On Wednesday evening(,) we went to the town hall(Town Hall). It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the town hall(Town Hall) clock. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes(\') time. Fifteen minutes passed by and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped. The big minute hand did not move. We waited and waited(,) but nothing happened. Suddenly someone shouted. \'It\'s two past twelve! The clock has stopped.\' I looked at my watch. It was true. The big clock refused to welcome the new year. At that moment, people(everbody) began to laugh and sing.
2. a large crowd of
词典没查到，在网上搜索了下，找到了这个笑话：
What a large crowd
A man was traveling down a country road when he saw a large group of people outside a house. He stopped and asked a person why the large crowd was there.
A farmer replied, \"Joe\'s mule kicked his mother-in-law and she died.\"
\"Well,\" replied the man, \"she must have had a lot of friends.\"
\"Nope,\" said the farmer, \"we all just want to buy his mule.\"
We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany in 1681. Our clavichord is kept in the living room. It has belonged to our family for a long time. It (The instrument) was bought by my grandfather many years ago. Recently it was demaged by a visitor. She tried to play Jazz(jazz) on it. She struck the key(s) too hard and two of (the)strings were broken. My father was shocked. Now we are not allowed to touch it. It is being repaired by a friend of my father\'s.
I was having dinner (at a restaurant) when Tony Steele came in. He was working (worked) in a lawyer\'s office years ago, but now he is (now) working at a bank. He gets a good salary but he always borrow(s) money from his friends and never pays it back. Tony saw me and came and sat at the same table. He had never borrowed money from me. So (Whiling he was eating) I asked him to lent me 20 pounds. To my surprise, he gave me the money immediately. \'I had never borrowed (any) money from you.\' Tony said. \'So now you can pay for my dinner!\'
Our neighbour, Captain Charles Alison, will sail from Portsmouth tomorrow. (We shall meet him at the harbour early in the morning) He will sail with (be in) his little (small) boat, Topsail. Topsail is a famous little boat. It has (sailed) across the Atlantic many times. Captain Alison will set up at eight o\'clock in the morning, so we shall have plenty of time. We shall see his boat and then (we shall) say goodbye to him. Captain Alison (He) will be away for two months. We are very proud of him. He will take part in an important game(race) in across the Atlantic.
(The) Greenwood b(B)oys are a group of popular singers. (At present,) T(t)hey are visiting all parts of country at present. They will come(be arriving) here tomorrow. They will be coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station. (Tomorrow evening )The Greenwood boys (they) will be singing in(at) the workers\'club(Workers\' Club). They(The Greenwood Boys) will (be) stay(staying) here for five days. During this time, they will give five performances. (As usual,) T(t)he police will have a difficult time. They will try(be trying) to keep order. It\'s (always) the same at these occasions.
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