Unit 5 Who's Got Brains? 单元 5 谁有脑子？

In the hospital, where their family member lay gravely ill, the relatives gathered in the waiting room. Finally, the doctor came in looking tired and somber¹. 家属全部聚集在医院的等候室，守着他们病重的家人。最后，医生带着疲倦而严峻的面容出现了。

"I'm afraid I am the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed the worried faces. “恐怕有坏消息要告诉你们。他边说边环视”着众人担忧的脸庞：

"The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant. “到了这个地步，你们亲爱的家人唯一的希望就是进行大脑移植，

It's an experimental procedure, risky², and you will have to pay for the brain yourselves." 但这项手术还在实验阶段，风险很大，而且脑袋的钱你们得自行负担。”

The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news.At length, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?" 听到这个消息，家属全都静静地坐着。最后有人问道：“那么，一颗脑袋要多少钱？”

The doctor quicklyresponded, "$2,000 for a female brain, and $5,000 for a male brain." 医生很快回答：“女人的脑袋一颗2000 元，男人的脑袋一颗5000 元。”

The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked³. 气氛变得很尴尬。等候室的男性家属忍住不笑，避免接触到女性家属的眼神，但还是有些人不太自然地在偷笑。

A girl, unable to control her curiosity, blurted⁴ out the question everyone wanted to ask, "Why is the male brain so much more?" 有个女孩控制不了好奇心，大家都想问的问题被她一下子脱口而出："男人的脑袋为什么贵那么多？”

The doctor smiled at her childish innocence⁵ and then to the entire group said, 医生对她的赤子之心报以微笑，接着对全部的人说道：

"It's a standard pricing procedure. We have to mark the female brains down, because they've been used." “这是标准的定价方式。我们不得不调降女人脑袋的价格，是因为它们一直都在使用。”