Smash and grab
咋櫥窗搶劫
The expensive shops in a famous arcade near Piccadilly were just opening. At this time of the morning, the arcade was almost empty. Mr Taylor, the owner of a jewellery shop was admiring a new window display. Two of his assistants had been working busily since 8 oclock and had only just finished. Diamond necklaces and rings had been beautifully arranged on a background of black velvet. After gazing at the display for several minutes, Mr Taylor went back into his shop.
The silence was suddenly broken when a large car, with its headlights on and its horn blaring, roared down the arcade. It came to a stop outside the jewelers. One man stayed at the wheel while two others with black stockings over their faces jumped out and smashed the window of the shop with iron bars. While this was going on, Mr Taylor was upstairs. He and his staff began throwing furniture out of the window. Chairs and tables went flying into the arcade. One of the thieves was struck by a heavy statue, but he was too busy helping himself to diamonds to notice any pain. The raid was all over in three minutes, for the men scrambled back into the car and it moved off at a fantastic speed. Just as it was leaving, Mr Taylor rushed out and ran after it throwing ashtrays and vases, but it was impossible to stop the thieves. They had got away with thousands of pounds
worth of diamonds.

4. Two of his assistants had been working busily since 8 oclock and had only just finished.
他手下2名店員從早上8點就開始忙碌，這時剛剛布置完畢。

語言點1:句子結構分析:用過去完成進行時had been working強調過去某一時間開始一直延續下去的動作，常與sicne引導的時間狀語搭配。

語言點2:表示“忙碌”的短語總結:

（1）get/have one's hand full 一天到晚忙個不停
（2）be on the go 忙忙碌碌
（3）be on the run 整天奔波
（4）be as busy as a bee 忙得團團轉

5. Two of his assistants had been working busily since 8 oclock and had only just finished.
鉆石項鏈，戒指漂亮地陳列在黑色絲絨上面。

語言點1:句子結構分析:用過去完成時的被動語態形式had been arranged描述diamond的擺放形式。

語言點2:arrange on表示“擺放”，相近的詞匯還有:display 陳列；exhibit 展出；spread out 展開；lay out 展示

6. After gazing at the display for several minutes, Mr Taylor went back into his shop.

泰勒先生站在櫥窗外凝神欣賞了幾分鐘就回到了店里。

語言點1:句子結構分析:“after+現在分詞”構成時間狀語從句的省略式。本句可以還原為:After he had gazed at the display for several minutes,Mr.Taylor went back into his shop.

語言點2:gaze at表示“盯著看”，與之意思相近的短語總結:

Focus on 關注
Fix on (目光，注意力等)集中于
Stare at 凝視
Glare at 怒目而視
Gape at 目瞪口呆地凝視
Watch closely 近距離看