全文 9 句（男女对话）· 14 个生词和短语（加粗 + 红色音标 / 词性 / 释义）
作者1. The tiny /'taɪni/ adj. 极小的 village of Frinley is said to possess /pə'zes/ v. 拥有 a 'cursed /kɜːst/ adj. 可恨的，该诅咒的 tree'.
作者2. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased /ɪn'kriːst/ v. 增加.
作者3. The tree was planted /'plɑːntɪd/ v. 种植 near the church /tʃɜːtʃ/ n. 教堂 fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil /'iːvl/ adj. 坏的，邪恶的 reputation /ˌrepju'teɪʃn/ n. 名声.
作者4. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die.
作者5. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed /kleɪmd/ v. 以……为其后果（这里指夺去生命） a number of victims /'vɪktɪmz/ n. 受害者，牺牲品.
作者6. The vicar /'vɪkə/ n. 教区牧师 has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.
作者7. He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source /sɔːs/ n. 来源 of income /'ɪnkʌm/ n. 收入, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.
作者8. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk /trʌŋk/ n. 树干.
作者9. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!
作者1. 据说弗林利这个小村里有一棵“该诅咒的树”。
作者2. 就因为报上提到过这棵树，所以现在来弗林利参观的人越来越多。
作者3. 这棵树是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近几年才得到了一个坏名声。
作者4. 据说，谁要是触摸了这棵树，谁就会交上恶运；如果谁摘了一片树叶，谁就会死去。
作者5. 很多村民相信此树已经夺走了许多人的性命。
作者6. 人们曾请求教区的牧师叫人把树砍掉，但他直到现在也没有同意。
作者7. 他指出，由于人们从全国各地纷纷前来参观这棵树，它成了一个有用的财源。
作者8. 尽管有上述种种说法，但游客们还是照常摘树叶和把他们的名字刻在树干上。
作者9. 然而到目前为止，还没有一个人暴死呢！