【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。