A tragedy

【趣味英语】春节小知 世界节日（1）Spring

来自 | 撰写| 12月12日


　　George W.Bush visits an elementary school and the 4th grade class is in the middle of a discussion related to words and their meanings. The teacher asks the President if he would like to lead the class in a discussion of the word″tragedy″. So GeorgeW.asks the class for an example of a tragedy. One boy stands up and says,″If my best friend who lives next door is playing in the street and a car comes along and runs him over, that would be a tragedy.″″No,″says Bush,″that would be an accident.″ A girl raises her hand,″If a school bus carrying50children drove off a cliff, killing everyone involved, that would be a tragedy.″″I＇mafraidnot,″ explains the President.″That＇s what we would call a GREatLoss.″ The room goes silent. No other children volunteer. President Bush searches the room and asks,″Isn＇t there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy？″ Finally, way in the back of the room, Johnny raises his hand and in a quiet voice he says,″If Air Force One, carryingMr. and Mrs. Bush, was struck by a missile and blown up to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.″″That＇s right！ And can you tell me WHY that would be a tragedy？″ asks the President.″Well,″ Johnny says,″because it wouldn＇t be an accident and it sure as well wouldn＇t be a GreatLoss.″

　　乔治·布什到一所小学参观,四年级的孩子们正在讨论一些单词及其含义。老师问总统是否愿意带领孩子们讨论 灾难 这个词的含义,乔治·布什要求学生们给出灾难的具体例子。

　　一个男孩站起来说 如果住在我隔壁的我最好的朋友在街上玩,一辆轿车开过来并从他身上轧过去,那将是一场灾难。

　　不, 布什说 那只是一场意外。

　　一个女孩举起手,说 如果一辆载着50个学生的校车翻下悬崖,车上所有的同学都丧命,那将是一场灾难。 恐怕不是, 总统解释说 那是我们所说的重大损失。

　　教室里一片安静,没有一个孩子再发言。布什总统扫视了一遍教室,然后说 这里没有人能再给我一个例子,说明什么是灾难吗？

　　最后,在教室的后面,约翰尼举起了手,用平静的口气说 如果载着布什先生和布什太太的空军一号被导弹击落并炸成碎片,那将是一场灾难。

　　对了！你能告诉我为什么那是灾难吗？ 总统问。

　　哦, 约翰尼说 因为那不是意外,也绝对不是重大损失。