Lesson 58 A blessing in disguise? 是因禍得福嗎？ First listen and then answer the question. 聽錄音，然後回答以下問題：Why does the vicar refuse to cut down the tree?
聽三遍錄音，然後對照附文再聽一遍，尤其是剛才沒有聽懂的句子，要特別留意。
【原文】A blessing in disguise?
The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a cursed tree. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased. The tree was planted near the church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims. The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused. He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!
【譯文】A blessing in disguise? 是因禍得福嗎？
The tiny village of Frinley is said to possess a cursed tree. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased.
據說弗林利這個小村裡有一棵“該詛咒的樹”。就因為報上提到過這棵樹，所以現在來弗林利參觀的人越來越多。
The tree was planted near the church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil reputation. It is said that if anyone touches the tree, he will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will die.
該樹是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近幾年才得到了一個壞名聲。據說，誰要是觸摸了這棵樹，誰就會交上惡運；如果誰摘了一片樹葉，誰就會死去。
Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims. The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down, but so far he has refused.
很多村民相信此樹已經害了不少人。人們曾請求教區的牧師叫人把樹砍掉，但他直到現在也沒有同意。
He has pointed out that the tree is a useful source of income, as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.
他指出，由於人們從全國各地紛紛前來參觀這棵樹，它成了一個有用的財源。
In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death!
儘管有上述種種說法，但遊客們還是照常摘樹葉和把他們的名字刻在樹幹上。然而到目前為止，還沒有一個人暴死呢！
【New words and expressions 生詞和短語】
blessing n. 福分，福氣
disguise n. 偽裝
tiny adj. 極小的
possess v. 擁有
cursed adj. 可恨的
increase v. 增加
plant v. 種植
church n. 教堂
evil adj. 壞的
reputation n. 名聲
claim v. 以......為其後果
victim n. 受害者，犧牲品
vicar n. 教區牧師
source n. 來源
income n. 收入
trunk n. 樹幹
注意:課文中有許多被動語態的使用。
