1.The Doctor  and the servant

A wealthy old lady who lived near Dr．Swift used to send him presents occasionally by her servant．Dr．Swift took her presents but never gave the boy anything for his trouble．One day as Swift was busy with his writing， the boy rushed into his room， knocked some books out of their place， threw his parcelon the desk and said，“ my mistress has sent you two of herrab bits．” Swift turned round and said，“My boy， that is not the way to deliver your parcel．Now， you sit in my chair，watch my way of doing it and learn your lesson．” The boy sat down． Swift went out， knocked on his door and waited． The boy said“Come in．” The doctor entered，walked to his desk and said，“If you please sir， my mistress sends her kind regards and hopes you will accept these rabbits which her son shot this morning in her fields．” The boy answered，“Thank you， my boy， Give your mistress and her son my thanks for their kindness and here is two shillings for yourself．” The Doctor laughed， and after that， Swift never forgot to give the boy his tip．

翻譯：

 博士與小廝

在斯威夫特博士家附近，有一位富有的老婦人，她時常打發(fā)仆人給他送禮物。斯威夫特博士接受她的禮物，但從不給小廝任何酬謝。一天，斯威夫特博士正忙著寫東西，小廝沖進了他的房間，把書一扒拉，將一個包裹扔在書桌上，說道：“我的女主人送給你兩只兔子。” 斯威夫特轉(zhuǎn)過身來說：“孩子，包裹可不是這樣送法呀。現(xiàn)在，你坐在我的椅子上，看看我是怎么送的，并要記取這個教訓(xùn)。” 小廝坐了下來，斯威夫特走出去，敲了敲門，等待回音。小廝說“進來”。博士進了門，走到桌旁說道：“先生，我的女主人向您致以親切的問候，并希望您收下這些兔子，這是她兒子今天早晨在地里打的。” 小廝回答說：“謝謝你，我的孩子。向你的女主人和她的兒子致謝，謝謝他們的關(guān)心。這兩個先令是送給你本人的。” 博士笑了，打那以后，斯威夫特從沒忘記送小費給小廝。

 
 
2.A Man Who Said No

A friend of mine noticed a man staggering about in the Times Square subway station. A well-dressed Wall Street type, his coat was unbuttoned, a briefcase dangled from his hand and he‘d obviously had one too many.　　
Asked if he was all right, the man gave a slurred but affirmative response. However, my friend simply could not see someone brave the rough maw of a New York subway without trying to help. He followed the chap, and again asked, “Are you sure you‘re all right? What subway are you looking for? Do you need help getting home?” 　　
At last, the object of his attentions snarled, in a low voice, “Leave me alone! I‘m an undercover cop!”

 翻譯：

說不的男子

我的一位朋友看到一個男子在時代廣場的地鐵車站搖搖晃晃地走。那個人穿著時髦，敞著懷，一個手提箱在他的手里懸吊著，很明顯他是多喝了一杯。
我朋友問他怎么樣，那男子含糊而肯定地回答說沒問題。然而我朋友就是不能眼看著有人在紐約地鐵獨入是非之地而置之不顧。他跟在那家伙的后面，又一次問道：“你肯定你沒事？你在找哪個地鐵站？你需要幫忙回家嗎？”
他所注意的對象終于忍耐不住了，對他低聲咆哮道：“你給我走開！我是便衣警察！”

 
3.A Speeding Motorist

A highway patrol officer stopped a speeding motorist. “Don‘t you know what the blinking lights and siren mean?” he demanded.　　
“Yes, sir,” replied the driver. 　　
“Then why didn‘t you pull over immediately?” 　　
“I would have, officer, ” the man said. “But last month my wife ran off with a policeman, and I was afraid you were bringing her back.

翻譯：

超速的司機

一位公路巡警截住了一個超速司機。“難道你不知道閃爍燈和警笛的意思嗎？”他責(zé)問道。 　　
“知道，長官，”司機回答說。
“那你為什么不立即靠邊停車？” 　　
“我本來想這樣做的，長官。”那男子回答說，“但上個月我妻子和一位警察私奔了，我是害怕你把她帶回來。”

 
4.I used to take flying lessons
 
After 20 years as a pilot, I became an airport manger and soon found the stress was getting to me. I needed a release and wanted to buy a motorcycle, but my family thought it was too dangerous. My wife said, “Why don‘t you start flying again?”　　
The next day, as I showed a businessman around the airport, he looked longingly at the planes.” I used to take flying lessons, but my wife made quit,” he lamented. “She said it was dangerous. 　　
“Tell her you want to get a motorcycle,” I advised. My newfound friend has now earned his pilot‘s license.

翻譯：

我過去經(jīng)常參加飛行方面的學(xué)習(xí)

做了二十年的飛行員后，我成為一名機場管理人員。不久，我就發(fā)現(xiàn)壓力向我襲來。我需要放松，于是想買一輛摩托，但我的家人認為那玩藝兒太危險了。我妻子說：“何不再度開始飛行呢？” 　　
第二天，我?guī)ьI(lǐng)一個商人參觀機場時，他渴望地望著那些飛機。“我過去經(jīng)常參加飛行方面的學(xué)習(xí)，但我太太硬是讓我放棄掉，”他惋惜道，“她說那有危險。” 　　
“告訴她你想買一輛摩托，”我建議道。我這位新朋友現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)拿到飛行執(zhí)照。