英语小达人 370 Courteous Retort

 　　Courteous¹ Retort礼貌的反击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.

　　一位学识渊博的科学家出席了一个晚宴。当大家在饭后吸烟闲聊时，有位客人开始嘲笑哲学，并无礼地表示，他认为哲学家仅仅是傻瓜的代名词。

　　"What is your opinion, professor?" he asked smilingly. "Is there much distance between them?"“你的看法呢，教授？”他笑着问道。“两者之间有很大距离吗”

　　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."教授目光犀利地把那个坐在他饭桌对面的粗鄙汉子上下打量了一番，礼貌地欠了欠身，答道：“有时两者间的距离仅仅是一饭桌之隔。”

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。