Lesson 16 ★★★Mary had a little lamb

Mary and her husband Dimitri lived in the tiny village of Perachora in southern Greece.

One of Mary's prize possessions was a little white lamb which her husband had given her.

prize possessions 最珍视的财产

golden opportunity 黄金般的机会

 

 

She kept it tied to a tree in a field during the day and went to fetch it every evening.

One evening, however, the lamb was missing. The rope had been cut, so it was obvious that the lamb had been stolen.

I stole a glance at the modern-looking lady.

偷税漏税 evade taxes

When Dimitri came in from the fields, his wife told him what had happened.

Dimitri at once set out to find the thief. He knew it would not prove difficult in such a small village.

set out…动身

补充几个词组：

set off

start off

spark off

set about

enter upon

After telling several of his friends about the theft, Dimitri found out that his neighbour, Aleko, had suddenly acquired a new lamb.

Dimitri immediately went to Aleko's house and angrily accused him of stealing the lamb.

accuse of 谴责

remind of 提醒

warn of 警告

rob of 抢

inform of 通知

cure of 治愈

clear of 清理

strip of 剥夺

The scandal stripped him of his reputation.

 

He told him he had better return it or he would call the police.

Aleko denied taking it and led Dimitri into his backyard.

lead into 领入

lead to

It was true that he had just bought a lamb, he explained, but his lamb was black.

It’s true that… but.. 诚然… 但是

admittedly 

不错，她的确很年轻，但他很有能力。

It’s true that she is young, but she is able.

 

 

It was true that he had just bought a lamb, he explained, but his lamb was black.

Ashamed of having acted so rashly, Dimitri apologized to Aleko for having accused him.

Ashamed of… 形容词的独立结构

I got home, very tired.

= I got home, and felt very tired.

小专题：道歉

apologize to sb for one’s rudeness

Please overlook my rudeness.

 

 

Ashamed of having acted so rashly, Dimitri apologized to Aleko for having accused him.

Excuse me for my rudeness.

Pardon me for my rudeness.

I really feel bad about my rudeness.

I am extremely sorry for my rudeness.

I must apologize for my rudeness.

While they were talking it began to rain and Dimitri stayed in Aleko's house until the rain stopped.

When he went outside half an hour later, he was astonished to find that the little black lamb was almost white.

Its wool, which had been dyed black, had been washed clean by the rain!

Lesson 18★★ Electric currents in modern art

Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more.

小专题：常用的使役动词：

astonish

bewilder 使迷惑

confuse 使困惑

convince 使信服

dismay 使惊慌

expose 使暴露

electrify 使触电

Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more.

fertilize 使肥沃

grieve 使悲伤

incline 使倾向于

造句：我的回答让老师很失望/高兴。

My response to the question made the teacher feel disappointed.

= my response to the question disappointed / pleased the teacher.

The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken.

Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places.

take no interest in sth不感兴趣

 

cannot have failed 否定的推测。

Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops. We have got quite used to them.

Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly eighty years.

pieces 指代雕塑品

on display 展出

on+n.表示状态

on sale 热卖中

on the call 随叫随到

The company’s car is always on the call.

on the stand by

The soldiers are on the stand by and they are ready to go to the flooded areas.

 

In spite of this, some people -- including myself -- were surprised by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture.

The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits. Some of them are dangerous!'

The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture.

Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.

Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.

一阵风a gust of wind

一阵咳嗽a fit of cough

These objects, however, were different. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres.

The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time.

In the centre of the hall, there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights. These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad.

辨析：continual / continuous

Continual：一段时间内多次发生、时断时续

如：Continual practice is necessary to master English.

Continuous：连续不断的，

如：a continuous voyage 连续不断的航行

 

In the centre of the hall, there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights. These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad.

Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily.

小专题：失眠

I’m not a bit of sleepy.

= I am wide wake.特别清醒，睡不着。

Funny, I just cannot sleep.

I had trouble sleeping last night.

I have not shut my eyes all night.

I have not slept a wink last night.

Drank too much coffee, now I am all wired.

 

It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.

These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!

Do not touch the live wire.= electrified cable.

Is the wire hot? = Is there any juice in the wire? 通电了么？

The electricity went out. 没电了。

Where is the power switch? 总电闸= main switch= fuse box

This is a 3 prong-plug. 三项插头。

 

 

Lesson 19 ★★★A very dear cat ---- word play / double meaning

—It’s everybody’s right, right?
—You think all your right is right?

Doctor, my feet smell and my nose runs.

Oh, it’s awkward, it seems that you’re built upside down.

Better late than the late. 

Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat.

considerable

=substantial

Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.

We are set for life.= well off (well-being)

This is peanuts to him.

=It’s just a drop in the bucket to him.

He is made of money. 他白手起家。

He’s gone from rags to riches. = from zero to hero.

She grew up in a lap of luxury.

=She was spoiled.

= She was pampered. 惯坏了。

Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.

A happiness shared by 2 is double happiness; a sorrow shared by 2 is only half sorrow.

Let’s split the bill.

=Let’s share the bill.

=How about we split 50-50.

Who is going to foot the bill.

My treat?

 

小专题：残羹冷炙

leftovers 剩饭剩菜

remains of a meal残羹剩饭

sour milk 发酸的奶

yogurt酸奶

expired food 过期食品

moldy bread 发霉的面包

rancid meat 腐烂的肉

rotten fruit and vegetables

flat cola 跑了汽的可乐

 

Rastus leads an orderly life. He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock.

One evening, however, he failed to arrive. Mrs. Ramsay got very worried. She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.

Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.

anonymous 匿名的

anonymity   n. 匿名

work in anonymity 默默无闻的工作

an anonymous letter 匿名信

Blackmail

The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of $1,000.

states：声称，断言，（很正式的说）

ransom 赎金。

Mrs. Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door.

be instructed to.被指令做……

place 仔细摆放 leave 随意摆放

At first she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind.

I’m not afraid of losing my head.

= I’m not afraid for my head.

Afraid for.

She withdrew $1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions.

withdraw troops / order / money

The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word.

小专题：一诺千金

Keep one’s word 信守诺言

=keep one’s promise.

=fulfill one’s word

Eat one’s words.（不是“食言”！）

=take back one’s words. 收回所说的话

食言:break one’s words.

Break one’s promise

He’s a man of his word. 

Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.

Sure enough = as expected

punctually  准时的= on time

I’ll be there at 9 on the dot.

=I’ll be there at 9 punctually.

= right on time.

大概九点到。I will be there at 9, give or take a few minutes.

= approximately a few minutes of difference.

He looked very well though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk.

Look very well

= look healthy

= He looks pink. 红光满面。

He is in the good shape. 状态奇佳。

The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done.

She explained that Rastus was very dear to her.

Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!

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