Lesson 1 A Puma at large

Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America.

美洲獅是一種體形似貓的大動物，產于美洲。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously.

當倫敦動物園接到報告說，在倫敦以南45英里處發現一只美洲獅時，這些報告并沒有受到重視。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate,

可是，隨著證據越來越多，動物園的專家們感到有必要進行一番調查，

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.

因為凡是聲稱見到過美洲獅的人們所描述的情況竟是出奇地相似。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her.

搜尋美洲獅的工作是從一座小村莊開始的。那里的一位婦女在采摘黑莓時的看見“一只大貓”，離她僅5碼遠，

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.

她剛看見它，它就立刻逃走了。專家證實，美洲獅非被逼得走投無路，是決不會傷人的。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening.

事實上搜尋工作很困難，因為常常是早晨在甲地發現那只美洲獅，晚上卻在20英里外的乙地發現它的蹤跡。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits.

無論它走哪兒，一路上總會留下一串死鹿及死兔子之類的小動物，

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

Paw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes.

在許多地方看見爪印，灌木叢中發現了粘在上面的美洲獅毛。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

Several people complained of cat-like noises' at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree.

有人抱怨說夜里聽見“像貓一樣的叫聲”；一位商人去釣魚，看見那只美洲獅在樹上。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma,

專家們如今已經完全肯定那只動物就是美洲獅，

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

but where had it come from?

但它是從哪兒來的呢？

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape.

由于全國動物園沒有一家報告丟了美洲獅，因此那只美洲獅一定是某位私人收藏豢養的，不知怎么設法逃出來了。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught.

搜尋工作進行了好幾個星期，但始終未能逮住那只美洲獅。

Lesson 1 A Puma at large

It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.

想到在寧靜的鄉村里有一頭危險的野獸繼續逍遙流竄，真令人擔心。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another,

我們教區的牧師總是為各種各樣的事籌集資金。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

but he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired.

但始終未能籌足資金把教堂的鐘修好。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.

教堂的鐘很大，以前不分晝夜打點報時，但很多年前遭到毀壞，從此便無聲無息了。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

One night, however, our vicar work up with a start: the clock was striking the hours!

一天夜里，我們的牧師突然被驚醒了，大鐘又在“打點”報時了！

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

Looking at his watch, he saw that it was one o'clock, but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.

他一看表，才1點鐘，可是那鐘一邊敲了13下才停。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

Armed with a torch, the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on.

牧師拿著一支電筒走上鐘樓想去看看究竟發生了什么事情。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

In the torchlight, he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins, our local grocer.

借著電筒光。他看見一個人，馬上認出那是本地雜貨店主經比爾。威爾金斯。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

'Whatever are you doing up here Bill?' asked the vicar in surprise.

“你究竟在這上面干什么，比爾？”牧師驚訝地問。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

'I'm trying to repair the bell,' answered Bill.

“我想把這口鐘修好，”比爾回答說。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

'I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now.

“好幾個星期了，我天天夜里到鐘樓上來。

Lesson 2 Thirteen equals one

You see, I was hoping to give you a surprise.'