英语笑话:Morality 道德
One was convinced the modern world was declining.
He said, "Premarital sex is the reason for our downfall."
He proudly said, "I didn't sleep with my wife before marriage, did you?"
The other replied, "I can't remember. What was your wife's maiden name?"
Notes:
1. Two ministers were discussing morality.
两个牧师正在讨论道德操守的问题。
morality [məˈræləti] n.道德;品德
2. One was convinced the modern world was declining.
其中一个相信现代世界正在堕落。
convinced的后面省略了that，表示“确信某事。”“be convinced”后可接that引导的从句(that常省略);要表示
“确信某事”还可用“be convinced of+名词或名词性短语”。如:I am convinced of what you said.我确信你说的话是真的。
convince [kənˈvɪns] vt.确信 decline [dɪˈklaɪn] v.衰退;堕落
3. He said, "Premarital sex is the reason for our downfall."
他说：“婚前性行为时我们堕落的原因。”
pre [pri] abbr.…之前的 marital [ˈmærɪtl] adj.婚姻的 downfall [ˈdaʊnfɔ:l] n.堕落
4. He proudly said, "I didn't sleep with my wife before marriage, did you?"
他骄傲地说：“我在婚前没和我妻子有过性行为，你呢?”
"sleep with sb."有两个含义：①和某人一起睡觉，②与某人发生性关系。要作哪个意思解，须看上下文，这里的解释应为“与某人发生性关系”。
proudly [ˈpraʊdli] adv.骄傲地
5. The other replied, "I can't remember. What was your wife's maiden name?"
另一个人回答：“我不记得了。”
reply [rɪˈplaɪ] v.回答 remember [rɪˈmembə(r)] v.记得
6. What was your wife's maiden name?"
你妻子的娘家姓什么?
美国女性在结婚之后，约有70~80%会改从丈夫的姓(married name)，而约有20~30%的女性会冠以丈夫的姓，如：Hillary Rodham Clinton(希拉里·拉丹·克林顿)。所以这个句子中的婚前名字(maiden name)，就是指娘家姓。因为大部分的美国女性在结婚之后会从夫姓，所以他必须跟另一个牧师确认妻子的娘家姓是什么，才能知道是否与她有过性行为。这显然是误会了第一个牧师的意思。
maiden [ˈmeɪdn] adj.未婚的
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