Put the pictures in the order you think they appear in the story.
將圖片按其在小說中的出現順序排列。
【點撥】 in the order “按…順序排列”。 “order”的具體用法如下：
1.order 用做名詞，意為“次序”“命令”“訂購（物）”等，主要熟記下列短語用法：
in (good)order （井然）有序的
out of order 雜亂無章的；（機器等）出毛病的，不工作的
in order to do/ in order that 為了…
keep order 維持秩序
in short order = 立刻，馬上
under the order of 受…指揮
place an order of sth. with somebody /at some place 同…訂購…
2. order 動詞，意為“命令”“訂購”“點菜”等
e.g. The doctor ordered him to stay in bed for a couple of days.大夫囑咐他臥床一兩天。
The manager ordered that the gate (should) be locked. 經理囑咐大門要鎖好。
You can order tickets by telephone.可以電話訂票。
He ordered a cup of coffee.他要了一杯咖啡。
注意：作為“命令”的意思，后面連接賓語從句，從句中使用虛擬語氣should +do 其中should也可以省略（見上面第二個例句）。
Listening
You will hear some dialogues that take place during her party.
你將會聽到在她生日舞會上發生的一些對白。
【點撥】1. take place 作“發生”解時詞義與happen大致相同，但它更多用于事先計劃或預想到的事情，沒有“偶然”的含義。
e.g. Great changes have taken place in the last two years in China.
2. happen 作“發生”解是普通用詞，詞義較廣泛，用于客觀事物或情況的發生或出現，可用于有明顯起因或偶然發生的事物或出乎意料的事物。
e.g. It happened in the evening as people were traveling home.
3. come about意思是“發生”，“造成”強調事物發生和形成的成因。
e.g. How did this accident come about ?
這個事故是怎么發生的？
4．break out “（戰爭，災難等）發生”
e.g. World War II broke out in 1939.
二戰發生在1939年。
【點撥】注意要區別“take place”與“take the place”的用法，“take the place”是“取代，代替”的意思，有 “take the place of” “take one’s place” 兩種表達.
e.g. Mr. Black was ill. So I took his place to attend the meeting.
在英語中類似這樣有無冠詞the，意義不同的情況比較多，要求學生們引起重視，例如：
at table 就餐 at the table 在桌子邊
in hospital 住院 in the hospital 在醫院里
in prison 坐牢 in the prison 在監獄里
go to bed 去睡覺 go the to bed 向床邊走去
go to church 做禮拜 go to the church 到教堂去
Speaking
How did Godfrey feel when Rachel turned him down？
當Rachel拒絕Godfrey（的求婚）時，他是怎么想的？
【點撥】 turn … down 是“拒絕…（的計劃，提議等）”和“把…關小”的意思
e.g. My suggestion was turned down .
我的建議被推翻了。
Too noisy , could you turn the radio down .
太吵了，把收音機關小點，好嗎？
要求學生們能夠熟記和運用下列“turn”的短語
turn away 拿走，移開… turn back 返回，折回頭
turn in 上交 turn on 打開
turn off 關閉 turn out 結果是…
turn sb. over 移交 turn to sb. 求助于…
Turn up 到達，把…..開大點
How do the characters in the story react ?
故事中的人物做出什么反應？
【點撥】 react 意思為“做出反應”。
e.g. How did he react when you told him about it?
你告訴他，他反應如何？
react against “反抗”
e.g. He reacted his father’s influence by running away.
他以逃跑的方式來反抗父親的影響力。
How did Rachel feel about losing her diamond?
Rachel對丟失寶石有什么看法？
【點撥】How do you feel…?
=How do you like…?
=How do you find…?
=What do you think of…?
都是用來詢問對方對某事的看法或觀點，意思是“你認為……怎么樣”？這里應該注意how/what與動詞的搭配,不要用錯了。
Reading
The novel THE MOONSTONE is set in England in 1848.
小說《月亮寶石》以1848年的英國為背景。
【點撥】be set in 意為“以……為背景”
e.g. The story is set in the early days of World War II.
這個故事以二戰早期為背景。
…brought it back with him to London.
他把它帶回倫敦。
【點撥】bring sth. back. 意為“把…帶回來；回憶起”
bring sb. back. to life/health 使某人恢復生命或健康
e.g. Please bring all the library books back by the end of the week.
請你在周末前把圖書館的書全部歸還。
e.g. Your care brought Tom back to health.
你的細心照料使湯姆恢復了健康。
熟記以下由bring構成的短語：
bring sth. along with sb. 攜帶…
bring …down 使…倒下；降價
bring sb. down 打跨/擊敗某人
bring in 引進；提出；賺錢
bring sb. up 撫養；培育
bring sth. up 抬價；嘔吐
The diamond was cursed. 寶石被詛咒。
【點撥】curse ①.動詞 “詛咒；咒罵”
e.g. He hit his head as he stood up and cursed loudly.
他站起來時撞了頭，便破口大罵。
e.g. He cursed her bad luck.
他詛咒自己運氣不好。
“be cursed with…” “為…之苦；受…之害”
e.g. She seemed to be cursed with bad luck.
她好像運氣不佳，連連遭殃。
②.名詞 “咒罵”“咒語”“禍根”，常用短語有：
under a curse 遭受咒語
be a curse of… …的禍根
e.g. The family thought that they were under a curse.
這家人認為受別人咒罵而遭殃。
Noise is a curse of modern city life.
噪音是現代城市生活的一大禍根。
The man lived a sad, lonely life without friends or family.
那個人過著沒有朋友和家人的悲痛、孤獨的生活。
【點撥】live a…life = lead a … life = have a …life 意思是“過著…的生活”
e.g. Mahilde had a hard life for ten years.
瑪帝爾德十年來過著艱辛的生活。
When he died he left the Moonstone to his sister’s daughter, Rachel, in an act of revenge, passing on his bad fortune to her. 當他死后，他把他的惡運連同月亮寶石一起報復性的留給他姐姐的女兒--- Rachel。
【點撥】revenge ①.名詞 “報復，報仇”
take one’s revenge on sb. “報復某人”
e.g. He swore to take his revenge on his political enemies.
他發誓要報復他的政敵。
be in revenge for
e.g. The bombing is in revenge for the American rule in Iraq.
爆炸事件是對美國在伊拉克統治的報復。
② 動詞 “報復/仇”，其用法為 “revenge oneself on sb.”
或者“be revenged on sb.”意思是“向某人報仇”
e.g. He was later revenged on his wife’s killer.
= He revenged himself on his wife’s killer.
他向殺死他妻子的人報仇。
這里不可以說 He revenged her wife’s death. 即使用 “revenge sth.”是錯的。
【點撥】pass on sth. to sb.把…傳遞給…
e.g. Pass the book on to me when you have finished it.
在你看完這本書后，請把它傳給我。
pass on 去世（婉轉說法）
e.g. Tom passed on last year. 湯姆去年就去世了。
They worked together on it. 他們一起致力于這件工作。
【點撥】 辨析 “work on” 與 “work at”
“work on”是“致力于…”的意思，強調做出努力；
“work at”是“做…工作”的意思，指做事情
e.g. I haven’t found out her name, but I’m working on it.
我還沒有找出她的名字，不過我在盡力。
e.g. He is working at Chinese.
他在學習漢語。
His move to quit smoking cigars to please her is seen by the servants as evidence that he is in love with Rachel. 他戒煙而去取悅于她的舉動被仆人們發現，并作為他深愛上Rachel的證據。
【點撥】move 在這里是名詞，意思是“舉止，行動”，另外，還有“搬家”，“（游戲或棋牌中的）一步，一著”的意思。
e.g. He was watching my every move. 他在監視我的一舉一動。
Don’t make a move, or I’ll shoot. 別動，否則我開槍了。
Come on, it’s you move. 快，該你出牌（走）了。
move 還有動詞詞性，意為“移動，走動，改變位置”，“搬家”，“使感動”等
e.g. I could someone moving around downstairs.
我聽到有人在樓下走動。
Could you please move your car, please?
請把汽車挪動一下，好嗎？
I moved house three times last year.
去年我搬了三次家。
His story moved me.
他的故事感動了我。
【點撥】辨析： “moved”與 “moving” ;
“moved”是“被感動的”意思；“moving”“令人感動的”意思。
e.g. I was moved by his moving story.
我被他的動聽的故事打動了。
【點撥】be in love with sb. （狀態）與某人相愛
fall in love with sb. （動作）愛上某人
e.g. He fell in love with her at their meeting.
他對她一見鐘情。
Tom is in love with Rose for three years.
Tom與Rose相愛三年了。
All the guests are all astonished by its size and rare beauty.
所有的來賓都被它（寶石）的尺寸和稀有的漂亮所驚奇。
【點撥】這里的astonished是過去分詞，作表語
分詞做表語有兩種情況，一種是現在分詞做表語，一種是過去分詞做表語，這兩者區別是考試中經常考到的地方。一般來說，表示心理狀態的動詞如astonish，excite，interest等都是及物動詞，漢語意思不是“驚奇”、“激動”，“高興”，而是“使驚奇”“使激動”、“使高興”，因而現在分詞應該是“令人驚奇的”、“令人激動的”、“令人高興的”；過去分詞則是“感到驚奇的”“感到激動的”和“感到高興的”。所以，凡表示“令人……的”都是-ing形式，凡是表示“感到……”都用-ed形式。換句話說，若人對……感興趣，就是somebody is interested in...,若人/物本身有興趣時，就是說sb./sth. is interesting.這類詞常見的有：
interesting 使人感到高興 interested 感到高興的
exciting 令人激動的 excited 感到激動的
delighting 令人高興的 delighted 感到高興的
disappointing令人失望的 disappointed感到失望的
encouraging令人鼓舞的 encouraged 感到鼓舞的
pleasing 令人愉快的 pleased 感到愉快的
puzzling 令人費解的 puzzled 感到費解的
satisfying 令人滿意的 satisfied 感到滿意的
surprising 令人驚異的 surprised 感到驚異的
worrying 令人擔心的 worried 感到擔心的
Travelling is interesting but tiring． 旅行是有趣的，但是使人疲勞。
The pupils will get confused if they are made to learn too much．
如果要學生學得太多，他們會感到糊涂的。
The argument is very convincing． 他的論點很令人信服。
They were very excited at the news． 聽到這個消息，他們非常激動。
Is it coincidence or is it the Moonstone’s bad luck that causes tension and strange things that happen during the rest of the evening?
是一種巧合還是月亮寶石的惡運導致生日晚宴的緊張和奇怪事情發生的呢？
【點撥】這里使用了強調句式的一般疑問句形式，對主語“coincidence和the Moonstone’s bad luck”進行強調；另外，“that happen during the rest of the evening”從句作“tension and strange things”的定語。
【點撥】cause在這里是動詞，是“導致，引起”的意思。
e.g. What caused his illness? 他的病是什么原因引起的？
His illness caused him to miss the game? 他因病不能參加比賽。
cause還可做名詞：
① “原因，起因，理由” cause與reason作名詞時都有“原因”和“理由”的意思。reason通常指產生某種行為或想法的推理上的理由，而cause通常指導致某一事件發生并且有后果的起因。reason常和for連用，而cause常和of連用。
e.g. The cause of the fire is still unknown .
這場大火的起因還不知道呢。
Please give me your reason for absence .
請你把缺席的理由告訴我。
② “事業，目標”
e.g. She’s committed to the cause of nuclear disarmament.
她獻身于廢除核武器的事業。
【點撥】 the rest（of）表示“剩余、其余”，其用法也有二：
a) of后面可接單數、復數及不可數名詞，相應的謂語動詞的單復數取決于of后面所跟的名詞。
b) 如果the rest表示的是剩下的東西，則謂語動詞用單數；如果表示的是其余的，特別指人時，其謂語動詞應該用復數。
例：The majority of students went to the lab, the rest are staying in the classroom.（多數學生去了實驗室，其余的人留在教室。）
e.g. The rest of the students are here.
The rest of the work is done.
the rest of 的用法與２／３，一半，８０％＋ of 的結構一致， of 后面為可數名詞復數時用復數謂語動詞，為不可數名詞或可數名詞單數時用單數謂語動詞。這樣用法還有 lots of， a lot of， plenty of。
Dr. Candy ,the local doctor, offers to write him a prescription for some medicine.
當地的Dr. Candy醫生為他開了藥方。
【點撥】 offer 作動詞，①“提供；提出”的意思，常用“offer sb. sth. for…”
e.g. He offered me 300 dollars for that television.
他出300美元向我買那部電視機。
I must offer them an apology for not going to attend their get-gathering.
我沒有去出席他們的聚會,必須向他們示歉意。
② 與to連用；表示“愿意；試圖;主動干…”
e.g. offer to go 自愿前往
offer 還可作名詞，有 “提議; 出價；報盤”的意思
e.g. an offer of ￡100 出價100 英鎊
Thank you for your offer of help. 感謝你提供的幫助。
Troubled by the loss of such a valuable jewel, Rachel’s mother hires the famous detective Sergeant Cuff to investigate the theft.
由于這么昂貴的珠寶的丟失，Rachel的母親雇傭了一個著名偵探Sergeant Cuff去調查這起偷竊事件。
【點撥】 “Troubled by the loss of such a valuable jewel”是分詞在句首作原因狀語。
分詞作狀語放在句子開頭，除表示原因之外有時表示時間或條件：
e.g. Reading attentively，he forgot the time for lunch．
由于在專心讀書，他忘了吃午飯的時間。(原因)
Reading carefully，he found something he had not known before．
他仔細讀書時，發現了一些從前不知道的東西。(時間)
Reading carefully，you'll learn something new．
只要你仔細閱讀，你會學到一些新的東西。(條件)
現在分詞與過去分詞作狀語的區別：
現在分詞做狀語與過去分詞做狀語的最主要區別在于兩者與所修飾的主語的主動與被動關系的區別。
1）現在分詞作狀語時，分詞的動作就是句子主語的動作，它們之間的關系是主動關系。
e.g. Not knowing what to do, he went to his parents for help.
由于不知如何辦是好，他去找父母幫忙。
2）過去分詞作狀語時，分詞表示的動作是句子主語承受的動作，它們之間的關系是被動關系。
e.g. Given more attention, the trees could have grown better.
如果對這些樹多關心一些，它們本來會長得更好。
e.g. Faced with difficulties, we must try to overcome them.
在遇到困難的時候，我們必須設法克服。
He finds out that they are not real entertainers, but religious followers of the moon god.
他發現他們不是真正的藝人，而是月亮神的宗教追隨者。
【點撥】 not...but… “不是…而是…”并列連詞，連接兩個并列成分。
當連詞or， either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, not...but, there be 等連接兩個并列not...but主語時，謂語的數與最靠近它的主語保持一致。
e.g. Not he but Jane and Mary have been invited to the party.
【點撥】entertainer 名詞，“藝人，表演者”
entertainment名詞，“娛樂，文娛表演”
entertaining 形容詞，“使人愉快的；有趣的”
entertain 動詞，“給人快樂；使人感興趣”“招待；款待”
Did Dr Candy or Godfrey take the Moonstone as revenge for loss of face?
Candy 和 Godfrey會拿走月亮寶石作為對他們失面子的報復嗎？
【點撥】take…as…是“把…當作…”的意思，英語中還有下列一些短語表示此意。
consider… as… treat…as…
regard … as… love…as…
look on/upon … as… respect…as…
think of … as… admire… as…
see … as… receive…as…
Franklin, on the other hand, gives the detective as much assistance as he can.
另一方面，富蘭克林也盡其可能的幫助偵探。
【點撥】 “on the other hand”意思是“另一方面;從另一方面說”常常與“on one hand…”連用。
e.g. On one hand the price is cheap, but on the other hand the quality is poor
價格便宜是一方面，但是，另一方面質量太差。
【點撥】 英語中在表示數量的詞語前,習慣上加as many as, as much as等來加強語氣。as many as 和可數名詞連用, as much as和不可數名詞連用,。但是在表示“雨量、水量、時間、重量、錢數、價格”等方面“多達…”時常用as much as... 類似的表達方式還有：as long as長達；as far as遠達；as heavy as重達，等。
e.g. When working here, he could earn as much as 300 dollars a week.
他在那兒工作時，每周能掙300美元。
I can see the objects as far as 1000 meters.
我能看到1000米外的物體。
試著翻譯下面幾句話：
1.There are as many as ten thousand languages in the world.
2. He could carry a stone as heavy as four hundred jin.
3. The old man is as old as 130 years.
4. Take as much as you like.
5. I love you as much as he does.
6. We could save as much as 1000 yuan a month if we tried.
7. Before he died, he donated as many as 10, 000 books to his school.
Language Practice
The manager was walking in a underground passage of the mine when he noticed …
當礦主在礦井的地下通道中行走時，這時他注意到…
【點撥】when引導從句時,其意義和用法很多。
一、引導時間狀語從句
1. 表示"當……的時候",相當于at the moment when。
e.g. When we got to the cinema, the film had been on for half an hour.
當我們到達電影院時,電影已放映半小時了。
She was writing a letter when I came in.
當我進來時,她在寫信。
2. 表示"一……就……",相當于as soon as。
e.g. The students got up when the bell rang.
鈴聲一響,學生們就起床了。
I'll ring you up when I arrive in Beijing.
我一到北京就給你打電話。
3. 表示"就在這時;當時",相當于just at the moment或just then.
e.g. We were about to start out when it began to rain heavily.
我們正要啟程,就在這時,天下起了大雨。
He had just returned from one business trip when he was asked to make another one.
他剛剛出差回來,這時,又叫他再次出差。
4. 表示"每當;每次",相當于every time或whenever。
e.g. She always turns to us for help when she is in trouble.
每當她遇到困難,她總是向我們求助。
It is freezing cold here when it snows.
每當這兒下雪,天氣就十分寒冷。
5. 表示"當……之后;在……以后",相當于after the time that。
e.g. We went home when the film was over.
電影結束以后,我們回家去了。
When she got home, she started to prepare supper.
她回到家后,開始準備晚飯。
二、引導條件狀語從句
when引導的條件狀語從句相當于if/ in case引導的條件狀語從句.
e.g. When there is no gravity, our feet can no longer stay on the ground.
如果沒有重力,我們的腳就不能夠在地面上站穩。
Turn off the switch when anything goes wrong with the machine.
如果機器發生故障,就把電閘關上。
三、引導原因狀語從句
when引導原因狀語從句時,相當于since/now that引導的原因狀語從句。
e.g. How can they learn anything when they spend all their spare time watching television? 他們把所有的空閑時間都用來看電視了,還能學到什么東西呢?
Why do you want a new job when you have got such a good one?
既然你已經有了這么好的一份工作,為什么還要再找新的工作呢?
四、引導讓步狀語從句
when引導的讓步狀語從句相當于though或although引導的讓步狀語從句。
e.g. He usually walks when he might ride.
雖然有車可乘,但他通常是步行。
The little girl can tell right from wrong when she is only twelve.
這個小女孩雖然只有十二歲,卻能分清是非。
… it was as clear as water… 它（寶石）純凈如水。
【點撥】 as clear as water 純凈如水一樣 英語中類似表達有：
as blind as a bat(像蝙蝠一樣盲目) as busy as a bee(像蜜蜂一樣忙碌)
as songful as a bird(像鳥一樣動聽) as angry as a bull(像公牛一樣憤怒)
as changeful as a chameleon(像變色龍一樣多變) as bald as an eagle(像鷹一樣禿頂)
as sly as a fox(像狐貍一樣狡猾) as tall as a giraffe(像長頸鹿一樣高)
as silly as a goose(像鵝一樣愚蠢) as fast as a hare(像野兔一樣快)
as playful as a kitten(像小貓一樣喜歡嬉戲) as gentle as a lamb(像小羊一樣溫和)
as brave as a lion(像獅子一樣勇敢) as stubborn as a mule(像騾子一樣頑固)
as wise as an owl(像貓頭鷹一樣聰明) as quick as a rabbit(像兔子一樣快)
as slow as a snail(像蝸牛一樣緩慢) as hungry as a wolf(像狼一樣饑餓)
as graceful as a swan(像天鵝一樣優美) as slow as a turtle(像烏龜一樣緩慢)
One mistake could have resulted in a huge loss, so that the diamond expert under of a lot of tension when he began to work.
一點失誤可能會導致巨大的損失，因此鉆石專家開始工作時十分緊張，壓力很大。
【點撥】 這里的“result in”，是“導致，致使”的意思。
e.g. Eating too much food which is high in fat and sugar will result in heart illness.
吃過多高脂肪和高糖類的食物會導致心臟疾病。
result in和result from的用法區別
result in可用來表示"引起、導致或造成（某種結果）"
e.g. The traffic accident resulted in three deaths.
這起交通事故造成三人死亡。
The trial resulted in his being sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
審判結果是他被判刑兩年。
The election resulted in a great victory for their party.
選舉結果，他們的黨獲得了巨大勝利。
result可以與from連用，意為"作為……的結果"，表示原因。
e.g. Her injury resulted from a fall.
她因跌倒而受傷。
It's said that his lameness resulted from an accident.
據說他的瘸腿是一次事故造成的。
Sickness often results from eating too much.
疾病往往因為吃得太多。
result 還可用作名詞，常用“as a result”在句中作狀語,表原因；“as a result of”是短語介詞，后面必須接名詞表原因。
Integrating skills
Franklin Blake, meanwhile, received a letter from Rosama saying that …
同時，Franklin Blake 收到了Rosama的一封信，信上說…
【點撥】 meanwhile是個副詞，譯作“在這期間，與此同時”，
相當于“during the period of time",
e.g. Mother was cooking meanwhile I was doing my homework.
媽媽在做飯，與此同時，我在做作業。
常見的短語in the meanwhile 意思是“與此同時，在此期間”
e.g. In the meanwhile, I'll go for a few days to Shanghai.
同時，我還要去上海幾日。
【點撥】 saying that…== which said…
e.g. Haven’t you seen the sign saying “No Somking”?
難道你沒看到招牌上寫著“禁止抽煙”嗎？
…she loved him and wanted to keep him out of trouble.
她愛他而且想幫助他免受麻煩。
【點撥】 keep是一個十分常用的單詞，其用法較多，搭配能力強，同時也是高考經常考查的單詞之一。現將其主要用法歸納如下。
一、keep的基本用法
1. keep作連系動詞，意為“繼續處于某種狀態或地位；留下；保留”，其后通常接形容詞、副詞等作表語。
e.g. Please keep quiet-I'm trying to get some work done.
請安靜--我要處理一些工作。
2. 當“保存；保留；保持”講。
e.g. Keep the seat for me,will you?
替我保留這個座位，好嗎？
e.g. His watch keeps good time.
他的手表走得準。
e.g. You can keep the book for two weeks.
這本書你可以保存（借）兩個星期。
3. 當“使……保持在（某種狀態）”講時，其后通常接復合賓語，可用形容詞、介詞、副詞、現在分詞、過去分詞等作賓補。
e.g. His illness kept him in bed for months.
他因病臥床好幾個月。
e.g. We'll keep you informed.
我們將讓你知道情況。
e.g. Sorry to have kept you waiting for such a long time.
對不起，讓你久等了。
e.g. It's our duty to keep our surroundings clean.
保持我們周圍環境清潔是我們的職責。
4. 當“履行；遵守”講。
keep one's word 講話算數
keep one's promise 履行諾言
keep regular hours 生活作息有規律
5. 當“贍養；飼養”講。
e.g. He has a wife and four children to keep.
他要養活妻子和四個孩子。
e.g. He likes to keep some birds for fun.
他喜歡養鳥玩。
6. 當“過（節）；料理；記（日記）”講。
keep Spring Festival 過春節
keep house 管理家務
keep a diary 記日記
二、keep的常用習慣搭配
1.keep back 保留；隱瞞；阻止……向前。
e.g. She couldn't keep back her tears at the news.
聽到那消息，她忍不住掉下了眼淚。
e.g. The boss kept back 100 dollars from his salary for nothing.
老板無端地從他的薪水中扣去了100美元。
2. keep in touch with...與 ……保持聯系。
e.g. While he was outside the ship, he kept in touch by telephone with his companion and with the earth.
當他在飛船外面時，他用電話與同伴及地面上保持聯系。
3. keep on(doing sth.) 繼續（做某事）；反復（做某事）
e.g. Keep on trying, and you'll make greater progress.
繼續努力，你將取得更大的進步。
4. keep...out 不讓 ……進來。
e.g. There is a lot of air in loose snow, and this helps to keep the cold out.
在松散的積雪里有許多空氣，這有利于御寒。
5. keep...out of...使……不進入……，使……置身于 ……之外
e.g. Please keep him out of trouble while he is studying here.
他在這里學習期間，請不要讓他有什么麻煩。
6. keep up堅持；保持；不使（斗志等）下落。
e.g. They can keep up their normal body temperature even in very cold weather.
他們即使在很冷的天氣里也可保持正常體溫。
7. keep up with保持；維持；繼續；跟上。
e.g. John was not good at maths and he couldn't keep up with the rest of the class.
約翰數學學得不好，他跟不上班上的其他同學。
8. keep watch守望；值班；放哨。
e.g. They used to keep watch at the top of the tree during the war.
在戰爭期間，他們通常在樹頂上放哨。
9. keep away from (使)離開；遠離。
e.g. In order to reduce diseases we should keep animals away from body in daily life.
為了減少疾病，在日常生活中我們應該遠離動物。
…to prove to him that it help. 對他證明（藥）起作用。
【點撥】 help ① vi/vt 幫助; 輔助; 援助；開飯；上菜;起作用
② n. 幫助; 救助; 救濟
be of help 有用的, 有益的, 有幫助的
be of help to sb. 對某人有幫助
come to one's help 來幫某人的忙
with the help of 在...的幫助下, 借助
by the help of 得到..的幫助
help sb. with sth. 幫做(某事)
help oneself to [口]隨意取用[取食] ;擅自取用; 私自占有; 偷
help sb. down 把某人攙扶下來
help sb. off with 幫某人脫 去(衣服等)
help sb. on with 幫某人穿上(衣服等)
help out 幫助(某人); 幫助(某人)解決困難[做某事]
help sb. out of 幫助(某人); 幫助(某人)解決困難[做某事]
help sb. over 幫某人越過[度過]
help sb. to 給某人添(酒、菜等) ;幫某人得到[達到, 找到]
help sb. up 把某人扶起;扶某人登上
cannot help (doing) 不禁, 忍不住, 不得不
cannot help but do 不能不, 不得不
(I cannot help but be sorry. 我不能不感到遺憾。)
cannot help oneself 情不自禁; 不能自制
I can't help it. 我實在控制不住; 這不能怪我。
It can't be helped. [口]無可挽回!
more than one can help [用于否定句]過份, 太多
Don't spend more money than you can help 除非不得己, 不要多化錢。
There is no help for it 無法可想; 無可挽回。
Franklin and Rachel are very much in love and engaged to be married.
Franklin 和 Rachel非常相愛，正準備結婚。
【點撥】 此句中的engaged"訂婚的"；engage的含義和用法確實多多，現小結如下：
1. 作及物動詞
①表示"使從事于；使忙著"，常用于被動語態，與介詞in搭配。
e.g. Please wait a minute; he is engaged just now.
請稍等，他正忙著呢。
②表示 "聘雇某人"，與employ相比較，engage更偏重于聘雇專業人員。
句式：engage + 名詞（+ as +名詞）。
e.g. He engaged / employed my sister as his secretary.
他聘用我妹妹當秘書。
The firm engaged / employed two interpreters.
那家公司聘請了兩名口譯員。
③表示"吸引注意；占用時間"等。
e.g. A personal computer engages his interest now.
他正沉迷于個人電腦之中。
Reading foreign books engages all my spare time.
閱讀外文書籍占用了我所有的空余時間。
④表示"約束;約定"，多與oneself 連用。
e.g. She engages herself to do the work. 她自愿承擔這項工作。
2. 作不及物動詞
①表示"保證;允諾"，多與for連用。
e.g. That's all I can engage for.
我所能擔保的僅此而已。
That is more than I can engage for.
那事我不能擔保。
②表示"銜接;與......交戰"，多與with連用
e.g. The teeth of one wheel engage with those of the other.
一輪之齒與另一輪之齒相銜接。
3. 兩個常用的被動結構
①be engaged to sb.與某人訂婚。
e.g. Tom is engaged to Anne.
湯姆已與安妮訂婚。
②be engaged in (doing) sth.忙于（做）某事。如：
e.g. Those comrades who are engaged in mass work came.
那些從事群眾工作的同志們來了。
4. 幾個相關拓展
①engaged adj. 忙的；已訂婚的；被占用的。
e.g. The line is engaged. 線路被占用。
② engagement n. 約定
e.g. I have a lunch engagement with my uncle.
我與叔父約好一同吃午飯。
break off one's engagement 解除婚約
make an engagement with ...與......約定
③ engaging adj. 吸引人的；迷人的；可愛的。如：
e.g. an engaging smile 迷人的微笑
As for the Moonstone, I have heared that it has somehow returned to its home in India,….
至于月亮寶石，我聽說不知怎么已經返回到它的家鄉---印度。
【點撥】 “as for…”意思是“至于…”“就…而言”
e.g. As for me, Ihave nothing to complain of.
至于我，我沒什么可抱怨的。
As for food,that’s all being taken care of.
至于食物，都在置辦之中。
【點撥】 somehow
一是表示“以某種方式”
e.g. He\'ll get me there somehow.
他將以某種方式把我送到那里
e.g. We\'ll get along somehow.
我們將以某種方式相處下去
二是表示“不知怎么搞的”（什么原因）
e.g. Somehow she was afraid of him.
不知怎么搞的她很怕他
e.g. He never liked me, somehow.
不知什么原因，他從來不喜歡我
Grammar
強調句
1. It is/was + 被強調的部分 + that(who, which) + 句子的其他部分
下面我們以兩個句子為例來演示強調句的構成。如：
1).Western health-care system are spending huge sums of money on the surgical treatment of the
主語 賓語 狀語
disease.
（西方國家醫療保健機構在心臟病的手術治療上開支巨大。）
強調主語
It is Western health-care system that (which) are spending huge sums of money on the surgical treatment of the disease. 正是西方國家醫療保健機構，在心臟病的手術治療上開支巨大。
強調賓語
It is huge sums of money that ( which ) Western health-care system are spending on the surgical treatment of the disease. 西方國家醫療保健機構在心臟病的手術治療上，開支確實是巨大的。
強調狀語
It is on the surgical treatment of the disease that Western health-care system are spending huge sums of money.西方國家醫療保健機構，就是在心臟病的手術治療上付出了巨大的開支。
2) .Ann Peters’ husband rushed her to a nearby hospital last night.
主語 賓語 狀語 狀語
（昨晚，安妮.彼德的丈夫立即送她去附近醫院。）
強調主語
It was Ann Peters' husband that (who) rushed her to a nearby hospital last night.
（昨晚，正是安妮.彼德的丈夫，立即送她去了附近醫院。）
強調賓語
It was her (she) that (who) Ann Peters' husband rushed to a nearby hospital last night.
（昨晚安妮.彼德的丈夫立即送的是她，去附近醫院。）
強調狀語
It was to a nearby hospital that Ann Peters' husband rushed her last night.
（昨晚安妮.彼德的丈夫立即送她去的就是一家附近的醫院。）
強調狀語
It was last night that Ann Peters' husband rushed her to a nearby hospital.
（就是在昨晚，安妮.彼德的丈夫立即送她去附近醫院。）
要點提示：
1）當原句敘述的是現在或者將來發生的事情用"It is … that…"的句式（如例句1）；當原句敘述的
是過去發生的事情則用"It was … that… " 的句式（如例句2）。
2）在這種強調句式中，一般用that引出句子的其他部分。如果被強調的部分是表示人的意義的名
詞時，可以用who代替that引出句子的其他部分；如果被強調的部分是表示事物意義的名詞時，可以用which代替that引出句子的其他部分。但是，無論被強調的部分是表示地點、還是表示時間意義的名詞，都不可以用where 或者when 。
e.g. It is that man who (that) is teaching our English.
（就是那個人教我們英語。）
It was my telephone number which (that) Miss White happened to know.
（ 懷特小姐碰巧知道的就是我的電話號碼。）
It is in front of the religious leader that the bride and groom stand together to be married.
（新郎、新娘通常就是一起站在宗教頭領面前舉行結婚。）
3). 如果被強調的部分是人稱代詞，應該用該人稱代詞的主格形式；在口語或非正式文體中也可以用其賓格形式。
e.g. It was she (her) who told the police.（就是她報告警察的。）
It was you who we were talking about.（我們剛剛談論的就是你。）
2. 沒有強調句子謂語的強調句，但有其通常的強調手段：do / does / did + 動詞原形 。
e.g.I do believe that he is an honest man. （我的確相信他是老實人。）
She does like literature. （她確實喜歡文學。）
They did go to see you yesterday, but failed to meet you.
（他們昨天的確去看過你，但沒見到你。）
3. What … is / was …
"What … is / was …"是名詞從句結構，也是強調句的另一種構成形式。它常用來強調主語、賓語。
如果所敘述的是現在或者將來發生的事情用"What is … that…"的句式；如果所敘述的是過去發生的事情用 "What was … that…"的句式。
1). What he wishes most is to become a pilot.（強調賓語）
（他最希望的是成為一名飛行員。）
2). What interested me most in that movie was the beautiful scenery of Alps. （強調主語）
（那部電影使我最感興趣的是阿爾裨斯山那美麗的風景。）
3).What I like is her speaking manner. （強調賓語）
（我喜歡的是她說話的風度。）
4).What encouraged us was the example he set for us. （強調主語）
（給予我們鼓勵的是他為我們樹立的榜樣。）
習題對話
Language practice
1.Find words in the reading passage that match the following definition.
①.bachelor ②. astonished ③. prescription ④. considerate
⑤. guilty ⑥. vital ⑦. stubborn ⑧. theft
2.Choose the words from the box to fill in the blanks, using their correct form.
①. happened ②. Suspecting ③. excited ④. stain ⑤. splendid
⑥. assistant ⑦. vital ⑧. loss ⑨. tension ⑩.garment
考題檔案
1. (NMET 2004 全國) I like in the autumn when the weather is clear and bright.
A. this B. that C. it D. one
2. (NMET 2004 上海) I had to buy these books because I didn’t know which one was the best.
A. both B. none C. neither D. all
3. (NMET 2004 廣東) Sometimes it was a bit boring to work there because there wasn’t always much to do.
A. such B. that C. more D.very
4. (NMET 2003 上海春季) The collapse of the world Trade Center has put US economy in a difficult .
A. occasion B. case C. situation D. background
5. (NMET 2003 北京) According to recent research, heavy coffee drinking and heart attack is not necessarily and effect.
A. reason B. impact C. fact D. cause A.B.C.D.
6. (NMET 2004上海春季) No one in the department but Tom and I that the director is going to resign.
A. knows B. know C. have known D. am to know
7. (NMET 2004 湖南) They’ve us $150,000 for the house. Shall we take it?
A. provided B. supplied C shown .D. offered
8. (NMET 2004浙江) We wanted to get home before dark, but it didn’t quite as planned.
A. make out B. turn out C. go on D. come up
9. (NMET 2004浙江) If you are feeling so tired, perhaps a little sleep would .
A. act B. help C. serve D. last
10. (NMET 2004 北京) The mayor of Beijing says that all construction work for the Beijing Olympics by 2006.
A. has been completed B. has completed
C. will have been completed D. will have completed
11. (NMET 2004上海春季) The pilot asked all the passengers on board to remain as the plane was making a landing.
A. seat B. seating C. seated D. to be seating
12. (NMET 2004 全國) --Isn’t that Ann’s husband over there?
-- No, it be him
-- I’m sure he doesn’t wear glasses.
A. can’t B. must not C. won’t D. may not
13. (NMET 2004 上海) Why! I have nothing to confess. you want me to say?
A. What is it that B. What it is that C. How is it that D. How it is that
14. (NMET 2004 廣東) --Do you mind if I open the window?
-- I feel a bit cold.
A. Of course not. B. I’d rather you didn’t. C. Go ahead. D. Why not?
15. (NMET 2004 上海) Chinese arts have won the of a lot of people outside China.
A. enjoyment B. appreciation C. entertainment D. reputation
參考答案
1． C ，英語中like, love, hate, dislike等動詞后不允許直接帶賓語從句，通常先在動詞后加上it，然后再加從句。
2．D 3. B 4. C 5. D 6. A 7. D 8. B
1. 選B，help是不及物動詞用法，“起作用，生效” 的意思
2. C 11. C 12. A
13. 選A ,考查強調句的特殊問句用法 14. B 15. B
一課一測
（檢測自己的能力）
A級（基礎訓練）
第一部分 單項填空
1.I prefer to stay in the seaside town, _____ because of its job opportunities, _____ because of its low living expenses.
A. not...but B. both...as well as C. no more ...than D. not...instead
2.Some of the wheat is from Canada. What about ________________?
A. another B. the other C. others D. the rest
3.The new model costs twice _____ last year's.
A. more than B. as much as C. as many as D. than
4. Neither he nor his brothers--some food for this trip．
A．need B．needs C．is needing D．has need
5. – Do you have any idea what Hawk does all day?
-- I know he spends at least as much time watching TV as he .
A. does writing B. writes C. is writing D. spends to write
6. –When did the concert ?
--Oh, a week ago.
A. hold B. happen C. take place D. organize
7. No bread eaten by man is so sweet as earned by his own labor.
A. one B. that C. such D. what
8. The Emperor's New Clothes, is an ________ text. All of us are ________ in it.
A. exciting; exciting B. excited; excited C. excited; exciting D. exciting; excited
.9. Why do you want a new job， ______ you have got such a good one？
A．that B．where C．which D. when
10. Some of the wheat came from Canada. How about .
A. another B. the others C. the rest D. the other
B級（應用創新）
第一部分 單項填空
1. –Do you like novels.
--I don’t like either of them. Please show me third one.
A. the, the B. the, a C. /, / D./, the
2. – I hope he won’t get ill recently during the examination.
-- . He has been well recently.
A. Certainly B. No C. Not D. Yes
3. I shall never forget those days ______ I lived in the countryside with the farmers， ______ had a great effect on my life．
A．that；which B. which；that C．when；which D．when；who
4. ---- What made her so angry ?
----- ________ her wallet.
A. He lost B. To be lost C. Lost D. Losing
5. The pilot asked all the passengers on board to remain ________ as the plane was making a landing.
A. seat B. seating C. seated D. to be seating
6. I’ll never understand how it that you were an hour late on such a short journey.
A. took place B. caused C. came about D. happened
7. – I want to buy a computer for my son, but there is only one left in that shop, so I will have to buy .
A. one B. it C. that D. them
8. A computer ____ think for itself，it must be told what to do．
A．can't B．couldn't C．may not D．won't
9. – I can’t find Mr. Smith. Where did you meet him this morning?
-- It was in the hotel he stared.
A. that B. where C. which D. the one
10. The journey around the world took the old sailor nine months, the sailing time was 226 days.
A. of which B. during which C. from which D. for which
11. Thirty-three people were already dead in a traffic accident; __________ .
A. twelve being old men B. twelve of them were old men
C. twelve of whom were old men D. twelve were old men
12. As far as I am concerned, education is about learning and the more you learn, ________ .
A. the more for life are you equipped B. the more equipped for life you are
C. the more life you are equipped for D. you are equipped the more for life
13. Beijing is bigger than in Jiangsu.
A. any other city B. all the cities. C. any of the other city D. all the others
14. -How did you enjoy the concert last night?
- . My favorite singer lost her voice and didn’t even make an appearance.
A. What a disappointment! B. What a failure! C. Awful! D. Very dissatisfactory!
15. The money collected should be made good use the people in South Asia who suffered a lot in the killer earthquake and tsunami（海嘯）.
A．of helping B．to help C．to helping D．of to help
第二部分 完形填空 (共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分)
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從36-55各題所給的四個選項(A、B、C和D)中，選出最佳選項。
It was the first day of school, 1961. Five-year-old Mae Carol Jemison was a 1 kindergartener who could already read. When her teacher asked her, “ 2 do you want to be when you grow up?” Mae replied, “A scientist.” Her teacher looked 3 : Not many women became scientists then, and certainly 4 black women. But that was Mae’s first and only 5 .
Mae’s love for science 6 her to the library. She read books about the universe. She also enjoyed science fiction books. In sixth grade she read Madeline L’Engle’s books A Wrinkle in Time and The Arm of the Starfish. “Those books stand out 7 they had women scientists and girl heroines,” Mae remembers.
Books weren’t the only way Mae learned. She was active in student government, acted in plays, and studied dance. “In dance class, I grew stronger and gained an 8 for hard work, physical strength, and grace,” she says.
When Mae was 12, there were civil rights demonstrations（游行） near her neighborhood in Chicago. 9 protests（抗議） before an important political meeting, the mayor of Chicago called 10 the National Guard, which marched through Mae’s mostly African-American neighborhood with guns. Mae watched, 11 , confused（使迷惑）, and angry. She promised herself she would never feel that frightened again. “I reminded myself 12 I was as much a part of this United States as the Guardsmen,” she remembers.
In college, Mae studied the physical and social sciences, and learned to speak Russian and the African language Swahili. She 13 a degree in chemical engineering and African studies. After college, she studied medicine for four years, and became a medical doctor. In 1987, Mae was 14 into NASA’s astronaut program. She 15 in Texas, learning about space exploration. She worked for NASA, and waited for a shuttle assignment（太空飛行任務）.
When the space aircraft Endeavor was sent into the sky into orbit in 1992, Mae 16 the first African-American woman 17 the earth. Mae looked down from Endeavor and saw Chicago. She remembered visiting the library, making science fair projects, and dancing. “I felt like I 18 right there in space,” she remembers. “I realized I would feel comfortable 19 in the universe because I belonged to and was a part of it, 20 any star, planet, asteroid（小行星）， comet（彗星）, or nebula（星云）.”
1．A．shy B．confident C．weak D．difficult
2．A．What B．How C．Who D．Why
3．A．amazing B．pleasant C．surprised D．interested
4．A．more B．less C．few D．many
5．A．choice B．variety C．judgment D．result
6．A．took B．introduced C．persuaded D．collected
7．A．so B．but C．because D．however
8．A．interest B．attention C．importance D．appreciation
9．A．Guarding B．To protect C．Defending D．To prevent
10．A．on B．in C．off D．up
11．A．pleased B．attracted C．frightened D．excited
12．A．that B．whether C．why D．how
13．A．made B．earned C．succeeded D．finished
14．A．refused B．recognized C．accepted D．received
15．A．trained B．settled C．landed D．moved
16．A．won B．was chosen C．developed D．became
17．A．orbits B．orbiting C．to orbit D．orbited
18．A．liked B．enjoyed C．belonged D．flew
19．A．where B．anywhere C．nowhere D．wherever
20．A．as much as B．as long as C．as far as D．as many as
第三部分 閱讀理解 A
Online distance learning is an instructional system which connects learners with educational resources. Students work on their own at home, at work, or at school and communicate with teachers and other students by e-mails, electronic forums, videoconferencing, chat rooms, bulletin boards, instant messaging and other forms of computer-based communication. There are both advantages and disadvantages to online distance learning.
There are many benefits to using online distance learning environments. Online education is available all the time and anywhere. However there are drawbacks for some learners. The online learner only has the written text and no other face-to-face cues. This may confuse the learner and cause misunderstanding. While distance learning allows for openness, it is also troublesome because it is done by e-mail messages and writing and therefore may take more time than face-to-face learning. The large number of messages can sometimes be overwhelming for many online students.
Universities, Colleges and Schools use virtual online distance learning environments. These are important for students who may be unable to attend classes for various reasons like illnesses or busy everyday schedules. Some learners just want to further their studies at home. They enjoy the convenience of home learning as they take regular programs or enrichment classes.
Online courses keep learners very occupied at all hours. There is a great deal of messages and other online resources to read and respond to. Most learners have regular jobs or attend regular school classes on ground as well. However, the benefits are clear. Online distance learning is becoming very popular. Some virtual online classes have become a profitable business as they replace regular traditional means of learning.
1. Online distance learning refers to_________?
A. learning with the help of the internet and computers B. Learning at home
C. a system of learning on your own by writing letters D. learning without the presence and help of teachers
2. The underlined word “occupied” in the 4th paragraph is close to the meaning of “_____”.
A. busy B. happy C. healthy D. satisfied
3. There are many good and bad aspects of online distance learning. One good thing about it is that it is ______________.
A. easy to do B. cheaper than face-to-face learning C. convenient D. very fast going
4. Sometimes online distance learning can be a problem because _________.
A. learners don't have the money to pay for it. B. it is not as effective as face-to-face learning
C. it is done by writing only e-mail messages D. some learners don't need face-to-face cues
5. Which of the following is more likely to take an online distant course?
A. A full-time middle school student.
B. Some one who enjoys the company of other students while learning.
C. Some one who does not have easy access to computers.
D. Some one who has a job but still wants to further his study.
B
We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.
So, you have to give a speech-and you are terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank Goodness, it’s over. I’m just not good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again.”
Cheep up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of your time doing your research. Then spend plenty of your time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Just remember: Be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience.
If you follow these simple steps, you will see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.
6．The main idea of this article is .
A．that you can improve your speaking ability B．that a poor speaker can never change
C．to always make a short speech D．that it is hard to make a speech
7．Paragraph 2 implies that .
A．many people are afraid of giving a speech B．many people are happy to give a speech
C．many people don’t prepare for a speech D．many people talk too long
8．The phrase “talk over their heads” means .
A．speak too loudly B．look at the ceiling
C．look down upon them D．use words and ideas that are too difficult
9．All of the following statements are TRUE except .
A．few people know how to make good speeches
B．a lecturer does not need to organize his speech
C．research is important in preparing a speech
D．there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability
10．The title for this passage may be .
A．Do Not Make a Long Speech B．How to Give a Good Speech
C．How to prepare for a Speech D．Try to Enjoy a speech
第四部分 短文改錯
Several days ago, three lions escaped a zoo in Knowxile due to 1．
the carelessness of one of the keeper. Two of the lions headed for 2．
to a nearby grass field where they were immediately caught by their 3．
trainer. The third one, however, went into the town and while he saw 4．
an open window on the first floor of a private home, he jumped 5．
into. Inside, he found an elderly lady whose eyesight was failing. 6．
She thought the animal was a large dog and patted it on his head. 7．
The wild beast paid no attention to him and went into the bedroom 8．
where he fell asleep on the mat. It was there where the trainer found 9．
the lion. He put him in a cage and carried him back quiet to the zoo. 10．
第五部分：寫作
你和Jim是小學同班同學，他六年前讀完小學就回英國了。最近，你收到他的來信，在信中他問起昔日就讀的小學的情況。因此你于幾天前回了趟小學，請你參考以下圖表，給Jim寫一封回信。
注意：字數100-120左右，開頭與結尾已給出，不算入字數內。
參考詞匯：植物園botanical garden
參考答案
A級
第一部分 單項填空
1-5 A D B A A 6-10 C B D D C
B級
第一部分 單項填空
1-5 BBCDC 6-10 C B ABA 11-15 B BBAD
第二部分 完形填空
1-5：BACCA 6-10：ACDDB 11-15：CABCA 16-20：DCCBA
第三部分 閱讀理解
1-5 AACCD 6--10 AADBB
第四部分 短文改錯
1．escaped后from 2．keeper→keepers 3．去掉to4．while→when 5．√6．into→in 7．his→the 8．him→her 9．where→that 10．quiet→quietly
第五部分：寫作
One possible version:
Dear Jim,
How glad I am to get your letter! It has been 6 years since we left primary school.
A few days ago, I paid a visit to our primary school and was delighted to say that great changes have taken place there. The old-3story building has been replaced by a new 8-story one. At the back of it stands a new dormitory building for students, while in the past no students lived in the school. Still remember the woods where we had so much fun? I’m sorry to tell you it has been turned into a new library and a botanical garden. To my surprise, the only place that remains the same is the sports ground, our favorite spot.
Hope you’ll come here again!
Yours
Li Ming
課文翻譯
月亮寶石
《月亮寶石》這部小說以1848年的英國為背景，但是故事卻發生在50年前。月亮寶石是一塊巨大的黃色的寶石，它曾是印度月亮神雕像的一部分。一位英國人刺殺了三位教士，從寺廟里偷走了寶石，并把它帶回了倫敦。當他的姐姐聽到這件事后，她不愿對他多說什么。寶石受到了詛咒，這個英國人也過著沒有朋友和家人的悲傷而又孤單的生活。當他去世的時候，他把月亮寶石傳給了他姐姐的女兒，作為報復行為，連他的惡運也傳給了她。雷切爾將會在她十八歲生日宴會的時候收到這塊寶石作為生日禮物。
雷切爾韋林德，是一位年輕漂亮而又有錢的女子。她和她的母親，幾個仆人住在英國北方的一個豪宅里。在她生日之前的幾天，她和她孩時的朋友富蘭克林在她家客廳的門上畫上了花草和鳥兒。他們一起努力工作，直到她生日的前一天才完成。富蘭克林，這個煙民，對雷切爾是十分的體貼。他用戒煙來取悅雷切爾的舉動被仆人們發現了，并以此作為他愛上雷切爾的證據。
在雷切爾生日那天，月亮寶石是她最華美的禮物，它的尺寸之大，美麗之罕見令所有來客大為驚奇。但是自從寶石系到她身上那一該起，事情就開始變糟了。是事情的巧合還是寶石的惡運引起了那晚宴會后的緊張而奇怪的事情的發生呢？
首先要說的是，一個叫格弗雷的客人，他向雷切爾求婚，但被拒絕了。格弗雷是一位成功的而且十分文雅的未婚男子。深受眾女士的追求。在就餐期間，富蘭克林提到自從他戒煙以來一直休息不好，而且一位當地的醫生坎迪還主動給他開了一個藥方，富蘭克林認為醫生只是向病人推薦藥品，這種說法讓坎迪醫生十分懊惱。后來幾個身著怪異服裝的印度人來到了宴會現場主動給客人進行娛樂表演，但是他們并不專業而且行為詭異。
舞會結束后除富蘭克林和格弗雷留下之外，其它所有人都離開了。在上床休息前，雷切爾把寶石放在客廳衣柜的抽屜里，但是第二天早上，寶石不見了。如此貴重的寶石居然丟失了，讓雷切爾的母親很困擾，于是她雇用了一位著名的偵探卡夫中士去調查這一偷竊事件。隨著事情的發展，我們發現了那晚在房子里的有關人士的秘密和他們有關有可能偷寶石的理由。
起初，卡夫中士懷疑那些印度人。他發現他們不是真正的藝人，而是月亮寶石的追趕隨者。他們追隨月亮寶石，等待機會把它帶回印度。偵探想搞清楚他們是否把寶石藏在房間的某個地方，等到每個人都睡著了，再找機會把它帶走。
他繼續詢問有關舞會的問題，而且他知道了富蘭克林和坎迪醫生的爭吵。他還聽說格弗雷在雷切爾拒絕他的求婚后十分失望。是醫生還是格弗雷拿走了寶石作為他們丟面子的報復呢？
仆人們也同樣有偷寶石的機會。卡夫中士發現，女傭羅莎娜在雷切爾的母親雇用她之前曾是個小偷，其它的傭人還報告說，她最近晚上經常在屋里做些什么直到很晚，而且經常獨自一人外出散步。羅莎娜好像也很喜歡富蘭克林。卡夫中士認為她拿走寶石要么是出于慣偷的原因，要么就是想引起雷切爾和富蘭克林的分歧。
最后，卡夫中士還考慮到雷切爾和富蘭克林。雷切爾執意拒絕卡夫中士對寶石的調查，好像她不想讓寶石之謎被揭開。會是她自己偷了寶石嗎？也許她欠什么債要還吧。富蘭克林，從另一面看，他盡他的力量去幫助偵探，為什么在調查事件困擾著雷切爾的同時，他又是如此的熱心呢？
卡夫中士得到一條極為重要的線索。他在雷切爾的客廳油漬未干的門上發現了一個舞會期間不存在的污點。不管是誰違了法，在他的衣服上都會留有污點。如果能找到那件帶污點的衣服，他就將會找到偷寶石的那個賊。到底是誰偷了月亮寶石呢？
揭開月亮寶石之迷
月亮寶石事件是十分不尋常的。我知道答案就在雷切爾韋林德家廳門上的油漆污點上，但是我找不到有污點的衣服。
當時雷切爾的行為十分詭異，尤其是當她拒絕回答我的問題時。我相信她偷走了自己的寶石而且羅沙娜也曾幫助了她。我沒想是她的仆人拿走了雷切爾有污點的衣服，藏在了某個地方，然后又偷偷的在她的家里連夜做了一件新的。然而，后來發生的一切卻證明我猜錯了。
生日過后，雷切爾去了倫敦，在那里，格弗雷再次向她求婚，這次她接受了。然而，當她發現他債務累累，向她求婚只是為得到她的財富時，她又取消了訂婚。這使我十分好奇。當我聽說幾個印度人攻擊格弗雷時，我就更感興趣了。我開始想弄清楚是不是我誤解了雷切爾和羅沙娜。
富蘭克林布蘭克，同時受到了羅沙娜的一封信，信中說：她知道富蘭克林再月亮寶石丟失的那晚干了什么，當她打掃他住的房間時，看到了那見帶有污點的衣服。她承認她藏匿了證據，因為她愛他了，不想讓他招來麻煩。那封信使富蘭克林大為困惑，他決定要把事情告訴雷切爾，即使她還在生她的氣。當他們見面時，富蘭克林聽雷切爾說她看到了他拿走了寶石，但是她拒絕了我的質問去保護他時，他大為震驚。
富蘭克林為這個消息心神不安。他是真的偷了雷切爾的寶石，而自己卻忘記了。在我多年的偵破工作中，我從沒有經歷過一個小偷會如此的健忘。如果是他頭的，他會把寶石藏在哪兒呢？
幸好坎迪醫生提供了解決的方法。你還記得嗎？在雷切爾生日宴會的那個晚上，富蘭克林一直遭受缺少睡眠的痛苦，而且因為對醫生的評論而惹怒了坎迪醫生。后來。坎迪醫生在富蘭克林的飲料里加了鴉片，以便證明他的藥方是起作用的。那晚富蘭克林睡得很香，后來夢到了寶石，并在睡夢中，他把寶石拿回了他認為較為安全的地方-他自己的臥室。
富蘭克林和雷切爾在發現富蘭克林根本無罪后，都很高興。他們如此高興，我心里也很舒服，但是寶石畢竟丟了。在富蘭克林的臥室里，我們沒有找到寶石。那么，月亮寶石究竟在哪兒呢？他們請求我繼續尋找，我也只好答應找下去。
這次我很成功而且終于找到了真正的小偷-格弗雷。事實證明那晚格弗雷也看到富蘭克林拿走了寶石，而且他也知道，他自己要把寶石拿走，富蘭克林將會受到指控。格弗雷也知道，寶石是解決他經濟問題的最好方式，但是，那樣也是他麻煩的開始。格弗雷在英國賣掉月亮寶石是不可能的，因為人人都知道寶石是偷的。他努力追求雷切爾，一心只是為錢，但是當雷切爾改變主意后，他別無選擇只有去國外賣寶石了。
我的偵探工作最后把我帶到了我能找到格弗雷的一條船上。但不幸的是，我到的太晚了：格弗雷死了，月亮寶石也不見了。
我很尷尬地承認我在調查中犯了許多錯誤：要是你能猜出是誰違了法，那么你就是比著名的卡夫中士個厲害的偵探。我一直沒有找到寶石，我也證明不了是誰殺了格弗雷。然而，我想弄清究竟我所做的是否公正。格弗雷為他的犯罪付出昂貴的代價。他失去了寶石和生命，而富蘭克林和雷切爾卻深深相愛并準備結婚了。至于月亮寶石，我聽說不知是怎么回事，它已經回到了它的故鄉--印度，繼續點綴在月亮神的前額上。