新视野大学英语视听说教程 3 Unit 5-3

 

Task 2: A Work Qualification Test
Script
Once there was a Scottish accountant. The business has been in the family for generations and generations. Over time, with the countless¹ clients that had gone in and out of the office, the marble step in front of the building had developed a big, deep dip in it from all the wear and tear.
The accountant’s friends kept telling him that he had better get it replaced; otherwise he’d be sued² if anyone ever slipped and fell.
Reluctantly, the accountant called a stonemason to get a quote for the repairs. When the stonemason got there, the accountant demanded a price for a new step.
“Ah, big job,” said the e stonemason, “But I suppose I could give you a new step for a hundred pounds.” The accountant was stunned³. “Are you crazy, man? I can’t pay you a hundred pounds!” Thinking about it for a second, he turned to the stonemason and asked, “What would you charge me to dig up the step and turn it over so that the worn part is in the ground and I’d get a new square step?” The stonemason hesitated, “20pounds.”
“Do it!” Demanded the accountant, “And call me when you’re done.”
The accountant went back inside to read his books, but after only 15minutes the stonemason rang the bell. As the accountant opened the door, he saw the stonemason standing⁴ there, pointing to a deep dip in the step. The stonemason laughed as he said, “Your great-great granddaddy thought of that a hundred and fifty years ago!”

 

Keys: FTFFT

For Reference⁵
1. countless clients that had gone in and out of the office
2. He turn the step over so that the worn part was in the ground

1 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

2 sued   

v.（为要求赔偿损失而）起诉( sue的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；请求；要求（尤用于法庭）

参考例句：

• The company sued for defamation. 这个公司因受到诽谤而提起诉讼。
• He sued the newspaper for libel. 他起诉那家报社犯有诽谤罪。

3 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 reference   

n.提到，说到，暗示，查看，查阅

参考例句：

• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
• I like to have my reference books within my reach.我喜欢把参考书放到伸手可取的地方。