Cora的ScalersTalk第四轮新概念朗读持续力训练Day

Lesson 58 A blessing in disguise?

Why does the vicar refuse to cut down the tree?

　　The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a 'cursed tree'. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased. The tree was planted near the church 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!

ˈlɛsn 58 ə ˈblɛsɪŋ ɪn dɪsˈgaɪz?

waɪ dʌz ðə ˈvɪkə ˌriːˈfjuːz tuː kʌt daʊn ðə triː? 

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 ðə triːhæz ɔːlˈrɛdi kleɪmd ə ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈvɪktɪmz. 

ðə ˈvɪkə hæz biːn ɑːskt tuː hæv ðə triː kʌt daʊn, bʌt səʊ fɑː hiː hæz 

riːˈfjuːzd. 

hiː hæz ˈpɔɪntɪd aʊt ðæt ðə triː ɪz ə ˈjuːsfʊl sɔːs ɒv ˈɪnkʌm, 

æzˈtʊərɪsts hæv biːn ˈkʌmɪŋ frɒm ɔːl pɑːts ɒv ðə ˈkʌntri tuː siː ɪt. 

ɪn spaɪt 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 ðɛm hæz biːn strʌk daʊn baɪ ˈsʌdn dɛθ!

任务配置：L0+L4

知识笔记：

disguise 英 /dɪs'gaɪz/  vt. 掩饰；假装；隐瞒 n. 伪装；假装；用作伪装的东西

vicar 英 /'vɪkə/  n. 教区牧师，教堂牧师；传教牧师；代理人

tiny 英 /'taɪnɪ/  adj. 微小的；很少的

cursed 英 /'kɜːsɪd; kɜːst/  adj. 被诅咒的 v. 诅咒（curse的过去分词）

church  英 /tʃɜːtʃ/  n. 教堂；礼拜；教派 adj. 教会的；礼拜的 vt. 领…到教堂接受宗教仪式

gain 英 /geɪn/  n. 增加；利润；收获 vt. 获得；增加；赚到 vi. 增加；获利

evil 英 /'iːv(ə)l; -vɪl/ adj. 邪恶的；不幸的；有害的；讨厌的 n. 罪恶，邪恶；不幸

reputation 英 /repjʊ'teɪʃ(ə)n/  n. 名声，名誉；声望

claim 英 /kleɪm/  vi. 提出要求 vt. 要求；声称；需要；认领 n. 要求；声称；索赔；断言；值得

victim 英 /'vɪktɪm/  n. 受害人；牺牲品；牺牲者 

trunk 英 /trʌŋk/ n. 树干；躯干；象鼻；汽车车尾的行李箱 vt. 把…放入旅行箱内 adj. 干线的；躯干的；箱子的

tree-trunk 树干

struck down 击倒

possess 英 /pə'zes/ vt. 控制；使掌握；持有；迷住；拥有，具备

reputation  英 /repjʊ'teɪʃ(ə)n/  n. 名声，名誉；声望

The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down.     ask to have something done?

练习感情：

听录音，好像语速变快了一点