$课文56 比声音还快！
579. Once a year, a race is held for old cars.
旧式汽车的比赛每年举行一次。
580. A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began.
去年有很多汽车参加了这项比赛。比赛开始之前，人们异常激动。
581. One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
最漂亮的汽车之一是罗尔斯--罗伊斯生产的银鬼汽车，
582. The most unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels.
而最不寻常的一辆则要属只有3只轮子的奔驰牌汽车了。
583. Built in 1885, it was the oldest car taking part.
该车造于1885年，是参赛车中最老的一辆。
584. After a great many loud explosions, the race began.
在好一阵喧闹的爆炸声之后，比赛开始了。
585. Many of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them!
很多汽车在途中就抛了锚，而有些驾驶员花在汽车底下的时间比坐在汽车里面的时间还长。
586. A few cars, however, completed the race. The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour -- much faster than any of its rivals.
然而还是有几辆汽车跑完了全程。获胜的那辆车达到了时速40英里--远远超过任何对手。
587. It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it.
它在接近终点时，冲下了山坡，驾驶员费了好大劲才把车停下来。
588. The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure.
这次比赛使每个人都挺开心。它
589. It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting.
虽然与现代汽车比赛大不相同，但激动人心的程度并不亚于现代化汽车大赛。
$课文57 您要买什么，夫人？
590. A woman in jeans stood at the window of an expensive shop.
一位穿着牛仔裤的妇女站在一家高档商店的橱窗前。
591. Though she hesitated for a moment, she finally went in and asked to see a dress that was in the window.
她虽然犹豫了片刻，但终于还是走进了商店，要求把陈列在橱窗里的一件衣服拿给她看。
592. The assistant who served her did not like the way she was dressed.
接待她的售货员不喜欢她的那副打扮，
593. Glancing at her scornfully, he told her that the dress was sold.
轻蔑地看了她一眼后，便告诉她那件衣服已经卖出去了。
594. The woman walked out of the shop angrily and decided to punish the assistant next day.
这位妇女怒气冲冲地走出了商店，决定第二天教训一下那个售货员。
595. She returned to the shop the following morning dressed in a fur coat,
第二天上午，她又来到这家商店，
596. with a handbag in one hand and a long umbrella in the other.
穿了一件裘皮大衣，一只手拎着一只手提包，另一只手拿着一把长柄伞。
597. After seeking out the rude assistant, she asked for the same dress.
找到那个无礼的售货员后，她还要看昨天的那件衣服。
598. Not realizing who she was, the assistant was eager to serve her this time.
那个售货员没有认出她是谁，这一回接待她的态度非常殷勤。
599. With great difficulty, he climbed into the shop window to get the dress.
费了好大劲儿，他爬进橱窗去取那件衣服。
600. As soon as she saw it, the woman said she did not like it.
这位妇女对那件衣服只看一眼，就说不喜欢。
601. She enjoyed herself making the assistant bring almost everything in the window
她开心地迫使那位售货员把橱窗里几乎所有的东西都拿了出来，
602. before finally buying the dress she had first asked for.
最后才买下了她最先要看的那一件。
$课文58 是因祸得福吗？
603. The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a 'cursed tree'.
据说弗林利这个小村里有一棵“该诅咒的树”。
604. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased.
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。
605. The tree was planted near the church fifty years ago,
该树是50年前栽在教堂附近的，
606. but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation.
但只是近几年才得到了一个坏名声。
607. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck;
据说，谁要是触摸了这棵树，谁就会交上恶运；
608. if he picks a leaf, he will die.
如果谁摘了一片树叶，谁就会死去。
609. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims.
很多村民相信此树已经害了不少人。
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610. The vicar 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。
611. He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income,
他指出，它成了一个有用的财源。
612. as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.
由于人们从全国各地纷纷前来参观这棵树，
613. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk.
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。
614. So 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！