Once, late at night, an Englishman came out of his room into the corridor of a hotel and asked the servant to bring him a glass of water. The servant did as he was asked. The Englishman re-entered his room, but a few minutes later he came into the corridor again and once more asked the servant for a glass of water. The servant brought him another glass of water. Every few minutes the Englishmen would come out of his room and repeat his request. After a half-hour the astonished servant decided to ask the Englishman what he was doing with the water. Nothing, the Englishman answered imperturbably , It’s simply that my room is on fire.

翻譯：
 
一天晚上，一個英國人從他住的旅店房間里走出來。來到走廊上，叫旅店的服務員給他拿一杯水來。服務員按他的要求做了。英國人回到了他的房間里，幾分鐘后他 又來到走廊上，讓服務員再給他送一杯水。服務員又給他送了一杯水。每隔幾分鐘。英國人就走出房間重復他的要求。 半小時之后．這位感到驚訝的服務員決定問問房客要這些水干什么，英國人不謊不忙地回答：沒什么．只不過是我的房間里起火了。

imperturbably（平靜地）

 corridor（走廊）

A Girl‘s Name
When our daughter was born, we named her Myles, after my beloved late（已故的） father, despite family warning that the name was too masculine（男性的） .
Years later, when I felt she was old enough to understand, I explained to Myles, Your name is very special. I named you after my own father because I loved him very much. I know he would be proud of you.
Myles thought carefully about this and then said, I know all that, Mom. But I don‘t understand why my grandfather had a girl‘s name.

翻譯：

女孩的名字
女兒出生時，我們給她取名叫邁爾斯，和我深愛的業已過世的父親同一個名字，不過家人提醒這個名字太男性化了。
幾年以后，我覺得邁爾斯已經長大，能夠懂事了。我對她解釋說：你的名字很特別。我給你取了一個和我爸爸一樣的名字，因為我非常愛他。我相信他會為你而深感自豪的。
邁爾斯很仔細地想了一下，然后說道：這些我都懂，媽媽。可是我不知道外公為什么會有一個女孩子的名字。