A famous scientist was on his way to yet another lecture when his chauffeur offered an idea. "Hey, boss, I've heard your speech many times, I bet I could deliver it and give you the night off.

"sounds great," the scientist said.

When they got to the auditorium, the scientist put on the chauffeur's hat and settled in the back row. The chauffeur walked to the lectern and delivered the speech. Afterward he asked if there were any questions.

"Yes," said one processor.Then he launched into a highly technical question.

The chauffeur was panic-stricken for a moment but quickly recovered. " That's an easy one, " he replied, "so easy, I'm going to let my chauffeur answer it. "

Notes:

(1) on one's way (to)某人在……的路上

(2) chauffeur n.受雇驾驶私人汽车之司机

(3) give you the night off让你休息一个晚上

(4) auditorium n.礼堂

(5) settle v.使安身；使安定

(6) launch into开始

(7) panic-stricken adj.惊慌失措的

Exercises:

根据短文回答问题：

① Why did the chauffeur think he could deliver the lecture?

② What did the scientist think of the idea?

③ Where did the scientist sit when they got to the auditorium?

④ What kind of question did one professor ask?

⑤ Did the chauffeur spoil the lecture?

7.让我的司机来回答

一个著名科学家起程去再作一个讲座。他的司机出了个主意：“老板，您的讲座我已听了这么多次了。我打赌我能作这个讲座，让您休息一个晚上。”

“那太好了。”科学家说。

到了礼堂，科学家戴上了司机的帽子，坐在了后排。而司机走上了讲台，作讲演。讲演结束后，他问听众是否有什么问题。

一个教授说有，并提出了一个高深的学术问题。

司机一时被问懵了，但很快就镇定下来。“这很容易，”他说，“太容易了，我要让我的司机来回答。”

练习参考答案：

① Because he had heard the scientist's lecture many times.

② He thought it was great.

③ In the back row.

④ A highly technical question.

⑤ No, he didn't.