Four friends were arguing over whose dog was the smartest. The first man, an engineer, called to his dog, "T Square, show your stuff. " The dog trotted over to a desk, pulled out a paper and pencil, and drew a perfect triangle.
四个朋友在为谁的狗最聪明而争吵。第一个人是个工程师,他对自己的狗喊道:“T形角,使出你的本领来。”这只狗便跑向一个书桌,拉出一张纸和一支铅笔,画出了一个完美的三角形。

The next guy, an accountant, called to his dog, "Slide Rule, go ahead. " The dog went to the kitchen, nibbled opened a bag of cookies and pided the contents into four equal piles.
第二个人是个会计。他对他的狗说:“珠算法,上吧。”那狗直奔厨房,用嘴咬开一袋甜饼并把饼分成了四等份。

The next man, a chemist, beckoned his dog, Beaker, to show what he could do. The dog went to the fridge, took out a quart of milk and poured out exactly eighty ounces into a measuring cup.
第三个人是位药剂师。他命令他的狗----量杯,表现一下。但见那狗径直走向冰箱,叼出一瓶牛奶并精确地把八盎司牛奶倒入一个量杯中

The last man was a government worker. "Coffee Break," he hollered to his dog, "go to it. " With that, the dog jumped to his feet, soiled the paper, ate the cookies and drank the milk.
最后一位是政府职员。“休息时间,”他对自己的狗喊叫,“去吧。”话还未落,那狗便跳将起来,踏污了那张纸,吃掉了所有的甜饼,喝光了那杯牛奶。

【注释】

(1) do (show) your stuff显显你的本领;露一手

(2) trot v. 疾走;快步走

(3) triangle n.三角形

(4) accountant n会计

(5) nibble v.轻咬

(6) beckon v.招手令他人走近或跟着来

(7) ounce n.盎司(重量单位,常衡为1/16磅)

(8) holler v.喊叫

(9) soil v.弄脏;弄污