HannahLin的ScalersTalk第四轮新概念朗读持续力训练Day 87 20190102

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'At the time the murder was committed, I was traveling on the 8.0 o'clock train to London,' said the man.

'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.

'Of course I do,' answered the man.' I must be at work at 10.0 o'clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time.'

' Would a later train get you to work on time ?' asked the inspector.

' I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.'

'At what time did you arrive at the station ?'

'At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.'

'And you didn't notice anything unusual ?'

' Of course not.'

'I suggest,' said the inspector, 'that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the 8.0 o'clock train, but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time. You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8.0 o'clock train did not run at all. It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.'

任务配置：

L0+L1+L2+L4

alibi

['æl.ɪ.baɪ]nouncountable

■proof that someone who is thought to have committed a crime could not have done it, especially the fact or statement that they were in another place at the time it happened（尤指没有犯罪时间的）不在犯罪现场的证据

•He has acast-iron(= very strong)alibi- he was in hospital the week of the murder.他有不在犯罪现场的铁证——谋杀发生的那一周他在住院。

■an excuse for something bad or for a failure借口，托辞

•After eight years in power, the government can no longer use the previous government's policy as analibifor its own

failure.本届政府已经执政八年，面对自己的失败，它再不能拿前任政府的政策作挡箭牌了。

2. murder：the crime of killing sb. deliberately

在法律上称为homicide，凶器是murder weapon; 大屠杀mass murder

还有一个意思是：[U] (informal) used to describe sth that is difficult or unpleasant

• 困难的事；讨厌的事:

»It's murder trying to get to the airport at this time of day.

这个时候要赶到机场简直要命。

»It was murder(= very busy and unpleasant) in the office today.

今天办公室里忙乱得要命。