找壹篇適合朗讀的英語短文

Why does the vicar refuse to cut down the tree? 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 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! 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 參考譯文 據說弗林利這個小村裏有壹棵“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。該樹是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近幾年才得到了壹個壞名聲。據說，誰要是觸摸了這棵樹，誰就會交上惡運；如果誰摘了壹片樹葉，誰就會死去。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。他指出，由於人們從全國各地紛紛前來參觀這棵樹，它成了壹個有用的財源。盡管有上述種種說法，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，還沒有壹個人暴死呢！ 我覺得還不錯！