detect查明、測(cè)出,mental智力的,deficiency缺陷、不足,confess承認(rèn)
笑話(huà)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."
中文譯文】
對(duì)歷史不很了解
“醫(yī)生,你能不能告訴我,”鮑勃問(wèn),“對(duì)于一個(gè)看上去很正常的人,你是怎樣判斷出他有智力缺陷的呢?”
“再?zèng)]有比這容易的了,”醫(yī)生回答,“問(wèn)他一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單的問(wèn)題,簡(jiǎn)單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。”
“那要問(wèn)什么樣的問(wèn)題呢?”
“嗯,你可以這樣問(wèn),‘庫(kù)克船長(zhǎng)環(huán)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?’”
鮑勃想了一會(huì)兒,緊張的回答道,“你就不能問(wèn)另外一個(gè)問(wèn)題嗎?坦率地說(shuō),我對(duì)歷史了解的不是很多。”
詞匯講解】
1.detect查明、測(cè)出/發(fā)現(xiàn)某人干壞事:detect a thief查出一個(gè)竊賊;detect a student cheating當(dāng)場(chǎng)逮住一個(gè)學(xué)生作弊。
2. mental智力的,腦力的/內(nèi)心的:a mental test智力檢測(cè); mantal labor腦力勞動(dòng);mental anguish內(nèi)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鎊的短缺。
4. “that puts you on the track”字面上是“路子對(duì)頭”的意思,根據(jù)上下文理解,就是“你就明白了”
5. sort種類(lèi)。People of every sort and kind came here.來(lái)這兒的三教九流都有。
6.confess承認(rèn),坦白。可作及物與不及物動(dòng)詞。The man refused to confess his crime.那人拒不認(rèn)罪。