重要的人:一位重要的人-The Man of Great Importance
一位重要的人
【內容提示】
請你根據下面的故事寫一篇英語文章：
很多年前，有一個陸軍下士（corporal）指揮一隊士兵修筑一座毀環了的橋梁。這個下士認為自己是最大的人物，所以只發號施令不動手。士兵們正把一根木頭往一個土墩上搬，但是由于人手不夠上不去。這時，一位打扮成平民模樣的紳士碰巧路過這兒，問下士為什么不幫忙。下士說他是下士，所以不干活。來人脫掉外套幫戰士們把木頭搬上土墩，并對下士說，下次有這樣的活還叫他來。下士問來人叫什么名字，來人說他叫喬治·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.
（選自《中小學外語》1980年第2期）
【詞語解釋】
①ruined [＇ru(:)ind] a．毀壞了的
②corporal [＇k&:p r l] n．陸軍下士（在美國陸軍中為第四級軍士）
③mound [maund] n．土墩
④One more pair of arms, and the work would have been easy．這是一個表示和過去事實相反的非真實條件句，從句和主句的謂語動詞分別用 had been和 would have been的虛擬語氣形式。意思是：如果再多一雙手，活兒就容易干了。
⑤with indignation and astonishment 憤慨而驚訝地
【寫法指要】
本文寫得非常有趣：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，大人物沒架子幫助小人物；小人物不辦事，大人物辦實事。真正的要人是辦實事的人而不是光發號施令的人。文章除了寫得妙趣橫生外，題目用的也值得稱贊：這里用了importance的兩層意思：一是“重要，重大”，二是“傲慢，自大”。所以，和文章結合起來看，importance在此處是雙關語（pun）。
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