M的第六轮新概念朗读持续力训练Day 58 20201208

Lesson58    Ablessing in disguise?

Thetinyvillage of Frinleyis said topossessa 'cursed tree'. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number ofvisitors to Frinley has now increased. The tree was planted near the churchfifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evilreputation.It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he willhave bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die. Many villagers believe that thetree has already claimed a number ofvictims.Thevicarhas 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 touristshave been coming from all parts of the country to see it. In spiteof all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cuttingtheir names on the tree- trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down bysudden death!

ðə ˈtaɪni ˈvɪlɪʤ ɒv Frinley ɪz sɛd tuː pəˈzɛs ə kɜːst triː. bɪˈkɒz ðə triː wɒz ˈmɛnʃənd ɪn ə ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpə, ðə ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈvɪzɪtəz tuːFrinley hæz naʊ ɪnˈkriːst. ðə triː wɒz ˈplɑːntɪd nɪə ðə ʧɜːʧ ˈfɪfti jɪəz əˈgəʊ, bʌt ɪt ɪz ˈəʊnli ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz ðæt ɪt hæz geɪnd ən ˈiːvlˌrɛpju(ː)ˈteɪʃən. ɪt ɪz sɛd ðæt ɪf ˈɛnɪwʌn ˈtʌʧɪz ðə triː, hiː wɪl hæv bæd lʌk; ɪf hiː pɪks ə liːf, hiː wɪl daɪ. ˈmɛni ˈvɪlɪʤəz bɪˈliːv ðæt ðətriː hæz ɔːlˈrɛdi kleɪmd ə ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈvɪktɪmz. ðə ˈvɪkə hæz biːn ɑːskt tuː hæv ðə triː kʌt daʊn, bʌt səʊ fɑː hiː hæz ˌriːˈfjuːzd. hiːhæz ˈpɔɪntɪd aʊt ðæt ðə triː ɪz ə ˈjuːsfʊl sɔːs ɒv ˈɪnkʌm, æz ˈtʊərɪsts hæv biːn ˈkʌmɪŋ frɒm ɔːl pɑːts ɒv ðə ˈkʌntri tuː siː ɪt. ɪnspaɪt ɒv ɔːl ðæt hæz biːn sɛd, ðə ˈtʊərɪsts hæv biːn ˈpɪkɪŋ liːvz ænd ˈkʌtɪŋ ðeə neɪmz ɒn ðə triː- trʌŋk. səʊ fɑː, nɒt wʌn ɒv ðɛmhæz biːn strʌk daʊn baɪ ˈsʌdn dɛθ!