英语听力：曾达的囚徒 01.The Rassendylls--and the Elphbergs

　　1 The Rassendylls-and the Elphbergs

　　'I wonder¹ when you're going² to do something useful³， Rudolf，'my brother's wife⁴ said⁵．She looked at me crossly over the breakfast table．

　　'But why should I do anything，Rose⁶？'I answered，calmly eating my egg．'I've got⁷ nearly⁸ enough money for the things I want，and my brother，Robert，is a lord⁹-Lord Burlesdon．I'm very happy．'

　　'You're twenty-nine，and you've done nothing except…'

　　'Play about？It's true¹⁰．We Rassendylls are a rich and famous¹¹ family，and we don't need to do anything．'

　　This made¹² Rose angry．'Rich and famous families usually behave¹³ worse¹⁴ than less¹⁵ important¹⁶ families，'she said．

　　When I heard this，I touched my dark¹⁷ red hair．I knew what she meant．

　　'I'm so pleased¹⁸ that Robert's hair is black！'she cried．

　　Just then my brother，Robert，came¹⁹ in．When he looked at Rose，he could²⁰ see that there was²¹ something wrong．

　　'What's the matter，my dear？'he said．

　　'Oh，she's angry because I never do anything useful，and because I've got red hair，'I said．

　　'Well，I know he can't do much about his hair，or his nose…'Rose began．

　　'No，the nose and the hair are in the family，'my brother agreed²³．'And Rudolf has both of them．'

　　In the room there were many family pictures，and one of them was of a very beautiful woman，Lady Amelia，who lived a hundred and fifty years ago．I stood²⁴ up and turned to look at it．

　　'If you took²⁵ that picture away，Robert，'Rose cried，'we could forget all about it．'

　　'Oh，but I don't want to forget about it，'I replied²⁶．'I like being²⁷ an Elphberg．'

　　But perhaps²⁸ I should stop for a moment and explain²⁹ why Rose was angry about my nose and my hair and why I，a Rassendyll，said I was an Elphberg．After all，the Elphbergs are the royal³⁰ family of Ruritania，and have been for hundreds of years．

　　The story is told in a book about the Rassendyll family history．

　　In the year 1733 Prince³¹ Rudolf of Ruritania came to England on a visit and he stayed for several³² months．Like many of the Elphberg royal family，he had³³ blue eyes，an unusually³⁴ long straight³⁵ nose and a lot of dark red hair．He was also tall and very good-looking³⁶．

　　During³⁸ his stay here，he became³⁹ friendly⁴⁰ with Lady Amelia，the beautiful wife of Lord Burlesdon．They became very good friends indeed，which，naturally，did not please Lord Burlesdon．So，one cold wet morning，the two men fought⁴¹．The Prince was hurt in the fight，but got better and was hurried back to Ruritania．There he married⁴² and became King³⁷ Rudolf the Third．But Lord Burlesdon fell⁴³ ill，and six months later⁴⁴ he died⁴⁵．Two months after that，Lady Amelia had a baby son，who became the next Lord Burlesdon and the head of the Rassendyll family．The boy grew into a man with blue eyes，a long straight nose，and dark red hair．

　　These things can happen in the best of families，and among⁴⁶ the many pictures of the Rassendylls at home，you can see that five or six of them have the same blue eyes，the same nose，and the same red hair．

　　So，because my hair was red and I had the Elphberg nose，Rose worried⁴⁷ about me．In the end，to please her，I promised⁴⁸ to get a job in six months time．This gave⁴⁹ me six free⁵⁰ months to enjoy myself⁵¹ first．

　　And an idea came to me．I would⁵² visit Ruritania．None⁵³ of my family had ever²² been there．They preferred⁵⁴ to forget all about the Lady Amelia．But I saw⁵⁵ in the newspaper that，in three weeks，the new young King，Rudolf the Fifth，would have his coronation．It would be an interesting time to visit the country．

　　I knew my family would not like my going，so I told them I was going walking in Austria⁵⁶．

　　1 拉森狄尔家族与艾尔弗伯格家族

　　“我在想你究竟什么时候才会做一些有用的事儿，鲁道夫。”我的嫂嫂说。她在餐桌的那头生气地望着我。

　　“但我干嘛要做事呢，罗丝？”我一边回答她，一边从容地吃着鸡蛋。“我的钱够多的，差不多想要什么就能买什么，再说我哥哥罗伯特又是一位贵族——伯利斯顿勋爵，我挺幸福。”

　　“可你都29岁了，你还什么都没干，除了……”

　　“除了胡闹？你说对了，我们拉森狄尔家的人又有钱又有名，而且我们什么也不用做。”

　　我这么说让罗丝生气了。“又有钱又有名的人家通常比那些普通人家更不规矩！”

　　听了她的话，我用手摸摸我的深红色头发。我懂她的意思。

　　“我真高兴罗伯特的头发是黑色的！”她说道。

　　正在此时，我哥哥罗伯特走了进来，他一看罗丝，就看出有些不对头。

　　“怎么了，亲爱的？”他问道。

　　“她生气了，因为我从没做过什么有用的事儿，而且我还长着红头发。”我说。

　　“当然，我知道他对他的头发和鼻子无能为力……”罗丝说。

　　“是的，这样的鼻子和这样的头发是祖传的，”我哥哥同意她的话，“而且鲁道夫两样都占了。”

　　房间里有很多家族成员的画像，其中一幅画着一位非常美丽的女人，阿米莉亚夫人，她生活在150年以前。我站了起来，转身去看她。

　　“如果你把那画像拿走，罗伯特，”罗丝说，“我们就可以把这件事忘掉。”

　　“哦，可是我并不想忘掉它。”我回答。“我喜欢做艾尔弗伯格家族的一员。”

　　也许我应该停下来一会儿，解释一下为什么罗丝对我的鼻子和头发那么生气，究竟又为什么，我，一个姓拉森狄尔的，会说我自己是艾尔弗伯格家族的一员。毕竟艾尔弗伯格家族是卢里塔尼亚的王族，而且，几百年来一直如此。

　　这个故事在一本关于拉森狄尔家族史的书里是这么描述的：

　　1733年卢里塔尼亚王子鲁道夫前来英国访问，他逗留了几个月。像艾尔弗伯格王室的许多人一样，他长着蓝色的眼睛，一只不寻常的又长又挺的鼻子和很多深红色的头发。他个子很高，相貌英俊。

　　他在此地停留期间，与伯利斯顿勋爵美丽的妻子阿米莉亚夫人结识，事实上，他俩成了十分亲密的好友，这当然不会让伯利斯顿勋爵愉快。因此，在一个寒冷潮湿的早晨，两位男士决斗了。王子负了伤，但很快好转并且匆匆返回卢里塔尼亚。在那里他结了婚，成了国王鲁道夫三世。但是伯利斯顿勋爵病了，六个月以后去世。他辞世之后两个月，阿米莉亚夫人生了一个儿子，这个男孩即成为新的伯利斯顿勋爵以及拉森狄尔家族的首领。他成人以后有着蓝色的眼睛，长而挺直的鼻子和深红色的头发。

　　这一类的事情可能在最上流的家庭发生。在拉森狄尔府上的许多画像中，你能看见五六个人长着同样的蓝眼睛，同样的鼻子，同样的红头发。

　　因此，由于我的头发是红的，而且我长着艾尔弗伯格家的鼻子，罗丝为我发愁。结果，为了让她高兴，我保证六个月以内找到一份工作。这样起码我能在六个月的时间里过得快快乐乐的。

　　我有了一个主意——我要去卢里塔尼亚。我的家族从来没有一个人去过那里。他们更愿意忘记跟阿米莉亚夫人有关的事情。可是我看到报纸上说，在三周之内，卢里塔尼亚的年轻的新国王，鲁道夫五世，将会举行加冕典礼。这时候去这个国家看看一定很有意思。

　　我知道家里的人一定不喜欢让我去，所以我告诉他们我要去奥地利走走。 

1 wonder   

v.惊奇；惊讶；(对...)感到怀疑

参考例句：

• I wonder why he is late.我想知道他为什么迟到。
• No wonder it's a wonder.怪不得这是一个奇迹。

2 going   

n.去，离去，地面(或道路)的状况，工作情况；(复数形式）goings: 行为；adj.进行中的，流行的，现存的

参考例句：

• We're going to listen to a report this afternoon. 今天下午我们要去听报告。
• He hates leaving the office and going on holiday.他不愿离开办公室去度假。

3 useful   

adj.有用的；有益的

参考例句：

• The horse is a useful animal.马是有用的动物。
• He's a useful member of the team.他是该队的一名强手。

4 wife   

n.妻子，太太，老婆

参考例句：

• She is my wife.她是我妻子。
• He is a tall man but his wife is a short woman.他是个子很高的男人，但他妻子很矮。

5 said   

v.动词say的过去式、过去分词

参考例句：

• He said to me that he could not come.他对我说他不能来。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

6 rose   

n.玫瑰，蔷薇；v.(rise的过去式)起立，上升，升起

参考例句：

• This is a red rose.这是一朵红色玫瑰花。
• The river suddenly rose.河水暴涨。

7 got   

v.(get的过去式)得到，猜到，明白

参考例句：

• I just got some bad news.我刚得到一些坏消息。
• I have got far too much work to do.我要做的事太多了。

8 nearly   

adv.将近，几乎，差不多

参考例句：

• I nearly missed the bus.我险些错过了公交车。
• It is nearly two years since I came here.我来这儿快两年了。

9 lord   

n.上帝，主；主人，长官；君主，贵族

参考例句：

• I know the Lord will look after him.我知道上帝会眷顾他的。
• How good of the Lord not to level it beyond repair!上帝多么仁慈啊，竟没有让这所房子损毁得不可收拾！

10 true   

a.真实，不假的；忠实，可靠的；正确无误的

参考例句：

• He who doesn't reach the Great Wall is not a true man.不到长城非好汉。
• I will come and see if it is true.我要来了解一下，是否真有其事。

11 famous   

adj.著名的，驰名的，闻名遐迩的；极好的；擅长的

参考例句：

• The hotel is famous for its suppers.那个酒店以晚餐而著称。
• He is famous for his learning.他以有学问而出名。

12 made   

v.make的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• They were not made in china.它们不是中国制造的。
• The monkey made a long arm for the peach.猴子伸臂去摘桃子。

13 behave   

vt./vi.举动；举止；行为表现

参考例句：

• The children behave well.孩子们行为良好。
• Not all kings behave in a kingly way.并非所有国王都有王者风范。

14 worse   

adj.更坏的，更差的；adv.更坏，更差

参考例句：

• I have even worse news for you.我有更坏的消息告诉你。
• The weather got worse during the day.白天天气更坏了。

15 less   

adj.更少的，更小的；adv.更少地，更小地；n.少量，次要；prep.减

参考例句：

• I read much less now than I did at school.我现在看书远比我上学时少。
• You can't buy the dress with less than 50 yuan.买这件衣服没有50元钱下不来。

16 important   

adj.重要的；重大的；严重的

参考例句：

• It's important to find out what he is doing.弄清他在干什么是重要的。
• This is a very important problem.这个问题很重要。

17 dark   

adj.黑色的；暗的；黑暗的

参考例句：

• The night is too dark for us to see.夜间太暗，我们看不见。
• The sky was dark blue and clear when the moon came up.月亮出来时，天空是深蓝色的，非常晴朗。

18 pleased   

adj.高兴的，快乐的，喜欢的，满意的

参考例句：

• She was pleased to hear good news about him.听到他的好消息，她很高兴。
• Whichever day you come,we will be pleased to see you.无论你哪一天来，我们都很高兴。

19 came   

v.动词come的过去式

参考例句：

• I was surprised why he came here so early.他为什么那么早到这里，我很惊奇。
• The doctor came in time to save his life.医生及时来抢救他的生命。

20 could   

v.能，可能(can的过去式)；aux.v.(can的过去式)能；可以

参考例句：

• Could I open the window?我可以打开窗子吗？
• I could wait ten minutes.我可以等十分钟。

21 was   

v.(is,am的过去式)是，在

参考例句：

• He said he was right.他说他是正确的。
• He was cold and hungry.他又冷又饿。

22 ever   

adv.曾经；永远；不断地；在任何时候；究竟

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to hangzhou?你曾经去过杭州吗？
• I will be young and strong and beautiful for ever.我将永远年轻、强壮，永远漂亮。

23 agreed   

adj.同意的；接受的；经过协议的；双方共同议定的v.同意，赞同( agree的过去式和过去分词)；[语法学]（在性、数、人称或格方面）一致；相同；和睦相处

参考例句：

• He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us. 尽管勉强，他最后还是同意帮助我们。
• Both sides in the dispute have agreed to go to arbitration . 争执双方已同意提请仲裁。

24 stood   

vbl.stand的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She stood up when they came in.当他们进来时，她站了起来。
• The child stood by the side of his mother.孩子站在母亲身边。

25 took   

vt.带，载(take的过去式)

参考例句：

• I took my dog for a walk along the river.我带着狗沿那条河散步。
• It took me about two hours to cook the meat.我花了大约两个小时来煮这些肉。

26 replied   

v.[法律]（原告对被告）答辩( reply的过去式和过去分词 )；反响；作答；（以行动）做出反应

参考例句：

• She replied in a measured tone to his threat. 她以很有分寸的语气回答了他的威胁。
• I gathered from the way she replied that she wasn't very enthusiastic. 从她回答的语气判断，我觉得她不很热心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 being   

n.存在；生存；生命存在，生命，人， 本质；art.在，有，是

参考例句：

• Can you explain to me the purpose of being?你能对我解释一下存在的目的吗？
• What is the purpose of our being?我们生存的目的是什么？

28 perhaps   

adv.也许，可能

参考例句：

• Perhaps it will rain in the afternoon.下午可能有雨。
• Perhaps I can help you.也许我能帮帮你的忙吧。

29 explain   

vt.解释，说明；vi. 解释，说明，辩解

参考例句：

• She knows how to explain it.她知道怎么解释它。
• Could you explain that again?您能再解释一遍吗？

30 royal   

adj.王室的，皇家的；堂皇的，盛大的；极大的，第一流的

参考例句：

• Most European royal families are connected with each other.欧洲大部分王室都有姻亲关系。
• His grandfather was a royal duke.他的祖父是王室公爵。

31 prince   

n.王子，太子，诸侯

参考例句：

• Prince Charles has again fallen from his horse.查尔斯王子又一次从马上摔了下来。
• The prince and the princess lived happily ever after.从此以后王子和公主就一直过着幸福的日子。

32 several   

adj.几个，若干，数个；各个的，各自的

参考例句：

• Words often have several meanings.单词往往有若干个意思。
• Several new members have come into the club since last year.自去年以来，又有些新成员加入了俱乐部。

33 had   

vbl.have的过去式和过去分词；conj.有

参考例句：

• I just had a good idea!我有个好主意！
• The boy had a small branch of a tree in his hand.这个男孩手上拿一条小树枝。

34 unusually   

adv.非常；不寻常地，异乎寻常地；显著地；出奇

参考例句：

• unusually high levels of radiation 超高的辐射强度
• The unusually heavy rainfall was an ill omen for the travellers. 异乎寻常的大雨是旅行者的不祥之兆。 来自《简明英汉词典》

35 straight   

adv.一直；直接；adj.直的，笔直的；正值的

参考例句：

• His hair is dark and straight.他是黑色直头发。
• Just go straight forward and you'll find the post office.邮局就在前边。

36 good-looking   

adj好看的，漂亮的

参考例句：

• He was tall and quite good - looking.他既高大又英俊。
• She is a good - looking girl.她是一个漂亮的女孩。

37 king   

n.君主，国王

参考例句：

• He was a good king!他是个好国王！
• The lion is the king of animals.狮子是百兽之王。

38 during   

prep.在…期间，在…时候

参考例句：

• What did you do with yourself during the summer holidays?暑假你是怎样度过的？
• London is full of visitors during May and June.五六月间伦敦挤满了游客。

39 became   

v.(become的过去式)成为

参考例句：

• He became a doctor at the age of 27.他27岁时成了一名医生。
• He became a millionaire when he was still young.他还年轻时就成了百万富翁。

40 friendly   

adj.友好的，和气的

参考例句：

• He's not friendly to others.他对别人不友好。
• People here are very friendly.这儿的人很友好。

41 fought   

v.战斗( fight的过去式和过去分词 )；斗争；打架；吵架

参考例句：

• the courage and self-sacrifice of those who fought in the war 投身战争的人的勇气和自我牺牲精神
• She fought like a tiger to be able to keep her children. 她勇猛搏斗，以便能保住她的孩子。

42 married   

adj.已婚的；与…结婚的

参考例句：

• I heard John got married.我听说约翰结婚了。
• They got married last autumn.他们在去年秋季结婚。

43 fell   

vbl.fall的过去式，vt.击倒，打倒（疾病等），致于...死地，砍伐；n.一季所伐的木材，兽皮，羊毛；adj.凶猛的，可怕的

参考例句：

• I fell to the ground.我摔倒在地上。
• The young couple fell in love at first sight.这对年轻人一见钟情。

44 later   

adv.过后，后来；adj.以后的，更后的，较晚的

参考例句：

• He didn't turn up until half an hour later.半小时后他才出现。
• This part of the hospital was built on later.医院的这个部分是后来增建的。

45 died   

vbl.死亡，消逝v.死亡，枯萎( die的过去式和过去分词 )；死时处于（某种状态）或具有（某种身份）adj.死亡的，消逝的

参考例句：

• He was banished to Australia, where he died five years later. 他被流放到澳大利亚，五年后在那里去世。
• He was utterly bereft when his wife died. 他的妻子去世时，他十分凄凉。

46 among   

prep.在…中间，在…之中(三者或三者以上)

参考例句：

• You are only one among many who need help. 你不过是许多需要帮助的人之一。
• He was among the last to leave.他是最后离开者之一。

47 worried   

adj.烦恼的，为难的，焦虑的

参考例句：

• He was worried about the safety of me.他为我的安全担心。
• He worried his father to buy a new car.他苦苦缠着父亲要买一辆新车。

48 promised   

vt.& vi.(promise的过去式或过去分词形式)；承诺；允诺；答应v.允诺( promise的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；有…希望；预示

参考例句：

• He promised to avenge his father's murder. 他发誓要报杀父之仇。
• They embraced and promised to keep in touch. 他们互相拥抱，许诺将保持联系。

49 gave   

vbl.（give的过去式）给予，产生，发表

参考例句：

• He asked for money and I gave him some.他要钱，我给了他一些。
• I gave you a map so you wouldn't get lost. 我给你一张地图，这样你就不会迷路了。

50 free   

adj.自由的，免费的；v.使自由；adv.随意地

参考例句：

• I don't have much free time.我没有多少空闲时间。
• There really is no free lunch.天下果然没有免费的午餐。

51 myself   

pron.我自己

参考例句：

• Should I do it myself?我应该自己做吗？
• I woke up to find myself in the hospital.我醒来发现自己在医院里。

52 would   

aux.will的过去式；愿，要；常常；大概；将要，会

参考例句：

• Why would you say that?为什么你会这么说？
• Would you please help me?你能帮帮我吗？

53 none   

adv.一点也不；prep.没人，毫无；pron.没有人，没有任何东西

参考例句：

• Remember that none is perfect.记住没有任何人是完美的。
• There's almost none left.几乎一个没剩。

54 preferred   

adj.首选的v.提出（请求、控诉等）( prefer的过去式和过去分词 )；提升；建议；选择某事物（而不选择他事物）

参考例句：

• He preferred to die rather than surrender to the enemy. 他宁死也不愿向敌人投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She preferred that nobody should come to see her. 她宁愿没有人来看她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

55 saw   

vbl.看见(see的过去式)；n.锯；v.用锯子锯

参考例句：

• Would you like to saw a tree for me?你能为我锯棵树吗？
• The moment I saw you,I knew you were angry with me.我一看到你，就知道你在生我的气。

56 Austria   

n.奥地利(欧洲国家)

参考例句：

• Austria lies to the southeast of Germany.奥地利位于德国东南。
• I always confuse Australia with Austria.我总是把澳大利亚同奥地利弄混。