriveshalfanhourtoosoonisthegreatestnuisance.Somefriendsofmyfamilyhadthisirritatinghabit.Theonlythingtodowasaskthemtocomehalfanhourlaterthantheotherguests.Thentheyarrivedjustwhenwewantedthem.

　　Ifyouarecatchingatrain,itisalwaysbettertobecomfortablyearlythanevenafractionofaminutetoolate.Althoughbeingearlymaymeanwastingalittletime,thiswillbelessthanifyoumissthetrainandhavetowaitanhourormoreforthenextone;andyouavoidthefrustrationofarrivingattheverymomentwhenthetrainisdrawingoutofthestationandbeingunabletogetonit.Anevenhardersituationistobeontheplatformingoodtimeforatrainandstilltoseeitgooffwithoutyou.Suchanexperiencebefellacertainyounggirlthefirsttimeshewastravellingalone.Sheenteredthestationtwentyminutesbeforethetrainwasdue,sinceherparentshadimpresseduponherthatitwouldbeunforgivabletomissitandcausethefriendswithwhomshewasgoingtostaytomaketwojourneystomeether.Shegaveherluggagetoaporterandshowedhimherticket.Toherhorrorhesaidthatshewastwohourstoosoon.Shefelt

　　46新概念英语第三册

　　inherhandbagforthepieceofpaperonwhichherfatherhadwrittendownallthedetailsofthejourneyandgiveittotheporter.Heagreedthatatraindidcomeintothestationatthetimeonthepaperandthatitdidstop,butonlytotakeonwater,notpassengers.Thegirlaskedtoseeatimetable,feelingsurethatherfathercouldnothavemadesuchamistake.Theporterwenttofetchoneandarrivedbackwiththestationmaster,whoproduceditwithaflourishandpointedoutamicroscopic"o"besidethetimeofthearrivalofthetrainathisstation;thislittle"o"indicatedthatthetrainonlystoppedforwater.Justasthatmomentthetraincameintothestation.Thegirl,tearsstreamingdownherface,beggedtobeallowedtoslipintotheguard"svan.Butthestationmasterwasadamant:rulescouldnotbebroken.Andshehadtowatchthattraindisappeartowardsherdestinationwhileshewasleftbehind.准时是文明社会中进行一切社交活动时必须养成的习惯。不准时将一事无成，事事都会陷入混乱不堪的境地。只有在人口稀少的农村，才可以忽视准时的习惯。在日常生活中人们可以容忍一定程度的不准时。一个专心钻研某个复杂问题的知识分子，为了搞好手头的研究，要把一切都协调一致，组织周密。因此，他要是赴宴迟到了会得到谅解。但有些人不准时常常因为掐钟点所致，他们常常受到责备，精力充沛、头脑敏捷的人极不愿意浪费时间，因此他们常想做完一件事后再去赴约。要是路上没有发生如爆胎、改道、突然起雾等意外事故，他们决不会迟到。他们与那些从不迟到的人相比，常常是更勤奋有用的公民。早到的人同迟到的人一样令人讨厌。客人提前半小时到达是令人讨厌的。我家有几个朋友就有这有令人恼火的习惯。唯一的办法就是请他们比别的客人晚来半小时。这样，他们可以恰好在我们要求的时间到达。

　　如果赶火车，早到总比晚到好，哪怕早到一会儿也好。虽然早到可能意味着浪费一点时间，但这比误了火车等上一个多小时坐下班车浪费的时间要少，而且可以避免那种正好在火车驶出站时赶到车站，因上不去车而感到的沮丧。更难堪的情况是虽然及时赶到站台上，却眼睁睁地看着那趟火车启动，把你抛下。一个小姑娘第一次单独出门就碰到了这种情况。

　　在火车进站20分钟前她就进了车站。因为她的父母再三跟她说，如果误了这趟车，她的东道主朋友就得接她两趟，这是不应该的。她把行李交给搬运工并给他看了车票。搬运工说她早到了两个小时，她听后大吃一惊。她从钱包里摸出一张纸条，那上面有她父亲对这次旅行详细说明，她把这张纸条交给了搬运工。搬运工说，正如纸条所说，确有一趟火车在那个时刻到站，但它只停站装邮件，不载旅客。姑娘要求看到时刻表，因为她相信父亲不能把这么大的事弄错。搬运工跑回去取时刻表，同时请来了站长。站长拿着时刻表一挥手，指着那趟列车到站时刻旁边一个很小的圆圈标记。这个标记表示列车是为装邮件而停车。正在这时，火车进站了。女孩泪流满面，央求让她不声不响地到押车员车厢里去算了。但站长态度坚决，规章制度不能破坏，姑娘只得眼看那趟火车消逝在她要去的方向而撇下了她。

　　47

篇二：新概念英语三文章

　　新概念英语第三册必背文章

　　《新概念英语》自1967年诞生之日起,便以其编排的科学性和系统性、知识的广博性和实用性、哲理的缜密性和严谨性风靡世界,在英语教学领域谱写了神话般的传奇。下面是店铺带来的新概念英语第三册必背文章，欢迎阅读!新概念英语第三册必背文章1Lesson19Averydearcat一条贵重的宝贝猫

　　Kidnappersarerarelyinterestedinanimals，buttheyrecentlytookconsiderableinterestinMrs.EleanorRamsay"scat.Mrs.EleanorRamsay，averywealthyoldlady，hassharedaflatwithhercat，Rastus，foragreatmanyyears.Rastusleadsanorderlylife.Heusuallytakesashortwalkintheeveningsandisalwayshomebyseveno"clock.Oneevening，however，hefailedtoarrive.Mrs.Ramsaygotveryworried.Shelookedeverywhereforhimbutcouldnotfindhim.TheredaysafterRastus"disappearance，Mrs.Ramsayreceivedananonymousletter.ThewriterstatedthatRastuswasinsafehandsandwouldbereturnedimmediatelyifMrs.Ramsaypaidaransomof$1，000.Mrs.Ramsaywasinstructedtoplacethemoneyinacardboardboxandtoleaveitoutsideherdoor.Atfirstshedecidedtogotothepolice，butfearingthatshewouldneverseeRastusagain——theletterhadmadethatquiteclear——shechangedhermind.Shewithdrew$1000fromherbankandfollowedthekidnapper"sinstructions.Thenextmorning，theboxhaddisappearedbutMrs.Ramsaywassurethatthekidnapperwouldkeephisword.Sureenough，Rastusarrivedpunctuallyatseveno"clockthatevening.Helookedverywellthoughhewasratherthirsty，forhedrankhalfabottleof

　　milk.ThepolicewereastoundedwhenMrs.Ramsaytoldthemwhatshehaddone.SheexplainedthatRastuswasverydeartoher.Consideringtheamountshepaid，hewasdearinmorewaysthanone!Lesson20Pioneerpilots飞行员的先驱

　　In1908LordNorthcliffeofferedaprizeof$1，000tothefirstmanwhowouldflyacrosstheEnglishChannel.Overayearpassedbeforethefirstattemptwasmade.OnJuly19th，1909，intheearlymorning，HubertLathamtookofffromtheFrenchcoastinhisplanethe"AntoinetteIV."HehadtravelledonlysevenmilesacrosstheChannelwhenhisenginefailedandhewasforcedtolandonsea.The"Antoinette"floatedonthewateruntilLathamwaspickedupbyaship.Twodaysalter，LouisBleriotarrivednearCalaiswithaplanecalled"No.XI".Bleriothadbeenmakingplanessince1905andthiswashislattesmodel.Aweekbefore，hehadcompletedasuccessfuloverlandflightduringwhichhecoveredtwenty-sixmiles.Latham，however，didnotgiveupeasily.He，too，arrivednearCalaisonthesamedaywithanew"Antoinette".ItlookedasiftherewouldbeanexcitingraceacrosstheChannel.BothplanesweregoingtotakeoffonJuly25th，butLathamfailedtogetupearlyenough，Aftermakingashorttestflightat4，15a.m.，Bleriotsetoffhalfanhourlater.Hisgreatflightlastedthirty-sevenminutes.WhenhelandednearDover，thefirstpersontogreethimwasalocalpoliceman.LathammadeanotherattemptaweeklaterandgotwithinhalfamileofDover，buthewasunluckyagain.Hisenginefailedandhelandedontheseaforthesecondtime.Lesson21DanielMendoza丹尼尔。门多萨

　　BoxingmatcheswereverypopularinEnglandtwohundredyearsago.Inthosedays，boxersfoughtwithbarefistsforprizemoney.Becauseofthis，theywereknownas"prizefighters".However，boxingwasverycrude，forthesewerenorulesandaprizefightercouldbeseriouslyinjuredorevenkilledduringamatch.OneofthemostcolourfulfiguresinboxinghistorywasDanielMendoza，whowasbornin1764.Theuseofgloveswasnotintroduceduntil1860，whentheMarquisofQueensberrydrewupthefirstsetofrules.Thoughhewastechnicallyaprizefighter,Mendozadidmuchtochangecrudeprizefightingintoasport，forhebroughtsciencetothegame.Inthisday，Mendozaenjoyedtremendouspopularity.Hewasadoredbyrichandpooralike.Mendozarosetofameswiftlyafteraboxingmatchwhenhewasonlyfourteenyearsold.ThisattractedtheattentionofRichardHumphrieswhowasthenthemosteminentboxerinEngland.HeofferedtotrainMendozaandhisyoungpupilwasquicktolearn.Infact，MendozasoonbecamesosuccessfulthatHumphriesturnedagainsthim.Thetwomenquarrelledbitterlyanditwasclearthattheargumentcouldonlybesettledbyafight.AmatchwasheldatStilton，wherebothmenfoughtforanhour.ThepublicbetagreatdealofmoneyonMendoza，buthewasdefeated.MendozametHumphriesintheringonalateroccasionandhelostforasecondtime.Itwasnotuntilhisthirdmatchin1790thathefinallybeatHumphriesandbecameChampionofEngland.Meanwhile，hefoundedahighlysuccessfulAcademyandevenLordByronbecameoneofhispupils.Heearnedenormoussumsofmoneyandwaspaidasmuchas$100forasingleappearoneofhispupils.Heearned

　　enormoussumsofmoneyandwaspaidasmuchas$100forasingleappearance.Despitethis，hewassoextravagantthathewasalwaysindebt.AfterhewasdefeatedbyaboxercalledGentlemanJackson，hewasquicklyforgotten.Hewassenttoprisonforfailingtopayhisdebtsanddiedinpovertyin1836.新概念英语第三册必背文章2Lesson22Byheart熟记台词

　　Someplaysaresosuccessfulthattheyrunforyearsonend，Inmanyways，thisisunfortunateforthepooractorswhoarerequiredtogoonrepeatingthesamelinesnightafternight.Onewouldexpectthemtoknowtheirpartsbyheartandneverhavecausetofalter.Yetthisisnotalwaysthecase.AfamousactorinahighlysuccessfulplaywasoncecastintheroleofanaristocratwhohadbeenimprisonedintheBastillefortwentyyears.Inthelastact，agaolerwouldalwayscomeontothestagewithaletterwhichhewouldhandtotheprisoner.Eventhoughthenoblewasexpectedtoreadtheletterateachperformance，healwaysinsistedthatitshouldbewrittenoutinfull.Onenight，thegaolerdecidedtoplayajokeonhiscolleaguetofindoutif，aftersomanyperformances，hehadmanagedtolearnthecontentsoftheletterbyheart.Thecurtainwentuponthefinalactoftheplayandrevealedthearistocratsittingalonebehindbarsinhisdarkcell.Justthen，thegaolerappearedwiththepreciousletterinhisbands.Heenteredthecellandpresentedthelettertothearistocrat.Butthecopyhegavehimhadnotbeenwrittenoutinfullasusual.Itwassimplyablanksheetofpaper.Thegaolerlookedoneagerly，anxioustoseeifhisfellowactorhadatlastlearnthislines.Thenoblestaredattheblanksheetofpaperforafewseconds.Then，squintinghiseyes，hesaid："Thelightisdim.Readthelettertome".Andhepromptlyhandedthesheetofpapertothegaoler.Findingthathecouldnotrememberawordofthelettereither，thegaolerreplied："Thelightisindeeddim，sire，Imustgetmyglasses."Withthis，hehurriedoffthestage.Muchtothearistocrat"samusement，thegaolerreturnedafewmomentslaterwithapairofglassesandtheusualcopyoftheletterwithheproceededtoreadtotheprisoner.Lesson23Oneman"smeatisanotherman"spoison各有所爱

　　Peoplebecomequiteillogicalwhentheytrytodecidewhatcanbeeatenandwhatcannotbeeaten.IfyoulivedintheMediterranean，forinstance，youwouldconsideroctopusagreatdelicacy.Youwouldnotbeabletounderstandwhysomepeoplefinditrepulsive.Ontheotherhand，yourstomachwouldturnattheideaoffryingpotatoesinanimalfat——thenormallyacceptedpracticeinmanynortherncountries.Thesadtruthisthatmostofushavebeenbroughtuptoeatcertainfoodsandwesticktothemallourlives.Nocreaturehasreceivedmorepraiseandabusethanthecommongardensnail.Cookedinwine，snailsareagreatluxuryinvariouspartsoftheworld.Therearecountlesspeoplewho，eversincetheirearlyyears，havelearnedtoassociatesnailswithfood.Myfriend，Robert，livesinacountrywheresnailsaredespised.Ashisflatisinalargetown，hehasnogardenofhisown.Foryearshehasbeenaskingmetocollectsnailsfrommygardenandtakethemtohim.Theideaneverappealedtomeverymuch，butoneday，afterheavyshower，IhappenedtobewalkinginmygardenwhenInoticedahugenumberofsnailstakingastrollonsomeofmyprizeplants.Actingonasuddenimpulse，Icollectedseveraldozen，puttheminapaperbag，andtookthemtoRobert.Robertwasdelightedtoseemeandequallypleasedwithmylittlegift.IleftthebaginthehallandRobertandIwentintothelivingroomwherewetalkedforacoupleofhours.IhadforgottenallaboutthesnailswhenRobertsuddenlysaidthatImuststaytodinner.Snailswould，ofcourse，bethemaindish.IdidnotfancytheideaandIreluctantlyfollowedRobertoutoftheroom.Toourdismay，wesawthatthereweresnailseverywhere：theyhadescapedfromthepaperbagandhadtakencompletepossessionofthehall!Ihaveneverbeenabletolookatasnailsincethen.Lesson24Askeletoninthecupboard“家丑”

　　Weoftenreadinnovelshowaseeminglyrespectablepersonorfamilyhassometerriblesecretwhichhasbeenconcealedfromstrangersforyears.TheEnglishlanguagepossessesavividsayingtodescribethissortofsituation.Theterriblesecretiscalled"askeletoninthecupboard".Atsomedramaticmomentinthestory，theterriblesecretbecomesknownandareputationisruined.Thereader"shairstandsonendwhenhereadsinthefinalpagesofthenovelthattheheroineadearoldladywhohadalwaysbeensokindtoeverybody，had，inheryouth，poisonedeveryoneofherfivehusbands.Itisallverywellforsuchthingstooccurinfiction.Tovaryingdegrees，weallhavesecretswhichwedonotwantevenourclosestfriendstolearn，butfewofushaveskeletonsinthecupboard.TheonlypersonIknowwhohasaskeletoninthecupboardisGeorgeCarlton，andheisverypoundofthefact.Georgestudiedmedicineinhisyouth.Insteadofbecomingadoctor，however，hebecameasuccessfulwriterofdetectivestories.IoncespendanuncomfortableweekendwhichIshallneverforgetathishouse.Georgeshowedmetotheguestroom

　　which，hesaid，wasrarelyused.Hetoldmetounpackmythingsandthencomedowntodinner.AfterIhadstackedmyshirtsandunderclothesintwoemptydrawers，IdecidedtohangoneofthetowsuitsIhadbroughtwithmeinthecupboard.IopenedthecupboarddoorandthenstoodinfrontoftwosuitsIhadbroughtwithmeinthecupboard.IopenedthecupboarddoorandthenstoodinfrontofitsuitsIhadbroughtwithmeinthecupboard.Iopenedthecupboarddoorandthenstoodinfrontofitpetrified.Askeletonwasdanglingbeforemyeyes.Thesuddenmovementofthedoormadeitswayslightlyanditgavemetheimpressionthatitwasabouttoleapoutatme.Droppingmysuit，IdasheddownstairstotellGeorge.Thiswasworsethan"aterriblesecret";thiswasareadskeleton!ButGeorgewasunsympathetic."Oh，that，"hesaidwithasmileasifheweretalkingaboutanoldfriend."That"sSebastian.YouforgetthatIwasamedicalstudentonceuponatime."新概念英语第三册必背文章3Lesson25TheCuttySark“卡蒂萨克”号帆船

　　Oneofthemostfamoussailingshipsofthenineteenthcentury，theCuttySark，canstillbeseenatGreewich.Shestandsondrylandandisvisitedbythousandsofpeopleeachyear.Sheservesasanimpressivereminderofthegreatshipsofpast.Beforetheywerereplacedbysteamships，sailingvesselsliketheCuttySarkwereusedtocarryteafromChinaandwoolfromAustralia.TheCuttySarkwasonethefastestsailingshipsthathaseverbeenbuilt.TheonlyothershiptomatchherwastheThermopylae.BoththeseshipssetoutfromShanghaionJune18th，1872onanexcitingracetoEngland.Thisrace，whichwentonforexactlyfourexactlyfourmonths，wasthelastofitskind.Itmarkedtheendofthegreattraditionofshipswithsails

　　andthebeginningofanewera.ThefirstofthetwoshipstoreachJavaaftertheracehadbegunwastheThermopylae，butontheIndianOcean，theCuttySarktooklead.Itseemedcertainthatshewouldbethefirstshiphome，butduringtheraceshehadalotofbadluck.InAugust，shewasstruckbyaveryheavystormduringwhichherrudderwastornaway.TheCuttySarkrolledfromsidetosideanditbecameimpossibletosteerher.Atemporaryrudderwasmadeonboardfromspareplanksanditwasfittedwithgreatdifficulty.Thisgreatlyreducedthespeedoftheship，fortherewasadangerthatifshetraveledtooquickly，thisrudderwouldbetornawayaswell.Becauseofthis，theCuttySarklostherlead.AftercrossingtheEquator，thecaptaincalledinataporttohaveanewrudderfitted，butbynowtheThermopylaewasoverfivehundredmilesahead.Thoughthenewrudderwasfittedattremendousspeed，itwasimpossiblefortheCuttySarktowin.ShearrivedinEnglandaweekaftertheThermopylae.Eventhiswasremarkable，consideringthatshehadhadsomanydelays.Theseisnodoubtthatifshehadnotlostherruddershewouldhavewontheraceeasily.Lesson26Wanted：alargebiscuittin征购大饼干筒

　　Noonecanavoidbeinginfluencedbyadvertisements.Muchaswemayprideourselvesonourgoodtaste，wearenolongerfreetochoosethethingswewant，foradvertisingexertsasubtleinfluenceonus.Intheireffortstopersuadeustobuythisorthatproduct，advertisershavemadeaclosestudyofhumannatureandhaveclassifiedallourlittleweaknesses.Advertisersdiscoveredyearsagothatallofuslovetogetsomethingfornothing.AnadvertisementwhichbeginswiththemagicwordFREEcanrarelygowrong.Thesedays，advertisersnotonlyoffer

　　freesamples，butfreecars，freehouses，andfreetripsroundtheworldaswell.Theydevisehundredsofcompetitionswhichwillenableustowinhugesumsofmoney.Radioandtelevisionhavemadeitpossibleforadvertiserstocapturetheattentionofmillionsofpeopleinthisway.Duringaradioprogramme，acompanyofbiscuitmanufacturersonceaskedlistenerstobakebiscuitsandsendthemtotheirfactory.Theyofferedtopay$10apoundforthebiggestbiscuitbakedbyalistener.Theresponsetothiscompetitionwastremendous.Beforelong，biscuitsofallshapesandsizesbeganarrivingatthefactory.Oneladybroughtinabiscuitonawheelbarrow.Itweighednearly500pounds.Alittlelater，amancamealongwithabiscuitwhichoccupiedthewholebootofhiscar.Allthebiscuitsthatweresentwerecarefullyweighed.Thelargestwas713pounds.Itseemedcertainthatthiswouldwintheprize.Butjustbeforethecompetitionclosed，alorryarrivedatthefactorywithatrulycolossalbiscuitwhichweighed2，400pounds.Ithadbeenbakedbyacollegestudentwhohadusedover1，000poundsofflour，800poundsofsugar，200poundsoffat，and400poundsofvariousotheringredients.Itwassoheavythatacranehadtobeusedtoremoveitfromthelorry.Themanufacturershadtopaymoremoneythantheyhadanticipated，ortheyboughtthebiscuitfromthestudentfor$24，000.Lesson27Nothingtosellandnothingtobuy不卖也不买

　　Ithasbeensaidthateveryonelivesbysellingsomething.Inthelightofthisstatement，teacherslivebysellingknowledge，philosophersbysellingwisdomandpriestsbysellingspiritualcomfort.Thoughitmaybepossibletomeasurethevalueofmaterialgoodintermsofmoney，itisextremelydifficultto

　　estimatethetruevalueoftheserviceswhichpeopleperformforus.Therearetimeswhenwewouldwillinglygiveeverythingwepossesstosaveourlives，yetwemightgrudgepayingasurgeonahighfeeforofferinguspreciselythisservice.Theconditionsofsocietyaresuchthatskillshavetobepaidforinthesamewaythatgoodsarepaidforatashop.Everyonehassomethingtosell.Trampsseemtobetheonlyexceptiontothisgeneralrule.Beggarsalmostsellthemselvesashumanbeingtoarousethepityofpassers-by.Butrealtrampsarenotbeggars.Theyhavenothingtosellandrequirenothingfromothers.Inseekingindependence，theydonotsacrificetheirhumandignity.Atrampmayaskyouformoney，buthewillneveraskyoutofeelsorryforhim.Hehasdeliberatelychosentoleadthelifeheleadsandisfullyawareoftheconsequences.Hemayneverbesurewherethenextmealiscomingfrom，buthisisfreefromthethousandsofanxietieswhichafflictotherpeople.Hisfewmaterialpossessionsmakeitpossibleforhimtomovefromplacetoplacewithease.Byhavingtosleepintheopen，hegetsfarclosertotheworldofnaturethanmostofuseverdo.Hemayhunt，beg，orsteadoccasionallytokeephimselfalive;hemayeven，intimesofrealneed，doalittlework;buthewillneversacrificehisfreedom.Weoftenspeakofmyeven，intimesofrealneed，doalittlework;buthewillneversacrificehisfreedom.Weoftenspeakoftrampswithcontemptandputtheminthesameclassasbeggars，buthowmanyofuscanhonestlysaythatwehavenotfeltalittleenviousoftheirsimplewayoflifeandtheirfreedomfromcare?

篇三：新概念英语三文章

　　新概念英语第三册文章

　　很多学生喜欢把《新概念英语》作为课外阅读的首选教材。下面是店铺带来的新概念英语第三册文章，欢迎阅读!新概念英语第三册文章1Lesson10ThelossoftheTitanic“泰坦尼克”号的沉没

　　Thegreatship，Titanic，sailedforNewYorkfromSouthamptononApril10th，1912.Shewascarrying1，316passengersandcrewof891.Evenbymodernstandards，the46，000tonTitanicwasacolossalship.Atthetime，however，shewasnotonlythelargestshipthathadeverbeenbuilt，butwasregardedasunsinkable，forshehadsixteenwatertightcompartments.Eveniftwoofthesewereflooded，shewouldstillbeabletofloat.Thetragicsinkingofthisgreatlinerwillalwaysberemembered，forshewentdownonherfirstvoyagewithheavylossoflife.Fourdaysaftersettingout，whiletheTitanicwassailingacrosstheicywateroftheNorthAtlantic，hugeicebergwassuddenlyspottedbyalookout.Afterthealarmhadbeengiven，thegreatshipturnedsharplytoavoidadirectcollision.TheTitanicturnedjustintime，narrowlymissingtheimmensewalkoficewhichroseover100feetoutofthewaterbesideher.Suddenly，therewasaslighttremblingsoundfrombelow，andthecaptainwentdowntoseewhathadhappened.Thenoisehadbeensofaintthatnoonethoughthattheshiphadbeendamaged.Below，thecaptainrealizedtohishorrorthattheTitanicwassinkingrapidly，forfiveofhersixteenwatertightcompartmentshadalreadybeenflooded!Theordertoabandonshipwasgivenandhundredsofpeopleplungedintotheicywater.

　　Astherewerenotenoughlifeboatsforeverybody，1，500liveswerelost.Lesson11Notguilty无罪

　　CustomsOfficersarequitetolerantthesedays，buttheycanstillstopyouwhenyouaregoingthroughtheGreenChannelandhavenothingtodeclare.Evenreallyhonestpeopleareoftenmadetofeelguilty.Thehardenedprofessionalsmuggler，ontheotherhand，isnevertroubledbysuchfeelings，evenifhehasfivehundredgoldwatcheshiddeninhissuitcase.WhenIreturnedformabroadrecently，aparticularlyofficiousyoungCustomsOfficerclearlyregardedmeasasmuggler."Haveyouanythingtodeclare?"heasked，lookingmeintheeye."No"，Iansweredconfidently."Wouldyoumindunlockingthissuitcaseplease?""Notatall，"Ianswered.TheOfficerwentthroughthecasewithgreatcare.AllthethingIhadpackedsocarefullyweresooninadreadfulmess.IfeltsureIwouldneverbeabletoclosethecaseagain.Suddenly，IsawtheOfficer"sfacelightup.Hehadspottedatinybottleatthebottomofmycaseandhepouncedonitwithdelight."Perfume，eh?"heaskedsarcastically."Youshouldhavedeclaredthat.Perfumeisnotexemptfromimportduty.""Butitisn"tperfume，"Isaid."It"shairgel."ThenIaddedwithasmile，"It"sastrangemixtureImakemyself."AsIexpected，hedidnotbelieveme."Tryit!"Isaidencouragingly.Theofficerunscrewedthecapandputthebottletohisnostrils.Hewasgreetedbyanunpleasantsmellwhichconvinced

　　himthatIwastellingthetruth.Afewminuteslater，Iwasabletohurryawaywithpreciouschalkmarksonmybaggage.Lesson12Lifeonadesertisland荒岛生活

　　Mostofushaveformedanunrealisticpictureoflifeonadesertisland.Wesometimesimagineadesertislandtobeasortofparadisewherethesunalwaysshines.Lifethereissimpleandgood.Ripefruitfallsfromthetreesandyouneverhavetowork.Theothersideofthepictureisquitetheopposite.Lifeonadesertislandiswretched.YoueitherstarvetodeathorlivelikeRobinsonCrusoe，Waitingforaboatwhichnevercomes.Perhapsthereisanelementoftruthinboththesepictures，butfewushavehadtheopportunitytofindout.Twomenwhorecentlyspentfivedaysonacoralislandwishedtheyhadstayedtherelonger.TheyweretakingabadlydamagedboatfromtheVirginIslandstoMiamitohaveitrepaired.Duringthejourney，theirboatbegantosink.Theyquicklyloadedasmallrubberdinghywithfood，matches，andcansofbeerandrowedforafewmilesacrosstheCaribbeanuntiltheyarrivedatatinycoralisland.Therewerehardlyanytreesontheislandandtherewasnowater，butthisdidnotprovetobeaproblem.Themencollectedrainwaterintherubberdinghy.Astheyhadbroughtaspeargunwiththem，theyhadplentytoeat.Theycaughtlobsterandfisheveryday，and，asoneofthemputit"atelikekings".Whenapassingtankerrescuedthemfivedayslater，bothmenweregenuinelysorrythattheyhadtoleave.新概念英语第三册文章2Lesson13"It"sonlyme"“是我，别害怕”

　　Afterherhusbandhadgonetowork.Mrs.Richardssentherchildrentoschoolandwentupstairstoherbedroom.Shewastooexcitedtodoanyhouseworkthatmorning，forintheeveningshewouldbegoingtoafancy-dresspartwithherhusband.Sheintendedtodressupasaghostandasshehadmadehercostumethenightbefore，shewasimpatienttotryiton.Thoughthecostumeconsistedonlyofasheet，itwasveryeffective.Afterputtingiton，Mrs.Richardswentdownstairs.Shewantedtofindoutwhetheritwouldbecomfortabletowear.JustasMrs.Richardswasenteringthedinningroom，therewasaknockonthefrontdoor.Sheknewthatitmustbethebaker.Shehadtoldhimtocomestraightinifevershefailedtoopenthedoorandtoleavethebreadonthekitchentable.Notwantingtofrightenthepoorman，Mrs.Richardsquicklyhidinthesmallstoreroomunderthestairs.Sheheardthefrontdooropenandheavyfootstepsinthehall.Suddenlythedoorofthestoreroomwasopenedandamanentered.Mrs.RichardsrealizedthatitmustbethemanfromtheElectricityBoardwhohadcometoreadthemetre.Shetriedtoexplainthesituation，saying"It"sonlyme"，butitwastoolate.Themanletoutcryandjumpedbackseveralpaces.WhenMrs.Richardswalkedtowardshim，hefled，slammingthedoorbehindhim.Lesson14Anoblegangster贵族歹徒

　　TherewasatinewhentheownersofshopsandbusinessesinChicagothattopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor"protection."Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly，thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop.Obtaining"protectionmoney"isnotamoderncrime.Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury，anEnglishman，SirJohn

　　Hawkwood，madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.Sixhundredyearsago，SirJohanHawkwoodarrivedinItalywithabandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence.HesoonmadeanameforhimselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto.WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother，Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehedemanded.Intimesofpeace，whenbusinesswasbad，Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand，afterburningdownafewfarms，wouldoffertogoawayprotectionmoneywaspaidtothem.Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway.Inspiteofthis，theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero.Whenhediedattheageofeighty，theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturedwithasdedicatedtothememoryof"themostvaliantsoldierandmostnotableleader，SignorGiovanniHaukodue."Lesson15Fiftypenceworthoftrouble五十便士的麻烦

　　Childrenalwaysappreciatesmallgiftsofmoney.Mumordad，ofcourse，providearegularsupplyofpocketmoney，butunclesandantsarealwaysasourceofextraincome.Withsomechildren，smallsumsgoalongway.Iffiftypencepiecesarenotexchangedforsweets，theyrattleformonthsinsidemoneyboxes.Onlyverythriftychildrenmanagetofillupamoneybox.Formostofthem，fiftypenceisasmallpricetopayforanicebigbarofchocolate.Mynephew，George，hasamoneyboxbutitisalwaysempty.VeryfewofthefiftypencepiecesandpoundcoinsIhavegivenhimhavefoundtheirwaythere.Igavehimfiftypence

　　yesterdayandadvisedhimtosaveit.Insteadheboughthimselffiftypenceworthoftrouble.Onhiswaytothesweetshop，hedroppedhisfiftypenceanditbouncedalongthepavementandthendisappeareddownadrain.Georgetookoffhisjacket，rolleduphissleevesandpushedisrightarmthroughthedraincover.Hecouldnotfindhisfiftypencepieceanywhere，andwhatismore，hecouldnogethisarmout.Acrowdofpeoplegatheredroundhimandaladyrubbedhisarmwithsoapandbutter，butGeorgewasfirmlystuck.ThefirebrigadewascalledandtwofirefighterfreedGeorgeusingaspecialtypeofgrease.Georgewasnottooupsetbyhisexperiencebecausetheladywhoownsthesweetshopheardabouthistroublesandrewardedhimwithlargeboxofchocolates.新概念英语第三册文章3Lesson16Maryhadalittlelamb玛丽有一头羔羊

　　MaryandherhusbandDimitrilivedinthetinyvillageofPerachorainsouthernGreece.OneofMary"sprizepossessionswasalittlewhitelambwhichherhusbandhadgivenher.Shekeptittiedtoatreeinafieldduringthedayandwenttofetchiteveryevening.Oneevening，however，thelambwasmissing.Theropehadbeencut，soitwasobviousthatthelambhadbeenstolen.WhenDimitricameinfromthefields，hiswifetoldhimwhathadhappened.Dimitriatoncesetouttofindthethief.Heknewitwouldnotprovedifficultinsuchasmallvillage.Aftertellingseveralofhisfriendsaboutthetheft，Dimitrifoundoutthathisneighbour，Aleko，hadsuddenlyacquiredanewlamb.DimitriimmediatelywenttoAleko"shouseandangrilyaccusedhimofstealingthelamb.Hetoldhimhehadbetterreturnitorhewould

　　callthepolice.AlekodeniedtakingitandledDimitriintohisbackyard.Itwastruethathehadjustboughtalamb，heexplained，buthislambwasblack.Ashamedofhavingactedsorashly，DimitriapologizedtoAlekoforhavingaccusedhim.WhiletheyweretalkingitbegantorainandDimitristayedinAleko"shouseuntiltherainstopped.Whenhewentoutsidehalfanhourlater，hewasastonishedtofindthelittleblacklambwasalmostwhite.Itswool，whichhadbeendyedblack，hadbeenwashedcleanbytherain!Lesson17Thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworld世界上最长的吊桥

　　Verrazano，anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown，sailedintoNewYorkHarbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.Hedescribeditas"averyagreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhichflowedagreatriver."ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredtobeagreatexplorer，hisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal，foronNovember21st，1964，thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworldwasnamedafterhim.TheVerrazanoBridge，whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann，joinsBrooklyntoStatenIsland.Ithasaspanof4，260feet.Thebridgeissolongthattheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccountbyitsdesigner.Twogreattowerssupportfourhugecables.Thetowersarebuiltonimmenseunderwaterplatformsmakeofsteelandconcrete.Theplatformsextendtoadepthofover100feetunderthesea.Thesealonetooksixteenmonthstobuild.Abovethesurfaceofthewater，thetowersrisetoaheightofnearly700feet.Theysupportthecablesfromwhichthebridgehasbeensuspended.Eachofthefourcablescontains26，108lengthsofwire.Ithasbeenestimatedthatifthebridge

　　werepackedwithcars，itwouldstillonlybecarryingathirdofitstotalcapacity.However，sizeandstrengtharenottheonlyimportantthingsaboutthisbridge.Despiteitsimmensity，itisbothsimpleandelegant，fulfillingitsdesigner"sdreamtocreate"anenormousobjectdrawnasfaintlyaspossible".Lesson18Electriccurrentsinmodernart现代艺术的电流

　　Modernsculpturerarelysurprisesusanymore.Theideathatmodernartcanonlybeseeninmuseumsismistaken.Evenpeoplewhotakenointerestinartcannothavefailedtonoticeexamplesofmodernsculptureondisplayinpublicplaces.Strangeformsstandingardens，andoutsidebuildingsandshops.Wehavegotquiteusedtothem.Someso-called"modern"pieceshavebeenondisplayfornearlyeightyyears.Inspiteofthis，somepeople——

　　includingmyself——

　　weresurprisebyarecentexhibitionofmodernsculpture.ThefirstthingIsawwhenIenteredtheartgallerywasanoticewhichsaid：

　　"Donottouchtheexhibits.Someofthemaredangerous!"Theobjectsondisplaywerepiecesofmovingsculpture.Oddlyshapedformsthataresuspendedformtheceilingandmoveinresponsetoagustofwindarequitefamiliartoeverybody.Theseobjects，however，weredifferent.Linedupagainstthewall，therewerelongthinwiresattachedtometalspheres.Thesphereshadbeenmagnetizedandattractedorrepelledeachotherallthetime.Inthecentreofthehall，therewereanumberoftallstructureswhichcontainedcolouredlights.Theselightsflickeredcontinuouslyliketrafficlightswhichhavegonemad.Sparkswereemittedfromsmallblackboxesandredlampsflashedonandoffangrily.Itwasratherlikeanexhibitionofprehistoricelectronicequipment.Thesepeculiarformsnotonlyseemeddesignedto

　　shockpeopleemotionally，buttogivethemelectricshocksaswell!

篇四：新概念英语三文章

　　新概念英语三作文

　　Ilovetotravel.Itgivesmeasenseoffreedomandadventure.Exploringnewplacesandexperiencingdifferentculturesisalwaysexciting.Whetherit"sabustlingcityorapeacefulcountryside,eachdestinationhasitsowncharm.

　　OneofmyfavoritetravelexperienceswaswhenIvisitedasmallvillageinthemountains.Thescenerywasbreathtaking,withlushgreeneryandtoweringpeaks.Theairwasfreshandcrisp,awelcomechangefromthepollutionofthecity.Ienjoyedhikingthroughthetrails,immersingmyselfinnature"sbeauty.

　　Anothermemorabletripwastoavibrantcity.Thestreetswerefilledwithpeoplefromallwalksoflife,eachwiththeirownstoriestotell.Theenergywasinfectious,andIcouldn"thelpbutgetcaughtupinthehustleandbustle.Fromtryinglocalstreetfoodtoexploringhiddenalleyways,therewasalwayssomethingnew

　　todiscover.

　　Onadifferentoccasion,Iwentonabeachvacation.Thesoundofcrashingwavesandthefeelofsandbetweenmytoesinstantlyrelaxedme.Ispentlazydayssoakingupthesun,swimminginthecrystal-clearwaters,andenjoyingthebreathtakingsunsets.Itwasaperfectescapefromthedailygrind.

　　Travelingalsoallowsmetomeetinterestingpeoplealongtheway.Fromfellowtravelerstolocals,everyonehasastorytoshare.I"vemadelifelongfriendsfromdifferentpartsoftheworld,andit"sfascinatingtolearnabouttheirculturesandtraditions.Theseconnectionsmakemytravelexperiencesevenmoremeaningful.

　　Eachtripisalearningexperience.Itbroadensmyhorizonsandchallengesmyperspectives.I"vegainedadeeperunderstandingandappreciationfordifferentculturesandwaysoflife.Ithasmadememoreopen-mindedandadaptable.

　　Inconclusion,travelingisapassionofmine.Itallowsmetoescapetheroutineofeverydaylifeandexplorenewhorizons.Whetherit"saserenevillage,abustlingcity,orapicturesquebeach,eachdestinationoffersauniqueexperience.Meetingnewpeopleandlearningaboutdifferentculturesenrichesmyjourney.TravelinghastrulyshapedwhoIamtoday.

推荐访问:新概念英语三文章 新概念英语 文章