【正文】 rest fire in California. Since then, they have been trying to find out how the fire began. Forest fire are often caused by broken glass or by cigarette ends which people carelessly throw away. Yesterday the firemen examined the ground carefully, but were not able to find any broken glass. They were also quite sure that a cigarette end did not start the fire. This morning, however, a fireman accidentally discovered the cause. He noticed the remains of a snake which was wound round the electric wires of a 16,000volt power line. In this way, he was able to solve the mystery. The explanation was simple but very unusual. A bird had snatched up the snake from the ground and then dropped it on to the wires. The snake then wound itself round the wires. When it did so, it sent sparks down to the ground and these immediately started a fire. You don39。This is the prettiest carpet I have ever seen,39。Lesson52 A pretty carpet 漂亮的地毯Lesson51 Reward for virtue 對(duì)美德的獎(jiǎng)賞Well, in that case, I prefer to stay on the bus,39。We are going back now,39。ll get off here.39。 I said. 39。It doesn39。 I forgot to put you off.39。Oh dear,39。 Is this Woodford Green ?39。This is as far as we go.39。ll have to get off here,39。39。I sat in the front of the bus to get a good view of the countryside. After some time, the bus stopped. Looking round, I realized with a shock that I was the only passenger left on the bus.ll tell you where to get off,39。 39。 but I don39。m going to Woodford Green,39。39。I love travelling in the country, but I don39。 had put it on the floor, he promptly went to sleep again.Lesson49 The end of a dream 美夢(mèng)告終Dentists always ask questions when it is impossible for you to answer. My dentist had just pulled out one of my teeth and had told me to rest for a while. I tried to say something, but my mouth was full of cottonwool. He knew I collected birds39。A public house which was recently bought by Mr Ian Thompson is up for sale. Mr Thompson is going to sell it because it is haunted. He told me that he could not go to sleep one night because he heard a strange noise ing from the bar. The next morning, he found that the doors had been blocked by chairs and the furniture had been moved. Though Mr Thompson had turned the lights off before he went to bed, they were on in the morning. He also said that he had found five empty whisky bottles which the ghost must have drunk the night before. When I suggested that some villagers must have e in for a free drink, Mr Thompson shook his head. The villagers have told him that they will not accept the inn even if he gives it away. 230 !When a plane from London arrived at Sydney airport, workers began to unload a number of wooden boxes which contained clothing. No one could account for the fact that one of the boxes was extremely heavy. It suddenly occurred to one of the workers to open up the box. He was astonished at what he found. A man was lying in the box on top of a pile of woollen goods. He was so surprised at being discovered that he did not even try to run away. After he was arrested, the man admitted hiding in the box before the plane left London. He had had a long and unfortable trip, for he had been confined to the wooden box for over ten hours. The man was ordered to pay amp。s money was paid back in this way. The last note said:39。 Only 25 per cent a thief now!39。but only 5o per cent a thief!39。up in newspaper and it contained half the money he had lost, together with a note which said: 39。A thief, yes, 39。 Two months later, some more money was sent to Sam with another note:39。 In time, all Sam39。 I am 100 per cent honest now!39。lesson46 Expensive and unfortable 既昂貴又受罪345 for the cost of the trip. The normal price of a ticket is amp。Lesson47 A thirsty ghost 嗜酒的鬼魂Lesson48 Did you want to tell me something? 你想對(duì)我說(shuō)什么嗎？ eggs and asked me whether my collection was growing. He then asked me how my brother was and whether I liked my new job in London. In answer to these questions I either nodded or made strange noises. Meanwhile, my tongue was busy searching out the hole where the tooth had been. I suddenly felt very worried, but could not say anything. When the dentist at last removed the cottonwool from my mouth, I was able to tell him that he had pulled out the wrong tooth. Tired of sleeping on the floor, a young man in Teheran saved up for years to buy a real bed. For the first time in his life, he became the proud owner of a bed which had springs and a mattress. Because the weather was very hot, he carried the bed on to the roof of his house. He slept very well for the first two nights, but on the third night, a storm blew up. A gust of wind swept the bed off the roof and sent it crashing into the courtyard below. The young man did not wake up until the bed had struck the ground. Although the bed was smashed to pieces, the man was miraculously unhurt. When he woke up, he was still on the mattress. Glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man sadly picked up the mattress and carried it into his house. After heLesson50 Taken for a ride 乘車兜風(fēng)t like losing my way. I went on an excursion recently, but my trip took me longer than I expected. I39。 I said to the conductor as I got on the bus,39。t know where it is.39。 I39。 answered the conductor. You39。 the conductor said. 39。 39。 I asked. 39。 said the conductor suddenly.39。 39。t matter,39。I39。 39。 said the conductor. 39。 I answered.My friend, Herbert, has always been fat, but things got so bad recently that he decided to go on a diet. He began his diet a week ago. First of all, he wrote out a long list of all the foods which were forbidden. The list included most of the things Herbert loves: butter, potatoes, rice, beer, milk, chocolate, and sweets. Yesterday I paid him a visit. I rang the bell and was not surprised to see that Herbert was still as fat as ever. He led me into his room and hurriedly hid a large parcel under his desk. It was obvious that he was very embarrassed. When I asked him what he