English: On Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall.

Chinese: 星期三晚上，我们去了市政厅。


English: It was the last day of the year

Chinese: 那是一年的最后一天。


English: A large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall clock.

Chinese: 一大群人聚集在市政厅的大钟下面。


English: It would strike twelve in twenty minutes’ time.

Chinese: 再过二十分钟，大钟将敲响十二点。


English: Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped.

Chinese: 过了十五分钟，就在十一点五十五分时，钟停了。


English: The big minute hand did not move.

Chinese: 那根大分针不动了。


English: We waited and waited, but nothing happened.

Chinese: 我们等了又等，但什么也没发生。


English: Suddenly, someone shouted, “It’s two minutes past twelve!

Chinese: 突然有人喊道：已经十二点零二分了。


English: The big clock refused to welcome the New Year.

Chinese: 那座大钟拒绝迎接新年。


English: At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.

Chinese: 就在那一刻，大家开始笑着唱歌。


English: Where did we go on New Year’s Eve?

Chinese: 除夕夜我们去了哪里？


English: Were there a lot of people there?

Chinese: 那里有很多人吗？


English: Yes, there were a lot of people there.

Chinese: 是的，那里有很多人。


English: In how many minutes would the Town Hall clock strike twelve?

Chinese: 市政厅的钟会在多少分钟后敲响十二下？


English: It would strike twelve in twenty minutes.

Chinese: 二十分钟后钟会敲十二下。


English: It stopped at five to twelve.

Chinese: 它在十一点五十五分时停了。


English: Did it refuse to welcome the New Year?

Chinese: 它拒绝迎接新年了吗？


English: Yes, it refused to welcome the New Year.

Chinese: 是的，它拒绝迎接新年。


English: The crowd began to laugh and sing.

Chinese: 人们开始笑着唱歌。