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New words and expressions 生词和短语
trap v。 陷入，使陷于困境
surface n。 地面，表面
explosive n。 炸药
vibration n。 震动
collapse v。 坍塌
drill v。 钻孔
capsule n。 容器
layer n。 层
beneath prep。 在。。。。。。之下
lower v。 放下，降低
progress v。 进展，进行
smoothly adv。 顺利地
参考译文
6个人被困在矿井里已有17个小时了。如果不把他们尽快救到地面上来，他们就有可能丧生。然而，事实证明营救工作非常困难。如果用炸药爆破，震动会引起矿顶塌落。因此，营救人员在矿井的北侧钻了一个洞。他们准备用一种特制的容器把这6个人救上来。如果不是因为土壤下面有一层坚硬的岩石，他们的营救工作仅用几个小时就可以完成了。实际情况是，他们已连续钻了16个小时了，但离钻透还早着呢。与此同时，两个小时以前放下井去的一只麦克风使井下的人可以与其亲属保持联系。虽然他们的食物和饮料都快消耗尽了，但这些人的心情很好，坚信他们很快就会出去。他们一直被告知营救工作进行得非常顺利。如果他们知道了钻透那坚硬的岩石有多么困难，他们会丧失信心的。
Lesson 89
A slip of the tongue
口误
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Who made the only funny joke that evening and why？
People will do anything to see a free show even if it is a bad one。 When the news got round that a comedy show would be presented at our local cinema by the P。 and U。 Bird Seed Company； we all rushed to see it。 We had to queue for hours to get in and there must have been several hundred people present just before the show began。 Unfortunately； the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen。 Those who failed to get in need not have felt disappointed； as many of the artistes who should have appeared did not come。 The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the programme。 He was obviously very nervous and for some minutes stood awkwardly before the microphone。 As soon as he opened his mouth； everyone burst out laughing。 We all know what the poor man should have said； but what he actually said was： 'This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company。 Good ladies； evening and gentlemen！〃
New words and expressions 生词和短语
slip n。 小错误
comedy n。 喜剧
present v。 演出；adj。 出席，到场的
queue v。 排队
dull adj。 枯燥，无味
artiste n。 艺人
advertiser n。 报幕员
参考译文
人们总要想尽办法看不花钱的演出——哪怕是拙劣的演出。当“皮尤”鸟食公司将在我们当地影院演出喜剧节目的消息传开后，我们都赶紧跑去观看。我们不得不排了好几个小时才进得场去。在演出开始前场内肯定已有好几百人了。不幸的是，这次演出是我们看过的最乏味的演出了。那些没能进到场内的人没有必要感到失望，因为很多应该出场的专业演员都没有来。那天晚上唯一有趣的事情是节目开始时那个报幕员的开场白。他显然非常紧张，局促不安地在麦克风前站了好几分钟。但他刚一开口说话，人们便哄堂大笑起来。我们都明白那个可怜的人应该说些什么，而他实际说的却是：“这是‘浦伊’鸟食公司，好女士们，晚上和先生们！”
Lesson 90
What's for supper？
晚餐吃什么？
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What kind of fish are they？
Fish and chips has always been a favourite dish in Britain； but as the oceans have been overfished； fish has become more and more expensive。 So it comes as a surprise to learn that giant fish are terrifying the divers on North Sea oil rigs。 Oil rigs have to be repaired frequently and divers； who often have to work in darkness a hundred feet under water； have been frightened out of their wits by giant fish bumping into them as they work。 Now they have had special cages made to protect them from these monsters。 The fish are not sharks or killer whales； but favourite eating varieties like cod and skate which grow to unnatural sizes； sometimes as much as twelve feet in length。 Three factors have caused these fish to grow so large： the warm water round the hot oil pipes under the sea； the plentiful supply of food thrown overboard by the crews on the rigs； the total absence of fishing boats around the oil rigs。 As a result； the fish just eat and eat and grow and grow in the lovely warm water。 Who eats who？
New words and expressions 生词和短语
chip n。 油煎土豆片
overfish v。 过度捕捞
giant adj。 巨大的
terrify v。 吓，使恐怖
diver n。 潜小员
oil rig 石油钻塔
wit n。 （复数）理智，头脑
cage n。 笼
shark n。 鲨鱼
whale n。 鲸
variety n。 品种
cod n。 鳕
skate n。 鳐
factor n。 因素
crew n。 全体工作人员
参考译文
油煎鱼加炸土豆片一直是英国人喜爱的一道菜，但是随着海洋里的滥捕滥捞，鱼已经变得越来越昂贵。因此，听说北海石油钻井平台上的潜水员受到巨型鱼类的恐吓，确实很让人吃惊。钻井平台需要经常修理，潜水员常常要在水面100英尺以下摸黑工作，他们曾在工作时被撞到他们身上的大鱼吓得惊惶失措。现在他们有了特制的笼子，用来保护他们免受大鱼的侵袭。这些鱼并不是鲨鱼或逆戟鲸，而是深受人们喜爱的食用鱼品种，如鳕鱼和鳐鱼，只不过它们长得出奇地大，有时长达12英尺。这些鱼能长得这么大是由3个因素造成的：海底热的输油管道附近的温暖的海水；钻井平台工作人员抛到海里充足的食物；钻井平台周围根本没有捕鱼船只。结果是，这些鱼就在可爱的温暖的水流中吃呀吃，长呀长。究竟谁吃谁呢？
Lesson 91
Three men in a basket
三人同篮
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Where was the station's Commanding Officer？
A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby。 He informed the station at once； but no one there was able to explain the mystery。 The officer in the control tower was very angry when he heard the news； because balloons can be a great danger to aircraft。 He said that someone might be spying on the station and the pilot was ordered to keep track of the strange object。 The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time。 He could make out three men in a basket under it and one of them was holding a pair of binoculars。 When the balloon was over the station； the pilot saw one of the men taking photographs。 Soon afterwards； the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airfield。 The police were called in； but they could not arrest anyone； for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station！ As the Commanding Officer explained later； one half of the station did not know what the other half was doing！
New words and expressions 生词和短语
balloon n。 气球
royal adj。 皇家
spy v。 侦察
track n。 轨迹，踪迹
binoculars n。 望远镱
参考译文
一个飞行员发现了一只气球，它像是正飞往附近的一个皇家空军基地。他马上把情况报告了该基地，但那里的人没有一个能解释这到底是怎么回事。控制塔上的官员得知这一消息后，非常气愤，因为气球有可能给飞机造成极大的危险。他说可能有人正对基地进行侦察，因此命令那个飞行员跟踪那个奇怪的飞行物。飞行员设法绕着气球飞了一阵。他看清了气球下面有3个人呆在一只筐里，其中一个举着望远镜。当气球飞临基地上空时，飞行员看见有一个人在拍照。不久，气球开始降落，在一个停机坪附近着了陆。警察被召来了，但他们却不能逮捕任何人，因为筐里是两名国会议员和一名基地的指挥官！正如指挥官后来解释的那样，基地的这半边不知道那半边正在干什么！
Lesson 92
Asking for trouble
自找麻烦
First listen and then answer the question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why did the policeman ask the