Al Gore was entertaining Joe Leiberman and decided to show off his new home.Upon entering the bedroom，Joe noticed a very large wooden box with 5 empty beer cans and about$1500.00 in cash.
Out of curiosity，Joe asked“AL，I see you're a beer drinker，Me too！you see，we DO have something in common.”
With a condescending voice，Al quipped，“yes，of course we do，Joe.”
Joe then asked“Al，why do you have the 5 empty cans and all that cash？”
Al gladly told Joe about his new program.“Joe，since last month，I have decided to turn a new leaf and become a more accountable person，while at the same time rewarding myself for my efforts.Whenever I tell a lie，I drink a beer and put the can in this box.”
“That's really impressive.”Joe replied，“only 5 beer cans in a whole month，but tell me，where do all that cash come from？”
Without missing a beat，Al responded，“Whenever the box gets full of beer cans，I take it down to the recycling center，you know I amhow concerned about environmental issues.”
阿尔·戈尔招待乔·利伯曼，他想向乔炫耀一下自己的新家。乔走进卧室之后，注意到一个很大的木箱子，里面有5个空啤酒罐和1500美元现金。
出于好奇，乔问道：“阿尔，看来你也爱喝啤酒，我也是！你看，咱们还是有些共同点的嘛！”
阿尔不屑地说道：“是的，乔，咱们当然有共同点！”
乔问道：“阿尔，那为什么还有5个空罐子和一些现金呢？”
阿尔把他的做法告诉了乔。“乔，从上个月开始，我打算改过自新，做一个负责任的人，同时呢，我也要奖励自己的努力。每次我撒谎，我都会喝一罐啤酒，并在这个箱子中放些钱。”
“真令人钦佩，”乔说，“你在一个月中只喝了5罐啤酒，可是，怎么会有那么多钱呢？”
阿尔不想失去这次说教的机会，答道：“当箱子中盛满了啤酒罐的时候，我就会把它送到回收中心，我对环境问题很关心，这你是知道的。”
1.entertain vt.招待；娱乐；怀抱；容纳vi.款待
E.g.They do most of their entertaining in restaurants.
他们多数都在餐馆请客。
He secretly entertained thoughts of revenge.
他暗中怀有报复的想法。
2.condescending adj.故意屈尊的；谦逊的；有优越感的v.屈尊（condescend的ing形式）
Condescend vi.屈尊；谦逊
E.g.She is so proud that she will not condescend to speak to us.
她非常骄傲，不肯放下架子同我们说一句话。
Mr Brown condescends to all his neighbors.
布朗先生总是以高人一等的态度对待他所有的邻居。
3.quip n.妙语；嘲弄；讽刺语vi.嘲弄；讥讽vt.嘲弄
E.g.If，this，indeed，is the pattern of history，we are tempted to paraphrase Shaw's deadly serious quip and say.
如果这确实是历史发展的一种模式，那么我们禁不住要对肖伯纳的警言妙语进行诠释。
4.accountable adj.有责任的；有解释义务的；可解释的
E.g.Everyone is unique.I allow others to be themselves so they have a chance to be accountable for their own lives.
每个人都是与众不同的，我能让其他人扮演他们的角色，让他们有机会为自己的人生负责。
5.reward n.报酬；酬谢；报答vt.奖赏；奖励
E.g.The school rewarded him with a prize for excellence in his studies.
他因学习成绩优秀而受到学校的奖赏。
How can I reward you for your kindness？
我怎样才能报答你的好意呢？
6.impressive adj.感人的；令人钦佩的；给人以深刻印象的
E.g.It is an impressive sight.
这是副壮观的景象。
1.show off卖弄；炫耀
E.g.to show off one's talent卖弄才华
2.Out of curiosity 出于好奇心
curiosity：好奇心
E.g.Many young people begin to smoke out of curiosity.
许多年轻人出于好奇而开始抽烟。
3.turn a new leaf改过自新；翻开新的一页
E.g.Every January first，many people turn over a new leaf and try to live better lives.
每个新年的第一天，人们揭开生活新的一页并期望更美满的生活。
4.tell a lie 撒谎
E.g.Father，you know that I cannot tell a lie.
爸爸，你知道我从来不说谎的。
5.recycling center 回收中心，回收站
E.g.Old fire extinguishers hang from a wall at a recycling center.
旧灭火器挂在回收站的墙上。
