【生词预览】

on sale廉价出售， dignified高贵的，batter连续猛击

【笑话原文】

I Am Acting Like a Lady

One day when women's dresses were on sale at the FarEast Department Store, a dignified middle-aged man decided to get his wife a piece. But he soon found himself being battered by frantic women. He stood it as long as he could; then, with head lowered and arms flailing, he plowed through the crowed.

“You there!”Yelled a thrill voice. Can't you act like a gentleman?”

“Listen,”he said, “I have been acting like a gentleman for an hour. From now on, I am acting like a lady.”

【中文译文】

我要表现得象位女士

一天，远东百货公司的女装大减价，一位高贵的中年男士想给太太买一件。可是，没过多久，他发现自己已被疯狂的女人冲得踉踉跄跄。 他竭力忍耐着。后来，他低下头，挥动双臂，挤过人群。 你干嘛？有人尖声叫道，你难道不能表现得象位绅士吗？ 听着，他说，我已经象绅士一样表现了一个小时。从现在起，我要表现得象个女士。

【词汇讲解】

1.on sale廉价出售。也有“上市”的意思： The book will be on sale next month.这本书将于下个月上市。

2.dignified高贵的。也可以指“庄严的”： He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend.他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

3.frantic发狂似的。也有“手忙脚乱”的意思： things in the office are frantic right now.现在办公室里是忙作一团。

4.flail无法控制地乱动： He flailed about in the water, shouting “I can’t swim!”他在水中胡乱摆动双臂，大叫“我不会游泳!”。