The First Visitor · 第一個客人 · A Christmas Carol · Traditional Mandarin · HSK 3

史古基房間裡的鐘響了。房門突然打開。他一聽見聲音，就馬上看過去。他看見一個可怕的透明人走進來。那是死去的馬裡。馬裡的身上有很多沉重的鐵鍊，還有很大的鐵箱子。史古基不敢相信自己的眼睛。他發現馬裡的臉非常可怕。

馬裡對史古基說：「你看看我身上的鐵鍊！你必須改變你現在的生活。如果你不改變，你會跟我一樣痛苦。」史古基覺得很冷。馬裡又說：「會有三個幽靈來看你。你必須聽他們的話！」說完，馬裡就不見了。史古基記得馬裡的話，但是他不想相信。

半夜一點，鐘又響了。鐘一響，第一個幽靈就出現了。幽靈很亮，像一個小孩。史古基非常害怕。幽靈看著史古基，對他說：「起來！跟我走！」幽靈帶他飛出房間，飛到他以前住過的地方。

他們來到一所學校。這是史古基以前念書的學校。他記得這個地方的每一個故事。他發現學校裡沒有人。後來，他看見一個男孩坐在教室裡。那是小時候的自己。別的小孩都回家了，只有他自己一個人在這裡。史古基看著那個男孩，忍不住哭了。他看著自己的過去。他想起很多難過的故事，在安靜的學校裡一直哭。

語法 · Grammar

As soon as... then... (一...就...)

Subject + 一 + Event 1，就 + Event 2

This structure connects two actions that happen in quick succession. The second event occurs immediately after the first event is completed.

他一聽見聲音，就馬上看過去。As soon as he heard the sound, he immediately looked over.

鐘一響，第一個幽靈就出現了。As soon as the clock rang, the first ghost appeared.

Continuous State with 著

Verb + 著

Adding 著 after a verb indicates that the action or state is ongoing. In this passage, it describes someone holding a gaze or looking continuously.

幽靈看著史古基。The ghost was looking at Scrooge.

他看著自己的過去。He was looking at his own past.

練習二 · Matching

Match each Chinese word to its English meaning.

1.改變

2.害怕

3.發現

4.以前

5.故事

a.to discover / to realize

b.story

c.to change

d.to be afraid

e.in the past / previously

1-c · 2-d · 3-a · 4-e · 5-b

譯文 · Translation

The clock in Scrooge's room rang. The door suddenly opened. As soon as he heard the sound, he immediately looked over. He saw a terrifying transparent person walk in. That was the dead Marley. On Marley's body were many heavy iron chains, as well as a large iron box. Scrooge could not believe his own eyes. He realized Marley's face was extremely terrifying.

Marley said to Scrooge: "Look at the iron chains on my body! You must change your current life. If you do not change, you will be in as much pain as I am." Scrooge felt very cold. Marley also said: "There will be three ghosts coming to see you. You must listen to what they say!" After finishing speaking, Marley disappeared. Scrooge remembered Marley's words, but he did not want to believe them.

At one o'clock in the middle of the night, the clock rang again. As soon as the clock rang, the first ghost appeared. The ghost was very bright, like a child. Scrooge was extremely afraid. The ghost looked at Scrooge and said to him: "Get up! Come with me!" The ghost took him flying out of the room, flying to the place he previously lived.

They arrived at a school. This was the school where Scrooge previously studied. He remembered every story about this place. He realized there was no one in the school. Later, he saw a boy sitting in a classroom. That was himself when he was a child. The other children had all gone home, only he himself was here alone. Scrooge looked at that boy, and could not help but cry. He looked at his own past. He remembered many sad stories, and cried continuously in the quiet school.