A heated discussion about whether men are braver than women is settled in a rather unexpected way.
Mona Gardner
I first heard this tale in India, where it is told as if true-though any naturalist would know it couldn't be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down.
The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests - officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist - in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.
A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't.
"A woman's reaction in any crisis, " the major says, "is to scream.
And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts. "
The American. does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.
The American comes to with a start. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing--bait for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room.
He looks up at the rafters-the likeliest place -put they are bare. Three corners of the room are empty and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course. There is only one place left - under the table.
His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion would frighten the cobra into striking He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so commanding that it silences everyone.
"I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count three hundred - that's five minutes - and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit 50 rupees. Ready!"
The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "… two hundred and eighty…" when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.
"You were right, Major! " the host exclaims. " A man has just shown 40 us an example of perfect self-control. "
"Just a minute, "the American says, turning to his hostess. "Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that cobra was in the room?"
A faint smile lights up the woman's face as she replies: "Because it was crawling across my foot. "
New Words
heated a. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 热烈的; 激烈的
unexpected a. not expected 意外的
naturalist n. one who makes a special study of plants or ani-
mals outdoors 博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者)
shortly ad. soon ; (in) a little time 不久, 马上
colonial a. of or related to a colony or colonies 殖民地的
spacious a. big; having much space 广阔的；宽敞的
dining room n. 餐厅
bare a. not covered ( with a carpet ) ; empty 不铺地毯的;赤裸的;光秃的
marble n. 大理石
rafter n. one of the sloping beams that support the roof 椽
onto prep. to a position or point on 到…之上; 向…之上
veranda n. 阳台
spirited a. full of spirit; lively
outgrow (outgrew, outgrown ) leave behind, as one grows older or more mature vt. 长大得使…不再适用；成长得不再要
mouse n. 鼠
era n. 时代；年代
major n. 少校
crisis (pl. crises )n. time of difficulty, danger, etc. 危机
ounce n. 盎司；少量
argument n. discussion by persons who disagree; dispute 争论 ; 辩论
hostess n. 女主人
muscle n. 肌肉
contract vi. become shorter or smaller 收缩
contraction n.
slightly ad. a little 稍微地
slight a.
motion vi. give a signal by moving the hand or head 打手势;点(或摇)头示意
widen v. make or become wider
bait n. food used to attract fish, animals, or birds so that they may be caught 诱饵
cobra n. poisonous snake found in India and Africa. 眼镜蛇
likely a. probable 可能的
impulse n. sudden wish to do sth. 冲动
commotion n. noisy confusion or excitement 混乱; 骚动
tone n. quality of voice or music 语气 ; 音调
commanding a. authoritative 威严的
forfeit vt. suffer the loss of ( sth. ) as a punishment (作为惩罚而)失去
rupee n. monetary unit of India, Pakistan, etc. 卢比
image n. statue 雕像
emerge vi. come or appear (from somewhere)
emergence n.
slam vt. shut loudly and with force 砰地关上
host n. man who receives guests 男主人
faint a. weak, indistinct 微弱的 ; 不明显的
crawl vi. move slowly by pulling the body along the ground 爬行
Phrases & Expressions
track down find or discover by hunting or searching 追捕到; 追查到
be seated sit down
spring up begin suddenly; grow up quickly 突然开始;迅速生长
at the sight of on seeing 一看见
feel like have a liking for; wish for 想要
come to regain consciousness 苏醒
make for move towards 走向
ring out sound loudly and clearly 突然响起
light up make or become bright with light or color 照亮 ; 变亮