VOA慢速英语:An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

短语讲解：

1. The occurrence, or event, in our story takes place during the Civil War of the eighteen sixties between the American states of the north and the states of the south.

take place发生; 举行
例句：The threatening strike did not take place after all.
可能来临的罢工终究没有发生。

2. A man stood on a railroad bridge in Alabama looking down into the swift waters of the Owl Creek River below.

look down俯视, 向下看
例句：Look down the valley, what a magnificent view!
往山谷下看看吧，景色多么壮丽啊！

3. Three soldiers of the northern army stood near the prisoner, waiting for their captain's orders to hang him.

wait for等待, 等候
例句：I've been waiting for the bus for half an hour.
我等车已等了半个小时了。

4. But, as he tried to think of them, he heard sounds -- again and again.

think of想起, 记起; 想念
例句：Will you think of me after I've left?
我离开之后, 你还会记得我吗?

5. Then, suddenly, he heard a noise…something falling into the water. There was a big sound in his ears.

fall into掉进, 陷入
例句：Don't let it fall into the hands of the enemy.
不要让它落入敌人手中。

6. He blew out the air with a scream.

blow out吹出
例句：The chimney blew out a cloud of black smoke.
烟囱里喷出一团黑烟。

7. They shouted, and they pointed at him.

point at (把…)对准, 指向
例句：It's rude to point your fingers at people.
用手指指人是很失礼的。

8. He saw one soldier shooting at him.

shoot at向…射击〔开枪等〕
例句：He shot at a bird, but missed it.
他开枪打鸟, 但没打中。

9. He was caught in a whirlpool which kept turning him around and around.

turn around (使)转身, (使)转换方向
例句：The bus had to back up and turn around.
那辆公共汽车不得不先往后退, 然后再掉头。