新概念英语阅读短.pdf

Lesson 1 A private conversation 私 人 谈 话 Last week I went to the theatre.I had a very good seat.The play was very interesting.I did not enjoy it.Ayoung man and a young woman were sitting behind me.They were talking loudly.I got very angry.I could nothear the actors.I turned round.I looked at the man and the woman angrily.They did not pay any attention.In theend,I could not bear it.I turned round again.I cant hear a word!11 said angrily.Its none of your business,theyoung man said rudely.This is a private conversation!*.Lesson 2 Breakfast or lunch?早 餐 还 是 午 餐？It was Sunday.I never get up early on Sundays.I sometimes stay in bed until lunch time.Last Sunday I got up very late.I looked out of the window.It was dark outside.What a day!11 thought.rIt*s raining again?Just then,the telephone rang.It was my aunt Lucy.1 Ive just arrived bytrain,*she said.Im coming to see you.*But Im still having breakfast/1 said.What are you doing?f she asked.1 Tm having breakfast/I repeated.Dear me,1 she said.*D o you always get up so late?It*s one oclock!Lesson 3 Please send me a card 请 给 我 寄 一 张 明 信 片 Postcards always spoil my holidays.Last summer,I went to Italy.I visited museums and sat in public gardens.Afriendly waiter taught me a few words of Italian.Then he lent me a book.I read a few lines,but I did notunderstand a word.Every day I thought about postcards.My holidays passed quickly,but I did not send any cardsto my friends.On the last day I made a big decision.I got up early and bought thirty-seven cards.I spent thewhole day in my room,but I did not write a single card!Lesson 4 An exciting tr ip激 动 人 心 的 旅 行 I have just received a letter from my brother,Tim.He is in Australia.He has been there for six months.Tim is anengineer.He is working for a big firm and he has already visited a great number of different places in Australia.He has just bought an Australian car and has gone to Alice Springs,a small town in the centre of Australia.Hewill soon visit Darwin.From there,he will fly to Perth.My brother has never been abroad before,so he is finding this trip very exciting.Lesson 5 No wrong numbers 无 错 号 之 虞 Mr James Scott has a garage in Silbury and now he has just bought another garage in Pinhurst.Pinhurst is onlyfive miles from Silbury,but Mr Scott cannot get a telephone for his new garage,so he has just bought twelvepigeons.Yesterday,a pigeon carried the first message from Pinhurst to Silbury.The bird covered the distance inthree minutes.Up to now,Mr Scott has sent a great many requests for spare parts and other urgent messages fromone garage to the other.In this way,he has begun his own private telephone service.Lesson 6 Percy Buttons 珀 西 巴 顿 斯 I have just moved to a house in Bridge Street.Yesterday a beggar knocked at my door.He asked me for a mealand a glass of beer.In return for this,the beggar stood on his head and sang songs.I gave him a meal.He ate thefood and drank the beer.Then he put a piece of cheese in his pocket and went away.Later a neighbour told meabout him.Everybody knows him.His name is Percy Buttons.He calls at every house in the street once a monthand always asks for a meal and a glass of beer.Lesson 7 Too late 为 时 太 晚 The plane was late and detectives were waiting at the airport all morning.They were expecting a valuable parcelof diamond from South Africa.A few hours earlier,someone had told the police that thieves would try to steal thediamonds.When the plane arrived,some of the detectives were waiting inside the main building while otherswere waiting on the airfield.Two men took the parcel off the plane and carried it into the Customs House.Whiletwo detectives were keeping guard at the door,two others opened the parcel.To their surprise,the precious parcelwas full of stones and sand!Lesson 8 The best and the worst 最 好 的 和 最 差 的Joe Sanders has the most beautiful garden in our town.Nearly everybody enters for The Nicest GardenCompetition each year,but Joe wins every time.Bill Friths garden is larger than Joes.Bill works harder than Joeand grows more flowers and vegetables,but Joes garden is more interesting.He has made neat paths and has builta wooden bridge over a pool.I like gardens too,but I do not like hard work.Every year I enter for the gardencompetition too,and I always win a little prize for the worst garden in the town!Lesson 9 A cold welcome 冷 遇 On Wednesday evening,we went to the Town Hall.It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people hadgathered under the Town Hall clock.It would strike twelve in twenty minutes*time.Fifteen minutes passed andthen,at five to twelve,the clock stopped.The big minute hand did not move.We waited and waited,but nothinghappened.Suddenly someone shouted,Its two minutes past twelve!The clock has stopped!11 looked at my watch.It was true.The big clock refused to welcome the New Year.At that moment everybody began to laugh and sing.Lesson 10 Not for ja z z不 适 于 演 奏 爵 士 乐 We have an old musical instrument.It is called a clavichord（翼 琴）.It was made in Germany in 1681.Ourclavichord is kept in the living-room.It has belong to our family for a long time.The instrument was bought bymy grandfather many years ago.Recently it was damaged by a visitor.She tried to play jazz on it!She struck thekeys too hard and two of the strings were broken.My father was shocked.Now we are not allowed to touch it.Itis being repaired by a friend of my fathers.Lesson 11 One good turn deserves another 礼 尚 往 来 I was having dinner at a restaurant when Harry Steele came in.Harry worked in a lawyers office years ago,but heis now working at a bank.He gets a good salary,but he always borrows money from his friends and never pays itback.Harry saw me and came and sat at the same table.He has never borrowed money from me.While he waseating,I asked him to lend me&2.To my surprise,he gave me the money immediately.I have never borrowedany money from you,*Harry said,so now you can pay for my dinner!Lesson 12 Goodbye and good luck 再 见，一 路 顺 风 Our neighbor,Captain Charles Alison,will sail from Portsmouth tomorrow.WeU meet him at the harbor early inthe morning.He will be in his small boat,Topsail.Topsail is a famous little boat.It has sailed across the Atlanticmany times.Captain Alison will set out at eight oclock so weH have plenty of time.Well see his boat and thenwe41 say good-bye to him.He will be away for two months.We are very proud of him.He will take part in animportant race across the Atlantic.Lesson 13 The Greenwood Boys 绿 林 少 年 The Greenwood Boys are a group of popular singers.At present,they are visiting all parts of the country.Theywill be arriving here tomorrow.They will be coming by train and most of the youngpeople in the town will be meeting them at the station.Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the WorkersClub.The Greenwood Boys will be staying for five days.During this time,they will give five performances.Asusual,the police will have a difficult time.They will be trying to keep order.It is always the same on theseoccasions.Lesson 14 Do you speak English?你 会 讲 英 语 吗？I had an amusing experience last year.After I had left a small village in the south of France,I drove on to thenext town.On the way,a young man waved to me.I stopped and he asked me fbr a lift.As soon as he had got intothe car,I said good morning to him in French and he replied in the same language.Apart from a few words,I donot know any French at all.Neither of us spoke during the journey.I had nearly reached the town,when the youngman suddenly said,very slowly,*D o you speak English?As I soon learnt,he was English himself!Lesson 15 Good news 佳 音 The secretary told me that Mr.Harmsworth would see me.I felt very nervous when.I went into his office.He didnot look up from his desk when I entered.After I had sat down,he said that business was very bad.He told methat the firm could not afford to pay such large salaries.Twenty people had already left.I knew that my turn hadcome.Mr.Harmsworth,I said in a weak voice.Dont interrupt,he Said.Then he smiled and told me I wouldreceive an extra&100 a year!Lesson 16 A polite request 彬 彬 有 礼 的 要 求 If you park your car in the wrong place,a traffic policeman will soon find it.You will be very lucky if he lets yougo without a ticket.However,this does not always happen.Traffic police are sometimes very polite.During aholiday in Sweden,I found this note on my car:Sir,we welcome you to our city.This is a“No Parking area.You will enjoy your stay here if you pay attention to our street signs.This note is only a reminder.If you receivea request like this,you cannot fail to obey it!Lesson 17 Always young 青 年 常 驻 My aunt Jennifer is an actress.She must be at least thirty-five years old.In spite of this,she often appears on thestage as a young girl.Jennifer will have to take part in a new play soon.This time,she will be a girl of seventeen.In the play,she must appear in a bright red dress and long black stockings.Last year in another play,she had towear short socks and a bright,orange-coloured dress.If anyone ever asked her how old she is,she always answers,Daring,it must be terrible to be grown up!Iessonl8 He often does th is!他 经 常 干 这 种 事！After I had had lunch at a village pub,I looked for my bag.I had left it on a chair beside the door and now itwasnt there!As I was looking for it,the inn-keeper came in.Did you have a good meal?he asked.Yes,thankyou,I answered,but I cant pay the bill.I havent got my bag.The inn-keeper smiled and immediately went out.In a few minutes he returned with my bag and gave it back to me.Tm very sorry,*he said My dog had taken itinto the garden.He often does this.Lessonl9 Sold out 票 已 售 完 The play may begin at any moment,*I said.It may have begun already/Susan answered.1 hurried to the ticket-office.rMay I have two tickets please?*I asked.Tm sorry,weve sold out,the girl said.What a pity!,Susan exclaimed.Just then,a man hurried to the ticket-office.Can I return these two tickets?*he asked.Certainly；the girl said.Could I have those two tickets please?I asked.Certainly,rthe girl said,but they are for next Wednesdays performance.I might as well have them,*I said sadly.Lesson20 One man in a boat 独 坐 孤 舟 Fishing is my favorite sport.I often fish for hours without catching anything.But this does not worry me.Somefishermen are unlucky.Instead of catching fish,they catch old boots and rubbish.I am even less lucky.I nevercatch anythingnot even old boots.After having spent whole mornings on the river,I always go home with anempty bag.You must give up fishing!1 my friends say.Its a waste of time.But they dont realize one importantthing.Fm not really interested in fishing.I am only interested in sitting in a boat and doing nothing at all!Lesson21 Mad or n o t?是 不 是 疯 了？Aeroplanes are slowly driving me mad.I live near an airport and passing planes can be heard night and day.Theairport was built during the war,but for some reason it could not be used then.Last year,however,it came intouse.Over a hundred people must have been driven away from their homes by the noise.I am one of the fewpeople left.Sometimes I think this house will be knocked down by a passing plane.I have been offered a largesum of money to go away,but I am determined to stay here.Everybody says I must be mad and they are probablyright.Lesson22 A glass envelope 玻 璃 信 封 My daughter,Jane,never dreamed of receiving a letter from a girl of her own age in Holland.Last year,we weretravelling across the Channel and Jane put a piece of paper with her name and address on it into a bottle.Shethrew the bottle into the sea.She never thought of it again,but ten months later,she received a letter from a girl inHolland.Both girls write to each other regularly now.However,they have decided to use the post-office.Letterswill cost a little more,but they will certainly travel faster.Lesson23 A new house 新 居 I had a letter from my sister yesterday.She lives in Nigeria.In her letter,she said that she would come to Englandnext year.If she comes,she will get a surprise.We are now living in a beautiful new house in the country.Workon it had begun before my sister left.The house was completed five months ago.In my letter,I told her that shecould stay with us.The house has many large rooms and there is a lovely garden.It is a very modern house,so itlooks strange to some people.It must be the only modem house in the district.Lesson24 It could be worse 不 幸 中 之 万 幸 I entered the hotel managers office and sat down.I had just lost&50 and I felt very upset/I left the money in myroom/I said,and its not there now.The manager was sympathetic,but he could do nothing.Everyones losingmoney these days/he said.He started to complain about this wicked world but was interrupted by a knock at thedoor.A girl came in and put an envelope on his desk.It contained&5o.I found this outside this gentlemansroom she said.Well,I said to the manager,there is still some honesty in this world!Iesson25 Do the English speak E n glish?英 国 人 讲 的 是 英 语 吗？I arrived in London at last.The railway station was big,black and dark.I did not know the way to my hotel,so Iasked a porter.I not only spoke English very carefully,but very clearly as well.The porter,however,could notunderstand me;I repeated my question several times and at last he understood.He answered me,but he spokeneither slowly nor clearly.rI am a foreigner,I said.Then he spoke slowly,but I could not understand him.Myteacher never spoke English like that!The porter and I looked at each other and smiled.Then he said somethingand I understood it.Youll soon learn English!he said.I wonder.In England,each man speaks a differentlanguage.The English understand each other,but I dont understand them!Do they speak English?Iesson26 The best art critics 最 佳 美 术 评 论 家 I am an art student and I paint a lot of pictures.Many people pretend that they understand modem art.Theyalways tell you what a picture is about1.Of course,many pictures arc not about anything.They are just prettypatterns.We like them in the same way that we like pretty curtain material.I think that young children oftenappreciate modem pictures better than anyone else.They notice more.My sister is only seven,but she always tellsme whether my pictures are good or not.She came into my room yesterday.*What are you doing?she asked.Im hanging this picture on the wall,*I answered.Its a new one.Do you like it?She looked at it critically for amoment.Its all right/she said,but isnt it upside-down?r I looked at it again.She was right!It was!Lesson27 A wet night 雨 夜 Late in the afternoon,the boys put up their tent in the middle of a field.As soon as this was done,they cooked ameal over an open fire.They were all hungry and the food smelt good.After a wonderful meal,they told storiesand sang songs by the camp fire.But some time later it began to rain.The boys felt tired so they pet out the fireand crept into their tent.Their sleeping-bags were warm and comfortable,so they all slept soundly.In the middleof the night,two boys woke up and began shouting.The tent was full of water!They