听笑话学外语:对历史不很了解
日期:2011-04-14 14:03

(单词翻译:单击)

【生词预览】

detect查明、测出,mental智力的,deficiency缺陷、不足,confess承认

【笑话原文】

Don’t Know Much about History

"Would you mind telling me, Doctor," Bob asked, "how you detect a mental deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?"

"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask him a simple question which everyone should answer with no trouble. If he hesitates, that puts you on the track."

" Well, What sort of question?"

"Well, you might ask him, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'”

Bob thought for a moment, and then said with a nervous laugh, "You wouldn't happen to have another example, would you? I must confess I don't know much about history."

【中文译文】

对历史不很了解

“医生,你能不能告诉我,”鲍勃问,“对于一个看上去很正常的人,你是怎样判断出他有智力缺陷的呢?”

“再没有比这容易的了,”医生回答,“问他一个简单的问题,简单到所有人都知道答案,如果他回答得不干脆,那你就知道是怎么回事了。”

“那要问什么样的问题呢?”

“嗯,你可以这样问,‘库克船长环球旅行了三次,但是在其中一次的途中他去世了,是哪一次呢?’”

鲍勃想了一会儿,紧张的回答道,“你就不能问另外一个问题吗?坦率地说,我对历史了解的不是很多。”

【词汇讲解】

1.detect查明、测出/发现某人干坏事:detect a thief查出一个窃贼;detect a student cheating当场逮住一个学生作弊。

2. mental智力的,脑力的/内心的:a mental test智力检测; mantal labor脑力劳动;mental anguish 内心的痛苦;mental calculation心算。

3. deficiency缺陷、不足/短缺:a deficiency of intellect 才智的缺乏;a deficiency of 100 pounds100镑的短缺。

4. “that puts you on the track”字面上是“路子对头”的意思,根据上下文理解,就是“你就明白了”

5. sort种类。People of every sort and kind came here.来这儿的三教九流都有。

6.confess承认,坦白。可作及物与不及物动词。The man refused to confess his crime.那人拒不认罪。

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重点单词
  • anguishn. 苦闷,痛苦 v. 使 ... 极苦闷,使 ...
  • deficiencyn. 缺乏,不足,缺点
  • intellectn. 智力,理智,才智非凡的人,知识份子
  • trackn. 小路,跑道,踪迹,轨道,乐曲 v. 跟踪,追踪
  • mentaladj. 精神的,脑力的,精神错乱的 n. 精神病患者
  • calculationn. 计算
  • confessv. 承认,告白,忏悔