Lesson 58 A blessing in disguise

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 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!

据说弗林利这个小村里有一棵“该诅咒的树”。就因为报上提到过这棵树，所以现在来弗林利参观的人越来越多。该树是50年前栽在教堂附近的，但只是近几年才得到了一个坏名声。据说，谁要是触摸了这棵树，谁就会交上恶运；如果谁摘了一片树叶，谁就会死去。很多村民相信此树已经害了不少人。人们曾请求教区的牧师叫人把树砍掉，但他直到现在也没有同意。他指出，由于人们从全国各地纷纷前来参观这棵树，它成了一个有用的财源。尽管有上述种种说法，但游客们还是照常摘树叶和把他们的名字刻在树干上。然而到目前为止，还没有一个人暴死呢！

Grammar

1. It is +p.p.+ that

2. 现在完成时的被动语态

常见的It is +过去分词+that的存在形式有：It is said that .... 据说；It is reported that .... 据报道; It is decided that .... 根据决定; It is believed that .... 人们相信; It is supposed that .... 据推测说; It is well-known that .... 众所周知

Exercise

1. __________thathe has been down by heart disease.

A. It was said         B. It is said

C. It was saying      D. It is saying

2. It was reported that many people  __________in the city last month.

A. had lost   B. lost   C. have lost   D. lose

解析：

1.本题考查It is said that的句型，根据题目后半句时态为现在完成时，所以需要使用：It is said that, 故答案为B。

2.本题考查的是动词时态：It was reported为一般过去时，所以后面为过去完成时。答案：A。