【英文原文】

So Much to Learn

It was the last day of final examination in an Eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes. On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam ― then on to commencement and jobs.

Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get. With all this assurance of four years of college, they felt ready and able to conquer the world.

The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap. 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.

Jubilantly they field into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles broadened as the students noted there were only five essay-type questions.

Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. No one spoke as, papers in hand, the professor faced the class.

He surveyed the worried faces before him, then asked: “How many completed all five questions?”

Not a hand was raised.

“How many answered four?”

Still no hands.

“Three? Two?”

The students shifted restlessly in their seats.

“One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.”

But the class remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I expected,” he said.

“I just want to impress upon you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don’t know. These questions you could not answer are relatively common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added: “You will all pass this course, but remember ― even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun.”

The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

【中文譯文】

這是一所東部大學期末考試的最后一天，在一座大樓的臺階上，一群工程學的大四學生正聚集在一起，討論著幾分鐘后就要開始的考試。他們臉上帶著自信。這是最后一場考試了――接著就要舉行畢業典禮和開始工作了。

有些學生談論著他們已經找好的工作，其他人談論他們正找的工作，憑著對四年大學生活的把握，他們覺得已經做好了準備，能夠征服世界了。

他們知道，馬上就要進行的考試，只是小菜一碟。教授說了，他們可以帶任何想帶的書或紙條進來，只要求他們在考試過程中不能互相講話。

他們歡快地進了考場，教授把考卷發給他們。當同學們看到只有5個問答題時，他們簡直要裂開嘴笑了。

三個小時過去了。教授開始收卷子。學生們看起來不再自信了，他們臉上帶著害怕的表情。當收齊試卷，教授面向全班同學時，沒有一個人說話。

他環視了一下面前這些憂郁的臉，問道：“有多少人完成了這5道題?”

沒有一個人舉手。

“多少人完成了4道?”

仍然沒有人舉手。

“有完成3道的嗎?2道的?”

同學們在椅子上不安地移動著。

“那么，一道呢?總有人做完一道題吧。”

但是，教室里仍是寂靜無聲。教授放下了試卷。“這就是我所期望的。”他說。

“我只是想讓你們留下一個深刻印象，盡管你們學完了四年工程學，仍然有很多這個專業的東西你們還不懂。你們回答不了的這些問題在日常應用中是相當普遍的。”接著，他微笑著說：“你們都將通過這門課，但是要記住――即使你已經大學畢業，你的教育也只不過是剛剛開始。”

歲月模糊了這位教授的名字，但他教的這堂課卻一直留在記憶里。