英文短篇故事（纽约）457 Did You Wash Your Hands?

 　　He walked into the kitchen. Breakfast dishes had dried in the dish rack on top of the counter. He opened a kitchen cabinet. He grabbed a dish. It touched another dish as he pulled it out of the rack. His wife was in the living room. She heard the clatter¹ as the dishes touched. She walked into the kitchen. She asked, "Did you wash your hands thoroughly²?" He grinned. He said, "Yes, dear. I always wash my hands thoroughly before I put the dishes away. Remember when you gave me your hand-washing demonstration³ in the bathroom? How could I ever forget that? Now don't worry. These dishes will go into the cabinet without a single germ on them. And when I finish, you can bring me my patient." She asked, "Patient? What patient?" He said, "My hands are as sterile⁴ as a surgeon's. I might as well have a patient."

1 clatter   

v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声

参考例句：

• The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
• Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。

2 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

3 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

4 sterile   

adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的

参考例句：

• This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile.这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上，保持奶嘴无菌。
• The farmers turned the sterile land into high fields.农民们把不毛之地变成了高产田。