[al:新概念英语（二）] [ar:MP3 同步字幕版（英音）] [ti:A Cold Welcome] [by:更多学习内容，请到yingyu.chazidian.com搜索“新概念”] [00:13.18]What does 'a cold welcome' refer to? [00:20.76]On Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall. [00:25.25]It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall clock. [00:34.45]It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time. [00:38.94]Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped. [00:47.82]The big minute hand did not move. [00:52.56]We waited and waited, but nothing happened. [00:57.66]Suddenly someone shouted. [01:00.63]'It's two minutes past twelve! The clock has stopped!' [01:08.71]I looked at my watch. [01:10.35]It was true. [01:11.84]The big clock refused to welcome the New Year. [01:16.81]At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.