One of my fellow midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy was performing poorly in class and reported to his company officer for counseling., "Your marks are deplorable!" the officer scolded. "Is there a problem-that has kept you from studies?"

"No, sir," the midshipman replied. "I have no idea what the problem is. I study the notes I take, and I'm never late to class. I don't even talk in class, but for some reason my professors don't seem to like me.

The officer sat back and thought. Then he asked, "Do you get enough sleep?"

My classmate replied, "Sir, do you mean at night or in class?"

Notes:

(1) midshipman n.海军军官候补生

(2) the U.S.Naval Academy美国海军学院

(3) perform v.执行；履行

(4) company n.连（队）

(5) counsel v.建议；劝告

(6) deplorable adj.可悲的；可怜的

(7) scold v.指责；责备

Exercises:

根据短文判断下列句子正（T）、（F）：

① The midshipman was doing well in his study.

② He went to his company officer to ask for advice.

③ The officer sang a high praise of him.

④ Professors didn't seem to like him because he was performing badly in class.

⑤ The reason why he was performing badly was probably that he often slept in class.

53.海军军官候补生

我们在美国海军学院军官候补生中有一个同伴，他的学业很差。他到连队军官那儿寻求安慰。“你的成绩糟透了，”军官责备他说，“是否你的学习中存在什么问题？”

“没有哇，先生，”候补生回答说，“我搞不清楚是什么问题。我读我的笔记，上课从不迟到。甚至上课从不讲话，但不知怎么搞的，教授们好像都不喜欢我。”

军官向后一靠，想了想。然后问道：“你睡眠充足吗？”

我同学回答说：“先生，你说的是夜里还是课堂上？”

练习参考答案：

①F②T③F④T⑤T