A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need some hearing aid (助听). Not quite sure how to  （帮助）her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there was a simple test the husband could do to give the doctor a better  （主意）of her hearing loss.

    "Here's what you do," said the doctor. "Stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a  （通常的）conversational speaking tone (音调) see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a reply."

    That evening, the wife was in the dining room, and he was in the yard. He said to himself,"I'm about 40 feet away, and let me see what will (发生)." Then in a usual tone he asked,"Honey, what's for dinner?"

    No   （回复）.

    So the husband moved closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and asked,"Honey, what's for dinner?"

     （仍然）no reply.

    Next he moved into the dining room where he was about 20 feet from his wife and  （重复）, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

    Again he got no reply. He walked up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey,what's for dinner?" Again there was no reply.

    So he （走到）right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?"

    "Chicken! James, for the  （第五）time I've said that."