Text:
'At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8 o'clock train to London,' said the man.
'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.
'Of course I do,' answered the man. 'I must be at work at 10 o'clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time.'
'Would a later train get you to work on time?' asked the inspector.
'I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.'
'At what time did you arrive at the station?'
'At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.'
'And you -- didn't notice anything unusual?'
'Of course not.'
'I suggest,' said the inspector, 'that you are not telling the truth. I suggest that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train, but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time. You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all. It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.'
Words & Expressions
*alibi /ˈæləbaɪ/ a perfect/cast-iron/unshakeable alibi
--He had a perfect alibi and the police let him go.
*debunk /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/, to show that an idea or belief is false揭穿
--The author attempts to debunk unreal expectations of marriage.
*punctual /ˈpʌŋktʃuəl/, arriving, happening, or being done at exactly the time that has been arranged =on time
--She is always punctual for appointments.
*blatant /ˈbleɪtənt/,something bad that is blatant= is very clear and easy to see, but the person responsible for it does not seem embarrassed or ashamed.公然地
--blatant discrimination
*allergy /ˈælərdʒi/, a medical condition in which you become ill or in which your skin becomes red and painful because you have eaten or touched a particular substance.
--I have an allergy to cats./ a food allergy
*buy your story 相信你的话
--I won't buy your story.
*burn your bridges/boats 自毁长城,自断后路, to do something with the result that you will not be able to return to a previous situation again, even if you want to.
--I’m really tempted to take up that job offer in Washington, but I don’t want to burn my boats with this company.
*somebody’s mind goes blank=somebody’s mind is a blank一片空白
--For some inexplicable reason, her mind went completely blank.
Pronunciation
*employer /ɪmˈplɔɪər/
*murder /ˈmɜːrdər/
*London /ˈlʌndən/
*ask /æsk/
*course /kɔːrs/
*answer/ˈænsər/
*perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/