【正文】 vate cars are going to offer 39。 to people on their way to work. This will relieve pressure on the trains to some extent. Meanwhile, a number of university students have volunteered to drive buses while the strike lasts. All the young men are expert drivers, but before they drive any of the buses, they will have to pass a special test. The students are going to take the test in two days39。s home. We shall all remember 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 next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, 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, as he has often remarked, one is never too old to learn. Lesson86 Out of control 失控 As the man tried to swing the speedboat round, the steeringwheel came away in his hands. He waved desperately to his panion, who had been waterskiing for the last fifteen minutes. Both men had hardly had time to realize what was happening when they were thrown violent1y into the sea. The speedboat had struck a buoy, but it continued to move very quickly across the water. Both men had just begun to swim towards the shore. they noticed with dismay that the speedboat was moving in a circle. It now came straight towards them at tremendous speed. In less than a minute, it roared past them only a few feet away. After it had passed, they swam on as quickly as they could because they knew that the boat would soon return. They had just had enough time to swim out of danger when the boat again pleted a circle. On this occasion, however, it had slowed down considerably. Before long, the noise dropped pletely and the boat began to drift gently across the water. Lesson87 A perfect alibi 極好的不在犯罪現(xiàn)場的證據(jù) 39。clock train to London,39。Do you always catch such an early train 39。Of course I do,39。 I must be at work at o39。I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.39。At what time did you arrive at the station? eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.39。And you didn39。 said the inspector, 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。 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 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 e. The only funny things we heard that evening came from the advertiser at the beginning of the. 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 Seed Bird Company. Good ladies, evening and gentlemen!39。 I don39。 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。 39。 answered the policeman in the same tone. 39。s busy working, but would you mind ing with me to the Well, I39。 I said. 39。ve fotten my key. He called. 39。 I shouted.39。s Radical Progressive Party. After the elections, Crawley went to the former Prime Minister39。 I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,39。 I know,39。 but I love to hear you say it39。free rides39。 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 活到老學到老 I have just received a letter from my old school informing me that my former head master, 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。At the time the murder was mitted, I was travelling on the o39。 said the man. 39。 asked the inspector. 39。 answered the man.39。clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time. Would a later train get you to work on time? asked the inspector. 39。 39。 39。t notice anything unusual. I suggest,39。that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the o39。clock train did not run at all. It broke down at station and was taken off the line.39。 lesson90 for supper ？ 晚餐吃什么？ Though