【在生活中學習語言】《中英對照讀新聞》Snake found in car 在汽車內發現蛇
◎羅彥傑

A mechanic got the shock of his life when he discovered a snake while cleaning out a car.

一名技師在清理一輛汽車時，發現一條蛇，可把他嚇了一大跳。

The worker at West Bank Road Garage, Macmerry, East Lothian came across the orange snake while cleaning out an impounded vehicle.

英國東勞欣郡麥克瑪麗鎮「西岸路汽車修理廠」的這名工人，在清理一輛遭沒收的汽車時，竟然碰上了蛇。

The man initially thought it was a toy but soon realised it was real, reports the BBC.

這名男子一開始以為這是一件玩具，但很快就發現這是真的，英國廣播公司報導說。

The Scottish SPCA were called in to remove the rat snake which is not poisonous.

蘇格蘭「防止虐待動物協會」接到通知，來移除這條不具毒性的錦蛇。

David Legge, from the Vehicle Recovery Scheme, said： "Our contractors often contact me for advice on valuable or unusual property found in uplifted vehicles, but this takes the biscuit.

「汽車修復方案」的大衛雷格說：「我們的包商時常和我聯絡，徵詢有關在被抬高車輛裡頭發現貴重或罕見物品的建議，但這次可真是中了大獎。」

"Sometimes we can find knives or baseball bats hidden in vehicles, but the snake is something no-one would want to find, let alone handle."

「有時我們會找到藏在車子裡面的小刀或球棒，但沒人會想找到蛇，更不用說還要處理牠。」

新聞辭典

get the shock of one’s life：片語，大吃一驚。例句：I got the shock of my life the other day when I opened the newspapers.（我前幾天打開報紙時大吃一驚。）

take the biscuit：片語，英式英語，得頭獎、真是再妙不過（帶有諷刺意味）。例句：I can’t believe what he did, that really takes the biscuit !（我不敢相信他所做的事情，這真是再妙不過！）

let alone：片語，更不用說。例句：I have not even read the first chapter, let alone finished the book.（我連第一章都沒看，更別說看完整本書了。）

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