《新概念英语》互动学习读物配套文本

第3册，第2课

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Thirteen Equals One

十三等于一

课　文

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Was the vicar pleased that the clock was striking? Why?

Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another, but he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired.

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。

The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.

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。

One night, however, our vicar woke up with a start: the clock was striking the hours!

一天夜里，我们的牧师突然被惊醒了：大钟又在“打点”报时了！

Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, but the bell struck 13 times before it stopped.

他一看表，才一点钟，可是那钟一边敲了十三下才停。

Armed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on.

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。

In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.

借着灯光，他看见一个人，马上认出那是本地杂货店主Bill Wilkins。

"Whatever are you doing up here Bill?" asked the vicar in surprise.

“你究竟在这上面干什么，Bill”？牧师惊讶地问。

"I'm trying to repair the bell," answered Bill.

“我想把这口钟修好”，Bill回答说。

I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now.

好几个星期了，我天天夜里到钟楼上来。

You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.

嗯，我是想让你大吃一惊。

"You certainly did give me a surprise!" said the vicar.

“你确实使我大吃了一惊”！牧师说。

You've probably woken up everyone in the village as well.

也许同时你把村里所有的人都吵醒了。

Still, I'm glad the bell is working again.

不过，钟又能报时了，我还是很高兴的。

"That's the trouble, vicar," answered Bill.

“问题就在这里，牧师”，Bill回答说。

It's working all right, but I'm afraid that at 1 o'clock it will strike 13 times and there's nothing I can do about it.

不错，钟能报时了，但是，恐怕每到一点钟，它总要敲十三下，对此我已无能为力了。

"We'll get used to that, Bill," said the vicar.

“大家慢慢就习惯了，Bill”，牧师说。

Thirteen is not as good as one, but it's better than nothing.

十三下是不如一下好，但总比一下也不敲强。

Now let's go downstairs and have a cup of tea.

来，咱们下楼去喝杯茶吧。

词　汇

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equal /'ikwəl/

v. 等于

raise /rez/

v. 募集，筹(款)

torchlight /'tɔrtʃˈlaɪt/

n. 电筒光

vicar /'vɪkɚ/

n. 牧师

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露珠英语工作室 新概念互动学习读物-第3册-第02课-课文与词汇表 -