$课文95 纯属虚构
1049. When the Ambassador or Escalopia returned home for lunch, his wife got a shock.
当艾斯卡罗比亚国的大使回到家吃午饭时，把他的夫人吓了一跳。
1050. He looked pale and his clothes were in a frightful state.
他面色苍白，衣服也搞得不成样子。
1051. 'What has happened?' she asked. 'How did your clothes get into such a mess?'
“发生了什么事？”她问，“你的衣服怎么搞得一塌糊涂？”
1052. 'A fire extinguisher, my dear,' answered the Ambassador drily.
“灭火器弄的，亲爱的，”大使冷冷地回答，
1053. University students set the Embassy on fire this morning.
“今天上午大学生们放火点着了大使馆。”
1054. 'Good heavens!' exclaimed his wife. 'And where were you at the time?'
“天啊！”他的夫人惊叫，“那你当时在什么地方？”
1055. 'I was in my office as usual,' answered the Ambassador.
“我和往常一样，在办公室里，”大使回答说。
1056. The fire broke out in the basement. I went down immediately, of course,
“地下室突然着火，我当然马上下去了。
1057. and that fool, Horst, aimed a fire extinguisher at me.
但那个傻瓜霍斯特把灭火器对准了我。
1058. He thought I was on fire.
他认为是我着火了。
1059. I must definitely get that fellow posted.
我一定要把那个家伙打发走。”
1060. The Ambassador's wife went on asking questions, when she suddenly noticed a big hole in her husband's hat.
大使夫人继续提出问题，她突然又发现丈夫的帽子上有个洞。
1061. 'And how can you explain that?' she asked.
“那么你对那又作何解释呢？”她问。
1062. 'Oh, that,' said the Ambassador.
“那个嘛，”大使说，
1063. Someone fired a shot through my office window.
“有人向我办公室窗户开了一枪。
1064. Accurate, don't you think?
真够准的，是不是？
1065. Fortunately, I wasn't wearing it at the time.
幸亏我当时没戴帽子。
1066. If I had been, I would not have been able to get home for lunch.
如果真戴着它，我现在就不能回家来吃午饭了。”
$课文96 亡灵返乡
1067. A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.
日本每年过一次“亡灵节”。
1068. This festival is a cheerful occasion,
这个节日是个欢乐的日子，
1069. for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living.
因为在这一天，据说死去的人要回到他们的家里来，活着的人则对他们表示欢迎。
1070. As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them.
因为预料到他们在经过长途旅行之后会感到饥饿，所以为他们摆放好了食品。
1071. Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.
特制的灯笼挂在各家的门外，为的是帮助亡灵看清道路。
1072. All night long, people dance and sing.
整个夜晚人们载歌载舞。
1073. In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea
一大早，人们便把为死者摆放的食品扔进河中或海里，
1074. as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.
因为人们认为活着的人吃了这些东西是不吉利的。
1075. In towns that are near the sea,
在靠海的城镇中，
1076. the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before,
头天夜里挂在大街小巷的小灯笼
1077. are placed into the water when the festival is over.
在节后就放在了水里。
1078. Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.
成千上万只灯笼慢慢漂向大海，指引着亡灵返回另一个世界。
1079. This is a moving spectacle,
这是一个感人的场面，
1080. for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.
人们成群地伫立在海岸上，注视着灯笼远去，直到再也看不见为止。