Bill và Sharif
English Ẩn / hiện bản dịch
Bill and Sharif
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Washington for a meeting with US President Bill Clinton. After dinner, Bill said, "Sharif, I don't know what you think of your cabinet, but mine are all very intelligent."
"How do you know that, Bill?" Sharif asked.
"Simple! They all have to pass a special test before becoming ministers. Just a moment."
He summoned Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "Tell me, Madeleine: who is your parents' child but isn't your brother or sister?"
"That's easy, Mr. President. It's me!"
"Very good, Madeleine," Clinton said. Sharif was impressed.
Back in Islamabad, Sharif thought long and hard about the intelligence of his own cabinet. Finally he summoned Sartaj Aziz.
"Sartaj Aziz, tell me: who is your parents' child but isn't your brother or sister?"
Sartaj Aziz thought for a very long time but couldn't find the answer. "May I have more time, Prime Minister? Perhaps I could answer tomorrow?"
"Certainly," said Sharif. "You have twenty-four hours."
Sartaj Aziz left and racked his brains over the question. He called together ministers, deputy ministers, and secretaries of state, but none of them knew the answer.
Twenty hours later, he was still anxious. There was no answer, and only four hours remained. Finally he said, "I'll ask George Fernandez. He's very clever. He'll know."
So he asked, "George, who is your parents' child but isn't your brother or sister?"
"Easy," George replied. "It's me!"
"Oh!" Sartaj Aziz immediately called Sharif. "Prime Minister, I've got the answer. It's George Fernandez!"
"No, you idiot!" Sharif snapped. "It's Madeleine Albright!"
Từ vựng trong truyện
- cabinet: nội các
- summoned: triệu đến
- impressed: ấn tượng, thán phục
- racked his brains: vắt óc suy nghĩ
- deputy ministers: các thứ trưởng
- anxious: lo lắng