Truyện cười song ngữ

A cruise ship in the Mediterranean struck a submerged rock. A large hole left it unable to continue and in danger of sinking. The captain ordered everyone to put on life jackets or take lifebuoys and jump into the sea.

But neither coaxing nor threats would persuade the stubborn passengers. He left his first mate to deal with them. Ten minutes later, he returned to find that everyone had jumped.

Amazed, he asked how the first mate had managed it.

"I used a different approach for each person. To the German, I said, 'That's an order. Jump!'

"To the Russian: 'It's a revolutionary act!'

"To the American: 'You've paid your insurance, haven't you?'

"To the Frenchman: 'In my experience, jumping into the water with a lifebuoy is wonderfully romantic.'

"To the Englishman: 'It's a fashionable new sport.'

"To the Italian: 'To be honest, this is strictly forbidden, but...'

"Then I patted the Japanese man on the shoulder: 'Everyone else has jumped. Let's go!'"

Từ vựng trong truyện

• submerged: chìm dưới mặt nước
• lifebuoys: phao cứu sinh
• coaxing: dỗ dành
• first mate: thuyền phó
• revolutionary: mang tính cách mạng
• forbidden: bị cấm