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Why was Rastus 'very dear' in more ways than one?

    Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat. Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years. Rastus leads an orderly life. He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock. One evening, however, he failed to arrive. Mrs. Ramsay got very worried. She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.
    There days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter. The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of $1,000. Mrs. Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door. At first she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind. She withdrew $1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions. The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word. Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening. He looked very well though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk. The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done. She explained that Rastus was very dear to her. Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!

New words and expressions 生词和短语

     dear
adj. 亲爱的，珍贵的；昂贵的

     kidnapper
n.   绑架者，拐骗者

     considerable
adj. 相当大的

     wealthy
adj. 富的，有钱的

     orderly
adj. 有规律的

     disappearance
n.   失踪

     anonymous
adj. 匿名的

     ransom
n.   赎金

     cardboard
n.   硬纸板

     withdraw(withdrew, withdrawn)
v.   （从银行）取钱

     punctually
adv. 准时地

     astound
v.   使吃惊

参考译文

    绑架者很少对动物感兴趣。最近，绑架者却盯上了埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太的猫。埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太是一个非常富有的老妇人，多年来，一直同她养的猫拉斯一起住在一所公寓里。拉斯特斯生活很有规律，傍晚常常出去溜达一会儿，并且总是在7点钟以前回来。可是，有一天晚上，它出去后再也没回来。拉姆齐太太急坏了，四处寻找，但没有找着。
    拉斯特斯失踪3天后，拉姆齐太太收到一封匿名信。写信人声称拉斯特斯安然无恙，只要拉姆齐太太愿意支付1,000 英镑赎金，可以立即将猫送还。他让拉姆齐太太把钱放在一个纸盒里，然后将纸盒放在门口。一开始拉姆齐太太打算报告警察，但又害怕再也见不到拉斯特斯——这点，信上说得十分明白——于是便改变了主意。她从银行取出1,000 英镑，并照绑架者的要求做了。第二天早晨，放钱的盒子不见了。但拉姆齐太太确信绑架者是会履行诺言的。果然，当天晚上7点正，拉斯特斯准时回来了。它看上去一切正常，只是口渴得很，喝了半瓶牛奶。拉姆齐太太把她所做的事告诉了警察，警察听后大为吃惊。拉姆齐太太解释说她心疼她的猫拉斯特斯。想到她所花的那笔钱，她的心疼就具有双重意义了。

New words and expression 生词和短语

Dear  adj.亲爱的，珍贵的；昂贵的

Dear = Costly（adj.昂贵的, 贵重的）= expensive

-- I can't afford the car because it's too dear.

Dear  adj.珍贵的, 宝贵的

-- The cat is dear to me.（adj.珍贵的）

-- The lamb is prize to Mary = The lamb is dear to Mary

cost somebody dear 花了某人很多钱（dear  adv.昂贵地, 价高地）

-- The cat cost the lady dear.

kidnapper  n.绑架者，拐骗者

kidnap  vt.诱拐(小孩), 绑架, 勒赎  -- They kidnapped five hostages.（n.人质, 抵押品）

considerable  adj.相当大的

-- a considerable business. 大型企业。

-- He has got a considerable success.

Considerably  adv.相当大地, 相当多地（= much, a lot , a great deal）

-- It's considerably colder today than yesterday.

Considerate（adj.考虑周到的）= thoughtful（adj.体贴的, 关切的）

be considerate to somebody  对某人很体贴

-- Are you considerate/thoughful to your wife?

Considered（adj.经慎重考虑的, 经过熟思的）

-- It's my considered opinion.

all things considered 就各方面而言

-- All things considered, he finished the work well.

Considering  prep.conj.adv.就…而论；照…来看；考虑到…

介词-- Considering his age, the little boy reads very well.

就他的年龄来说, 这小孩读得算挺好的。

连词-- They have done it well considering (that) they have no experience.

副词-- He studies English well, considering. 就各方面而言, 他英语学得很好。

= He studies English well, all things considered.

Wealthy  adj.富的，有钱的

Orderly  adj.有规律的

Disappearance  n.失踪

Anonymous  adj.匿名的

Ransom  n.赎金

pay ransom to somebody

-- The old lady paid a ransom of one thousand pounds to the kidnapper.

hold somebody to ransom 绑架某人为了赎金 -- They kidnapped the boy and held him to ransom.

Cardboard  n.硬纸板

Withdraw (withdrew, withdrawn)  v.（从银行）取钱

punctually  adv.准时地

punctual  adj.严守时刻的, 准时的  Punctuality  n.准时

astound  v.使吃惊

surprise, astonish, amaze, astound 语气一个比一个强

-- He was astounded to hear of her death.

-- They were amazed to find the lazy girl came very early.

Surprising  adj.令人惊讶的  Surprised  adj.感到惊讶的

Flat  n.平面, 平地, 一层, 公寓 adj.平坦的, 扁平的

Word  n.字, 词, 话

Sure  adj.对....有把握, 确信某事 adv.的确, 当然

Amount  n.数量

Text 课文

Why was Rastus 'very dear' in more ways than one?

Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in 

Mrs.

Rarely = seldom  adv.很少地

be interest in = take interest in （一句话中用不同的表达方式, 是为了避免从复）

took great interest in = take enormous/tremendous interest in

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