Lesson 58 A spot of bother一点儿小麻烦 单元复习 状语从句

A spot of bother

a spot of ...= a small amount of … ^有一点…

• Shall we stop for a spot of lunch? 
• He wears a cap to cover a spot of baldness. ^{他戴一顶帽子来遮住一小块秃顶。}
• You seem to have got yourself into a spot of bother. ^{你似乎让自己遇上了点麻烦。}

The old lady was glad to be back at the block of flats where she lived.

block ^{n. a large building divided into separate parts 大楼}

• She took the dog for a walk around the block. ^{她带着狗绕街区散步。}
• She lives in a tower block on an estate in London. ^{她住在伦敦某住宅区的一栋高楼里。}
• We wandered down the block and sat down to rest on a windowsill. ^{我们漫步走过这片街区，然后在一排窗台前坐下休息。}

Her shopping had tired her and her basket had grown heavier with every step of the way home.

tire ^{vt. 使疲劳}

•  If driving tires you, take the train. ^{如果开车使你感到疲劳，那就坐火车吧。}
• Then he will soon tire of her. ^{之后，他很快就会厌倦她。}
• I never tire of hearing her stories. ^{听她的故事，我从不感到厌倦。}

grow ^{linking-verb.  become different quite slowly 慢慢变得（get、become）…} 

• My interest in English grew stronger with every class of the course. ^{我对英语的兴趣随着每一堂课慢慢增长。}
• His self-confidence grew greater with every success he achieved. ^{他的自信心随着每一次取得的成功渐渐增长。}
• Why didn't his legs grow with the rest of his body? ^{为什么他的双腿没有跟着身体的其他部分一起发育？}

In the lift her thoughts were on lunch and a good rest; but when she got out at her own floor, both were forgotten in her sudden discovery that her front door was open.

lift ^(BrE.) = elevator ^{(AmE.) n. 电梯}

• The lift bell pinged at the fourth floor. ^{该电梯铃在四楼发出响声。}
• We took the lift to the fourteenth floor. ^{我们乘电梯到了第14层。}
• I punched the button to summon the elevator. ^{我按电钮叫电梯。}
• We took the elevator to the fourteenth floor. ^{我们乘电梯到了第14层。}

one’s thoughts are / were on … ^{某人想法在某事上}

• In the lift she was thinking about lunch and a good rest. ^中式英语
• On my way to the school, my thoughts were on the final examinations. ^英式

in the + noun. ^{句中多作原因状语}

• …, both were forgotten in her sudden discovery （=because she suddenly discovered that） …
• Marie Curie's success in the discovery of radium is closely connected with her hard work. ^{玛丽·居里成功发现镭与她的努力工作密切相关。}

in the + 表示感觉的名词 ^{在句中作原因状语}

in the belief that … = because sb. believe that …  ^{因为某人相信…}

• The Swedes were the first to recognize that public officials like civil servants, police officers, health inspectors or tax-collectors can make mistakes or act over-zealously in the belief that (=because they believe that) they are serving the public.
• They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that (=because they believe that) they may one day need just those very things.

in the thought that … = because sb. think that … ^{因为某人认为…}

• Young men who have reason to fear that they will be killed in battle may justifiably feel bitter in the thought that (=because they think that) they have cheated of the best things that life has to offer.

in the hope of doing / that …  = because sb. hope to do / that … ^{因为某人希望…}

• The men of our family waded down through our flooded meadows with boathooks, in the hope of being (=because they hope to be) able to grapple a corner of the raft and pull it out of the current towards our bank.

She was thinking that she must reprimand her home help the next morning for such a monstrous piece of negligence, when she remembered that she had gone shopping after the home help had left and she knew that she had turned both keys in their locks.

reprimand / rebuke sb. for sth. ^{（上下级）因为某事批评某人}

• I was reprimanded / rebuked by my manager for being late.
• Recognizing who the customer was, the manager was most apologetic and reprimanded the assistant severely.
• He may gently reprimand an official or even suggest to parliament that a law be altered.

home help ^{n. (Br.E.) someone who helps ill or old people in their homes with cleaning, cooking etc. 家务助手  (英国)聘来帮助无法自力者做家务的人}

• She was thinking that she must reprimand her home help the next morning. ^{她心想明天上午一定要好好训斥那个干家务的帮手。}
• They can't afford a home help, so they have to do for themselves. ^{他们请不起女人，所以只好自己做家务活。}
• Feifei wants to join Home Help, a charity organization for old people. ^{菲菲想加入家政支助协会，这是一个帮助老人的慈善机构。}

monstrous ^{adj. 巨大的；怪异的；荒谬的；畸形的}

• She endured the monstrous behaviour for years. ^{她忍受这种骇人听闻的行为多年。}
• A group of men are erecting a monstrous copper edifice. ^{一群人正在建造一座巨大的铜色建筑。}
• It would be monstrously unfair. ^{那将太不公平了。}
• Your husband's family has behaved monstrously. ^{你婆家人做得太不公正了。}

negligence ^{n. [U] 疏忽，粗心大意T}

• he accident was due to her negligence. 
• The soldiers were ordered to appear before a disciplinary council on charges of negligence. ^{士兵们被控玩忽职守，被要求接受纪律委员会审查。}
• The accident was the result of negligence. ^{这次事故是由于疏忽所致。}

turn the key in the lock ^{锁门（钥匙转动）}

• I saw Tom put his key in the lock, turn it and open the door. ^{我看见汤姆把钥匙插进锁里，转动钥匙，打开了门。}
• If you can't turn the key, try putting some oil in the lock. ^{如果你转不动钥匙，试着往锁里倒点油。}

She walked slowly into the hall and at once noticed that all the room doors were open, yet following her regular practice she had shut them before going out.

follow one’s regular practice ^{按照某人习惯的做法（常用于非谓语动词）}

• Following my regular practice I write once a month to my son in the States. 
• Make this a regular practice, and you'll start to be happier with your life. ^{把这个作为经常的习惯，那你就对生活感到幸福！}
• Talking of the mode of payment, can you advise mho of your regular practice in this respect? ^{谈到付款方式，您能告诉我你方在这方面的通常作法吗？}

Looking into the drawing room, she saw a scene of confusion over by her writing desk.

look into sth.   ^{investigate or examine sth. 调查或仔细查看}

• I wrote a letter of complaint and the airline has promised to look into the matter. 
• The police are looking into the records of all those involved in the crime.
• The college principal promised to look into the matter. ^{学院院长答应研究这个问题。}

drawing room ^{n. (formal or old-fashioned 老式用法)  a room in a large house in which people relax and guests are entertained 客厅，起居室}

• But they had found it in the drawing room. ^{但他们已经在客厅里找到了它。}
• If they moved in the drawing room, the apple only turned its yellow side. ^{如果他们在客厅走动，苹果只会显露出黄色的一面。}
• Looking into the drawing room, she saw a scene of confusion over by her writing desk. ^{她往起居室里看去，写字台边一片狼籍。}

confusion ^{n. mess; disorder; chaos 混乱}

• Only two stray dogs benefited from all this confusion, for they greedily devoured what was left of the cake.
• Teddy turned to Mona with a look of mild confusion. ^{特迪转向莫娜，脸上带着些许困惑。}
• There followed a long period of confusion and muddle. ^{接下来是很长一段时间的困惑和混乱。}

over ^{adv. across a distance in a particular direction or at a location 在那边}

• He lives over in England.
• The cafe is just across the road over there. ^{咖啡馆就在马路对面那边。}
• ...a light and airy bar with a wonderful view over the river. ^{…一个明亮通风而且看得见优美河景的酒吧。}
• ...a fashionable neighbourhood, just over the river from Manhattan. ^{…一个时尚街区，正好与曼哈顿隔河相望。}

It was as clear as daylight then that burglars had forced an entry during her absence.

as clear as day / daylight / crystal ^{（固定搭配）很明显(显而易见的)}

• It was as clear as daylight then that …
• It was very clear then that … ^普通表达
• His voice came down the line as clear as a bell. ^{他的声音如铃声般清脆地从听筒里传出来。}
• Of course! Don't you see? The answer was right before our eyes all the time, as clear as daylight. ^{当然罗！难道你还不懂？答案一直在我们眼前，与白昼同等清晰啊！}
• And they are as clear as glass. ^{它们像玻璃一样透明。}
• There, I could see the whole of the sky, which was as clear as crystal. ^{在那里，我可以看到整个天空，清澈如水晶一般。}
• The lake is as clear as a bright mirror. ^{湖水清如明镜。}
• I am as clear as the stars that are my brothers^{. 我跟星星一样清醒，它们是我的兄弟。}
• I can remember as clear as day how I wanted to cancel my lesson that morning. ^{我可以非常清晰地记得那天早上我如何想取消我的课程。}

force an entry = break in ^强行闯入

• The police forced an entry into the building. 
• There is no signs of forced entry.
• Masked robbers broke in and made off with $8,000. ^{蒙面盗贼们破门而入偷走了$8000。}
• I have lost the key of my house, so I will have to force an entry. ^{我丢了房间钥匙，因此将不得不破门而入。}

in / during one’s absence ^{不在的时候…}

• while she was away ^{（普通表达）}
• Important decisions were made in your absence. ^{你不在的时候做出了重要决定。}

Her first impulse was to go round all the rooms looking for the thieves, but then she decided that at her age it might be more prudent to have someone with her , so she went to fetch the porter from his basement.

one’s aim / purpose is to ...  ^{主语是要做还没有做的事，表语不定式用 to do 不用doing}

• His aim is to become a successful entrepreneur. ^{他的目标是成为一名成功的企业家。}
• His wish is to see peace restored in the region. ^{他的愿望是看到该地区恢复和平。}
• Her suggestion is to approach the problem from a different angle. ^{她的建议是从不同的角度来解决这个问题。}
• My first reaction was to refuse, but I reconsidered. ^{我的第一反应是拒绝，但我重新考虑了。}

prudent ^{adj. sensible and careful, esp. by trying to avoid unnecessary risks 审慎的，明智的}

• prudent house buyers
•  It is clearly prudent to take all precautions. ^{采取一切防范措施显然是慎重的。}
• I believe it is essential that we act prudently. ^{我认为我们必须谨慎地行事。}

it is prudent (for sb.) to do sth. ^{做某事是很审慎的}

• It would be prudent to save some of the money.
• It might be prudent to get some expert advice first. 
• If ill, it is prudent to delay travel. ^{如果患病，应谨慎地推迟旅行。}
• In its sole discretion, believes that it is prudent to do so. ^{单方面认为这样做是谨慎之举。}

rash ^{adj. 轻率的，鲁莽的，不计后果的}

• Don’t make rash promises.
• Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot. 
•  It would be rash to rely on such evidence. ^{依靠这样的证据太轻率了。}

have (got) sb. with you ^{if you have someone with you, they are present with you 某人与自己在一起}

• Luckily I had a friend with me who spoke German. 
• It was a pleasure to have you with us today. ^{今天能请到你，真让我们感到荣幸。}
• It's a pleasure to have you with us. ^{真高兴你和我们在一起。}

fetch sb. from sth. ^{从…把某人接来，叫来或找来}

• Would you mind going to fetch the kids from school? 
• I have to fetch my mother from the railway station.
• I got up, went to fetch the book from my bedroom and handed it to him. ^{于是我站起来，走进卧室把书取来，交给了他。}

porter ^{n. 含义1：(Br.E.) = doorman (Am.E.) someone whose job is to take care of a building and be present at its entrance in order to help visitors 门房(watchman)}

• The hotel porter will get you a taxi. ^{旅馆的门卫会给你叫出租车的。}
• The hotel manager signed to the porter to pick up my case. ^{旅馆经理示意行李工替我拿箱子。}
• The porter, however, could not understand me. ^{看门人却听不懂我的话。}

porter ^{n. 含义2：a person whose job is to carry things, especially traveler's bags at railway stations, airports, etc. 脚夫，搬运工}

• She gave her luggage to a porter and showed him her ticket.
• Our taxi pulled up at Old Delhi station and a porter sprinted to the door. ^{我们的出租车停在老德里车站，一个搬运工疾步跑向车门。}
• The porter expects a gratuity. ^{那个搬运工想要小费。}

By this time her legs were beginning to tremble, so she sat down and accepted a cup of very strong tea, while he telephoned the police.

be beginning to do ^{渐渐（ing时）开始}

• It was beginning to get dark.
• By now we were beginning to get tired and the rain was falling heavily.
• During the summer, I noticed that the leaves of the tree were beginning to wither.

tremble ^{v.哆嗦；颤动，轻轻摇晃}

• Suddenly, there was a slight trembling sound from below, and the captain went down to see what had happened.
• Lisa was white and trembling with anger. ^{莉萨气得脸色发白，身体颤抖。}
• He felt the earth tremble under him. ^{他感觉大地在脚下颤动。}
• His voice trembled, on the verge of tears. ^{他的声音颤抖着，就要落下泪来。}

strong ^{adj.（饮料、酒等）浓的，烈性的}

• strong coffee / tea / beer …
• Strong coffee or tea late at night may cause sleeplessness. ^{晚上喝浓咖啡或浓茶可能引起失眠。}
• He leaned over her, smelling strongly of sweat. ^{他朝她俯下身来，散发着浓烈的汗味。}

Then, her composure regained, she was ready to set off with the porter's assistance to search for any intruders who might still be lurking in her flat.

keep / maintain one’s composure ^保持镇静

• Despite the stressful situation, he managed to keep his composure. ^{尽管情况紧张，他还是设法保持了镇静。}
• She maintained her composure throughout the entire interview. ^{她在整个面试过程中都保持了镇静。}
• It took him some time to regain his composure after the heated argument. ^{激烈争吵后，他花了一些时间才恢复了镇静。}

独立主格

• Then, her composure was regained, and she was ready to ... 
• Then, her composure regained, she was ready to ...

set off / out ^{动身出发（不强调方式）}

• Four days after setting out, while the Titanic was sailing across the icy waters of the North Atlantic, a huge iceberg was suddenly spotted by a look-out.
• Nichols set off for his remote farmhouse in Connecticut. ^{尼科尔斯启程前往他位于康涅狄格州的偏远农舍。}
• The president's envoy set off on another diplomatic trip. ^{总统特使再次踏上外交之旅。}
• When setting out on a long walk, always wear suitable boots. ^{出发进行长距离徒步时，一定要穿上合适的靴子。}

intruder ^{n. someone who illegally enters a building or area, usually in order to steal sth. 非法入侵者（尤指为行窃）}

• The police think the intruder got in through an unlocked window.
• Armed guards wrestled with the intruder. ^{武装警卫和闯入者扭打起来。}
• He flattened the intruder with a single punch. ^{他一拳就把闯入者打倒在地。}

intrude ^{v.to interrupt someone or become involved in their private affairs in an annoying and unwanted way 打扰，侵扰，干涉（隐私等）}

• I don't wish to intrude, but could I talk to you for a moment? 
• I'm sorry to intrude on you like this. ^{很抱歉这样打扰你。}
• Don't intrude in a family dispute. ^{不要插手别人的家庭纠纷。}

intrude into / on / upon …^侵扰了…

• Employers should not intrude into the private lives of their employees.
• Civil Rights campaigners say the new laws will intrude on people's personal freedom.
• The angry visitor tried to intrude himself into the council meeting. ^{愤怒的来访者试图闯入会场。}

lurk ^{v.to wait somewhere quietly and secretly, usually because you are going to do sth. wrong 潜伏}

• She didn't see the figure lurking behind the bushes.
• Dangers lurk in the path of wilderness. ^{在这条荒野的小路上隐伏着危险。}
• He thought he saw someone lurking above the chamber during the address. ^{他以为他看见有人在演讲时潜藏在了会议室里。}

They went through the rooms, being careful to touch nothing, as they did not want to hinder the police in their search for fingerprints.

go through sth. ^{to search sth. in order to find sth. in particular 搜寻}

• The Officer went through the case with great care. 
• Let's go through the arguments again. ^{咱们再详细研究一下这些论据吧。}
• Go through each file one by one. ^{逐一审查每一个文件。}

search for … ^搜寻目标

• Bad weather is hampering the search for survivors.  
• It is mainly about Sophie's search for her father. ^{它主要讲的是苏菲寻找父亲的故事。}
• Sandy, search for some information about the topic. ^{桑迪，搜索一些关于这个话题的信息。}

in search of … = searching for … ^{（相当于非谓语动词）}

• Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country.
• He ranges far and wide in search of inspiration for his paintings. ^{他四处漫步，寻找绘画的灵感。}
• Refugees run hither and thither in search of safety. ^{难民为寻找安全四处逃奔。}
• The film is a drama about a woman searching for her children. ^{这部电影是关于一个女人寻找她孩子的戏。}

The chaos was inconceivable.

 The chaos was incredible / unbelievable / unimaginable / unthinkable / beyond belief. ^{课文写法替换}

She had lived in the flat for 30 years and was a veritable magpie at hoarding; and it seemed as though everything she possessed had been tossed out and turned over and over.

toss out ^{扔出来、翻出来}

• Toss out as much as possible a relatively small amount. 扔掉尽可能多的量比较少的东西。
• She tossed out my old chair. ^{她把我的旧椅子扔了。}
• What if you tossed out your goals? ^{如果你扔掉所谓的人生目标，又怎么样？}

At least sorting out the things she should have discarded years ago was now being made easier for her.

sort out ^{含义1：to separate one type of thing from another 从…中挑出来}

• I've sorted out the papers that can be thrown away.
• Could you sort out the toys that can be thrown away? ^{你把可以扔掉的玩具挑出来，好吗？}
• How can you sort out the order from the chaos? ^{如何才能从混沌世界中理出头绪来呢？}
• He also offers to "sort out" the deputy's legal problems. ^{他还提议“挑出”对方议员的法律问题。}

sort out ^{含义2：to arrange or organize sth. that is mixed up or untidy, so that it is ready to be used 将…分类整理好}

• We need to sort out our camping gear before we go away. 
• Let's try to sort out the mess. ^{我们来收拾一下残局吧。}
• Davina was sorting out scraps of material. ^{戴维娜正在整理零碎的材料。}

should have done ^{应该做的却没有做}

• You should have declared that. Perfume is not exempt from import duty. 
• Somebody should have told me. ^{应该有人告诉我才是。}
• We should have had a proper discussion before voting. ^{我们本应在表决之前好好讨论一下才是。}

Then a police inspector arrived with a constable and she told them of her discovery of the ransacked flat.

police inspector ^{n. a police officer of middle rank 巡官}

• Boko Haram gunmen also shot a police inspector. ^{武装分子还袭击了一名警察巡查员。}
• She was stopped by a police inspector in a flat hat . ^{一位戴平顶帽的警察巡长挡住了她。}
• Clock time is our bank manager, taxcollector, police inspector; ^{钟面的时间是我们的银行经理，收税人，巡警;}

constable ^{n. a British police officer of the lowest rank  警察}

• Courts and magistrates may be set up but they cannot function without sheriffs and constables. ^{法院和地方法院可以设立，但没有县治安官和乡镇治安官它们便无法运作。}
• By-and-by the constable arrived at a deserted market-square, and proceeded to cross it. ^{后来，警官来到一个空无一人的市集广场，打算穿过它。}
• Perhaps the constable was right.^{也许那个警员是对的。}
• The constable stopped a speeding driver. ^{警察拦住了一个超速行驶的司机。}

tell sb. of sth. ^{(fml.)  describe an event to sb. 向某人讲述某事}

• He told us of his extraordinary childhood.
• He told us of his desire for success. ^{他向我们讲述对成功的期望。}
• He told her of the Sun God and the Rain God, too. ^{他还给她讲太阳神和雨神的故事。}

ransack ^{v. to search a place, making it untidy and causing damage, usually because you are looking for sth. 洗劫}

• The house had been ransacked by burglars.
•  Demonstrators ransacked and burned the house where he was staying. ^{示威者们洗劫并焚烧了他住的那所房子。}
• She ransack my apartment for the bankbook. ^{她在我公寓里到处搜索寻找存折。}

The inspector began to look for fingerprints, while the constable checked that the front door locks had not been forced, thereby proving that the burglars had either used skeleton keys or entered over the balcony.

while ^{conj. 而(用于从句之首，引出与主句内容相对比的信息)}

• One man stayed at the wheel while two others with black stockings over their faces jumped out and smashed the window of the shop with iron bars.
• Most digital camera owners are male, while women prefer film. ^{大部分数码相机的主人都是男性，而女性偏爱用胶卷。}

check ^{v. make sure of sth. by examining or investigating it （用检查或调查的方法）印证、确认某事物}

• It's down to you to check the door. ^{检查门是否关好是你的事。}
• He held up a hypodermic to check the dosage. ^{他举起皮下注射器检查药剂量。}
• Check that your size is in stock. ^{查查你的尺码是不是有货。}

force / pick / break a lock ^撬锁

• The thief forced the lock to get into the house. ^{小偷强行撬开锁进入了房子。}
• He learned how to pick a lock with simple tools. ^{他学会了如何用简单工具撬锁。}
• They had to break the lock when they lost the key. ^{他们丢了钥匙，只好把锁弄坏了。}

thereby ^{adv. (fml.) with the result that sth. else happens 因此，由此（文气的书面语）}

• Regular exercise strengthens the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. 
• This had been dismantled in 1933, thereby breaking the link. ^{这一设施于1933年被拆除，从而切断了（运河间的）联系。}
• This gives you the opportunity to pray for and bless the other, thereby blessing yourself. ^{这给你了一个机会去为他人祈祷和祝福，从而赐福给你自己。}

skeleton key / passkey ^万能钥匙

• The old mansion’s doors could be opened with a skeleton key. ^{这座古老宅子的门可以用万能钥匙打开。}
• They have your passkey number embedded in them. ^{他们使你的总钥匙数字在他们里面埋入。}

There was no trace of fingerprints, but the inspector found a dirty red bundle that contained jewellery which the old lady said was not hers.

trace ^{n. a small sign that shows that sb. or sth. was present or existed 痕迹，踪迹，迹象}

• One day he left, disappeared without a trace. ^{有一天他离开了，消失得无影无踪。}
• I leave no trace and have no friends. ^{我不会留下任何痕迹，而且我也没有朋友。}
• Indeed, Mr. Prance's new device can pick up the trace of a heartbeat from a metre away. ^{事实上，Prance 先生的新设备可以在一米之外捕捉到心跳的痕迹。}

bundle ^{n. parcel, package 包裹}

• She tied the newspapers in a bundle. ^{她把报纸扎成一捆。}
• "Bring me a bundle of sticks," he asked his servant. ^{他对仆人说：“给我拿一捆树枝来。”}
• Aunt Deta has left a bundle for you. ^{迪蒂阿姨给你留了一个包裹。}

【嵌入式定语从句 (Embedded Attributive Clause) 】 ^{既是先行词的后置定语，又是另一个分句结构的宾语。}

• …, but which I did not think I should need on the last stage.

造句：She has an adopted son who she says is an orphan. ^{她有一个养子，这个养子据她讲是个孤儿。}
造句：Aleko suddenly acquired a new lamb which he claimed was bought.  ^{Aleko 突然得到了一只新的羊羔，这只羊羔他声称是买来的。}

• In this part of the cave, they could hear an insistent booming sound which they found was caused by a small waterspout shooting down into a pool from the roof of the cave.
• Turning back down the main street, we quickened our pace and made our way rapidly towards the stream where we hoped the boatman was waiting.
• I hired a car the day after landing and bought a comprehensive book of maps, which I found most helpful on the cross-country journey, but which I did not think I should need on the last stage.

备注：嵌入式定语从句和插入语的区别；插入语去掉之后应对语法没有影响，也对句子含义也没影响

• He’s just published an article which I don’t think is interesting at all. ^{（如果去掉“I don’t think ”对句子含义有影响）}
• I met a man whom I thought was a lunatic. ^{（如果去掉“I thought”对语法有影响）}

So their entry into this flat was apparently not the burglars' first job that day and they must have been disturbed.

entry (into …) ^{进入（…）}

• The children were surprised by the sudden entry of their teacher. ^{老师突然进来把孩子们吓了一跳。}
• It was dark and their entry into the camp had gone unnoticed. ^{夜色昏暗，谁也没有注意到他们进入了军营。}
• He made his triumphal entry into Mexico City. ^{他胜利进入了墨西哥城。}

job ^{n. (infml.) a crime, esp. stealing 作案，罪行}

• an inside job ^内鬼做案
• He got six months for that last job he did.
• The police believe the jewelry heist was an inside job. ^{警方认为这次珠宝盗窃是内部人员作案。}
• They planned the bank job for months before making their move. ^{他们策划了这次银行抢劫好几个月才行动。}
• The gang pulled off a big job last night, stealing millions worth of art. ^{那帮匪徒昨晚成功作案，偷走了价值数百万的艺术品。}

The inspector then asked the old lady to try to check what was missing by the next day, and advised her not to stay alone in the flat for a few nights.

stay alone ^独处

• Mother pandas often let baby pandas stay alone for two days. ^{熊猫妈妈经常让小熊猫单独待两天。}
• He would rather stay alone than gossip with his co-workers in his spare time. ^{他宁愿一个人呆着，也不愿在业余时间和同事们闲聊。}
• Let me not stay alone here, please. ^{请不让我一个人留在这。}

The old lady thought he was a fussy creature, but since the porter agreed with him, she rang up her daughter and asked for her help in what she described as a little spot of bother.

creature ^{(esp. following an adjective) a person, considered in a particular way（尤其用于形容词后）有某种特点的人}

• She was an exotic creature with long red hair and brilliant green eyes. ^{她长着红色长发、明亮碧眼，是个少见的大美人。}
• I am not a selfish creature. ^{我不是一个自私的人。}
• Unhappy creature that I am! ^{我真是个不幸的人！}
• Her mother was such a pretty creature. ^{她母亲是那么一个可爱的美人。}

ring sb. ⇔ up ^{给某人打电话}

• As the cry was repeated several times, she ran to tell the manager who promptly rang up the fire-brigade.
• I’ll ring you up later to confirm the meeting. ^{我稍后打电话给你确认会议。}

help in sth. ^{在某方面帮助}

• Local teachers provided invaluable help in developing the material. 
• He offered to help in organizing the event. ^{他提出帮忙组织活动。}

describe … as … ^描述为...

• He described it as 'a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.'
• She described him as a generous and caring person. ^{她形容他是一个慷慨且关心别人的人。}