课文对话 · A blessing in disguise? 是因祸得福吗？（课本 Lesson 58，印刷页 268-271）
1The 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'.
据说弗林利这个小村里有一棵“该诅咒的树”。
2Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased /ɪn'kriːst/ v. 增加.
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。
3The 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.
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。
4It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die.
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。
5Many 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.
很多村民相信此树已经夺走了许多人的性命。
6The vicar /'vɪkə/ n. 教区牧师 has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.
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。
7He 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.
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。
8In 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.
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。
9So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!
然而到目前为止，还没有一个人暴死呢！
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