新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）---课2

ltlong52010

$课文2  十三等于一
% r$ O7 Y$ O: D) t2 t# F8 n17. Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another,
+ x' M  [8 }# V! B7 s: ?+ n- K. y        我们教区的牧师总是为各种各样的事筹集资金。
18. but he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired.
+ |+ [& p& O) m  C9 a/ O. r+ Y: s        但始终未能筹足资金把教堂的钟修好。
# i5 u) ~7 f3 M: S0 O' Y19. 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。
8 h! R- h) W  n. @3 f. W4 x20. 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！
21. Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.
* {+ d. t1 [/ K6 N        他一看表，才1点钟，可是那钟一边敲了13下才停。
22. 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。
23. In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.
. w% d! z; `6 H        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。
24. '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。
6 t+ G. ^, e4 `$ `/ j6 [25. 'I'm trying to repair the bell,' answered Bill.
9 N% |& v% f5 g        “我想把这口钟修好，”比尔回答说。
3 u6 H" }+ Y  Z& K/ `26. I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now.
8 T/ ]( S% V( B& B# _5 O        “好几个星期了，我天天夜里到钟楼上来。
: L3 s" {. ^8 z0 g/ x5 o- m; h27. You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.
' q8 _9 `0 c  R. p        嗯，我是想让你大吃一惊。”
) p: v4 P6 E: r9 ^6 S* ^28. 'You certainly did give me a surprise!' said the vicar.
        “你确实使我大吃了一惊！”牧师说，
29. 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。
+ s. r# m3 Z& ?( U. h30. Still, I'm glad the bell is working again.
& Z3 d+ X$ D. P$ O6 @        不过，钟又能报时了，我还是很高兴的。”
5 s$ s! k5 i! f4 A) }31. That's the trouble, vicar,' answered Bill.
7 h; V$ }8 Y6 v4 d6 f  i' a        “问题就在这里，牧师，”比尔回答说。
32. 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.
. A; O% S% K# j, c: z9 U& q        “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。”
33. We'll get used to that, Bill,' said the vicar.
$ Y0 {% n4 X/ C; l% X& ~        “大家慢慢就习惯了，比尔，”牧师说。
34. Thirteen is not as good as one, but it's better than nothing.
        “13下是不如1下好，但总比1下也不敲强。
% V0 r  q: X9 O35. Now let's go downstairs and have a cup of tea.
        来，咱们下楼去喝杯茶吧。”