【正文】 of her own age in Holland. Last year, we were travelling across the Channel and Jane put a piece of paper with her name and address on it into a bottle. She threw the bottle into the sea. She never thought of it again, but ten months later, she received a letter from a girl in Holland. Both girls write to each other regularly now. However, they have decided to use the postoffice. Letters will cost a litt1e 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 e to England next year. If she es, she will get a surprise. We are now living in a beautiful new house in the country. Work on it had begun before my sister left. The house was pleted five months ago. In my letter, I told her that she could stay with us. The house has many large rooms and there is a lovely garden. It is a very modern house, so it looks strange to some people. It must be the only modern house in the district. Lesson24 It could be worse 不幸中之萬幸 I entered the hotel manager39。 I said, 39。Everyone39。I found this outside this gentleman39。 I said to the manager, 39。I am a foreigner,39。 he said. I wonder. In England, each man speaks a different language. The English understand each other, but I don39。about39。 I39。s a new one. Do you like it ?39。 she said, 39。 No Parking39。Pilatus Porter39。s garden is more interesting. He has made neat paths and has built a wooden bridge over a pool. I like gardens too, but I do not like hard work. Every year I enter for the garden petition too, and I always win a little prize for the worst garden in the town! Lesson 9 A cold wele 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 had gathered under the Town Hall clock. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes39。 I looked at my watch. It was true. The big clock refused to wele the New Year. At that moment everybody began to laugh and sing. Lesson 10 Not for jazz 不適于演奏爵士樂 We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord(翼琴 ). It was made in Germany in 1681. Our clavichord is kept in the livingroom. It has belong to our family for a long time. The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago. Recently it was damaged by a visitor. She tried to play jazz on it! She struck the keys too hard and two of the strings were broken. My father was shocked. Now we are not allowed to touch it. It is being repaired by a friend of my father39。I have never borrowed any money from you,39。clock so we shall have plenty of time. We shall see his boat and then we shall say goodbye to him. He will be away for two months. We are very proud of him. He will take part in an important race across the Atlantic. Lesson 13 The Greenwood Boys 綠林少年 The Greenwood Boys are a group of popular singers. At present, they are visiting all parts of the country. They will be arriving here tomorrow. They will be ing by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station. Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers39。Mr. Harmsworth,39。 he Said. Then he smiled and told me I would receive an extra amp。My dear, it must be terrible to be grown up!39。 he asked. 39。t pay the bill. I haven39。m very sorry,39。The play may begin at any moment,39。I hurried to the ticketoffice. 39。m sorry, we39。 Susan exclaimed. Just then, a man hurried to the ticketoffice. 39。 the girl said. 39。the girl said, 39。 I said sadly. Lesson20 One man in a boat 獨(dú)坐孤舟 Fishing is my favourite sport. I often fish for hours without catching anything. But this does not worry me. Some fishermen are unlucky. Instead of catching fish, they catch old boots and rubbish. I am even less lucky. I never catch anythingnot even old boots. After having spent whole mornings on the river, I always go home with an empty bag. 39。s a waste of time.39。s office and sat down. I had just lost amp。and it39。s losing money these days,39。s room39。there is still some honesty in this world !39。 I said. Then he spoke slowly, but I could not understand him. My teacher never spoke English like that! The porter and I looked at each other and smiled. Then he said something and I understood it. 39。t understand them ! Do they speak English ? lesson26 The best art critics 最佳美術(shù)評論家 I am an art student and I paint a lot of pictures. Many people pretend that they understand modern art. They always tell you what a picture is 39。 anything. They are just pretty patterns. We like them in the same way that we like pretty curtain material. I think that young children often appreciate modern pictures better than anyone else. They notice more. My sister is only seven, but she always tells me whether my pictures are good or not. She came into my room yesterday. 39。m hanging this picture on the wall,39。 She looked at it critically for a moment.39。but isn39。 signs outside his gate, but these have not had any effect. Now he has put an ugly stone head over the gate. It is one of the ugliest faces I have ever seen. I asked him what it was and he told me that it was Medusa, the Gon. Jasper hopes that she will turn motorists to stone. But none of them has been turned to stone yet! Lesson29 Taxi! 出租汽車！ Captain Ben Fawcett has bought an unusual taxi and has begun a new service. The 39。. This wonderful plane can carry seven passengers. The most surprising thing about it, however, is that it can land anywhere: on snow, water, or even on a ploughed field. Captain Fawcett39。 time. Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped. The big minute hand did not move. We waited and waited, but nothing happened. Suddenly someone shouted, 39。s. Lesson 11 One good turn deserves another 禮尚往來 I was having dinner at a restaurant when Harry Steele came in. Harry worked in a lawyer39。 Harry said, 39。 Club. The Greenwood Boys will be staying for five days. During this time, they will give five performances. As usual, the police will have a difficult time. They will be trying to keep order. It is always the same on t