经典双语笑话 第5期:一个真正热爱国家的人

 Unit5 A True Patriot¹ 第五节 一个真正热爱国家的人

The airplane was obviously in trouble.  飞机显然出了问题。

One engine was on fire, another was sputtering,  一个引擎着火，另一个嘎嘎作响，

and the machine was slowly, ineluctably losing height. 不可避免地，飞机缓慢地失去高度。

Finally the grim-looking captain entered the cabin. 最后，面色凝重的机长走进客舱。

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "we've lost most of our power. “各位女士，各位先生，”他宣布道，“我们已失去了大部分的动力，

The only way to keep the plane aloft is to lighten our load. 要保持飞机高度的唯一方法就是减轻我们的载重。

We've already dumped the baggage, but it's not enough.  虽然我们已经把行李丢掉，但还是不够。

I'm asking for volunteers to make the supreme² sacrifice so that others may live." 我要求几位自告奋勇牺牲生命以保全其他人的性命。”

After a few minutes of stunned³ silence, a Frenchman stood to quivering attention,shouted  一阵目瞪口呆的沉寂之后，一位法国人颤抖着站起来喊道：

"Vive la France!" and threw himself out the door. “法国万岁！”然后跳出机门。

Shortly thereafter,an Englishman rose to his full height,coolly declared,  之后一会儿，一位英国人站了出来，他冷静地说：

"God Save the Queen!" and followed thegallant Frenchman. “上帝保佑女王！”接着和那位勇敢的法国人一样跳出门外。

Finally, a Texan rose from his seat, cried, "Remember the Alamo! "  最后，一位德州佬从座位站起来，叫道：“毋忘阿拉摩！”

and threw out the Mexican sitting next to him. 说着便把隔邻的墨西哥乘客扔出窗外。

1.in trouble 陷入麻烦

例句：She stood by me when I was in trouble.

当我有困难的时候，她会站在我这边。

2.lighten load 减轻负重

例句：First, it must lighten your load so you can concentrate on more important issues.

首先，要减轻你的负担，这样你才有时间来处理更多的重要事情。

3.make sacrifice 做出牺牲

例句：Parents often make sacrificein educate their children .

父母常常为教育子女而作出牺牲。

4.rise from 升起；起来

例句：It has been an American ideal to rise from a humble⁴ beginning to a better position.

从低下的工作干起,而后上升到较好的地位,一向是美国人的一个理想.

1 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

4 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。