这是谋杀吗？(But Was it Murder?)

    亲爱的老师们、同学们，由外语中教学与研究出版社和英国剑桥大学出版社联合出版的这套《外研社·剑桥英语分级读物》终于与国内读者见面了。它集原创性、针对性、时代性和多样性于一体，是一套理想的英语学习读物。
本套读物是我国目前引进的第一套专为非英语国家读者撰写的英语故事性读物，作者全部是经验丰富的英语教学专家。读物依据难易程度共分六级，每级四本，每本独立成篇。题材涉及广泛，包括喜剧、历险记、侦探小与、浪漫爱情故事和短篇故事等。内容涉及东西方多种地域和文化，情节扣人心弦，极富吸引力。读者在提高自身英语水平的同时，还会享受到阅读的巨大乐趣。 本套读物分为英汉对照版和英文注释版两种版本，以适应不同读者的不同需要。其中，英文注释版附有练习及配套音带，为不同程度的英语学习者在阅读中提供了及时而必要的帮助。 如果你们喜欢这套读物，请把它推荐给你们的朋友。如果你们对这套读物有什么意见和建议，也请告诉我们。
在此，我们谨向那些为这套读物的出版给予帮助和关切的老师们表示衷心的感谢！ “外研社·剑桥英语分级读物”是一套全新原创系列读物，特别适合英语学习者阅读。根据书中的词汇量和语言难易程度，读物由初级到高级分为六级。本套读物讲述的故事都具有题材广泛、主题现代、易于理解和趣味盎然的特点。衷心希望此套读物既能成为广大读者学习英语的得力助手，又能丰富大家的阅历，开拓大家的视野。

    

    “外研社·剑桥英语分级读物”是一套全新原创系列读物，特别适合英语学习者阅读。根据书中的词汇量和语言难易程度，读物由初级到高级分为六级。本套读物讲述的故事都具有题材广泛、主题现代、易于理解和趣味盎然的特点。衷心希望此套读物既能成为广大读者学习英语的得力助手，又能丰富大家的阅历，开拓大家的视野。

Characters
Before your reading
Chapter 1 Missing the queen's head
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Chapter 2 The colour of death
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Chapter 3 Just friends
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Chapter 4 The sound of a shot
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Chapter 5 New cross at night
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Chapter 6 Identifying the body
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Chapter 7 Not an easy relationship
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Chapter 8 The Blackheath bonfire
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Chapter 9 Secrets and lies
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Chapter 10 Falling in love again
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Chapter 11 Homes and families
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Chapter 12 One kind of marriage
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Chapter 13 Home at last
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Chapter 14 But was it murder?
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Chapter 15 Uncovering lies
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Chapter 16 Jealousy
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Chapter 17 Putting the pieces together
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Chapter 18 The truth at last
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After your reading
Answer key
Summary
Level chart
Grammatical Grading

书摘
Eliot had chosen the biggest and smartest of the interview rooms. It had just been painted and the furniture was new. He wanted Wilver to feel relaxed.
'Oh, we just need a little more information,' said Eliot. 'It's completely routine. And we'd like to record this interview. You don't mind, do you, sir?'
Wilver shook his head and Eliot switched on the cassette machine.
'Now, could you tell us again about your last meeting with Mr Forley?' he asked.
Wilver repeated what he had told them the last time they had seen him. At first he seemed nervous, as if he was waiting for Eliot to speak. But he soon began to relax. Eliot listened carefully and nodded from time to time.
'Thank you, sir,' he said politely, after Wilver had finished. 'And now, would you tell us again where you were on the afternoon when he died? This is just routine, of course. We have to ask everybody.'
Wilver relaxed even more.


'Alex never had to fight for anything,' he said. 'He had everything he wanted, But hc couldn't take Lisa away. I wouldn't let Sam grow up without a mother, as I had to. I've worked so hard for what I've got. I wouldn't let anyone
take it away from me. You were right, Inspector. Alex was weak. I knew he couldn't live with a brain tumour. So I made him think he might have one. He didn't realise it was my suggestion. I even persuaded him to dean the gun so there were no fingerprints on it. It was so easy. Much too easy.'


Eliot woke at 7.45 with the sun on his face. It was strange how things always seemed better in the morning. Last night's worries had completely disappeared, and he was looking forward to the day ahead.
After a quick bath, he went down to get his newspaper from the letter-box. The front page was full of stories of political bribes. He read it with interest while he was having his coffee and toast. It was nice to have a quiet breakfast, for
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