重要的人:一位重要的人-The Man of Great Importance

　　一位重要的人

　　【內(nèi)容提示】

　　請(qǐng)你根據(jù)下面的故事寫(xiě)一篇英語(yǔ)文章：

　　很多年前，有一個(gè)陸軍下士（corporal）指揮一隊(duì)士兵修筑一座毀環(huán)了的橋梁。這個(gè)下士認(rèn)為自己是最大的人物，所以只發(fā)號(hào)施令不動(dòng)手。士兵們正把一根木頭往一個(gè)土墩上搬，但是由于人手不夠上不去。這時(shí)，一位打扮成平民模樣的紳士碰巧路過(guò)這兒，問(wèn)下士為什么不幫忙。下士說(shuō)他是下士，所以不干活。來(lái)人脫掉外套幫戰(zhàn)士們把木頭搬上土墩，并對(duì)下士說(shuō)，下次有這樣的活還叫他來(lái)。下士問(wèn)來(lái)人叫什么名字，來(lái)人說(shuō)他叫喬治·華盛頓，是陸軍總司令。

　　【作文示范】

　　The Man of Great Importance

　　Many years ago a group of soldiers were busy repairing a ruined①bridge. The work was directed by a corporal②, who thought he was a very important man and so he gave his commands in a very loud voice. The men were trying to get a wooden log to the top of a mound③, but they were not strong enough. One more pair of arms, and the work would have been easy④. Yet, the corporal did not offer to help in any way. He simply stood and shouted his commands.

　　“Now, you fellows,” he shouted,“put you backs into it! Don＇t stand looking at it----move it!”

　　A gentleman dressed as a civilian, who happened to be walking by, stopped and watched, and then asked the officer why he did not help.

　　“Do you know who I am, sir!”asked the officer, with indignation and astonishment⑤.“I am a corporal.”

　　“Oh!”said the other. “I beg your pardon, I am sure.”

　　Then the newcomer threw off his coat, and going to the little group of men, helped them, so that the log was soon in position. The corporal did not even thank the gentleman for his help, but as the civilian put on his coat again, he said quietly:“The next time you have a task of this kind in hand, sir, and have not enough men, just send for me and I will come and help.”

　　“May I ask your name?”asked the corporal.

　　“Yes, sir,”replied the gentleman,“My name is George Washington and I am commander-in-chief of the army. Goodbye, sir.”

　　The civilian walked away, and the corporal stood still, unable to say a word.

　�。ㄟx自《中小學(xué)外語(yǔ)》1980年第2期）

　　【詞語(yǔ)解釋】

　　①ruined [＇ru(:)ind] a.毀壞了的

　�、赾orporal [＇k&:p+r+l] n.陸軍下士（在美國(guó)陸軍中為第四級(jí)軍士）

　�、踡ound [maund] n.土墩

　�、躉ne more pair of arms, and the work would have been easy.這是一個(gè)表示和過(guò)去事實(shí)相反的非真實(shí)條件句，從句和主句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞分別用 had been和 would have been的虛擬語(yǔ)氣形式。意思是：如果再多一雙手，活兒就容易干了。

　�、輜ith indignation and astonishment  憤慨而驚訝地

　　【寫(xiě)法指要】

　　本文寫(xiě)得非常有趣：小人物充大人物，大人物扮小人物；小人物自高自大瞧不起大人物，大人物沒(méi)架子幫助小人物；小人物不辦事，大人物辦實(shí)事。真正的要人是辦實(shí)事的人而不是光發(fā)號(hào)施令的人。文章除了寫(xiě)得妙趣橫生外，題目用的也值得稱(chēng)贊：這里用了importance的兩層意思：一是“重要，重大”，二是“傲慢，自大”。所以，和文章結(jié)合起來(lái)看，importance在此處是雙關(guān)語(yǔ)（pun）。