古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事,古德明,香港英语教育作家,他开了一个《征服英语专栏》,在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事,用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
抽 水 马 桶 的 副 作 用
the problems experienced by the rural recruits in britain in 1914 were many. some of them, for instance, found the water closet baffling. a soldier, returning from a lengthy route march, decided to wash his socks in the toilet. having started the task he found he needed more water and so he asked one of his colleagues, who replied, "pull the chain."
the soldier did as he was told, only to see his socks disappear in a swirling rush of water. his explanation, the next day, was accepted by a weary officer, who by that stage had seen and heard just about everything.
一 九 一 四 年 英 国 来 自 乡 间 的 新 兵 遇 上 不 少 问 题 , 例 如 抽 水 马 桶 就 令 一 些 人 大 为 困 惑 。 一 个 士 兵 长 途 行 军 训 练 回 来 , 想 在 马 桶 洗 袜 子 , 动 手 之 后 , 发 觉 要 多 点 水 , 向 同 袍 请 。 同 袍 说 : 「 拉 那 链 子 吧 。 」