Themorning passed rapidly and Frank was about to leave when he noticed a large packingcase lying on the floor. The dealer told him that it had just come in, but that he couldnot be bothered to open it. Frank begged him to do so and the dealer reluctantlyprised it open.

　　13.The morning passed rapidly and Frank was about to leave when he noticed a largepacking case lying on the floor.

　　上午很快过去了，弗兰克正准备离去，突然看见地板上放着一只体积很大的货箱。

　　语言点:be about to do(sth.)when…为固定搭配，表示“即将做(某事)时，这时…”

　　14.The dealer told him that it had just come in, but that he could not be bothered toopen it.

　　古董商告诉他那只货箱刚到不久，但他嫌麻烦不想把它打开。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:这是一个很有写作创意的句子，told的内容是由but并列连接的两个由that引导的宾语从句。在这句话中，古董商说了两件事，第一件是货箱刚到不久(即第一个宾语从句)，第二件是他不想打开(即第二个宾语从句)。

　　15.Frank begged him to do so and the dealer reluctantly prised it open.

　　经弗兰克恳求，古董商才勉强把货箱撬开了。

　　语言点1:to do so指代“打开箱子”，这样写是为了避免用词重复。

　　语言点2:and在此不可简单地看作并列连词，其作用相当于then,表示“一件事情发生后，又发生了另一件事。”

　　语言点3:prise sth.open的意思是“把某物打开”。