Why did Patrick keep on asking the same question?

The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recentelections. He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad. Myfriend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane's RadicalProgressive Party. After the elections, Patrick went to the former PrimeMinister's house. When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on dutytold him that since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad. On thefollowing day, Patrick went to the house again. The same policeman was justwalking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question. Though alittle suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer. The dayafter, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question.This time, the policeman lost his temper. 'I told you yesterday and the daybefore yesterday,' he shouted, 'Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He hasretired from political life and gone to live abroad!"

'I know,' answered Patrick, 'but I love to hear you say it!'

New words and expressions 生词与短语

election n. 选举

former adj. 从前的

defeat v. 打败新概念英语官网

fanatical adj. 狂热的

opponent n. 反对者，对手

radical adj. 激进的

progressive adj. 进步的

ex- prefix (前缀，用于名词前)前......

suspicious adj. 怀疑的

本文参考译文

前首相温特沃兹.莱恩先生在最近的大选中被击败。他现在退出了政界，到国外去了。我的朋友帕特里克一直是莱恩先生的激进党的强烈反对者。大选结束后，帕特里克来到了前首相的住处。当他询问莱恩先生是否住在那里时，值班的警察告诉他这位前首相落选后出国去了。第二天，帕特里克再次来到首相的住处。昨天的那位警察正从门口慢慢走过，帕特里克上前问了和昨天同样的问题。虽然那位警察这次有点疑心，但还是对他作了同样的回答。第三天，帕特里克又去了，提出了同前两天完全一样的问题。这一次警察火了。“我昨天和前天都告诉过您了，”他大叫着，“莱恩先生在大选中被击败了，他已经退出了政界去国外了!”

“这我都知道，”帕特里克说，“可我就是喜欢听你说出这句!”

(兼职编辑：张博)