重要的人:一位重要的人-The Man of Great Importance
一位重要的人
【内容提示】
请你根据下面的故事写一篇英语文章：
很多年前，有一个陆军下士（corporal）指挥一队士兵修筑一座毁环了的桥梁。这个下士认为自己是最大的人物，所以只发号施令不动手。士兵们正把一根木头往一个土墩上搬，但是由于人手不够上不去。这时，一位打扮成平民模样的绅士碰巧路过这儿，问下士为什么不帮忙。下士说他是下士，所以不干活。来人脱掉外套帮战士们把木头搬上土墩，并对下士说，下次有这样的活还叫他来。下士问来人叫什么名字，来人说他叫乔治·华盛顿，是陆军总司令。
【作文示范】
The Man of Great Importance
Many years ago a group of soldiers were busy repairing a ruined①bridge. The work was directed by a corporal②, who thought he was a very important man and so he gave his commands in a very loud voice. The men were trying to get a wooden log to the top of a mound③, but they were not strong enough. One more pair of arms, and the work would have been easy④. Yet, the corporal did not offer to help in any way. He simply stood and shouted his commands.
“Now, you fellows,” he shouted,“put you backs into it! Don＇t stand looking at it----move it!”
A gentleman dressed as a civilian, who happened to be walking by, stopped and watched, and then asked the officer why he did not help.
“Do you know who I am, sir!”asked the officer, with indignation and astonishment⑤.“I am a corporal.”
“Oh!”said the other. “I beg your pardon, I am sure.”
Then the newcomer threw off his coat, and going to the little group of men, helped them, so that the log was soon in position. The corporal did not even thank the gentleman for his help, but as the civilian put on his coat again, he said quietly:“The next time you have a task of this kind in hand, sir, and have not enough men, just send for me and I will come and help.”
“May I ask your name?”asked the corporal.
“Yes, sir,”replied the gentleman,“My name is George Washington and I am commander-in-chief of the army. Goodbye, sir.”
The civilian walked away, and the corporal stood still, unable to say a word.
（选自《中小学外语》1980年第2期）
【词语解释】
①ruined [＇ru(:)ind] a．毁坏了的
②corporal [＇k&:p r l] n．陆军下士（在美国陆军中为第四级军士）
③mound [maund] n．土墩
④One more pair of arms, and the work would have been easy．这是一个表示和过去事实相反的非真实条件句，从句和主句的谓语动词分别用 had been和 would have been的虚拟语气形式。意思是：如果再多一双手，活儿就容易干了。
⑤with indignation and astonishment 愤慨而惊讶地
【写法指要】
本文写得非常有趣：小人物充大人物，大人物扮小人物；小人物自高自大瞧不起大人物，大人物没架子帮助小人物；小人物不办事，大人物办实事。真正的要人是办实事的人而不是光发号施令的人。文章除了写得妙趣横生外，题目用的也值得称赞：这里用了importance的两层意思：一是“重要，重大”，二是“傲慢，自大”。所以，和文章结合起来看，importance在此处是双关语（pun）。
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