星期三的晚上, 我们去了市政厅.
It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people
had gathered under the Town Hall clock.
那是一年的最后一天, 一大群人聚集在市政厅的大钟下面.
It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time.
再过20分钟, 大钟将敲响12下.
Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock
stopped. 15分钟过去了, 而就在11点55分时,大钟停了.
The big minute hand did not move. We waited and waited,
but nothing happened.
那根巨大的分针不动了. 我们等啊等啊, 可情况没有变化.
Suddenly someone shouted. 'It's two minutes past twelve!
The clock has stopped!
'突然有人喊道: “已经12点零2分了! 那钟已经停了!”
I looked at my watch. It was true.
我看了一下我的手表, 果真如此.
The big clock refused to welcome the New Year.
那座大钟不愿意迎接新年.
At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.
此时, 大家已经笑了起来, 同时唱起了歌.
【Text】A cold welcome
On Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall. It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall clock. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time. Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped. The big minute hand did not move. We waited and waited, but nothing happened. Suddenly someone shouted. 'It's two minutes past twelve! The clock has stopped!' I looked at my watch. It was true. The big clock refused to welcome the New Year. At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.
[参考译文]一次冷待
星期三的晚上, 我们去了市政厅. 那是一年的最后一天, 一大群人聚集在市政厅的大钟下面. 再过20分钟, 大钟将敲响12下. 15分钟过去了, 而就在11点55分时, 大钟停了. 那根巨大的分针不动了. 我们等啊等啊, 可情况没有变化. 突然有人喊道 : “已经12点过2分了!那钟已经停了!” 我看了一下我的手表,果真如此. 那只大钟不愿意迎接新年. 此时, 大家已经笑了起来, 同时唱起了歌.
