早读英语精华本上册 Unit14

　　　　Courteous¹ Retort
A learned scientist was attending a dinner, and as cigars were being indulged in one of the guests began to deride² philosophy. He went on rudely to express the opinion that philosopher was but another way of spelling fool.
“What is your opinion, professor?” he asked smilingly. “Is there much distance between them?”
The professor surveyed his boorish³ vis-a-vis keenly for a moment, then with a polite bow, responded:
“Sometimes only the width of a table.”
禮貌的反擊
一位學識淵博的科學家出席了一個晚宴。當大家在飯後吸煙閒聊時，一位客人就開始嘲笑哲學。他無禮地表示，他認為哲學家僅僅是傻瓜的代名詞。
“你的看法呢，教授？”他笑著問道。“兩者之間有很大距離嗎？”
教授目光犀利地把那個坐在飯桌他對面的粗鄙漢子上下打量了一番，禮貌的欠了欠身，答道：
“有時兩者之間的距離僅是一飯桌之隔。”

1 courteous   

adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的

参考例句：

• Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
• He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。

2 deride   

v.嘲弄，愚弄

参考例句：

• Some critics deride the group as self - appointed food police.一些批评人士嘲讽这个组织为“自封的食品警察”。
• They deride his effort as childish.他们嘲笑他的努力，认为太孩子气。

3 boorish   

adj.粗野的，乡巴佬的

参考例句：

• His manner seemed rather boorish.他的举止看上去很俗气。
• He disgusted many with his boorish behaviour.他的粗野行为让很多人都讨厌他。