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我们的耳朵能够听到什么是一个生理或者医学问题吗？如果听力健全就什么都能听到吗？你再想想……
A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people.
一个印第安人正和他的朋友一起在纽约市中心，曼哈顿的时代广场附近走着。那时正是午餐时间，街上挤满了人。
Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket."
汽车鸣着喇叭，出租车在拐弯处发出刺耳的声音，警笛呼啸着，城市的喧闹声几乎震耳欲聋。这时那个印第安人突然说："我听见一只蟋蟀在叫。"
His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"
他的朋友说："什么？你一定疯了，周围这么多噪声，你不可能听见蟋蟀叫！"
"No, I'm sure of it," the Native American said, "I heard a cricket."
"我没疯，我确实是听到了，"印第安人说，"我听见一只蟋蟀的叫声。"
"That's crazy," said the friend.
"别傻了。"朋友说。
The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.
印第安人侧耳听了一会儿，然后走到马路对面，来到一个种着灌木的大型水泥槽前。他在灌木中搜寻，在树枝下面，他果然找到了一只小蟋蟀。他的朋友非常吃惊。
"That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have superhuman ears!"
"真难以置信，"他朋友说，"你一定有一对顺风耳！"
"No," said the Native American. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for."
"不是，"印第安人说，"我的耳朵与你的没什么不同，这只是取决于你想听什么声音。"
"But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise."
"但那是不可能的！"朋友说，"在这些喧闹声中，我怎么也不可能听到蟋蟀的叫声。"
"Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within 20 feet turn and look to see if the money that had tinkled on the pavement was theirs.
"真的能听到，"他回答说。"这取决于你认为什么是最重要的。来，我试给你看。"他伸手从口袋中拿出几枚硬币，悄悄地将它们扔到人行道上。然后，在熙熙攘攘的马路上噪音依然不绝于耳的情况下，他们看到在二十英尺范围内的每个人都回过头来，看看掉在路面丁当响着的钱是不是他们的。
"See what I mean?" said the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you."
"明白我的意思了吧？"印第安人说道。"你能听到什么取决于你认为什么最重要。"
