新概念英语第二册92-94课课文
- 提问者网友：疯子也有疯子的情调
- 2021-07-19 17:43
- 五星知识达人网友：轮獄道
- 2021-07-19 18:46
92
It must have been about two in the morning when I returned home.
I tried to wake up my wife by ringing the door-bell, but she was fast asleep, so I got a ladder from the shed in the garden, put it against the wall, and began climbing towards the bedroom window.
I was almost there when a sarcastic voice below said,' I don't think the windows need cleaning at this time of the night.' I looked down and nearly fell off the ladder when I saw a policeman.
I immediately regretted answering in the way I did, but I said,'I enjoy cleaning windows at night.' 'So do I,'answered the policeman in the same tone.
'Excuse my interrupting you.
I hate to interrupt a man when he's busy working, but would you mind coming with me to the station ?' 'Well, I'd prefer to stay here,' I said.
'You see, I've forgotten my key.' 'Your what ?' he called.
'My key,' I shouted.' Fortunately, the shouting woke up my wife who opened the window just as the policeman had started to climb towards me.
93
One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the United States of America in the nineteenth century by the people of France.
The great statue, which was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, took ten years to complete.
The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been especially constructed by Eiffel.
Before it could be transported to the United States, a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built.
The site chosen was an island at the entrance of New York Harbour.
By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall, had been erected in Paris.
The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent to America.
By the end of October 1886, the statue had been put together again and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi.
Ever since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America.
94
Experiments have proved that children can be instructed in swimming at a very early age.
At a special swimming pool in Los Angeles, children become expert at holding their breath under water even before they can walk.
Babies of two months old do not appear to be reluctant to enter the water, It is not long before they are so accustomed to swimming that they can pick up weights from the floor of the pool.
A game that is very popular with these young swimmers is the underwater tricycle race.
Tricycles are lined up on the floor of the pool seven feet under water.
The children compete against each other to reach the other end of the pool.
Many pedal their tricycles, but most of them prefer to push or drag them.
Some children can cover the whole length of the pool without coming up for breath even once.
Whether they will ever become future Olympic champions, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, they should encourage those among us who cannot swim five yards before they are gasping for air.