7. I'm Going to Let My Chauffeur Answer it

　　A famous scientist was on his way to yet another lecture when his chauffeur¹ offered an idea. "Hey, boss, I've heard your speech many times, I bet I could deliver it and give you the night off.

　　"sounds great," the scientist said.

　　When they got to the auditorium², the scientist put on the chauffeur's hat and settled in the back row. The chauffeur walked to the lectern and delivered the speech. Afterward³ he asked if there were any questions.

　　"Yes," said one processor.Then he launched into a highly technical question.

　　The chauffeur was panic-stricken for a moment but quickly recovered. " That's an easy one, " he replied, "so easy, I'm going to let my chauffeur answer it. "

Notes:

　　(1) on one's way (to)某人在……的路上

　　(2) chauffeur n.受雇驾驶私人汽车之司机

　　(3) give you the night off让你休息一个晚上

　　(4) auditorium n.礼堂

　　(5) settle v.使安身；使安定

　　(6) launch into开始

　　(7) panic-stricken adj.惊慌失措的

Exercises:

根据短文回答问题：

　　① Why did the chauffeur think he could deliver the lecture?

　　② What did the scientist think of the idea?

　　③ Where did the scientist sit when they got to the auditorium?

　　④ What kind of question did one professor ask?

　　⑤ Did the chauffeur spoil the lecture?

7.让我的司机来回答

　　一个著名科学家起程去再作一个讲座。他的司机出了个主意：“老板，您的讲座我已听了这么多次了。我打赌我能作这个讲座，让您休息一个晚上。”

　　“那太好了。”科学家说。

　　到了礼堂，科学家戴上了司机的帽子，坐在了后排。而司机走上了讲台，作讲演。讲演结束后，他问听众是否有什么问题。

　　一个教授说有，并提出了一个高深的学术问题。

　　司机一时被问懵了，但很快就镇定下来。“这很容易，”他说，“太容易了，我要让我的司机来回答。”

练习参考答案：

　　① Because he had heard the scientist's lecture many times.

　　② He thought it was great.

　　③ In the back row.

　　④ A highly technical question.

　　⑤ No, he didn't.

1 chauffeur   

n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车

参考例句：

• The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
• She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。

2 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。

3 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。