自相矛盾

浙江省舟山市 許曉萍供稿

① shieldn.盾牌

②piercev.刺

③impenetrableadj.不可穿透的

A man of the state of Chu had a spear and a shield for sale.He shouted loudly to praise his shield.

“My shield is so strong that nothing can pierce through it.”

He also sang praises of his spear.

“My spear is so sharp that it can pierce through anything.”

“What would happen,”someone asked,“if your spear is used to pierce your shield?”

He was unable to give an answer.

It is impossible for an impenetrable shield to coexist with a spear that finds nothing impenetrable.

有一個楚國人在叫賣矛和盾。他自夸說：“我的盾非常堅固，沒有任何矛能穿透它。”又夸他的矛說：“我的矛鋒利無比，任何堅固的東西都能穿透。”有人反駁道：“用你的矛戳你的盾會怎么樣？”他無言以對。堅不可摧的盾和無堅不摧的矛不可能同時存在。

閱讀短文，回答下列問題：

1.What did the man of the state of Chu have?

2.Why was he unable to give an answer?

3.What can we learn from this simple story?