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91_Three_Men_in_a_Basket

91 Three Men in a Basket

A pilot noticed a balloon (which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force station nearby). He informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery. The officer (in the control tower) was very angry when he heard the news, because balloons can be a great danger to aircraft. He said that someone might be spying on the station and the pilot was ordered to keep track ofthe strange object. The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time. He could make out three men in a basket under it and one of them was holding a pair of binoculars. When the balloon was over the station, the pilot saw one of the men taking photographs. Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airfield. The police were called in, but they could not arrest anyone, for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station! As the Commanding Officer explained later, one half of the station did not know what the other half was doing!

一个飞行员发现了一只气球，它像是正飞往附近的一个皇家空军基地。他马上把情况报告了该基地，但那里的人没有一个能解释这到底是怎么回事。 控制塔上的官员得知这一消息后，非常气愤，因为气球有可能给飞机造成极大的危险。 他说可能有人正对基地进行侦察，因此命令那个飞行员跟踪那个奇怪的飞行物。飞行员设法绕着气球飞了一阵。 他看清了气球下面有3个人呆在一只筐里，其中一个举着望远镜。当气球飞临基地上空时，飞行员看见有一个人在拍照。 不久，气球开始降落，在一个停机坪附近着了陆。警察被召来了，但他们却不能逮捕任何人， 因为筐里是两名国会议员和一名基地的指挥官！正如指挥官后来解释的那样，基地的这半边不知道那半边正在干什么！

Words

  • pilot /ˈpaɪlət/ 飞行员
  • balloon /bəˈlun/ n. 气球
    1. balloons.（L90 L85）
    2. The children expressed their gratitude to the man who sent the balloons.（L84）
    3. It is known that Leo sent these balloons to the children.（L82）
  • for /fɔr/ 走向
  • Royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ Air /ɛr/ Force /fɔrs/ adj. 英国空军
    1. Royal Air Force Station…
    2. It comes as a surprise to learn that the royal palace was burnt down last night.（L90 L71）
    3. When they saw their kid’s “royal palace”, they all burst out laughing.（L89）
  • spying /ˈspaɪɪŋ/ v. 监视
    1. He changed into all black clothes and spied on Lucy.（L81）
    2. He has spied on that man for two weeks.
    3. I need to spy on her, and we’re running out of food.
    4. Please go and get some.（L88）
  • keep /kip/ track /træk/ of /ʌv/ n. 跟踪
    1. How do you keep track of time if you don't wear a watch?
    2. As a doctor, Brooks has to keep track of the latest developments in medicine.
    3. I can keep track of things without using a computer.（L20）
  • make /mek/ out /aʊt/ 辨别
  • binoculars /bəˈnɑkjəlɚz/ n. 双筒望远镜
    1. Armed with my binoculars, we went to see a football game.（L55）
    2. The things that he saw through his binoculars were top secrets.
    3. Why do you carry your binoculars to a comedy show?（L89）

Expressions

  • spy on sb./sth. 暗中监视某人/某物
  • keep track of 跟踪；记录
  • seem to be doing ... 似乎正在做……
    1. The brakes don't seem to be working.
    2. They seem to be telling a story right now.（L27）
    3. You seem to be taking a risk.（L44）
  • make for sw. 朝某地前进
    1. We should have made for the bank of the river.（L65）
    2. He was able to make for the car in the end.
    3. I can read most of this, but I can't make out the last part.
    4. Can you?
    5. I can't make out your writing.
    6. If we turn it up, we may be able to make out what they're saying.
  • make out… 辨认出……
  • soon afterwards 不久之后
  • be called in... 被召来……
    1. The FBI has been called in to investigate.
    2. As the police could not keep order in the city, the military were called in to help.（L13）