【生詞預(yù)覽】

pupil學(xué)生，incubator孵化基地，beforehand之前

【笑話原文】

Visiting a Chicken Farm

One day, a teacher took his pupils to a chicken farm to pay a visit.

When they came near the incubator, a chick just got out of its eggshell.

“It’s wonderful to see a little thing come out from the eggshell, isn’t it?” the teacher said.

“Yes, sir.”said one of the boys, “but it would be more wonderful if we know that how a chick gets into its eggshell beforehand.”

【中文譯文】

參觀養(yǎng)雞場

一天，老師領(lǐng)著學(xué)生們?nèi)ヒ粋€養(yǎng)雞場參觀。

當(dāng)他們來到孵化基地旁邊時，一只小雞正好破殼而出。

“看著一個小聲明從蛋殼里出來真好啊，對吧？”老師說。

“是啊，”一個男孩說，“但是，要是能看到它之前是怎么鉆進(jìn)去的就更好啦。”

【詞匯講解】

1.pupil學(xué)生。也特指“小學(xué)生”，還可以說是“弟子”：They were pupils of the old painter.他們是那位老畫家的弟子。

2.pay進(jìn)行（訪問），給予（問候）：pay attention to 對…注意；pay one’s respects to sb.向某人致敬；pay sb. a compliment(on his work)贊揚(yáng)某人（的工作）

3.incubator孵化基地。也可引申為“培養(yǎng)人才的基地”：This middle school is an incubator for university football players.這所中學(xué)是為大學(xué)培養(yǎng)足球運(yùn)動員的場所。

4.chick小雞。口語里也可以指“少女”： That chick is some pumpkins.那姑娘很了不起。

5.eggshell蛋殼。也可引申為“薄而易碎的東西”：walk on eggshells戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢地行事。Is American political life truly so eggshell-thin?美國的政壇生活真是那么沒保障嗎？

6.beforehand之前，提前。Get everything ready beforehand.事先把一切準(zhǔn)備好。也可以作形容詞（一般作表語）：When you go on a journey, be beforehand with your packing.你出門旅行時要事先整理好行裝。