新概念英語(yǔ)第二冊(cè)詳解第58課:blessing in disguise?

Lesson 58: blessing in disguise?

是因禍得福嗎?

First listen and then answer the question.

聽錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。

Why does the vicar refuse to cut down the tree?

The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a 'cursed tree'. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased. The tree was planted near the church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims. The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused. He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!

New words and expressions 生詞和短語(yǔ)

blessing n. 福分，福氣

disguise n. 偽裝

tiny adj. 極

New words and expressions 生詞和短語(yǔ)

blessing n. 福分，福氣

disguise n. 偽裝

tiny adj. 極小的

possess v. 擁有

cursed adj. 可恨的

increase v. 增加

plant v. 種植

church n. 教堂

evil adj. 壞的

reputation n. 名聲

claim v. 以......為其后果

victim n. 受害者，犧牲品

vicar n. 教區(qū)牧師

source n. 來(lái)源

income n. 收入

trunk n. 樹干

參考譯文

據(jù)說(shuō)弗林利這個(gè)小村里有一棵“該詛咒的樹”。就因?yàn)閳?bào)上提到過(guò)這棵樹，所以現(xiàn)在來(lái)弗林利參觀的人越來(lái)越多。該樹是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近幾年才得到了一個(gè)壞名聲。據(jù)說(shuō)，誰(shuí)要是觸摸了這棵樹，誰(shuí)就會(huì)交上惡運(yùn);如果誰(shuí)摘了一片樹葉，誰(shuí)就會(huì)死去。很多村民相信此樹已經(jīng)害了不少人。人們?cè)?qǐng)求教區(qū)的牧師叫人把樹砍掉，但他直到現(xiàn)在也沒有同意。他指出，由于人們從全國(guó)各地紛紛前來(lái)參觀這棵樹，它成了一個(gè)有用的財(cái)源。盡管有上述種種說(shuō)法，但游客們還是照常摘樹葉和把他們的名字刻在樹干上。然而到目前為止，還沒有一個(gè)人暴死呢!