【生詞預覽】

delight使愉快，spot發現，honor system誠信制度

【笑話原文】

Can Be Trusting?

Everything about country customs delighted my neighbors who had moved to our small town from the city. Then one day they spotted a sign, “Fresh Eggs for Sale,” at a roadside stand where payment was on the honor system.

“Why can’t everyone be this trusting?” they said as they put their money in a box and took a carton. When they got home and opened it, they found 11 eggs.

【中文譯文】

能信任嗎？

我們的鄰居剛從城市搬到我們這個小鎮上來。一切有關農村習俗的事情都使他們感到高興。有一天，他們看到路邊小攤有一個牌子“出售新鮮雞蛋”，是用那種傳統的無人售貨的方式。他們把錢放進一個盒子，拿到了一打雞蛋，并且感慨地說：“為什么人們不能都這樣信任別人呢？”回到家里，打開盒子，他們看到里面只有11個雞蛋。

【詞匯講解】

1.trusting容易相信的。the trusting nature of a small child幼兒輕信的天性。She’s not a trusting girl.她不是個輕易相信別人的人。

2.custom習俗。也可以指“顧客”：I shall withdraw my custom from that shop.我再也不去那家店鋪買東西了。它還可以指“海關”：How long will it take us to pass the Customs？通過海關檢查要花費我們多少時間？也可以作形容詞用，是“定制的”的意思:custom shoes定做的鞋子

3.spot發現。spot a mistake發現錯誤；He was the first to spot the danger.他是第一個發覺險情的人。“使有污漬”：His trousers were spotted with mud.他的褲子上有泥漬。

4.payment付款／支付的款項。a cheque payment for rent支付房租的支票；payment in advance預付；payment in arrear拖欠。When can I expect payment?什么時候可以付我錢？

5. honor system誠信制度，指出于信任而不加監督的制度，如學校的無監考考試制、監獄的無看守監禁制等等。Self-service stores must run on the honor system.自助商店必須采用無人監督的誠信制。

6.carton紙盒。a carton of cigarettes一條香煙；a carton of milk 一盒牛奶。也可以作動詞，是“用紙盒裝”的意思：cartoned dairy products盒裝奶制品。