转载自IReading
It was the last day of final examinations in a large university.
这一天是一所大型大学期末考试的最后一天。
On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes.
在一栋大楼的台阶上，一群大四的工科学生挤在一起，讨论着几分钟后就要开始的考试。
On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam before they went on to commencement and jobs.
他们脸上流露出信心。这是他们参加毕业典礼和工作前的最后一次考试。
Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get.
一些人谈论他们已经拥有的工作；一些人谈论他们将要获得的工作。
With all this assurance of four years of college study, they felt ready and able to conquer the world.
有了四年大学学习的保证，他们觉得自己准备好了，有能力去征服世界。
The approaching exam, they knew, would be as easy as pie.
他们确信即将到来的考试非常容易。
The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not talk to each other during the test.
教授说他们可以带任何他们想要的书或笔记，只要求在考试期间不要相互交谈。
Jubilantly, they walked into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers.
他们兴高采烈地走进教室。教授分发了试卷。
And their smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essay-type questions.
在学生们注意到只有5道论述题时，他们的笑容变得更灿烂了。
Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers.
3个小时过去了。然后教授开始收试卷。
The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression.
学生们看上去不再自信了。他们脸上露出担忧的表情。
No one spoke as the professor faced the class with the papers in her hand.
教授手里拿着试卷，面对着全班同学，没有人说话。
She surveyed the worried faces before her, then asked: "How many completed all five questions?" Not a hand was raised.
她环视了一下面前焦虑的面孔，问道：“有多少人完成了所有5个问题？” 没有人举手。
"How many answered four?" Still no hands.
“有多少人回答了4个问题？” 还是没有人举手。
"Three? Two?" The students shifted restlessly in their seats.
“3个？2个？” 学生们在座位上不安地挪动着身子。
"One, then? Certainly somebody finished one." But the class remained silent.
“那么一个呢？肯定有人完成了一个吧。” 但是全班仍然保持沉默。
The professor put down the papers. "That is exactly what I expected," she said.
教授放下试卷。“这正是我所期望的，” 她说。
"I just want to impress upon you that, even though you may have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know.
“我只是想让你记住，即使你可能已经完成了四年的工程学学习，在这门学科上还有很多东西是你不知道的。
These questions you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice."
这些你们无法回答的问题是在日常生活中相对常见的问题。”
Then she added: "You will all pass this course, but remember that even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun."
她接着说：“你们都可以通过这门课，但要记住，即使你们现在是大学毕业生，但你们的教育才刚刚开始。”
The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson she taught.
岁月模糊了这位教授的名字，但她所教的课却不会被忘记。
