——但是看起来好像是个好主意。 我所要做的就是先给发给我这封信的人寄一些钱。 然后他就告诉我怎样去挣更多的钱。
——听起来像是传销。你以前听过那些东西吗？
——传销？是什么？
——它是一个以等级为基础的诡计，像一个金字塔。上层的人向他下面的人要钱，然后告诉他们去向别人要钱并同时把一部分返回给他。
——听起来不错。上面的人得到钱，而且他下面的人也得到钱。
——并不如此。诡计一直玩下去时，底部的人付的钱越来越多，直到他们成为最底部的人。
——那会怎么样？
——不怎么样。底部的人把他们的钱给他们上面的人，他们自己什么也得不到。他们最终遭受损失。这就是为什么它是个诡计的原因。
——我明白了。我想我应该对我看到的要多加小心，尤其是在互联网上的，你都不知道谁是谁。
3. Clever thieves.
Harry: So Kim, have you ever had anything stolen?
Kim: Stolen? No, why?
Harry: My uncle just had his motorcycle stolen a few nights ago. I was just thinking about how clever criminals9 are these days.
Kim: Criminals are clever? They're only successful when people are careless.
Harry: I don't know. The ones who stole my uncle's motorcycle were pretty good.
Kim: If your uncle had an alarm system10, then it wouldn't have happened.
Harry: He did. It was one of the best ones available. But that didn't stop them from disabling11 it. And on a crowded street too.
Kim: Didn't anyone stop them?
Harry: You would think that people would be smart enough to stop something like that. No one knew his motorcycle was being stolen. The thieves came in a truck and convinced everybody that my uncle was parked illegally and they were there to tow12 it away.
Kim: Wow, they were good. I guess criminals aren't that dumb13 after all.
Harry: That's not the end. They were so good that they convinced a bystander14 to help them lift the motorcycle and put it in the truck.
【译文】
——那么，金，你有没有被偷过东西？
——被偷过？没有，问这干什么？
——几天前我叔叔的车被偷了。我在想现在的小偷真是太聪明了。
——小偷聪明？只有当人们粗心时，他们才得手。
——我不清楚。偷我叔叔摩托车的那些小偷很聪明。
——如果你叔叔装了报警系统，那就不会发生这样的事了。
——他有报警器。是能买得到的最好的一种。但它没有阻止小偷偷车，而且还是在人群拥挤的大街上。
——难道没有人阻止他们？
——你认为有人会那么聪明去阻止那种事情。没人知道有人在偷摩托车。小偷坐卡车来的，告诉每个人我叔叔是非法停车，他们去那就是把车拖走。
——喔，他们太绝了。我想罪犯毕竟不是那么哑巴。
——那还没有完。他们伪装得如此好以致于一位旁观者还帮助他们把摩托车抬进卡车。
4. Getting a ticket.
Policeman: Sir, may I please see your license and registration15? Do you know how fast you were going?
Bob: No, I'm not sure. I think about 65 mph, right?
Policeman: You're not sure? You were going at 90 miles per hour! That's 25 mph over the legal speed limit16! Have you been drinking?
Bob: No, Officer, not at all.
Policeman: Then how can you explain your behavior?
Bob: Well, I guess I just wasn't paying attention to the speedometer17.
Policeman: Not paying attention to the speedometer? Why not?
Bob: Um, because I was busy talking to my friend.
Policeman: On a cell phone?
Bob: Yes, I was using a cell phone. I just bought it, so I decided to give my friend a phone call to tell him about it. While I did that I also turned on the radio and was listening to one of my favorite songs, and eating some food I had bought at a fast food restaurant, and, um…… guess I had too many distractions18.
Policeman: That's definitely true. I'm going to have to give you a ticket. Please remember to drive more carefully next time.
【译文】
——先生，我可以看看你的驾照和登记证吗？你知道你开得有多快吗？
——不，我不知道。我想时速大约是65英里，对吗？
——你不知道？你正以90英里的时速行驶！超过法定时速25英里！你在喝酒吗？
——没有，警官，我根本没有喝酒。
——那你怎么解释你的所作所为？
——唔，我想我只是没有注意速度计表。
——没有注意速度计表？为什么没有注意？
——嗯，因为我忙着和朋友谈话。
——用手提电话？
——是的，我在用手提电话。我刚买的，所以我决定给我的朋友打个电话，告诉他这件事。与此同时，我还打开了收音机，正在听一首我特别喜欢听的歌，吃一些我在速食店买的食物，还有，嗯……我想我分心的事太多了。
——肯定是这样了。我要给你一张罚款单。请记住下次开车时要多加小心。
4 Words and Expressions
1. bond 债券;公债
2. stock 股票,股份
3. arrest 逮捕;拘留
4. light sentence 轻的判刑
5. scheme 诡计,阴谋;计划
6. gullible 易受骗的
7. scam 骗钱;阴谋
8. hierarchy 等级制度
9. criminal 罪犯
10. alarm system 报警系统
11. disable 使失去能力,使伤残
12. tow 拖,拉;牵引
13. dumb 哑的,不能说话的
14. bystander 旁观者
15. registration 登记,注册,挂号
16. legal speed limit 法定时速
17. speedometer速度计;里程计
18. distraction 分心, 消遣;散心
