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新概念英语第三册:60 Too early and too late

来源:www.rcyhyy.com 2025-09-04

Lesson 60:Too early and too late 太早和太晚

Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音,然后回答以下问题。
Why did the young girl miss the train?

Punctuality is a necessary habit in all public affairs in civilized society. Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in state of chaos. only in a sparsely|populated rural community is it possible to disregard it. In ordinary living, there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality. The intellectual, who is working on some abstruse problem, has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand. He is therefore forgiven if late for a dinner party. But people are often reproached for unpunctuality when their only fault is cutting things fine. It is hard for energetic, quick|minded people to waste time, so they are often tempted to finish a job before setting out to keep an appointment. If no accidents occur on the way, like punctured tires, persions of traffic, sudden descent of fog, they will be on time. They are often more industrious, useful citizens than those who are never late. The over|punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual. The guest who arrives half an hour too soon is the greatest nuisance. Some friends of my family had this irritating habit. The only thing to do was ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests. Then they arrived just when we wanted them.
If you are citing a train, it is always better to be comfortably early than even a fraction of a minted too late. Although being early may mean wasting a little time, this will be less than if you miss the train and have to wait an hour or more for the next one; and you avoid the frustration of arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station and being unable to get on it. An even harder situation is to be on the platform in good time for a train and still to see it go off without you. Such an experience befell a certain young girl the first time she was traveling alone.
She entered the station twenty minutes before the train was due, since her parents had impressed upon her that it would be unforgivable to miss it and cause the friends with whom she was going to stay to make two journeys to meet her. She gave her luggage to a porter and showed him her ticket. To her horror he said that she was two hours too soon. She felt inhere handbag for the piece of paper on which her father had written down al the details of the journey and gave it to the porter. He agreed that a train did come into the station at the time on the paper and that it did sTOP, but only to take on mail, not passengers. The girl asked to see a timetable, feeling sure that her father could not have made such a mistake. The porter went to fetch one and arrive back with the station master, who produced it with a flourish and pointed out a microscopic 'o' beside the time of the arrival of the train at his station; this little 'o' indicated that the train only sTOPped for mail. Just as that moment the train came into the station. The girl, tears streaming down her face, begged to be allowed to slip into the guard's van. But the station master was adamant: rules could not be broken and she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination while she was left behind.

New words and expressions 生词和短语

punctuality
n. 按时

rural
adv. 农村的

disregard
v. 不考虑,无视

intellectual
n. 常识分子

abstruse
adj. 深奥的

coordinate
v. 协调

reproach
v. 责备

puncture
v. 刺破(汽车轮胎)

persion
n. 改道,绕道

trial
n. 讨厌的事,人

fraction
n. 非常小一点儿

flourish
n. 挥舞(打手劳)

microscopic
adj. 微小的

adamant
adj. 坚定的,不动摇的

参考译文

按时是文明社会中进行所有社交活动时需要培养的习惯。不按时将一事无成,每件事都会陷入混乱不堪的境地。只有在人口稀有的农村,才能忽略按时的习惯。在日常大家可以容忍一定量的不按时。一个专心钻研某个复杂问题的常识分子,为了搞好手头的研究,要把所有都协调一致,组织周密。因此,他如果赴宴迟到了会得到谅解。但有的人不按时常常由于掐钟点所致,他们常常遭到责备,精力充沛、头脑敏捷的人极不想费时,因此他们常想做完一件事后再去赴约。如果路上没发生如爆胎、改道、忽然起雾等意料之外事故,他们决不会迟到。他们与那些从不迟到的人相比,常常是更勤奋有用的公民。早到的人同迟到的人一样让人讨厌。客人提前半小时到达是让人讨厌的。我家有几个朋友就有这有让人恼火的习惯。唯一的方法就是请他们比别的客人晚来半小时。如此,他们可以恰好在大家需要的时间到达。
假如赶火车,早到总比晚到好,就算早到一会儿也好。虽然早到可能意味着浪费一点时间,但这比误了火车等上一个多小时坐下班车浪费的时间要少,而且可以防止那种正好在火车驶出站时赶到车站,因上不去车而感到的沮丧。更难堪的状况是虽然准时赶到站台上,却眼睁睁地看着那趟火车启动,把你抛下。一个小女孩首次单独外出就碰到了这样的情况。
在火车进站20分钟前她就进了车站。由于她的爸爸妈妈再三跟她说,假如误了这趟车,她的东道主朋友就得接她两趟,这是不应该的。她把行李交给搬运工并给他看了车票。搬运工说她早到了两个小时,她听后大吃一惊。她从钱包里摸出一张纸条,那上面有她爸爸对这次旅游详细说明,她把这张纸条交给了搬运工。搬运工说,正如纸条所说,确有一趟火车在那个时刻到站,但它只停站装邮件,不载旅客。女孩需要看到时刻表,由于她相信爸爸不可以把这么大的事弄错。搬运工跑回去取时刻表,同时请来了站长。站长拿着时刻表一挥手,指着那趟列车到站时刻旁边一个非常小的圆圈标记。这个标记表示列车是为装邮件而停车。正在这个时候,火车进站了。女生泪流满面,央求让她不声不响地到押车员车厢里去算了。但站长态度坚决,规章规范不可以破坏,女孩只得眼看那趟火车消逝在她要去的方向而撇下了她。

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自学导读
Notes on the text课文注解
1 only in a sparsely|populatedis it possible,这是一个倒装句,由于only放在句首。
2 for the matter in hand,为手中的事。
3 if late for a dinner party,
在以if,when,though等连词引导的从句中,当其谓语为be时,而主语又与主句的主语相同,从句中总是可以将主语和谓语省去。上句if后就省略了he is。
4 cut things fine,把时间安排得不留空间。
5 The over|punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual .
到得过早的人和迟到的人同样使人没办法忍受。as much as,和一样。
6 half an hour too soon(= half an hour earlier),早到半个小时。
7 in good time,作适合地、准时地讲。


Multiple choice questions多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions:
Comprehension理解
1 The only people who can afford to neglect the exercise of punctuality are |||||| .
a.ordinary citizens who have nothing to do with publicity
b.people who live in remote places where there are few people
c.intellectuals who have to deal with unexpected problems
d.people who are forced to work overtime in order to finish a job
2 People who cut things fine are usually |||||| .
a.delayed by accidents on the roads
b.energetic, quick|minded people
c.no more irritating than the over|punctual
d.reproached for being late for appointments
3 The girl was very upset when the train came into the station because |||||| .
a.her parents would not forgive her for missing it
b.she had two hours to wait before the next train arrived
c.she was going to have to make a second journey to reach her destination
d.the station master insisted that passengers were not allowed on to it
Structure结构
4 Without it, it would be impossible |||||| to a conclusion. (1. 2)
a.to have ever brought anything
b.ever to bring anything
c.to bring nothing ever
d.nothing to be brought ever
5 The time you |||||| waste through being early will be less than (1. 17)
a.must
b.might
c.should
d.can
6 If you are catching a train, you |||||| comfortably early than (11. 16|17)
a.are better being
b.would be better
c.had better be
d.will be better to be
7 |||| the frustration of arriving |||||| the train is drawing out (11. 18|19)
a.just as
b.immediately that
c.in a while
d.as soon as
8 And she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination |||||| . (1. 33)
a.and left her behind
b.and leave behind her
c.leaving her behind
d.while it left behind her
Vocabulary词语
9 In ordinary living, unpunctuality can be tolerated |||||| (11. 4|5)
a.out of kindness
b.on occasion
c.to a certain extent
d.in varying degrees
10 The over|punctual can be just as |||||| to others as the unpunctual. (1. 12)
a.detestable
b.trying
c.provident
d.inconsiderate
11 |||| since her parents had |||||| that it would be unforgivable (11. 22|23)
a.stressed the point
b.given the impression
c.marked it down
d.given notice
12 |||||| the train came into the station. (1. 31)
a.only then
b.Instantly
c.At that very moment
d.Precisely


New words and expressions】 生词和短语
●punctuality n. 按时
●rural adv. 农村的
●disregard v. 不考虑,无视
●intellectual n. 常识分子
●abstruse adj. 深奥的
●coordinate v. 协调
●reproach v. 责备
●puncture v. 刺破(汽车轮胎)
●persion n. 改道,绕道
●trial n. 讨厌的事,人
●fraction n. 非常小一点儿
●flourish n. 挥舞(打手劳)
●microscopic adj. 微小的
●adamant adj. 坚定的,不动摇的
◆punctuality n. 按时
punctual: adj. 守时
be punctual to the minute
◆rural adv. 农村的
urban adj. 城市的
◆disregard v. 不考虑,无视
disregard sth
disregard == ignore
pay no attention to
take no notice of
in disregard of
treat sb. with disregard: 怠慢某人
◆intellectual n. 常识分子
◆abstruse adj. 深奥的
abstract: 抽象的
Eg: I am not good at mathematics, because the subject is not only abstract but also abstruce.
◆◆coordinate v. 协调
Eg: Our efforts need to be further coordinated for higher efficiency.
efficiency: == be efficient:效率
Eg: If you wnat to complete an ideal job with your classmates as quickly as possible, I think ypu must coodniate everything as much as you can.
coordinate work: 协调工作
arrange: 安排
Eg: Who will arrange the party?
How can arrange the paragraph?
organize: 组织
Eg: Its your duty to organize our meeting.
harmonize: vt. n. 协调,使调和,配和音
L60|01 end 745
L60|02 begin 1335
Eg: The music is harmonized.
We have to harmonize our work.
◆reproach v. 责备
blame / scold / reprehend
Eg: Dont reproach / blame him for such a little thing.
blame sb. for sth.
reproach n.
Beyond reproach 无可指责
Beyond doubt: 毫无疑问
Beyond understanding 没办法理解
Beyond de脚本ion 没办法描述
Eg: The problem is beyond / above me. 这个问题难倒了我
◆puncture v. 刺破(汽车轮胎)
◆persion n. 改道,绕道
◆trial n. 讨厌的事,人
nuisance
trial: 审讯,审判,尝试,实验
Eg: After his trial, he set out with his new plane. 试飞之后,他开着飞机出发了。
◆fraction n. 非常小一点儿
◆flourish n. 挥舞(打手势)
gesticulate v. 打手势
◆microscopic adj. 微小的
microphone: 麦克风
microfilm: 微型胶卷
microwave oven: 微波炉
◆◆◆adamant adj. 坚定的,不动摇的
steady: 稳定的
Eg: He is living a steady life.
strong|minded / firm / stable
obstinate / stubborn
stable: (人)坚定的
Eg: If you are adamant, nothing is difficult for you to study English.
If you are adamant, you never give up easily.
give up == yield== surrender: 舍弃,投降
yielding / surrendering
unyielding / unsurrendering ==adamant
Eg: He is (so) adamant (as) to stick to his stupid idea.
All the students here are adamant enough to study English hard.


课文解说】
本篇是论说文,是考试当中容易见到的一种题型
in civilized society == in modern society
necessary == essential
背熟:Eg:Mania is a habit we develop for a long time which is harmless.
bring sth. to conclusion: 做出结论
L60|02 end 1335
L60|03 begin 1441
背熟:Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in state of chaos.
平行句式,平行结构,近义词的重复,关键字的用法
Everything would be in confusion / a state of chaos / disorder
Eg: Hard work is our necessity to study English.
Without it, we could not get any success. / nothing would be complete.
倒装:only引导介词短语,时间/条件状语放在句首,句子要部分倒装。
背熟:In ordinary living, there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality.
in ordinary living == in our dily life
tolerance = the state to tolerate something terrible.
Nothing can be worse than this.
No forms of transport could be faster than airplane.
punctual || unpunctual; punctuality || unpunctuality
背熟:has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand.
keep sb. occupied
cut things fine 把时间安排得不留空间;掐钟点
do sth. before doing
be tempted to do特别想要做某事
be eager / anxious / desperate to do
L60|03 end 1441
Lesson60A end 36:00
Lesson60B begin 42:40
L60|04 begin 1230
prefer to do
would like to do
would rather / sooner do
would prefer to do
Eg: I cant resist the temptation to buy the beautiful dress.
Im quite / particularly tempted to buy the buautiful dress.
descent: 即将来临
Eg: Darkness descented very soon.
on time|| keep punctuality
Some people can be forgiven because of what they do even though they are unpunctual.
背熟:The over|punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual.
nuisance || trial
背熟:The only thing to do was ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests.
Eg: The only thing to do is help you in this way.
My job is teaching. / My job is to teach.
假如当不定式做表语,主句结构当中也出现了不定式,做表语的不定式to符号应该被略掉,以防止重复。
Eg: The only thing to do is help you in this way.
What I want you to do is help me.
Paragraph 2
What does the writer aim at?
He just wants to illustrate to show that punctuality is quite important.
The over|punctual is as irritating as the unpunctual, but on some occasions, wed better keep over|punctuality.
L60|04 end 1230
L60|05 begin 1511
comfortably
mean doing sth.
less
draw up: 停车
draw (pull) out of station: 离站
背熟: you avoid the frustration of arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station and being unable to get on it.
When we get faulures over and over again, we always get the frustration inside our heart.
the frustration inside you can prevent you from doing what you are doing
in good time == on time
befall: sth. bad happen to
Eg: Such a bad experience befall him.
due: 根据计划(安排)而正常进行
Eg: The meeting is due to begin at 9 oclock tomorrow morning.
The train is due to set off at 3 pm.
What happened to her? What befell her?
impress upon sb. that 再三地叮嘱某人 repeat sth. over and over again
forgive || forgivable || unforgivable
make two journeys to meet her: 往返两次干什么
to her horror / terror / fear
on which 定语从句
only,总是表示非常遗憾的心情
Eg: I hurry to the store only to find it was closed.
背熟:The girl asked to see a timetable, feeling sure that her father could not have made such a mistake.
feeling sure that...
be brought up to do / have learnt to do
Eg: We have learnt to expect that trains are punctual.
We have been brought up to eat certain foods.
produce it with flourish
just as: 恰恰在这个时刻
背熟:The girl, tears streaming down her face, begged to be allowed to slip into the guard's van.
背熟:she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination while she was left behind.
disappear towards: 朝着什么什么消失
L60|05 end 1511
L60|06 begin 1507
Punctuality is a necassary habit, wed better keep punctuality, but you know, over|punctuality is irritating as unpunctuality, but on some occasions, wed better be over|punctual.
Vocabulary】P270
Choose five of the following words and phrases and give for each another word or phrase of similar meaning to that in which the word or phrase is used in the passage: a state of chaos (l.3); sparsely|populated (l.3); disregard (l.4); reproached (l.8); setting out (l.10); persions (l.11); destination (l.33).
a state of chaos == confusion / disorder
sparsely|populated: 人口稀疏的
overpopulated / overpeopled:人口海量的
sparsely == few peopled = with not many people
disregard == take no notice of == pay no attention == ignore
reproached == blamed severely == reprehended
setting out: 出发 == setting off == starting
set out / start / set off / make / leave / head for: 出发去往某处
persion: 绕道== taking another road to avoid having traffice jam
industrious: 勤劳的 == diligent
destination 目的地 == terminal


【Key to Multiple choice questions】
1. B 2. B 3. D 4. B 5. B 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. B 11. A 12. C

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