【生词预览】

pupil学生，incubator孵化基地，beforehand之前

【笑话原文】

Visiting a Chicken Farm

One day, a teacher took his pupils to a chicken farm to pay a visit.

When they came near the incubator, a chick just got out of its eggshell.

“It’s wonderful to see a little thing come out from the eggshell, isn’t it?” the teacher said.

“Yes, sir.”said one of the boys, “but it would be more wonderful if we know that how a chick gets into its eggshell beforehand.”

【中文译文】

参观养鸡场

一天，老师领着学生们去一个养鸡场参观。

当他们来到孵化基地旁边时，一只小鸡正好破壳而出。

“看着一个小声明从蛋壳里出来真好啊，对吧？”老师说。

“是啊，”一个男孩说，“但是，要是能看到它之前是怎么钻进去的就更好啦。”

【词汇讲解】

1.pupil学生。也特指“小学生”，还可以说是“弟子”：They were pupils of the old painter.他们是那位老画家的弟子。

2.pay进行（访问），给予（问候）：pay attention to 对…注意；pay one’s respects to sb.向某人致敬；pay sb. a compliment(on his work)赞扬某人（的工作）

3.incubator孵化基地。也可引申为“培养人才的基地”：This middle school is an incubator for university football players.这所中学是为大学培养足球运动员的场所。

4.chick小鸡。口语里也可以指“少女”： That chick is some pumpkins.那姑娘很了不起。

5.eggshell蛋壳。也可引申为“薄而易碎的东西”：walk on eggshells战战兢兢地行事。Is American political life truly so eggshell-thin?美国的政坛生活真是那么没保障吗？

6.beforehand之前，提前。Get everything ready beforehand.事先把一切准备好。也可以作形容词（一般作表语）：When you go on a journey, be beforehand with your packing.你出门旅行时要事先整理好行装。