英語幽默小故事 The Shepherd and the Bureaucrat

　　A bureaucrat was hiking when he came upon a shepherd tending a large flock. The bureaucrat took a fancy to the sheep and asked the shepherd, "If I can guess how many there are, may I have one?" The shepherd thought it unlikely the man would guess the exact number, so he agreed.

　　The bureaucrat guessed, "You have 287 sheep." The shepherd was astonished, since this was exactly right.

　　"Can I pick out my sheep now?" asked the bureaucrat. The shepherd grudgingly gave his permission. Selecting one, the bureaucrat slung it over his shoulders to carry home.

　　The shepherd got an idea." If I guess your occupation'," he said, "may I have my sheep back?" The bureaucrat was surprised, but figured there was little chance of the shepherd guessing correctly, so he went along. "You're a bureaucrat, "announced the shepherd. Amazed, the bureaucrat asked.

　　"How did you know?"

　　The shepherd replied, "Put the dog down and we'll talk about it.

Notes:

　　(1) bureaucrat n.官僚

　　(2) come upon偶然遇到

　　(3) shepherd n.牧羊人

　　(4) take a fancy to sth 喜愛

　　(5) astonish v.使驚駭

　　(6) pick out挑選

　　(7) grudgingly adv.不情願地

　　(8) sling v.用力投擲

　　(9) occupation n.職業；工作

　　(10) figure v.料想；推斷

Exercises:

根據短文選擇正確答案：

　　① What was the bureaucrat doing when he saw the shepherd?

　　A. He was driving in the countryside.

　　B. He was fishing in the countryside.

　　C. He was having a walk in the countryside.

　　D. He was hunting in the countryside.

　　② How many sheep did the shepherd have?

　　A. one hundred and eighty seven

　　B. two hundred and eighty seven

　　C. three hundred and eighty seven

　　D. eight hundred and seventy two

　　③ How did the shepherd feel when the bureaucrat guessed right?

　　A. He was very delighted.

　　B. He was puzzled.

　　C. He was very sad

　　D. He was greatly surprised.

　　④ How many sheep did the bureaucrat choose?

　　A. one

　　B. two

　　C. three

　　D. four

　　⑤ How could the shepherd guess the man's occupation as a bureaucrat?

　　A. The bureaucrat's wearing told him.

　　B. The bureaucrat's words told what his occupation was.

　　C. The bureaucrat had mistaken a dog for a sheep -

　　D. The shepherd overheard that the man was a bureaucrat.

43.牧羊人與官僚

　　一位官僚在徒步旅行，這時他看到一個牧羊人在看護一大羣羊。這個官僚特別喜歡羊，就問牧羊人：“如果我能猜出有多少隻，我能領走一隻羊嗎？”牧羊人想他不可能猜中準確的數目，就同意了。

　　官僚猜道：“你有二百八十七隻羊。”牧羊人驚呆了，因爲這確是準確的數目。

　　“我可以挑一隻羊了吧？”官僚問道。牧羊人勉強地答應了。官僚挑了一隻羊，把它甩在肩上就往家裏扛。

　　牧羊人來了主意。“如果我猜中你的身份，”他說，“我可以收回我的羊嗎？”官僚甚感驚奇，但考慮到牧羊人猜中的機會很小，就同意了。“你是個官員，”牧羊人猜道。

　　官僚一愣，問道：“你怎麼知道的？”

　　牧羊人回答：“先把我的狗放下，然後我們再說話。”

練習參考答案：

①C②B③D④A⑤C