The Grounded Conductor

    Tom is applying for a job as a signalman for the local railroad¹, and is told to meet the inspector² at the signal box.
    The inspector decides to give Tom a pop quiz, asking, "What would you do if you realized that two trains were heading towards each other on the same track?"Tom says, "I would switch one train to another track.""What if the lever³ broke?" asks the inspector.
    "I'd run down to the tracks and use the manual⁴ lever," answers Tom.
    "What if that had been struck by lightning?" challenges theinspector.
    "Then," Tom continues, "I'd run back up here and use the phone to call the next signal box.""What if the phone was busy?""In that case," Tom argues, "I'd run to the street level and use the public phone near the station".
    "What if that had been vandalized?""Oh, well," says Tom, "in that case I'd run into town and get my Uncle Leo."This puzzles the inspector, so he asks, "Why would you do that?""Because he's never seen a train crash."

1 railroad   

n.铁路；vi.由铁路运输

参考例句：

• The railroad connects two cities,namely,New York and Chicago.这条铁路连接两个城市，即纽约与芝加哥。
• My brother is working on the railroad.我兄弟在铁路系统工作。

2 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

3 lever   

n.杠（杆），途径，工具，手段；vt.撬动（起）

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• Pity is a lever for quickening love.怜悯是加速爱情的手段。

4 manual   

adj.手工的，体力的；n.手册，指南，键盘

参考例句：

• The majority of men there earn their living by manual labour.那里绝大多数人靠体力劳动谋生。
• The school offers manual training to the pupils.该校为学生开设手工课。