课文阅读
Thirteen equals one 十三等于一
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。
vicar n. a priest in the US Episcopal Church （美国圣公会的）牧师
cause n. an organization or idea that people support or fight for （支持或为之奋斗的）事业，目标，思想 [C]
She has long championed the cause of civil liberties. 她长期以来一直捍卫公民自由。
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，但在很多年前遭到毁坏，从此便无声无息了。
strike the hours （钟的）报时
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！
start n. an act of moving your body quickly and suddenly because you are surprised, afraid, etc. 突然一惊 [C, usualling sing.]
with a ~: She woke from the dream with a start. 她猛地一惊，从梦中醒来。
Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o’clock, but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped. 他一看表，才 1 点钟，可是那钟一连敲了 13 下才停。
Armed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on. 牧师拿了一支手电筒走上钟楼想去看看究竟发生了什么事情。
arm v. to provide weapons for yourself / sb in order to fight a battle or a war 武装；装备；备战 [I,T]
~ youself / sb (with sth): The men armed themselves with sticks and stones. 这些人以棍棒和石块作为武器。
torch n. a small electric lamp that you can hold in your hand and carry with you 手电筒
Shine the torch on the lock while I try to get the key in. 我插钥匙时，请用手电筒照着锁头。
In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer. 借着电筒光，他看见一个人，马上认出那是本地杂货店店主比尔·威尔金斯。
torchlight n. the light that is produced by an electric torch or by burning torches 电筒光 [U]
grocer n. a person who owns, manages or works in a shop selling food and other things used in the home 食品杂货商
‘Whatever are you doing up here, Bill?’ asked the vicar in surprise. “你究竟在这上面干什么，比尔？”牧师惊讶地问。
whatever 在问句中可以用来加强 what 的语气。
‘I’m trying to repair the bell,’ answered Bill. “我想把这口钟修好。”比尔回答说。
‘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 big surprise!’ said the vicar. “你确实使我大吃了一惊！”牧师说。
do 在句子中置于 v. 前可以起到强调的作用。
‘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。”
still adv. despite what has just been said （虽然……）还是，但，不过
I know it’s not rational, but I still feel terribly guilty. 我知道这很不理智，但我还是非常内疚。
‘That’s the trouble, vicar,’ answered Bill. “问题就在这里，牧师。”比尔回答说。
‘It’s working all right, but I’m afraid that at one o’clock it will strike thirteen times and there’s nothing I can do about it.’ “不错，钟是能报时了，但是，恐怕每到 1 点钟，它总要敲 13 下，对此我已无能为力了。”
‘We’ll get used to that, Bill,’ said the vicar. “大家慢慢就习惯了，比尔。”牧师说。
‘Thirteen is not as good as one, but it’s better than nothing. “13 下是不如 1 下好，但是比 1 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。”
课文理解
- The church clock did not work because _____.
- (a) it was too expensive to repair
- (b) it disturbed the vicar’s sleep
- (c) Bill Wilkins only worked at night
- (d) the bell had been out of order for many years
(d). 根据原文第 2 句，钟不发生是因为其年久失修。
- The vicar was surprised to see Bill Wilkins in the clock tower because _____.
- (a) Bill Wilkins had been hoping to surprise him
- (b) it was an unusual time and place to find him
- (c) he had expected to find a figure
- (d) the clock had struck thirteen times
(b). 直观推测可知，牧师并不知道能在钟楼上遇到他。
- The vicar offered Bill Wilkins a cup of tea because ______.
- (a) he thought that Bill Wilkins was thirsty
- (b) thanks to him, the clock would now strike once an hour
- (c) he was grateful for the trouble Bill Wilkins has taken
- (d) he was pleased to have been woken up for nothing
(c). 鸿门宴。
语法
- In the past the big clock _____ the hours.
- (a) struck always
- (b) always struck
- (c) was always striking
- (d) has always been striking
(b).
- It was not until the thirteenth stroke _____ the bell stopped.
- (a) before
- (b) when
- (c) so that
- (d) that
(d).
It was not until …(1) that …(2)
(1): 时间、情况
(2): 从句
- The vicar asked Bill _____ doing in the church tower.
- (a) what was he
- (b) what he was
- (c) what he is
- (d) whatever was he
(b).
- ‘I _____ it all night, but I’m afraid …’
- (a) shall mend
- (b) am mending
- (c) have mended
- (d) mended
(c).
mend v. to repair sth that has been damaged or broken so that it can be used again 修理，修补 [T]
~ sth: Could you mend my bike for me? 你能帮我修一下自行车吗？
- ‘We’ll get used to _____ that, Bill.’
- (a) hearing
- (b) hear
- (c) the sound
- (d) having heard
(a).
词汇
- Money which is collected for a cause is known as _____.
- (a) cash
- (b) a fund
- (c) a scholarship
- (d) an investment
(b).
fund n. an amount of money that has been saved or has been made available for a particular purpose 基金；专款 [C]
a disaster relief fund 赈灾专款
investment n. the money that you invest, or the thing that you invest in 投资额；投资物 [C,U]
a substantial investment 重大投资
- A grocer is a man who _____.
- (a) runs a shop
- (b) eats a lot
- (c) sells bread
- (d) surprises people
(a).
- ‘I’ve been coming here _____ for weeks now.’
- (a) every night
- (b) all night
- (c) the following night
- (d) several nights
(a).
- ‘_____, I’m glad the bell is working again.’
- (a) Yet
- (b) Good
- (c) Just the same
- (d) Even now
(c).
all / just the same * despite this 虽是这样；尽管如此
He’s not very reliable, but I like him just the same. 他不太可靠，但我还是喜欢他。
even now / then * despite what has / had happened 甚至到现在（或那时）；即便是这样（或那样）；尽管如此（或那样）
I’ve shown him the photographs but even now he won;t believe me. 我把照片给他看了，即便是这样他仍然不相信我。
