人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT7-1

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1)

E: Ebenezer Scrooge                         S: Santa Claus                    B: Bob Cratchit
F: Fred, Scrooge's nephew               Ca: A gentleman
(In Scrooge's office. Bob tries to warm his hands over the candle.)
E: What are you doing there, Bob?
B: I'm warming my hands, Mr Scrooge. It's so cold in here.
E: Am I paying you 15 shillings¹ a week for warming your hands?
B: I'm freezing, Mr Scrooge. Frost stands on the windows. My hands are too cold to write. I can't even read my own handwriting.
E: Too cold to write. Humbug²! If you were working harder, you wouldn't be cold. Just put on your overcoat. If I hear another word from you, you will go where it is really cold.
B: Excuse me, Mr Scrooge, eh ... tomorrow it's Christmas.
E: So what? You'll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose?
B: If quite convenient, sir.
E: It's not convenient, and it's not fair. I have to pay you a whole day's wages for no work at all.
B: It's only Christmas once a year, Mr Scrooge.
E: That's a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December! Anyway, I suppose I will have to let you have it. But make sure to be early in the office the day after! Now, who's here? It's my nephew Fred.
(A young man comes in.)
F: A Merry Christmas, Uncle! God save you!
E: Bah! Humbug!
F: Christmas a humbug, Uncle? You don't mean that, I'm sure!
E: I do. Merry Christmas! What reason do you have to be merry? You are poor enough.
F: Well. What reason have you not to be merry? You are rich enough.
E: Bah! Humbug!
F: Please, Uncle. That's not kind.
E: Nephew, you celebrate Christmas in your own way, and let me celebrate it in mine!
F: Celebrate it, yes! But you don't celebrate it.
E: No. Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you! But you must admit that it hasn't, so far! Look how poor you are!
F: There are many things that do me good without bringing in profits. Christmas time is a good time. It's the only time of the year when one does not only think about oneself, but when men and women open their hearts freely³ and think of other people. So, although it has never put a piece of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good. I say, God bless it! Come! Have dinner with us tomorrow.
(Bob applauds⁴.)
E: Stop that foolish clapping! Let me hear another sound from you, and you'll celebrate Christmas by losing your position!
(Fred leaves. A gentleman comes in.)
G: Scrooge and Marley's, I believe. Are you Mr Scrobge or Mr Marley?
E: Scrooge is the name. My partner died seven years ago, this very night.
G: At this festive⁵ season of the year, Mr Scrooge, when many of us enjoy abundant⁶ comfort, we would like to ask you to open your heart to the poor, whose sufferings are great. Many thousands are in want of basic needs: hundreds of thousands are in want of basic comforts, sir.
E: Are there no prisons? And Union work houses?
G: There are plenty of prisons, but they cannot provide warmth. We are raising money to buy the poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. Do you wish to make a contribution?
E: No. I can't afford to make idle⁷ people merry. Prisons and places like. that cost honest taxpayers⁸ like me enough: and those who are badly off must go there.
G: Many can't go there: and many would rather die.
E: If they would rather die. they had better do it. Personally, I don't care. It's not my business. My business occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen! (They all leave.) Good. They're all gone.
(Scrooge falls asleep.)
S: Ho, ho, ho!
E: What humbug is this? Bob, is that you? Who's there?
S: Ho, ho, ho. Scrooge, my man. It's just the two of us.
E: Who are you and what is your business? And make it short, because it's time to close up.
S: Your welfare, my dear Scrooge! Don't worry about the time. We have plenty of it. Ho, ho, ho.

1 shillings   

n.先令（英国1971年以前的货币单位，为一镑的二十分之一）( shilling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The charge for labor works out at almost ten shillings an hour. 付给工人的费用算下来每小时差不多十先令。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I will venture five shillings on it. 我愿为它赌五先令。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

3 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

4 applauds   

v.鼓掌( applaud的第三人称单数 )；称赞，赞许

参考例句：

• Immediately, he and the partner gate applauds mutually, happily jumped in once. 顿时，他和伙伴门互相击掌，一齐高兴地跳了起来。 来自互联网
• The program performs very wonderfully, person present all applauds wildly. 节目表演得很精彩，在场的人都热烈鼓掌。 来自互联网

5 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

6 abundant   

adj.丰富的，充足的，大量的，多的

参考例句：

• Shandong province is famous for its abundant agricultural resources.山东省以其丰富的农业资源而闻名遐迩。
• China is abundant with natural resources.中国自然资源丰富。

7 idle   

adj.空闲的，闲置的；无用的；懒散的；v.空费

参考例句：

• Mike doesn't study at all.Instead,he sits idle all day.迈克根本不肯读书，相反地，他终日游手好闲。
• How much trouble in this life is caused by idle talk!生活中有多少麻烦不都是由闲谈引起的么！

8 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。