新概念英语阅读短文

1、Lesson1Aprivateconversation私人谈话LastweekIwenttothetheatre.Ihadaverygoodseat.Theplaywasveryinteresting.Ididnotenjoyit.Ayoungmanandayoungwomanweresittingbehindme.Theyweretalkingloudly.Igotveryangry.Icouldnotheartheactors.Iturnedround.Ilookedatthemanandthewomanangrily.Theydidnotpayanyattention.Intheend,

2、Icouldnotbearit.Iturnedroundagain.Icanthearaword!Isaidangrily.Itsnoneofyourbusiness,theyoungmansaidrudely.Thisisaprivateconversation!.Lesson2Breakfastorlunch?早餐还是午餐?ItwasSunday.InevergetupearlyonSundays.Isometimesstayinbeduntillunchtime.LastSundayIgotupverylate.Ilookedoutofthewindow.Itwasdarkoutside

3、.Whataday!Ithought.Itsrainingagain.Justthen,thetelephonerang.ItwasmyauntLucy.Ivejustarrivedbytrain,shesaid.Imcomingtoseeyou.ButImstillhavingbreakfast,Isaid.Whatareyoudoing?sheasked.Imhavingbreakfast,Irepeated.Dearme,shesaid.Doyoualwaysgetupsolate?Itsoneoclock!Lesson3Pleasesendmeacard请给我寄一张明信片Postcar

4、dsalwaysspoilmyholidays.Lastsummer,IwenttoItaly.Ivisitedmuseumsandsatinpublicgardens.AfriendlywaitertaughtmeafewwordsofItalian.Thenhelentmeabook.Ireadafewlines,butIdidnotunderstandaword.EverydayIthoughtaboutpostcards.Myholidayspassedquickly,butIdidnotsendanycardstomyfriends.OnthelastdayImadeabigdeci

5、sion.Igotupearlyandboughtthirty-sevencards.Ispentthewholedayinmyroom,butIdidnotwriteasinglecard!Lesson4Anexcitingtrip激动人心的旅行Ihavejustreceivedaletterfrommybrother,Tim.HeisinAustralia.Hehasbeenthereforsixmonths.Timisanengineer.Heisworkingforabigfirmandhehasalreadyvisitedagreatnumberofdifferentplacesin

6、Australia.HehasjustboughtanAustraliancarandhasgonetoAliceSprings,asmalltowninthecentreofAustralia.HewillsoonvisitDarwin.Fromthere,hewillflytoPerth.Mybrotherhasneverbeenabroadbefore,soheisfindingthistripveryexciting.Lesson5Nowrongnumbers无错号之虞MrJamesScotthasagarageinSilburyandnowhehasjustboughtanother

7、garageinPinhurst.PinhurstisonlyfivemilesfromSilbury,butMrScottcannotgetatelephoneforhisnewgarage,sohehasjustboughttwelvepigeons.Yesterday,apigeoncarriedthefirstmessagefromPinhursttoSilbury.Thebirdcoveredthedistanceinthreeminutes.Uptonow,MrScotthassentagreatmanyrequestsforsparepartsandotherurgentmess

8、agesfromonegaragetotheother.Inthisway,hehasbegunhisownprivatetelephoneservice.Lesson6PercyButtons珀西巴顿斯IhavejustmovedtoahouseinBridgeStreet.Yesterdayabeggarknockedatmydoor.Heaskedmeforamealandaglassofbeer.Inreturnforthis,thebeggarstoodonhisheadandsangsongs.Igavehimameal.Heatethefoodanddrankthebeer.Th

9、enheputapieceofcheeseinhispocketandwentaway.Lateraneighbourtoldmeabouthim.Everybodyknowshim.HisnameisPercyButtons.Hecallsateveryhouseinthestreetonceamonthandalwaysasksforamealandaglassofbeer.Lesson7Toolate为时太晚Theplanewaslateanddetectiveswerewaitingattheairportallmorning.Theywereexpectingavaluablepar

10、celofdiamondfromSouthAfrica.Afewhoursearlier,someonehadtoldthepolicethatthieveswouldtrytostealthediamonds.Whentheplanearrived,someofthedetectiveswerewaitinginsidethemainbuildingwhileotherswerewaitingontheairfield.TwomentooktheparcelofftheplaneandcarrieditintotheCustomsHouse.Whiletwodetectiveswerekee

11、pingguardatthedoor,twoothersopenedtheparcel.Totheirsurprise,thepreciousparcelwasfullofstonesandsand!Lesson8Thebestandtheworst最好的和最差的JoeSandershasthemostbeautifulgardeninourtown.NearlyeverybodyentersforTheNicestGardenCompetitioneachyear,butJoewinseverytime.BillFrithsgardenislargerthanJoes.Billworksha

12、rderthanJoeandgrowsmoreflowersandvegetables,butJoesgardenismoreinteresting.Hehasmadeneatpathsandhasbuiltawoodenbridgeoverapool.Ilikegardenstoo,butIdonotlikehardwork.EveryyearIenterforthegardencompetitiontoo,andIalwayswinalittleprizefortheworstgardeninthetown!Lesson9Acoldwelcome冷遇OnWednesdayevening,w

13、ewenttotheTownHall.ItwasthelastdayoftheyearandalargecrowdofpeoplehadgatheredundertheTownHallclock.Itwouldstriketwelveintwentyminutestime.Fifteenminutespassedandthen,atfivetotwelve,theclockstopped.Thebigminutehanddidnotmove.Wewaitedandwaited,butnothinghappened.Suddenlysomeoneshouted,Itstwominutespast

14、twelve!Theclockhasstopped!Ilookedatmywatch.Itwastrue.ThebigclockrefusedtowelcometheNewYear.Atthatmomenteverybodybegantolaughandsing.Lesson10Notforjazz不适于演奏爵士乐Wehaveanoldmusicalinstrument.Itiscalledaclavichord（翼琴.ItwasmadeinGermanyin1681.Ourclavichordiskeptintheliving-room.Ithasbelongtoourfamilyforal

15、ongtime.Theinstrumentwasboughtbymygrandfathermanyyearsago.Recentlyitwasdamagedbyavisitor.Shetriedtoplayjazzonit!Shestruckthekeystoohardandtwoofthestringswerebroken.Myfatherwasshocked.Nowwearenotallowedtotouchit.Itisbeingrepairedbyafriendofmyfathers.Lesson11Onegoodturndeservesanother礼尚往来Iwashavingdin

16、neratarestaurantwhenHarrySteelecamein.Harryworkedinalawyersofficeyearsago,butheisnowworkingatabank.Hegetsagoodsalary,buthealwaysborrowsmoneyfromhisfriendsandneverpaysitback.Harrysawmeandcameandsatatthesametable.Hehasneverborrowedmoneyfromme.Whilehewaseating,Iaskedhimtolendme&2.Tomysurprise,hegavemet

17、hemoneyimmediately.Ihaveneverborrowedanymoneyfromyou,Harrysaid,sonowyoucanpayformydinner!Lesson12Goodbyeandgoodluck再见,一路顺风Ourneighbor,CaptainCharlesAlison,willsailfromPortsmouthtomorrow.Wellmeethimattheharborearlyinthemorning.Hewillbeinhissmallboat,Topsail.Topsailisafamouslittleboat.Ithassailedacros

18、stheAtlanticmanytimes.CaptainAlisonwillsetoutateightoclocksowellhaveplentyoftime.Wellseehisboatandthenwellsaygood-byetohim.Hewillbeawayfortwomonths.Weareveryproudofhim.HewilltakepartinanimportantraceacrosstheAtlantic.Lesson13TheGreenwoodBoys绿林少年TheGreenwoodBoysareagroupofpopularsingers.Atpresent,the

19、yarevisitingallpartsofthecountry.Theywillbearrivingheretomorrow.Theywillbecomingbytrainandmostoftheyoungpeopleinthetownwillbemeetingthematthestation.TomorroweveningtheywillbesingingattheWorkersClub.TheGreenwoodBoyswillbestayingforfivedays.Duringthistime,theywillgivefiveperformances.Asusual,thepolice

20、willhaveadifficulttime.Theywillbetryingtokeeporder.Itisalwaysthesameontheseoccasions.Lesson14DoyouspeakEnglish?你会讲英语吗?Ihadanamusingexperiencelastyear.AfterIhadleftasmallvillageinthesouthofFrance,Idroveontothenexttown.Ontheway,ayoungmanwavedtome.Istoppedandheaskedmeforalift.Assoonashehadgotintothecar

21、,IsaidgoodmorningtohiminFrenchandherepliedinthesamelanguage.Apartfromafewwords,IdonotknowanyFrenchatall.Neitherofusspokeduringthejourney.Ihadnearlyreachedthetown,whentheyoungmansuddenlysaid,veryslowly,DoyouspeakEnglish?AsIsoonlearnt,hewasEnglishhimself!Lesson15Goodnews佳音ThesecretarytoldmethatMr.Harm

22、sworthwouldseeme.Ifeltverynervouswhen.Iwentintohisoffice.HedidnotlookupfromhisdeskwhenIentered.AfterIhadsatdown,hesaidthatbusinesswasverybad.Hetoldmethatthefirmcouldnotaffordtopaysuchlargesalaries.Twentypeoplehadalreadyleft.Iknewthatmyturnhadcome.Mr.Harmsworth,Isaidinaweakvoice.Dontinterrupt,heSaid.

23、ThenhesmiledandtoldmeIwouldreceiveanextra&100ayear!Lesson16Apoliterequest彬彬有礼的要求Ifyouparkyourcarinthewrongplace,atrafficpolicemanwillsoonfindit.Youwillbeveryluckyifheletsyougowithoutaticket.However,thisdoesnotalwayshappen.Trafficpolicearesometimesverypolite.DuringaholidayinSweden,Ifoundthisnoteonmyc

24、ar:Sir,wewelcomeyoutoourcity.ThisisaNoParkingarea.Youwillenjoyyourstayhereifyoupayattentiontoourstreetsigns.Thisnoteisonlyareminder.Ifyoureceivearequestlikethis,youcannotfailtoobeyit!Lesson17Alwaysyoung青年常驻MyauntJenniferisanactress.Shemustbeatleastthirty-fiveyearsold.Inspiteofthis,sheoftenappearsont

25、hestageasayounggirl.Jenniferwillhavetotakepartinanewplaysoon.Thistime,shewillbeagirlofseventeen.Intheplay,shemustappearinabrightreddressandlongblackstockings.Lastyearinanotherplay,shehadtowearshortsocksandabright,orange-coloureddress.Ifanyoneeveraskedherhowoldsheis,shealwaysanswers,Daring,itmustbete

26、rribletobegrownup!Iessonl8Heoftendoesthis!他经常干这种事！AfterIhadhadlunchatavillagepub,Ilookedformybag.Ihadleftitonachairbesidethedoorandnowitwasntthere!AsIwaslookingforit,theinn-keepercamein.Didyouhaveagoodmeal?heasked.Yes,thankyou,Ianswered,butIcantpaythebill.Ihaventgotmybag.Theinn-keepersmiledandimmedi

27、atelywentout.Inafewminuteshereturnedwithmybagandgaveitbacktome.Imverysorry,hesaidMydoghadtakenitintothegarden.Heoftendoesthis.Lessonl9Soldout票已售完Theplaymaybeginatanymoment,Isaid.Itmayhavebegunalready,Susananswered.Ihurriedtotheticket-office.MayIhavetwoticketsplease?Iasked.Imsorry,wevesoldout,thegirl

28、said.Whatapity!Susanexclaimed.Justthen,amanhurriedtotheticket-office.CanIreturnthesetwotickets?heasked.Certainly,thegirlsaid.CouldIhavethosetwoticketsplease?Iasked.Certainly,thegirlsaid,buttheyarefornextWednesdaysperformance.Imightaswellhavethem,Isaidsadly.Lesson20Onemaninaboat独坐孤舟Fishingismyfavorit

29、esport.Ioftenfishforhourswithoutcatchinganything.Butthisdoesnotworryme.Somefishermenareunlucky.Insteadofcatchingfish,theycatcholdbootsandrubbish.Iamevenlesslucky.Inevercatchanythingnotevenoldboots.Afterhavingspentwholemorningsontheriver,Ialwaysgohomewithanemptybag.Youmustgiveupfishing!myfriendssay.I

30、tsawasteoftime.Buttheydontrealizeoneimportantthing.Imnotreallyinterestedinfishing.Iamonlyinterestedinsittinginaboatanddoingnothingatall!Lesson21Madornot?是不是疯了?Aeroplanesareslowlydrivingmemad.Ilivenearanairportandpassingplanescanbeheardnightandday.Theairportwasbuiltduringthewar,butforsomereasonitcoul

31、dnotbeusedthen.Lastyear,however,itcameintouse.Overahundredpeoplemusthavebeendrivenawayfromtheirhomesbythenoise.Iamoneofthefewpeopleleft.SometimesIthinkthishousewillbeknockeddownbyapassingplane.Ihavebeenofferedalargesumofmoneytogoaway,butIamdeterminedtostayhere.EverybodysaysImustbemadandtheyareprobab

32、lyright.Lesson22Aglassenvelope玻璃信封Mydaughter,Jane,neverdreamedofreceivingaletterfromagirlofherownageinHolland.Lastyear,weweretravellingacrosstheChannelandJaneputapieceofpaperwithhernameandaddressonitintoabottle.Shethrewthebottleintothesea.Sheneverthoughtofitagain,buttenmonthslater,shereceivedaletter

33、fromagirlinHolland.Bothgirlswritetoeachotherregularlynow.However,theyhavedecidedtousethepost-office.Letterswillcostalitt1emore,buttheywillcertainlytravelfaster.Lesson23Anewhouse新居Ihadaletterfrommysisteryesterday.ShelivesinNigeria.Inherletter,shesaidthatshewouldcometoEnglandnextyear.Ifshecomes,shewil

34、lgetasurprise.Wearenowlivinginabeautifulnewhouseinthecountry.Workonithadbegunbeforemysisterleft.Thehousewascompletedfivemonthsago.Inmyletter,Itoldherthatshecouldstaywithus.Thehousehasmanylargeroomsandthereisalovelygarden.Itisaverymodernhouse,soitlooksstrangetosomepeople.Itmustbetheonlymodernhouseint

35、hedistrict.Lesson24Itcouldbeworse不幸中之万幸Ienteredthehotelmanagersofficeandsatdown.Ihadjustlost&50andIfeltveryupset.Ileftthemoneyinmyroom,Isaid,anditsnottherenow.Themanagerwassympathetic,buthecoulddonothing.Everyoneslosingmoneythesedays,hesaid.Hestartedtocomplainaboutthiswickedworldbutwasinterruptedbya

36、knockatthedoor.Agirlcameinandputanenvelopeonhisdesk.Itcontained&5o.Ifoundthisoutsidethisgentlemansroomshesaid.Well,Isaidtothemanager,thereisstillsomehonestyinthisworld!lesson25DotheEnglishspeakEnglish?英国人讲的是英语吗?IarrivedinLondonatlast.Therailwaystationwasbig,blackanddark.Ididnotknowthewaytomyhotel,so

37、Iaskedaporter.InotonlyspokeEnglishverycarefully,butveryclearlyaswell.Theporter,however,couldnotunderstandme;Irepeatedmyquestionseveraltimesandatlastheunderstood.Heansweredme,buthespokeneitherslowlynorclearly.Iamaforeigner,Isaid.Thenhespokeslowly,butIcouldnotunderstandhim.MyteacherneverspokeEnglishli

38、kethat!TheporterandIlookedateachotherandsmiled.ThenhesaidsomethingandIunderstoodit.YoullsoonlearnEnglish!hesaid.Iwonder.InEngland,eachmanspeaksadifferentlanguage.TheEnglishunderstandeachother,butIdontunderstandthem!DotheyspeakEnglish?lesson26Thebestartcritics最佳美术评论家IamanartstudentandIpaintalotofpict

39、ures.Manypeoplepretendthattheyunderstandmodernart.Theyalwaystellyouwhatapictureisabout.Ofcourse,manypicturesarcnotaboutanything.Theyarejustprettypatterns.Weliketheminthesamewaythatwelikeprettycurtainmaterial.Ithinkthatyoungchildrenoftenappreciatemodernpicturesbetterthananyoneelse.Theynoticemore.Mysi

40、sterisonlyseven,butshealwaystellsmewhethermypicturesaregoodornot.Shecameintomyroomyesterday.Whatareyoudoing?sheasked.Imhangingthispictureonthewall,Ianswered.Itsanewone.Doyoulikeit?Shelookedatitcriticallyforamoment.Itsallright,shesaid,butisntitupside-down?Ilookedatitagain.Shewasright!Itwas!Lesson27Aw

41、etnight雨夜Lateintheafternoon,theboysputuptheirtentinthemiddleofafield.Assoonasthiswasdone,theycookedamealoveranopenfire.Theywereallhungryandthefoodsmeltgood.Afterawonderfulmeal,theytoldstoriesandsangsongsbythecampfire.Butsometimelateritbegantorain.Theboysfelttiredsotheypetoutthefireandcreptintotheirt

42、ent.Theirsleeping-bagswerewarmandcomfortable,sotheyallsleptsoundly.Inthemiddleofthenight,twoboyswokeupandbeganshouting.Thetentwasfullofwater!Theyallleaptoutoftheirsleeping-bagsandhurriedoutside.Itwasrainingheavilyandtheyfoundthatastreamhadformedinthefield.Thestreamwounditswayacrossthefieldandthenflo

43、wedrightundertheirtent!Lesson28Noparking禁止停车JasperWhiteisoneofthoserarepeoplewhobelievesinancientmyths.Hehasjustboughtanewhouseinthecity,buteversincehemovedin,hehashadtroublewithmotorists.whenhereturnshomeatnight,healwaysfindsthatsomeonehasparkedacaroutsidehisgate.Becauseofthis,hehasnotbeenabletoget

44、hisowncarintohisgarageevenonce.JasperhasputupNoParkingsignsoutsidehisgate,butthesehavenothadanyeffect.Nowhehasputanuglystoneheadoverthegate.ItisoneoftheugliestfacesIhaveeverseen.IaskedhimwhatitwasandhetoldmethatitwasMedusa,theGorgon.Jasperhopesthatshewillturnmotoriststostone.Butnoneofthemhasbeenturn

45、edtostoneyet!Lesson29Taxi!出租汽车!CaptainBenFawcetthasboughtanunusualtaxiandhasbegunanewservice.ThetaxiisasmallSwissaeroplanecalledaPilatusPorter.Thiswonderfulplanecancarrysevenpassengers.Themostsurprisingthingaboutit,however,isthatitcanlandanywhere:onsnow,water,orevenonaploughedfield.CaptainFawcettsfi

46、rstpassengerwasadoctorwhoflewfromBirminghamtoalonelyvillageintheWelshmountains.Sincethen,CaptainFawcetthasflownpassengerstomanyunusualplaces.Oncehelandedontheroofofablockofflatsandonanotheroccasion,helandedinadesertedcarpark.CaptainFawcetthasjustrefusedastrangerequestfromabusinessman.Themanwantedtof

47、lytoRockall,alonelyislandintheAtlanticOcean,butCaptainFawcettdidnottakehimbecausethetripwastoodangerous.Lesson30Footballorpolo?足球还是水球?TheWayleisasmallriverthatcutsacrosstheparknearmyhome.IlikesittingbytheWayleonfineafternoons.ItwaswarmlastSunday,soIwentandsatontheriverbankasusual.Somechildrenwerepla

48、yinggamesonthebankandthereweresomepeoplerowingontheriver.Suddenly,oneofthechildrenkickedaballveryhardanditwenttowardsapassingboat.Somepeopleonthebankcalledouttothemanintheboat,buthedidnothearthem.Theballstruckhimsohardthathenearlyfellintothewater.Iturnedtolookatthechildren,buttherewerentanyinsight:t

49、heyhadallrunaway!Themanlaughedwhenherealizedwhathadhappened.Hecalledouttothechildrenandthrewtheballbacktothebank.Lesson31Successstory成功者的故事YesterdayafternoonFrankHawkinswastellingmeabouthisexperiencesasayoungman.Frankisnowtheheadofaverylargebusinesscompany,butasaboyheusedtoworkinasmallshop.Itwashisj

50、obtorepairbicyclesandatthattimeheusedtoworkfourteenhoursaday.Hesavedmoneyforyearsandin1938heboughtasmallwork-shopofhisown.DuringthewarFrankusedtomakesparepartsforaeroplanes.Atthattimehehadtwohelpers.Bytheendofthewar,thesmallwork-shophadbecomealargefactorywhichemployedsevenhundredandtwenty-eightpeopl

51、e.Franksmiledwhenherememberedhishardearlyyearsandthelongroadtosuccess.Hewasstillsmilingwhenthedooropenedandhiswifecamein.Shewantedhimtorepairtheirsonsbicycle!Lesson32Shoppingmadeeasy购物变得很方便Peoplearenotsohonestastheyoncewere.Thetemptationtostealisgreaterthaneverbefore-especiallyinlargeshops.Adetectiv

52、erecentlywatchedawell-dressedwomanwhoalwayswentintoalargestoreonMondaymornings.OneMonday,therewerefewerpeopleintheshopthanusualwhenthewomancamein,soitwaseasierforthedetectivetowatchher.Thewomanfirstboughtafewsmallarticles.Afteralittletime,shechoseoneofthemostexpensivedressesintheshopandhandedittoana

53、ssistantwhowrappeditupforherasquicklyaspossible.Thenthewomansimplytooktheparcelandwalkedoutoftheshopwithoutpaying.Whenshewasarrested,thedetectivefoundoutthattheshop-assistantwasherdaughter.Thegirlgavehermotherafreedressonceaweek!lesson33Outofthedarkness冲出黑暗Nearlyaweekpassedbeforethegirlwasabletoexpl

54、ainwhathadhappenedtoher.Oneafternoonshesetoutfromthecoastinasmallboatandwascaughtinastorm.Towardsevening,theboatstruckarockandthegirljumpedintothesea.Thensheswamtotheshoreafterspendingthewholenightinthewater.Duringthattimeshecoveredadistanceofeightmiles.Earlynextmorning,shesawalightahead.Sheknewshew

55、asneartheshorebecausethelightwashighuponthecliffs.Onarrivingattheshore,thegirlstruggleduptheclifftowardsthelightshehadseen.Thatwasallsheremembered.Whenshewokeupadaylater,shefoundherselfinhospital.Lesson34Quickwork破案“神速”TedRobinsonhasbeenworriedalltheweek.LastTuesdayhereceivedaletterfromthelocalpolic

56、e.Intheletterhewasaskedtocallatthestation.Tedwonderedwhyhewaswantedbythepolice,buthewenttothestationyesterdayandnowheisnotworriedanymore.Atthestation,hewastoldbyasmilingpolicemanthathisbicyclehadbeenfound.Fivedaysago,thepolicemantoldhim,thebicyclewaspickedupinasmallvillagefourhundredmilesaway.Itisno

57、wbeingsenttohishomebytrain.Tedwasmostsurprisedwhenheheardthenews.Hewasamusedtoo,becauseheneverexpectedthebicycletobefound.ItwasstolentwentyyearsagowhenTedwasaboyoffifteen!Lesson35Stopthief!捉贼!RovTrentonusedtodriveataxi.Ashortwhileago,however,hebecameabusdriverandhewasnotregrettedit.Heisfindinghisnew

58、workfarmoreexciting.WhenhewasdrivingalongCatfordStreetrecently,hesawtwothievesrushoutofashopandruntowardsawaitingcar.Oneofthemwascarryingabagfullofmoney.Royactedquicklyanddrovethebusstraightatthethieves.Theonewiththemoneygotsuchafrightthathedroppedthebag.Asthethievesweretryingtogetawayintheircar,Roy

59、drovehisbusintothebackofit.Whilethebatteredcarwasmovingaway,Roystoppedhisbusandtelephonedthepolice.Thethievescarwasbadlydamagedandeasytorecognize.Shortlyafterwards,thepolicestoppedthecarandbothmenwerearrested.Lesson36AcrosstheChannel横渡海峡ErnaHartisgoingtoswimacrosstheEnglishChanneltomorrow.Sheisgoing

60、tosetoutfromtheFrenchcoastatfiveoclockinthemorning.Ernaisonlyfourteenyearsoldandshehopeslosetupanewworldrecord.Sheisastrongswimmerandmanypeoplefeelthatsheissuretosucceed.Ernasfatherwillsetoutwithherinasmallboat.MrHarthastrainedhisdaughterforyears.Tomorrowhewillbewatchingheranxiouslyassheswimsthelong