【生词预览】

breakfast早餐，swim游泳，wonder想知道

【笑话原文】

Why Three Times?

The teacher told the class the story of a man who swam a river three times before breakfast.

Johnny laughed.

"Do you doubt that a good swimmer could do that?" asked the teacher.

"No, sir," answered Johnny, "but I wonder why he did not swim it four times and get back to the side where his clothes were."　

【中文译文】

为什么是三趟

老师给同学们讲了一个小故事，说有一个人早饭前要在河里游泳，横渡三趟。

约翰尼笑了。

老师问道：“你不相信一个游泳很好的人可以做到么？”

约翰尼回答说：“不是的，先生，我是不明白他为什么不游四次，这样他才可以回到放衣服的那边。”

【词汇讲解】

1.breakfast早餐。有关习语：have (或 eat) someone for breakfast (非正式)不费吹灰之力对付（或打败）某人

2.swim游泳。可以作及物或不及物动词。作不及物动词时还有“眩晕”的意思：He was hot and tired and his head was swimming.他又热又累, 头晕目眩。

3.doubt怀疑。也有“未确定”的意思：There is not much doubt about his guilt.他有罪几乎是可以确定的。

4.wonder想知道。作名词时有“奇才”的意思：He's a wonder with the way he arranges everything without any help.他不要任何帮忙就把事情样样办妥, 真是个奇才。