【生詞預覽】

secondhand二手的，bazaar義賣市場，prospective預期的，paperback平裝本，triumphant得以洋洋的

【笑話原文】

Keep the Change

Selling secondhand books at our church bazaar, I got into an argument with a prospective customer. He was interested in buying The Pocket Book of Ogden Nash but claimed it was overpriced at 35 cents. Other paperbacks were selling for ten or 15 cents each.

I pointed out that the book was in good condition. Nash was a fun poet, and it was for a good cause. He said it was a matter of principle. Ultimately, I agreed to sell him the book for 15 cents. Triumphant, he paid with a $10 bill. "Keep the change," he said.

【中文譯文】

不用找了

在教堂的義賣市上賣舊書時，我與一名準備買東西的顧客發生了一場爭論。他對購買袖珍奧金.納什集頗感興趣，但是說它要三十五美分開價過高。其它的平裝書每本才賣十或十五美分。

我指出這本書保存狀況好，納什是個有趣的詩人，這個要價是合理的。他說這是個原則問題。最終，我同意以十五美分的價格將這本書賣給他。他得意洋洋，拿出一張十美元的票子付帳。“零錢不用找了?！彼f。

【詞匯講解】

1.secondhand二手的，用過的／間接的／經營舊貨的。Secondhand information第二手資料。Most of our knowledge is secondhand.我們的知識大部分是間接的。而這個詞分成兩部分寫的話，即second hand,那就是“中間人、媒介”的意思了。

2.bazaar指東方國家的街市、市場、集市；或者是出售漂亮衣服和花哨小工藝品的市場；也可以指義賣市場。

3.prospective預期的，未來的。A prospective client可能成為客戶的人；a prospective bridegroom未來的新郎

4.claim聲稱，斷言。The boy claimed to have told the truth.這男孩兒聲稱他說的是實話。

5.point out指出，指明。Point還可以與at,to, toward等介詞連用：It’s rude to point at people.對人指指點點是不禮貌的。

6.triumphant得意洋洋的／勝利的。He felt triumphant.他感到勝利的喜悅。