Notes on the text课文注释
1 with every step of the way home，这里介词 with引起的短语作状语，表示“随……（情况发生某种变化）”。
2 her thoughts were on lunch and a good rest，她只想着午餐和好好休息。
3 reprimand sb．for…，因为……而训斥某人。
4 yet following her regular practice，然而按照她的惯例。
这是现在分词短语作方式状语，修饰 had shut。
5 as clear as daylight，十分清楚。
6 it might be more prudent to have someone with her，有人陪伴她可能更谨慎一些。
it是形式主语，不定式短语 to have someone with her是真正的主语。
7 being careful to touch nothing是现在分词短语作方式状语，修饰 went through。
8 skeleton key，万能钥匙。
参考译文
老妇人回到了她居住的公寓楼，心里很高兴。去商店买东西把她搞得筋疲力尽；在回家的路上，她每走一步，就感到手里的篮子又重了一点。她乘上电梯后，只想着午餐和好好休息一下。但她到了自己的楼层走出电梯后，就把这两件事忘了个干净，因为她突然发现她家的大门开着。她心想明天上午一定要好好训斥那个干家务的帮手，她竟如此疏忽大意。但突然她记起来了，帮手是在她出去买东西之前走的，她还记得曾用了两把钥匙把大门锁上了。她慢慢地走进前厅，立即发现所有的房门都敞开着，而她记得在出门买东西前，她按老规矩是把房门一一锁上的。她往起居室里看去，写字台边一片狼藉。事情很清楚，在她外出时，窃贼曾闯进家门。她第一个条件反射是到各个房间里搜寻一下窃贼，但转念一想，像她这个年纪，最好是找个人一起去。于是她到地下室去找看门的人。这时，她两腿累得开始发抖，于是坐了下来，喝了一杯浓茶。与此同时，看门的人给警察挂了电话。此刻老妇人也镇定了下来，准备在看门人的协助下搜寻可能仍躲藏在她房里的窃贼。
他俩搜遍了每一个房间，小心翼翼地不接触任何东西，因为他们怕妨碍警察寻找指纹。房间里的紊乱状况是无法想像的。老妇人在这套公寓里住了30年，她又是个名副其实的收藏家。看来她的每一件东西都被翻了出来，并且被里里外外看了个遍。这样一来，她倒是容易将那些几年前就该扔掉的东西找出来了。过了一会儿，一位巡官带着一名警察来了。她向他们讲述了发现公寓遭劫的经过。巡官开始搜寻指纹，警察经检查发现大门锁头并无撬过的迹象。由此可以证明，窃贼或者是用了万能钥匙，或者是翻越阳台进来的。巡官没有发现指纹，却发现了一个装有珠宝的、肮脏的红包袱。老妇人说那不是她的。很明显，闯进这套公寓的窃贼那天并不是首次作案，而且他一定是受了惊吓。巡官请老妇人在次日之前设法查清丢了些什么，并劝她几夜之内不要独自一人在公寓过夜。老妇人觉得巡官大惊小怪，但既然看门人也同意他的意见，她只得打电话向女儿求援，说她碰到了一点儿小麻烦。
Multiple choice questions多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension理解
1 The old lady's thoughts were on lunch and a good rest ______ .
a．because she had done so much shopping on her way home
b．as she climbed the steps to the floor her flat was on
c．but the sight of the open front door put them both out of her mind
d．until she remembered she had gone shopping after the home help had left
2 When the old lady and the porter got back to the scene of the crime ______ .
a．he made her a cup of strong tea and then telephoned the police
b．they searched the rooms for any burglars who might not have escaped
c．they took care not to touch anything the burglars had touched
d．they waited for the police before going into every room in the flat
3 What made the police think the burglars had been disturbed?
a．They had been forced to leave the front door open.
b．There was no trace of their fingerprints.
c．They had made no attempt to disguise the fact they had been there.
d．They had left behind some jewellery which did not belong to the lady.