1.positive /ˈpɒzətɪv/积极的2.negative /ˈneɡətɪv/消极的

3.optimistic/ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk/乐观的4.pessimistic/ˌpesɪˈmɪstɪk/ 悲观的

5.objective /əbˈdʒektɪv/客观的6.subjective /səbˈdʒektɪv/主观的

7.neutral /ˈnjuːtrəl/中立的8.impartial /ɪmˈpɑːʃ(ə)l/公正的;无偏见的

9.fair 公平的;公正的10.just 公正的;正当的

11.critical /ˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l/批判的;关键的12.supportive/səˈpɔːtɪv/ 支持的

13.opposed /əˈpəʊzd/反对的14.approving/əˈpruːvɪŋ/ 赞同的

15.disapproving /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvɪŋ/不赞同的16.skeptical /ˈskeptɪk(ə)l/怀疑的

17.confident 自信的18.humble 谦逊的;谦卑的

19.modest 谦虚的;谦逊的20.sincere 真诚的:诚挚的

1.vital /ˈvaɪt(ə)l/至关重要的2.crucial /ˈkruːʃ(ə)l/关键的

3.significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/重要的;显著的4.indispensable /ˌɪndɪˈspensəb(ə)l/不可或缺的

5.essential /ɪˈsenʃ(ə)l/必要的:本质的6.fundamental /ˌfʌndəˈment(ə)l/根本的:基础的

7.paramount /ˈpærəmaʊnt/首要的;最重要的8.imperative /ɪmˈperətɪv/必要的;紧急的

9.necessary 必要的10.important 重要的

11.critical 关键的12.prominent /ˈprɒmɪnənt/突出的;显著的

13.notable /ˈnəʊtəb(ə)l/显著的;值得注意的14.remarkable 值得注意的;非凡的

15.conspicuous /kənˈspɪkjuəs/显著的:显眼的16.evident /ˈevɪdənt/明显的;显然的

17.apparent 明显的;表明的18.manifest/ˈmænɪfest/明显的;显然的

1.beneficial 有益的2.advantageous /ˌædvənˈteɪdʒəs/有优势的

3.rewarding/rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ/值得的;有回报的4.favorable /ˈfeɪvərəb(ə)l/有利的

5.detrimental/ˌdetrɪˈment(ə)l/ 有害的6. harmful 有害的

7.negative 消极的8.disadvantageous/ˌdɪsædvənˈteɪdʒəs/不利的

9.damaging /ˈdæmɪdʒɪŋ/有破坏性的10.destructive /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/破坏性的

11.constructive 建设性的12.positive 积极的

13.effective 有效的14.efficient 高效的

15.fruitful /ˈfruːtf(ə)l/富有成效的16.futile /ˈfjuːtaɪl/徒劳的

1.numerous /ˈnjuːmərəs/许多的2.considerable/kənˈsɪdərəb(ə)l/ 相当多的

3.abundant /əˈbʌndənt/丰富的4.ample /ˈæmpl/充足的

5.plentiful /ˈplentɪf(ə)l/丰富的;充足的6.various 各种各样的

7.diverse /daɪˈvɜːs/多样的8.extensive/ɪkˈstensɪv/广污的

9.moderate/ˈmɒdərət/ 适度的10.adequate 足够的;适当的

11.sufficient 足够的12.considerable 相当大的

13.slight 轻微的14.extreme 极端的

1.outstanding 杰出的2.eminent /ˈemɪnənt/卓越的

3.distinguished /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/杰出的4.brilliant /ˈbrɪliənt/杰出的;精彩的

5.excellent 优秀的6.diligent/ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/勤奋的;勤勉的

7.hardworking 努力工作的;勤奋的8.industrious/ɪnˈdʌstriəs/勤劳的:勤奋的

9.persistent /pəˈsɪstənt/坚持不懈的10.tenacious /təˈneɪʃəs/坚韧的;固执的

11.resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/有韧性的;能复原的12.courageous /kəˈreɪdʒəs/勇敢的;有勇气的

13.fearless 无畏的;勇敢的14.bold 大胆的;勇敢的

15.honest 诚实的;正直的16.faithful 忠诚的;忠实的

17.1oyal /ˈlɔɪəl/忠诚的;忠心的 18.trustworthy /ˈtrʌstwɜːði/值得信赖的

19.generous 慷慨的;大方的 20.compassionate /kəmˈpæʃənət/有同情心的

21.patient 有耐心的 22.tolerant /ˈtɒlərənt/宽容的;容忍的

1.unique /juˈniːk/独一无二的2.distinctive /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/独特的

3.original 独创的;原始的 4.innovative /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/创新的;革新的

5.novel /ˈnɒv(ə)l/新颖的;新奇的 6.extraordinary /ɪkˈstrɔːd(ə)n(ə)ri/非凡的;异常的

7.exceptional /ɪkˈsepʃən(ə)l/例外的;杰出的 8.magnificent 壮丽的;宏伟的

9.splendid /ˈsplendɪd/辉煌的;极好的 10.glorious /ˈɡlɔːriəs/光荣的;辉煌的

11.elegant /ˈelɪɡənt/优雅的;高雅的 12.graceful 优雅的;优美的

13.exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/精致的;精美的 14.sound 健康的;合理的

15.stable 稳定的;稳固的 16.secure/sɪˈkjʊə(r)/安全的;可靠的

1.energetic /ˌenəˈdʒetɪk/精力充沛的2.vigorous /ˈvɪɡərəs/精力充沛的;有力的

3.dynamic /daɪˈnæmɪk/有活力的;动态的 4.vibrant /ˈvaɪbrənt/充满活力的;生机勃勃的

5.lively 活泼的;生动的 6.active 积极的;活跃的

7.alert /əˈlɜːt/警觉的;机敏的 8.keen 敏锐的;渴望的

9.sharp 敏锐的;锋利的 10.acute /əˈkjuːt/敏锐的;严重的

11.logical /ˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l/逻辑的;合理的 12.analytical /ˌænəˈlɪtɪk(ə)l/分析的;解析的

13.intelligent /ɪnˈtelɪdʒənt/聪明的;智能的 14.smart 聪明的;机灵的

No one can avoid beinginfluencedby advertisements.

没有人能避免受到广告的影响。

Much as we may prideourselves on our goodtaste,we are no longer free to choose the things we want, for advertisingexertsa subtleinfluence on us.

尽管我们可以自恃有不错的鉴赏力，却再也无法随心选择所需商品，因为广告在潜移默化地影响着我们。

In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product, advertisershave made a close study of human nature and have classifiedall our little weaknesses.

广告商为了说服我们购买各类产品，深入研究了人性，并把人们的各种小弱点分门别类。

Advertisers discovered years ago that all of us love to get something for nothing.

广告商多年前就发现，所有人都喜欢不劳而获、免费拿东西。

An advertisement which begins with the magicword FREE can rarely go wrong.

只要以“免费”这个神奇字眼开头的广告，几乎不会失败。

These days, advertisers not only offer free samples, but free cars, free houses, and free trips round the world as well.

如今广告商不仅提供免费试用装，还送出免费汽车、免费住房以及免费环球旅行。

They devisehundreds of competitions which will enable us to win huge sums of money.

他们设计了成百上千场竞赛，让人有机会赢取巨额奖金。

Radio and television have made it possible for advertisers to capturethe attention of millions of people in this way.

广播和电视让广告商可以通过这种方式吸引数百万人的关注。

During a radio programme, a company of biscuit manufacturers once asked listeners to bake biscuits and send them to their factory.

有一次在一档广播节目中，一家饼干厂商邀请听众自制饼干并送到工厂。

They offered to pay $10 a pound for the biggest biscuit baked by a listener.

厂商承诺以每磅10美元的价格收购听众烤制的最大饼干。

The response to this competition was tremendous.

这场竞赛反响十分热烈。

Before long, biscuits of all shapes and sizes began arriving at the factory.

不久之后，各式各样、大小不一的饼干纷纷送到工厂。

One lady brought in a biscuit on awheelbarrow.

有一位女士用独轮手推车推来一块饼干。

It weighed nearly 500 pounds.

这块饼干重达近500磅。

A little later, a man came along with a biscuit which occupied the whole bootof his car.

没过多久，一名男子送来一块占满整个汽车后备箱的饼干。

All the biscuits that were sent were carefully weighed.

所有送来的饼干都经过仔细称重。

The largest was 713 pounds.

当时最大的一块重达713磅。

It seemed certain that this would win the prize.

眼看这块饼干稳拿大奖。

But just before the competition closed, a lorry arrived at the factory with a truly colossalbiscuit which weighed 2,400 pounds.

但就在竞赛截止前夕，一辆卡车运来一块巨型饼干，重达2400磅。

It had been baked by a college student who had used over 1,000 pounds of flour, 800 pounds of sugar, 200 pounds of fat, and 400 pounds of various other ingredients.

这块饼干由一名大学生烤制，耗用了1000多磅面粉、800磅糖、200磅油脂以及400磅其他配料。

It was so heavy that a cranehad to be used to remove it from the lorry.

饼干太重，不得不动用起重机才能从卡车上卸下来。

The manufacturers had to pay more money than they had anticipated,for they bought the biscuit from the student for $24,000.

厂商最终付出了远超预期的费用，花了24000美元买下这位学生的巨型饼干。

influence /ˈɪnfluəns/ v. 影响

pride /praɪd/ v. 以……自豪

taste /teɪst/ n. 鉴赏力

exert /ɪɡˈzɜːt/ v. 施加

subtle /ˈsʌtl/ adj. 微妙的，潜移默化的

advertiser /ˈædvətaɪzə/ n. 广告商

classify /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ v. 分类

magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ adj. 神奇的，有魔力的

sample /ˈsɑːmpl/ n. 样品，试用装

devise /dɪˈvaɪz/ v. 设计，策划

capture /ˈkæptʃə/ v. 吸引，俘获

manufacturer /ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərə/ n. 制造商，厂家

wheelbarrow /ˈwiːlbærəʊ/ n. 独轮手推车

boot /buːt/ n. 汽车后备箱

ingredient /ɪnˈɡriːdiənt/ n. 配料，原料

crane /kreɪn/ n. 起重机

anticipate /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ v. 预料，预期

A biscuit company asked its customers to bake biscuits and send them to the factory. As a prize, they offered ＄10 a pound for the biggest biscuit they received. The response was tremendous, with one biscuit weighing 500 pounds and another weighing 713 pounds. They thought that was the winner until a lorry delivered one which weighed 2,400 pounds baked by a college student. A crane lifted it from the lorry and the manufacturers paid the student ＄24,000.(80 words)

一家饼干公司邀请顾客将饼干烘烤后寄回工厂。作为奖品，他们为收到的最大的饼干提供每磅10美元的奖励。反响热烈，其中一只饼干重达500磅，另一只重达713磅。人们以为这就是冠军，直到一辆卡车送来了一只由大学生烘烤的、重达2400磅的饼干。随后，起重机将其从卡车上吊起，制造商向这位学生支付了24,000美元。

It has been said that everyone lives by selling something.

据说人人都靠售卖某种东西谋生。

In the light of this statement, teachers live by selling knowledge,philosophersby selling wisdomand priestsby selling spiritualcomfort.

按照这种说法，教师靠售卖知识为生，哲学家靠售卖智慧为生，牧师靠售卖精神慰藉为生。

Though it may be possible to measure the value of material goods in terms of money, it is extremely difficult to estimate the true value of the services which people perform for us.

物质商品的价值可以用金钱衡量，但人们为我们提供的服务，其真正价值却极难估量。

There are times when we would willingly give everything we possess to save our lives, yet we might grudgepaying asurgeona high fee for offering us precisely this service.

有时我们情愿倾尽所有来保全性命，可当外科医生恰好提供这种救命服务时，我们却又舍不得支付高昂酬劳。

The conditions of society are such that skills have to be paid for in the same way that goods are paid for at a shop.

社会现状就是如此：技能和商店里的商品一样，都需要花钱购买。

Everyone has something to sell.

每个人都有可售卖的东西。

Tramps seem to be the only exception to this general rule.

流浪汉似乎是这条普遍规律的唯一例外。

Beggars almost sell themselves as human beings to arouse the pity of passers-by.

乞丐几乎是在出卖自身，博取路人的怜悯。

But real tramps are not beggars.

但真正的流浪汉并非乞丐。

They have nothing to sell and require nothing from others.

他们无可售卖，也不求索取。

In seeking independence, they do not sacrifice their human dignity.

他们追求独立，却从不舍弃做人的尊严。

A tramp may ask you for money, but he will never ask you to feel sorry for him.

流浪汉或许会向你讨钱，但绝不会乞求你的同情。

He has deliberatelychosen to lead the life he leads and is fully aware of the consequences.

他是刻意选择这种生活，且完全清楚这样生活的后果。

He may never be sure where the next meal is coming from, but he is free from the thousands of anxieties which afflict other people.

他或许永远不知道下一顿饭在哪，但却不用承受常人备受煎熬的无数烦恼。

His few material possessions make it possible for him to move from place to place with ease.

他身无长物，因而可以轻松四处漂泊。

By having to sleep in the open, he gets far closer to the world of naturethan most of us ever do.

由于常年露宿野外，他比我们大多数人更亲近大自然。

He may hunt, beg, or steal occasionally to keep himself alive; he may even, in times of real need, do a little work; but he will never sacrificehis freedom.

为了生存，他偶尔会打猎、乞讨、偷窃；真正窘迫时甚至也会做点零工，但绝不会牺牲自己的自由。

We often speak of tramps with contemptand put them in the same class as beggars, but how many of us can honestly say that we have not felt a little enviousof their simple way of life and their freedom from care?

我们常带着轻蔑看待流浪汉，把他们和乞丐归为一类。但又有多少人能坦诚说，从不羡慕他们简朴无忧、无牵无挂的生活呢？

philosopher /fɪˈlɒsəfə/ n. 哲学家

wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ n. 智慧

priest /priːst/ n. 牧师

spiritual /ˈspɪrɪtʃuəl/ adj. 精神上的

grudge /ɡrʌdʒ/ v. 吝惜，舍不得

surgeon /ˈsɔːdʒən/ n. 外科医生

passer-by /ˌpɑːsəˈbaɪ/ n. 过路人

dignity /ˈdɪɡnəti/ n. 尊严

deliberately /dɪˈlɪbərətli/ adv. 刻意地，故意地

consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ n. 后果

afflict /əˈflɪkt/ v. 折磨，使苦恼

ease /iːz/ n. 轻松，安逸

nature /ˈneɪtʃə/ n. 大自然

contempt /kənˈtempt/ n. 蔑视，轻视

envious /ˈenviəs/ adj. 羡慕的，嫉妒的

Unlike beggars, real tramps have nothing to sell and require nothing from others. Although they seek independence, they will not sacrifice their human dignity. They choose their own way of life and are aware of the consequences. They may not know where the next meal is coming from, but they do not have the worries that others have. They can travel easily because they have few possessions and when they sleep in the open, they are close to nature. (79 words)

与乞丐不同，真正的流浪者一无所有，也不需要向他人索取任何东西。尽管他们追求独立，却不会牺牲自己的尊严。他们选择自己生活方式，并清楚其后果。他们可能不知道下一顿饭从何而来，但也不像别人那样忧心忡忡。由于身无分文，他们可以轻松出行；当他们在野外睡觉时，便能亲近自然。

Small boats loaded with waressped to the great liner as she was entering the harbour.

当大型客轮驶入港口时，满载商品的小船迅速向它驶去。

Before she had anchored, the men from the boats had climbed on board and the deckswere soon covered with colourful rugs from Persia, silks from India, copper coffee pots, and beautiful handmadesilverware.

客轮还未下锚，小船上的商贩就已爬上甲板，很快甲板上摆满了波斯彩色地毯、印度丝绸、铜咖啡壶以及精美的手工银器。

It was difficult not to betempted.

人们很难不为这些商品动心。

Many of the tourists on board had begunbargaining with the tradesmen, but I decided not to buy anything until I had disembarked.

船上许多游客开始和商贩讨价还价，但我决定上岸前什么都不买。

I had no sooner got off the ship than I wasassailedby a man who wanted to sell me a diamond ring.

我刚一下船，就被一个兜售钻戒的男人缠住。

I had no intention of buying one, but I could not concealthe fact that I was impressed by the size of the diamonds.

我根本无意购买，却无法掩饰自己被钻石的尺寸震撼到的事实。

Some of them were as big as marbles.

有些钻石像玻璃弹珠一样大。

The man went to great lengths to prove that the diamonds were real.

那人极力证明钻石是真品。

As we were walking past a shop, he held a diamond firmly against the window and made a deep impression in the glass.

路过一家商店时，他把一颗钻石用力按在橱窗玻璃上，刻出了一道深痕。

It took me over half an hour to get rid of him.

我花了半个多小时才摆脱他的纠缠。

The next man to approach me was selling expensive pens and watches.

接着又有一个向我走来的人，售卖高档钢笔和手表。

I examined one of the pens closely. It certainly looked genuine.

我仔细看了一支钢笔，外表看着完全像正品。

At the base of the gold cap, the words 'made in the U.S.A.' had been neatly inscribed.

金色笔帽底端整齐刻着“美国制造”的字样。

The man said that the pen was worth £50, but as a specialfavour, he would let me have it for £30.

那人说这支笔价值50英镑，给我优惠价30英镑。

I shook my head and held up five fingers indicatingthat I was willing to pay £5.

我摇摇头，伸出五根手指，表示只愿意出5英镑。

Gesticulatingwildly, the man acted as if he found my offer outrageous,but he eventually reduced the price to £10.

那人夸张地打着手势，装作无法接受我的出价，最后把价格降到了10英镑。

Shrugging my shoulders, I began to walk away when, a moment later, he ran after me and thrust the pen into my hands.

我耸耸肩转身走开，片刻后他追上来，硬是把笔塞到我手里。

Though he kept throwing up his arms in despair, hereadilyaccepted the £5 I gave him.

尽管他不停绝望地摆手，却爽快收下了我给的5英镑。

I felt especially pleased with my wonderful bargain — until I got back to the ship.

我为自己砍价成功沾沾自喜，直到回到船上。

No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to fill this beautiful pen with ink and to this day it has never written a single word!

无论我怎么尝试，这支漂亮的钢笔都吸不上墨水，直到今天，它一个字也没写过！

wares /weəz/ n. 货物，小商品

anchor /ˈæŋkə/ v. 抛锚，停航

deck /dek/ n. 甲板

silverware /ˈsɪlvəweə/ n. 银器

tempt /tempt/ v. 诱惑，吸引

bargain /ˈbɑːɡɪn/ v. 讨价还价

disembark /ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːk/ v. 下船上岸

assail /əˈseɪl/ v. 纠缠，围住

marble /ˈmɑːbl/ n. 玻璃弹珠

inscribe /ɪnˈskraɪb/ v. 雕刻，题写

favour /ˈfeɪvə/ n. 优惠，恩惠

gesticulate /dʒeˈstɪkjuleɪt/ v. 打手势

outrageous /aʊˈtreɪdʒəs/ adj. 离谱的，无法容忍的

thrust /θrʌst/ v. 硬塞，猛推

The next man who approached him was selling watches and pens, and when the writer looked at one, it looked genuine. The man said it was worth ￡50 but the writer could have it for ￡30. The writer offered him ￡5 and waited. Eventually, as the writer was walking away, the man agreed and took ￡5. The writer was very pleased----until he was back on board. The pen was impossible to fill. It has never written a word since. (80 words)

下一个走近他的人正在卖手表和钢笔，作家看着其中一只，觉得是真品。那人说这枚价值50英镑，但作家只愿意出30英镑。作家便提出5英镑，然后等待。最终，当作家转身离开时，那人同意了，拿走了5英镑。作家非常高兴——直到他回到船上。那支笔却无法填满墨水，从此再也没有写出过任何字。

Whether we find a joke funny or not largelydepends on where we have been brought up.

　　我们觉得一则笑话是否好笑，很大程度取决于我们是在哪儿长大的。

The sense of humour is mysteriouslybound up with national characteristics.

　　幽默感与民族有着神秘莫测的联系。

A Frenchman, for instance, might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke.

　　譬如，法国人听完一则俄国笑话可能很难发笑。

In the same way, a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears.

　　同样的道理，一则可以令英国人笑出泪来的笑话，俄国人听了可能觉得没有什么可笑之处。

Most funny stories are based oncomicsituations.

　　大部分令人发笑的故事都是根据喜剧情节编写的。

In spite of national differences, certain funny situations have a universalappeal.

　　尽管民族不同，有些滑稽的情节却能产生普遍的效果。

No matter where you live, you would find it difficult not to laugh at, say, Charlie Chaplin's early films.

　　比如说，不管你生活在哪里，你看查理.卓别林的早期电影很难不发笑。

However, a new type of humour, which stemslargely from theU.S., has recently come into fashion.

　　然而，近来一种新式幽默流行了起来，这种幽默主要来自美国。

It is called ‘sick humour'.

　　它被叫作“病态幽默”。

Comediansbase their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents.

　　喜剧演员根据悲剧情节诸如暴死、重大事故等来编造笑话。

Many people find this sort of joke distasteful.The following example of ‘sick humour' will enable you to judge for yourself.

　　许多人认为这种笑话是低级庸俗的。下面是个“病态幽默”的实例，你可据此自己作出判断。

A man who had broken his right leg was taken to hospital a few weeks before Christmas.

　　圣诞节前几周，某人摔断了右腿被送进医院。

From the moment he arrived there, he kept on pesteringhis doctor to tell him when he would be able to go home.

　　从他进医院那一刻时，他就缠住医生，让医生告诉他什么时候能回家。

He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital.

　　他十分害怕在医院过圣诞。

Though the doctor did his best, the patient's recoverywas slow.

　　尽管医生竭力医治，但病人恢复缓慢。

On Christmas Day, the man still had his right leg in plaster.

　　圣诞节那天，他的右腿还上着石膏，

He spent a miserableday in bed thinking of all the fun he was missing.

　　他在床上郁郁不乐地躺了一天，想着他错过的种种欢乐。

The following day, however, the doctor consoledhim by telling him thathis chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations were good.

　　然而，第二天，医生安慰他说，出院欢度新年的可能性还是很大的，

The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Year's Eve he was able to hobblealong to a party.

　　那人听后振作了精神。果然，除夕时他可以一瘸一拐地去参加晚会了。

To compensatefor his unpleasant experiences in hospital, the man drank a little more than was good for him.

　　为了补偿住院这一段不愉快的经历，那人喝得稍许多了一点。

In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals.

　　在晚会上他尽情娱乐，一再告诉大家他是多么讨厌医院。

He was still mumblingsomething about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg.

　晚会结束时，他嘴里还在嘟哝着医院的事，突然踩到一块冰上滑倒了，摔断了左腿。

largely ['la:dʒli] ad.在很大程度上

comic ['kɔmik] a.喜剧的，可笑的

universal ['ju:ni'vә:sәl] a.普遍的

comedian [kә'mi:djәn] n.滑稽演员，喜剧演员

distasteful [dis'teistful] a.讨厌的

pester ['pestә] v.一再要求，纠缠

dread [dred] v.惧怕

recovery [ri'kʌvәri] n.康复

plaster ['pla:stә] n.熟石膏

console [kәn'sәul] v.安慰，慰问

hobble ['hɔbl] v.瘸着腿走

compensate ['kɔmpenseit] v.补偿

mumble ['mʌmbl] v.喃喃而语

A man broke his right leg just before Christmas and was taken to hospital. He wanted to know when he could go home. On Christmas Day he was still in hospital with his leg in plaster, but there was a good chance of leaving hospital for the New Year. In fact, he was out in time to go to a New Year's Eve party where he drank too much, slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. (80 words)

一名男子在圣诞节前夕摔断了右腿，被送往医院。他想知道什么时候能回家。圣诞节当天，他仍被石膏固定着双腿留在医院，但新年时出院的可能性很大。事实上，他及时赶到了除夕派对，喝得过量，滑倒后摔断了左腿。

For years, villagers believed that Endley Farm was haunted.

多年来，村民们一直认为恩得利农场在闹鬼。

The farm was owned by two brothers, Joe and Bob Cox.

恩得利农场属于乔.考科斯和鲍勃.考科斯兄弟俩所有。

They employed a few farmhands, but no one was willing to work there long.

　他们雇了几个农工，但谁也不愿意在那儿长期工作下去。

Every time a worker gave up his job, he told the same story.

每次雇工辞职后都叙述着同样的故事。

Farm labourerssaid that they always woke up to find that work had been done overnight.

雇工们说，常常一早起来发现有人在夜里把活干了，

Hayhad been cut and cowshedshad been cleaned.

干草已切好，牛棚也打扫干净了。

A farm worker, who stayed up all night，claimed to have seen a figure cutting corn in the moonlight.

有一个彻夜未眠的雇工还声称他看见一个人影在月光下收割庄稼。

In time, it became an accepted fact that the Cox brothers employed a conscientious ghost that did most of their work for them.

随着时间的流逝，考科斯兄弟雇了一个尽心尽责的鬼，他们家的活大部分都让鬼给干了，这件事成了公认的事实。

No one suspectedthat there might be someone else on the farm who had never been seen.

谁也没想到农场竟会有一个从未露面的人。

This was indeed the case.

但事实上确有此人。

A short time ago, villagers were astonished to learn that the ghost of Endley had died.

不久之前，村民们惊悉恩得利农场的鬼死了。

Everyone went to the funeral, for the ‘ghost' was none other than Eric Cox, a third brother who was supposed to have died as a young man.

大家都去参加了葬礼，因为那“鬼”不是别人，正是农场主的兄弟埃里克.考科斯。人们以为埃里克年轻时就死了。

After the funeral, Joe and Bob revealeda secret which they had kept for over fifty years.

葬礼之后，乔和鲍勃透露了他们保守了长达50多年的秘密。

Eric had been the eldest son of the family, very much older than his two brothers.

埃里克是这家长子,年龄比他两个弟弟大很多，

He had been obliged to join the army during the Second World War.

第二次世界大战期间被迫参军。

As he hated army life, he decided todeserthis regiment.

他讨厌军旅生活，决定逃离所在部队。

When he learnt that he would be sent abroad, he returned to the farm and his father hid him until the end of the war.

当他了解自己将被派遣出国时，他逃回农场，父亲把他藏了起来，直到战争结束。

Fearing the authorities, Eric remained in hiding after the war as well.

由于害怕当局，埃里克战后继续深藏不露。

His father told everybody that Eric had been killed in action.

他的父亲告诉大家，埃里克在战争中被打死了。

The only other people who knew the secret were Joe and Bob.

除此之外，只有乔与鲍勃知道这个秘密。

They did not even tell their wives.

但他俩连自己的妻子都没告诉。

When their father died, they thought it their duty to keep Eric in hiding.

父亲死后，他们兄弟俩认为有责任继续把埃里克藏起来。

All these years, Eric had lived as a recluse.

这些年来，埃里克过着隐士生活，

He used to sleep during the day and work at night, quite unaware of the fact that he had become the ghost of Endley.

白天睡觉，夜里出来干活，一点不知道自己已成了恩得利家场的活鬼。

When he died, however, his brothers found it impossible to keep the secret any longer.

他死后，他的弟弟们才觉得无法再保守这个秘密了。

labourer /'leibərə/ n. 劳动者

overnight /'əuvənait/ adv. 一夜期间

hay /hei/ n. 干草

corn /kɔ:n/ n. 谷物

moonlight /'mu:nlain/ n 月光

conscientious /'kɔnʃi'enʃəs/ adj. 认真的

suspect /sə'spekt/ v. 怀疑

desert /dI'zə:t/ v. （军队中）开小差

regiment /'redʒimənt/ n. （军队）团

action /'ækʃən/ n. 战斗

recluse /rI'klu:s/ n. 隐士

Eric joined the army during the Second World War, but hated army life, so he deserted. He returned to the farm where his father hid him until the end of the war, and he remained in hiding after the war. His father told everyone that he had been killed in action. Joe and Bob kept the secret, so Eric lived as a recluse. He slept during the day and worked at night, so he became the ‘ghost of Endley’.(79 words)

埃里克在第二次世界大战期间参军，但厌恶军队生活，于是选择了逃兵。他回到父亲藏身的农场，直到战争结束才离开，战后也一直躲藏。父亲告诉所有人他是在战斗中阵亡的。乔和鲍勃一直保守着这个秘密，因此埃里克过着隐居的生活，白天睡觉，晚上工作，成了“恩德利的幽灵”。