【生词预览】

base基地，oration演讲， lieutenant陆军中尉，grumble抱怨，windbag饶舌之人

【笑话原文】

Who Am I

At a tea for officers and their wives, the commanding general of a base delivered a seemingly endless oration. A young lieutenant grumbled to the woman sitting beside him, “What a pompous and unbearable old windbag tat slob is!” The woman turned to him, her face red with rage. “Excuse me, Lieutenant. Do you have any idea who I am?” “No, ma’am,” the man fumbled. “I am the wife of the man you just called an unbearable old windbag.” “Oh,” said the lieutenant. “And do you have any idea who I am?” “No,” said the general’s wife. “Thank God.” said the lieutenant, getting up from his seat and disappearing into the crowd.

【中文译文】

你知道我是谁吗？

在一次军官和家属的茶话会上，基地的司令没完没了地发表着演说。一位年轻的中尉对坐在他旁边的女人嘟囔说：“这个老家伙罗嗦乏味、自以为是，真叫人不能容忍。”那个女人转过来，她的脸因生气而通红：“中尉，你知道我是谁吗？”小伙子说：“夫人，我不知道。”“我是那个你才说的罗嗦乏味、自以为是、叫人不能容忍的老家伙的太太。”中尉说：“喔，那你知道我是谁吗？”将军的夫人说：“不知道。”中尉说：“感谢上帝。”说完就从位置上站起来，消失在人群中。

【词汇讲解】

1.base基地。 The country maintains military bases on foreign soil.
那个国家在国外设有军事基地。

2.oration演讲。 He asked for no funeral oration.他不要人在葬礼上宣读悼词。

3.pompous自负的。 He was very pompous at the meeting.他在会上表现得很自负。

4.rage狂怒。也可以做动词，指“动怒”： She raged when her jewels were stolen while under police protection.在有警察保护的情况下她的珠宝被偷, 她十分生气。

5.fumble笨拙地弄。 Benjamin fumbled for the light switch.
本杰明手忙脚乱地找电灯开关。

6.crowd人群。也可以做动词，指“催促”： Don't crowd me; give me time to think.不要逼我; 给我时间让我想想。