# Lesson 87 A perfect alibi 极好的不在犯罪现场的证据

## 一、课文原文

'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.'

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## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| **alibi** | /ˈælɪbaɪ/ | n. | 不在犯罪现场的证据 | 法律术语；have a perfect alibi 有完美的不在场证明 |
| **commit** | /kəˈmɪt/ | v. | 犯（罪），做（错事） | commit a murder 犯谋杀罪；commit suicide 自杀 |
| **inspector** | /ɪnˈspektə/ | n. | 探长，检查员 | inspect v. 检查；inspection n. 检查 |
| **employer** | /ɪmˈplɔɪə/ | n. | 雇主 | employee n. 雇员；employ v. 雇用 |
| **confirm** | /kənˈfɜːm/ | v. | 证实，确认 | confirmation n. 确认；confirm that 证实… |
| **suggest** | /səˈdʒest/ | v. | 暗示，建议 | suggestion n. 建议 |
| **truth** | /truːθ/ | n. | 事实，真相 | tell the truth 说实话；true adj. 真实的 |
| **unusual** | /ʌnˈjuːʒuəl/ | adj. | 不寻常的 | 否定前缀 un- + usual |
| **break down** | /breɪk daʊn/ | v. | 出故障 | break down 过去式 broke down |

### 词汇拓展

**1. alibi 的来源**
- 拉丁语 alibi = elsewhere（在其他地方）
- 法律用语：证明案发时不在现场的证据
- 日常用语中也可指"借口"

**2. commit 的搭配**
- commit a murder 犯谋杀罪
- commit a crime 犯罪
- commit suicide 自杀
- commit an error 犯错误

**3. suggest 的两种用法**
- 建议：I suggest that he (should) go. 我建议他去。（虚拟语气）
- 暗示：I suggest that you are lying. 我暗示你在说谎。（陈述语气）

本课中 suggest 用的是"暗示"含义，不用虚拟语气。

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## 三、语法知识点

### 1. 间接引语复习

本课全篇为对话形式，是间接引语（尤其是疑问句间接引语）的典型课文：

| 直接引语 | 间接引语 |
|---------|---------|
| 'Do you always catch an early train?' | He asked if/whether I always caught an early train. |
| 'At what time did you arrive?' | He asked at what time I had arrived. |
| 'I was travelling on the 8 o'clock train.' | He said he had been travelling on the 8 o'clock train. |

**间接引语的变化规则**：
| 变化项 | 直接引语 | 间接引语 |
|--------|---------|---------|
| 人称 | I → he/she | 相应调整 |
| 时态 | 一般过去时 | 过去完成时 |
| 时态 | 过去进行时 | 过去完成进行时 |
| 语序 | 疑问语序 | 陈述语序 |

### 2. suggest that 从句

> I suggest **that you are not telling the truth**.

**suggest + that 从句的两种语气**：

| 含义 | 语气 | 从句动词 | 例句 |
|------|------|---------|------|
| 建议 | 虚拟语气 | should + 动词原形 | I suggest that he (should) go. |
| 暗示 | 陈述语气 | 按实际情况 | I suggest that he is lying. |

本课中 inspector 是在"暗示"嫌疑人在撒谎，因此用陈述语气。

### 3. would 表推测

> ...the 8.25 **would** still get you to work on time.

**would** 此处表示推测（"应该会"），而非条件或过去习惯。

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## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. at the time

> **At the time** the murder was committed...

**含义**：在…的时候

同义表达：at the time when, when

### 2. I suppose...

> **I suppose** it would...

**含义**：我认为可以吧（语气不太确定）

| 表达 | 语气 |
|------|------|
| I suppose | 我想，我认为（较不确定） |
| I think | 我认为（一般确定） |
| I believe | 我相信（较确定） |
| I'm sure | 我确信（非常确定） |

### 3. on time

> My employer will confirm that I was there **on time**.

**on time vs in time**：
| 短语 | 含义 | 例句 |
|------|------|------|
| on time | 准时 | The train arrived on time. |
| in time | 及时 | We got there in time for the film. |

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## 五、课文翻译

"在凶杀发生的时候，我正坐在8点钟开往伦敦的火车上。"那人说。

"您总是赶这样早的火车吗？"探长问。

"当然是的，"那人回答。"我必须在10点钟上班，我的雇主会证明我是按时到了那儿的。"

"晚一点儿的车也能送您按时上班吗？"

"我认为可以，但我从来不乘晚一点儿的车。"

"您几点钟到的火车站？"

"7点50分。我买了张报纸，等着车来。"

"您没有注意到有什么异常情况发生吗？"

"当然没有。"

"我提醒您，"探长说，"您讲的不是实话。您乘的不是8点钟的火车，而是8点25分的，这次车同样能使您按时上班。您看，在凶杀发生的那天早晨，8点钟的那次车根本没有发。它在芬格林车站出了故障而被取消了。"

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## 六、语言点精讲

### 1. 侦探故事的结构

本课是典型的侦探审讯场景：嫌疑人提供不在场证明 → 探长逐步追问 → 最终揭穿谎言。这种结构在英语推理文学中非常常见。

### 2. "A perfect alibi" 的讽刺

标题 "A perfect alibi"（完美的不在场证明）实际上是反讽——嫌疑人的不在场证明看似完美，但基于一个虚假前提（8点钟的火车根本没发）。这告诉我们：看似完美的谎言往往有一个致命漏洞。

### 3. 探长的审讯技巧

探长没有直接指出火车没发，而是通过一系列问题让嫌疑人自己构建谎言，最后才揭穿——这是经典的审讯策略。

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## 七、课后练习要点

### 1. 语法练习
- 直接引语变间接引语（疑问句、陈述句）
- suggest that 从句的两种语气

### 2. 词汇运用
- 用 commit, confirm, suggest 造句
- on time 与 in time 的区别

### 3. 写作练习
- 写一段审讯对话（使用间接引语和suggest从句）

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## 八、本课小结

| 项目 | 内容 |
|------|------|
| **核心语法** | 间接引语复习（疑问句/陈述句转换）、suggest that从句的两种语气 |
| **重点词汇** | 9个（alibi, commit, inspector, employer, confirm, suggest, truth, unusual, break down） |
| **重点短语** | at the time, on time, I suppose, break down, take off the line |
| **学习难点** | 间接引语的时态变化、suggest that的虚拟与陈述语气 |

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*本课以侦探审讯为题材复习间接引语，重点掌握疑问句变间接引语的规则。*