Lesson 48



Did you want to tell me something?



First listen and then answer the question.



Why did the writer become very worried?



Dentists always ask questions when it is impossible for you to answer.



My dentist had just pulled out one of my teeth and had told me to rest for a while.



I tried to say something, but my mouth was full of cotton wool.



He knew I collected match boxes and asked me whether my collection was growing.



He then asked me how my brother was and whether I liked my new job in London.



In answer to these questions I either nodded or made strange noises.



Meanwhile, my tongue was busy searching out the hole where the tooth had been.



I suddenly felt very worried, but could not say anything.



When the dentist at last removed the cotton wool from my mouth,



I was able to tell him that he had pulled out the wrong tooth.



pull  [pul]  v. 拔


cotton wool   [ˈkɔtən]    [wul]  药棉


collect  [kəˈlekt]  v. 搜集


collection  [kəˈlekʃən]  n. 收藏品，收集品


nod  [nɔd]  v. 点头


meanwhile  [ˈmi:nˌ hwail]  adv. 同时