布殊總統正在巡視某小學，巡到一個課室。學生剛好在討論一些生字的含意。老師問總統先生，是否願意帶學生研究一下「悲劇」這個詞語。
So the illustrious leader asked the class for an example of a tragedy.
英明的領袖乃叫同學們試舉一個「悲劇」的例子。
One little boy stood up and offered:
有個小男孩站起來說：
If my best friend, who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a tractor runs over him and kills him, that would be a tragedy.
例如我那住在農莊的好朋友，在田間玩耍時，給拖拉機撞倒輾過，死了，那真是悲劇了。
No, said Bush, that would be an accident.
布殊總統說：唔，不是，那是意外吧了。
A little girl raised her hand. If a school bus carrying 50 children drove over a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy.
有個小女孩舉手說，假如有一輛校巴，載了50個學童，衝下了懸崖，全車人都死光，那是悲劇了。
I'm afraid not, explained the president. That's what we would call great loss.
布殊總統說：那也不算，通常我們會說成是「重大損失」的。
The room went silent. No other children volunteered. Bush searched the room. Isn't there someone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?
全個課室靜下來，沒有同學再試答，布殊總統眼睛掃射全場，說：「還有沒有人可以給我講一個悲劇的例子？」
Finally at the back of the room a small boy raised his hand...In a quiet voice he said:
終於，後排有一個小男孩舉手， 低聲地說：
If Air Force One carrying you and Mrs. Bush was struck by a friendly fire missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.
「假如總統和夫人乘坐Air Force One總統專機，被己方的導彈擊中，炸成肉醬，那真是悲劇了。」
Fantastic! exclaimed Bush. That's right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?
布殊總統說：「答得好！棒極了！你可以解釋一下，為甚麼你認為是悲劇呢？」
Well, says the boy, It has to be a tragedy, because it certainly wouldn't be a great loss and it probably wouldn't be a accident either.
小男孩欲言又止：「事件中並沒有 "重大損失" ，又不大會是 "意外"，那一定是 "悲劇" 了。」
( 中譯：Chris)
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