At the height of a political corruption trial,the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness.“Isn’t it true,”he bellowed,“that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?”The witness stared out the window,as though he hadn’t heard the question.The prosecutor again blared,“Isn’t it true that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?”The witness still did not respond.Finally,the judge leaned over and said,“Sir,please answer the question.”
“Oh,”the startled witness said,“I thought he was talking to you.”
1.Corruption Trial - 腐败审判。
2.prosecuting attorney - 检察官。
3.witness - 证人。
4.attacked - 攻击,此处指在法庭上质问。
5.bellowed - 咆哮,大声喊叫。
6.compromise - 妥协,此处指影响公正性。
7.stared out the window - 向窗外看。
8.blared - 再次大声喊叫。
9.startled - 受惊的,惊讶的。
10.leaned over - 身子凑过来。
腐败的审判
对一起政治腐败案的审判进入了高潮。检察官对证人发起攻击。“事实难道不是很清楚吗?”他吼道,“你收受了五千美元,从而失去了自己在这起案件中应有的公正立场。”证人向窗外看去,好像没有听到。检察官又一次地咆哮道:“你收受了五千美元,从而使自己在这起案件中不能持有公正立场。你能否认这样的事实吗?”证人仍然不做回答。最后,法官把身子凑了过来,说道:“先生,请您回答问题。”
“噢,”证人很惊讶地说,“我以为他在和您说话。”