The plane was late and detectives were waiting at the airport all morning.

The plane was late ^{飞机晚(点)了}

• The bus was late.
• The train was late.

• airplane, aeroplane, plane: We boarded the plane and waited for it to take off.
• air bridge: We walked through the air bridge and onto the plane.
• control tower: The staff inside the control tower can see all the planes taking off and landing.
• landing lights: The runway was illuminated by the landing lights.
• hangar: The enormous hangar was full of half-finished planes.
• check-in counter: I walked up to the check-in counter and presented my passport and ticket.
• luggage carousel: We waited at the luggage carousel until our luggage finally arrived.
• passenger lounge: Before boarding my flight, I spent a few hours relaxing in the passenger lounge.
• passenger: Attention all passengers flying on flight KM106 to Rome. Please proceed to gate 11.
• air hostess: The patient air hostess looked after us throughout the flight.
• pilot: Thanks to the skilled pilot, we had a very smooth landing.
• gate: By the time we got to our gate, most of the passengers had already boarded the plane.
• passport: My passport is full of stamps from all the countries I’ve visited.
• flight ticket: When I checked in at the airport, I had to present my passport and my flight ticket.
• luggage: After getting off the plane, we went to collect our luggage.
• backpack: I carry everything I need inside my backpack.
• trolley: We pushed our luggage through the airport on a metal trolley.
• baggage scanners: Before entering the departure lounge, we had to put our luggage on the baggage scanners.
• pay phones: I needed to make a phone call, so I headed towards the pay phones.
• windsock: The pilots rely on the windsock to tell them which way the wind is blowing.

They were expecting a valuable parcel of diamonds from South Africa.

量词

• a package of ^{一包，一袋，一盒，一罐等包装的物品}
• a box of ^{一盒，一箱：指一种装有某种物品的盒子或箱子。}
• a glass of ^{一杯：一种或一定量的饮料装在玻璃杯中。}

A few hours earlier, someone had told the police that thieves would try to steal the diamonds.

a few hours earlier  = a few hours before / a few hours ago ^{几个小时以前}

try to do 努力做...^{（表示尝试去做某事或努力去完成某个任务。）}

• I will try to finish the project before the deadline. ^{（我会尽力在截止日期之前完成这个项目。）}
• She tried to fix the broken computer herself. ^{（她试图自己修理那台坏了的电脑。）}

过去将来时

一般将来时: will + v.^{(动词原型)}、 is/am/are going to + v.^{(动词原型)}

When the plane arrived, some of the detectives were waiting inside the main building while others were waiting on the airfield.^{（表达多个同时发生的动作）}

3个动词3件事^{(连接方式When + 1 ,2 + while + 3)}

1. The plane arrived.
2. They were waiting inside the main building.^{（They = some of the detectives一些侦探）}
3. They were waiting on the airfield. ^{（They = others 其它剩余的人）}

Two men took the parcel off the plane and carried it into the Customs House.

take sth. off… = take sth. away from… ^{远离：离开某个地点或者远离某个对象的状态或行为。}

take ^{词本意:脱离}

• He took off his coat. ^{他脱离了他的外套}
• The plane will take off. ^{飞机将要脱离(起飞)}

While two detectives were keeping guard at the door, two others opened the parcel.  ^{(过去进行时+一般过去表正在进行的同时发生另一件事)}

keep guard ^守卫

• They kept a close guard over the thieves.

at the door 在门边^{(固定搭配)}

To their surprise, the precious parcel was full of stones and sand!

To one’s + 表达人情绪的名词

be full of ... ^装满

• My bag was full of books.
• The cup is full of water.