【生词预览】

matron主妇，antique古董，shade色度／色调，eccentric古怪的

【笑话原文】

I Painted the Vase

A wealthy matron was so proud of a valuable antique vase that she decided to have her bedroom painted the same color as the vase. Several painters tried to match the shade, but none came close enough to satisfy the eccentric woman.

Eventually, a painter approached who was confident that he could mix the proper color. The woman was pleased with the result, and the painter became famous.

Years later, he retired and turned the business over to his son. "Dad," said the son, "there's something I've got to know. How did you get those walls to match the vase so perfectly?"
"

Son," the father replied, "I painted the vase."

【中文译文】

我给花瓶上了色

一个有钱的主妇很骄傲自己有一个价值连城的古董花瓶，所以她决定把她的卧室也油漆成花瓶的颜色。
好几个油漆匠试着调色，可是没一个人能把颜色调得足够接近花瓶的,来满足这个奇怪的女人的要求。

终于，一个油漆匠找到一个自信能调好颜色的人。主妇对结果非常满意，那个调色的人也出名了。

多年后，他退休了并把家业移交给了儿子。
“爸爸，”儿子问，“有件事我必须得知道。您是如何那么完美地使墙壁的颜色贴合花瓶呢？”

“儿子，”爸爸回答，“我给花瓶上了色。”

【词汇讲解】

1.proud骄傲的。与proud有关的惯用语除了文中的be proud of，还有do sb. Proud， 是“给某人增光”之意：His honesty did him proud.他的正直为他增光。

2.valuable价值连城的，它的对义词是valueless，而不是invaluable。Invaluable 是valuable的同义词，是“非常珍贵的”、“无法估价的”的意思。

3.antique，形容词“古老的／过时的”，名词“古董、古玩”

4.have her bedroom painted，这里有一个句型“have sth. done”让某人做某事，比如：He had his hair cut.他（请人）给他理头发了。

5.eccentric，形容词“古怪的”，名词“怪人”。

6.turn over，移交，也有“仔细考虑” 的意思： He turned over the problem for hours.他对这个问题思考了好几个小时。