【正文】 dglasses. 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 ! Lesson92 Asking for trouble 自找麻煩 It must have been about two in the morning when I returned home. I tried to wake up my wife by ringing the doorbell, but she was fast asleep, so I got a ladder from the shed in the garden, put it against the wall, and began climbing towards the bedroom window. I was almost there when a sarcastic voice below said,39。 Lesson88 Trapped in a mine 困在礦井里 Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours. If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives. However, rescue operations are proving difficult. If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine. They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule. If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they would have pleted the job in a few hours. As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go. Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with the closest relatives. Though they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart. Lesson89 A slip of the tongue 口誤 People will do anything to see a free showeven if it is a bad one. When the news got round that a variety 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 be fore 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 e. 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: 39。clock train, but that you caught the which would still get you to work on time. You see, on the morning of the murder, the o39。 said the inspector, 39。 39。 39。And you didn39。At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.39。At what time did you arrive at the station ?39。 I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.39。 Would a later train get you to work on time ?39。clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time.39。 answered the man.39。 asked the inspector. 39。 said the man. 39。At the time the murder was mitted, I was travelling on the o39。 time. Even so, people are going to find it difficult to get to work. But so far, the public has expressed its gratitude to the students in letters to the Press. Only one or two people have objected that the students will drive too fast! Lesson85 Never too old to learn 活到老學(xué)到老 I have just received a letter from my old school informing me that my former head master, Mr Regmald Page, will be retiring next week. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending him a present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed towards the gift will sign their names in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster39。free rides39。 but I love to hear you say it !39。 I know,39。Mr Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad !39。 I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,39。s Radical Progressive Party. After the elections, Crawley went to the former Prime Minister39。monsters39。s steam hammer. Though in those days, travelling was not as easy as it is today, steam boats carried thousands of visitors across the Channel from Europe. On arriving in England, they were taken to the Crystal Palace by train. There were six million visitors in all, and the profits from the exhibition were used to build museums and colleges. Later, the Crystal Palace was moved to South London. It remained one of the most famous buildings in the world until it was burnt down in 1936. Lesson81 Escape 脫逃 When he had killed the guard, the prisoner of war quickly dragged him into the bushes. Working rapidly in the darkness, he soon changed into the dead man39。 I looked down and nearly fell off the ladder when I saw a policeman. I immediately regretted answering in the way I did, but I said, 39。 I don39。This is the Poo and Ee Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen !39。clock train did not run at all. It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.39。that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the o39。I suggest,39。 Of course not.39。t notice anything unusual ?39。 39。 39。 39。 asked the inspector. 39。 39。 I must be at work at o39。Of course I do,39。Do you always catch such an early train ?39。clock train to London,39。s home. We shall all remember Mr Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when we went so unwillingly to school. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in his honour next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr Page will have been teaching for a total of forty years. After he has retired, he will devote himself to gardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby. But this does not matter, for,