Lesson 87



A perfect alibi



First listen and then answer the question.



What was wrong with the man's story?



'At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8 o'clock train to London,' said the man.



'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.



'Of course I do,' answered the man. 'I must be at work at 10 o'clock. My employer will confirm that I was there on time.'



'Would a later train get you to work on time?' asked the inspector.



'I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.'



'At what time did you arrive at the station?'



'At ten to eight. I bought a paper and waited for the train.'



'And you didn't notice anything unusual?'



'Of course not.'



'I suggest,' said the inspector, 'that you are not telling the truth.



I suggest that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train, but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time.



You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all.



It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.'




alibi  [ˈælibai]  n. 不在犯罪现场


commit  [kəˈmit]  v. 犯（罪、错）


inspector   [inˈspektə]   n. 探长


employer  [imˈplɔiə]  n. 雇主


confirm  [kənˈfə:m]  v. 确认，证实


suggest   [səˈdʒest]   v. 提醒


truth  [tru:θ]  n. 真相