【生词预览】

secondhand二手的，bazaar义卖市场，prospective预期的，paperback平装本，triumphant得以洋洋的

【笑话原文】

Keep the Change

Selling secondhand books at our church bazaar, I got into an argument with a prospective customer. He was interested in buying The Pocket Book of Ogden Nash but claimed it was overpriced at 35 cents. Other paperbacks were selling for ten or 15 cents each.

I pointed out that the book was in good condition. Nash was a fun poet, and it was for a good cause. He said it was a matter of principle. Ultimately, I agreed to sell him the book for 15 cents. Triumphant, he paid with a $10 bill. "Keep the change," he said.

【中文译文】

不用找了

在教堂的义卖市上卖旧书时，我与一名准备买东西的顾客发生了一场争论。他对购买袖珍奥金.纳什集颇感兴趣，但是说它要三十五美分开价过高。其它的平装书每本才卖十或十五美分。

我指出这本书保存状况好，纳什是个有趣的诗人，这个要价是合理的。他说这是个原则问题。最终，我同意以十五美分的价格将这本书卖给他。他得意洋洋，拿出一张十美元的票子付帐。“零钱不用找了。”他说。

【词汇讲解】

1.secondhand二手的，用过的／间接的／经营旧货的。Secondhand information第二手资料。Most of our knowledge is secondhand.我们的知识大部分是间接的。而这个词分成两部分写的话，即second hand,那就是“中间人、媒介”的意思了。

2.bazaar指东方国家的街市、市场、集市；或者是出售漂亮衣服和花哨小工艺品的市场；也可以指义卖市场。

3.prospective预期的，未来的。A prospective client可能成为客户的人；a prospective bridegroom未来的新郎

4.claim声称，断言。The boy claimed to have told the truth.这男孩儿声称他说的是实话。

5.point out指出，指明。Point还可以与at,to, toward等介词连用：It’s rude to point at people.对人指指点点是不礼貌的。

6.triumphant得意洋洋的／胜利的。He felt triumphant.他感到胜利的喜悦。