A blessing in desguise?

【課文】

The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a 'cursed tree'. Because the tree was mentioned in a newapaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased. The tree was planted near thechurch fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims. The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused. He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!

【課文翻譯】

據(jù)說(shuō)弗林利這個(gè)小村莊里有一棵“該詛咒的樹(shù)”。就因?yàn)閳?bào)上提到過(guò)這棵樹(shù)，所以現(xiàn)在來(lái)弗林利參觀的人越來(lái)越多。該樹(shù)是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近幾年才得到了一個(gè)壞名聲。據(jù)說(shuō)，誰(shuí)要是觸摸了這棵樹(shù)，誰(shuí)就會(huì)交上惡運(yùn)，如果誰(shuí)摘了一片樹(shù)葉，誰(shuí)玉會(huì)死去。很多村民相信此樹(shù)已經(jīng)害了不少人。人們?cè)��?qǐng)求教區(qū)的牧師叫人把樹(shù)砍掉，但他直到現(xiàn)在也沒(méi)有同意。他指出，由于人們從全國(guó)各地紛紛前來(lái)參觀這棵樹(shù)，它成了一個(gè)有用的財(cái)源。盡管有上述種種說(shuō)法，但游客們還是照常摘樹(shù)葉和把他們的名字刻在樹(shù)干上。然而到目前為止，還沒(méi)有一個(gè)人暴死呢!

【生詞匯總】

blessing n. 福分，福氣

disguise n. 偽裝

tiny adj.極小的

possess v.擁有

cursed adj.可恨的

increase v.增加

plant v.種植

church n.教堂

evil adj.壞的

reputation n.名聲

claim v.以......為其后果

victim n.受害者，牲犧品

vicar n.教區(qū)牧師

source n.來(lái)源

income n.收入

trunk n.樹(shù)干

【短語(yǔ)匯總】

is sad to do據(jù)說(shuō)

cut down砍斷砍倒

so far目前為止，直到現(xiàn)在

【知識(shí)點(diǎn)講解】

1，be said to do據(jù)說(shuō)(The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a 'cursed tree')

有多種表示，比如is claimed to do，is considered to do等

the rain is said to be the biggest in history.據(jù)說(shuō)這場(chǎng)雨是史上最大。

2，強(qiáng)調(diào)句(it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation)

后面的連接詞用that，如果前面緊跟著的是個(gè)人的話也可以用who。實(shí)際上所謂的強(qiáng)調(diào)句是主語(yǔ)從句的一種變形形式，說(shuō)白了就是主語(yǔ)從句。

例：it is you that I want marry，not her.我要娶得人是你，不是她。

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