《中英對照讀新聞》Prince Harry failed basic computer test at army college
哈利王子未通過軍校的電腦基本能力測驗

◎ 吳直耕

Prince Harry, the 20-year-old younger son of heir to the British throne Prince Charles, had failed a basic computer test at Sandhurst army college.

哈利王子，英國王儲查爾斯的二十歲二兒子，並未通過桑德赫斯特軍事學院的電腦基本能力測驗。

“Although the computer test was a lot more complex than just sending e-mail, instructors were amazed that Harry failed it,” an unnamed military insider was quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror newspaper.

「雖然這個電腦測驗比寄出電子郵件複雜多了，但教官們仍對於哈利王子無法通過測驗感到吃驚，」每日鏡報如此引述一名軍方匿名人士。

“He seemed to lack the same skills as other recruits,” the source said.

「他顯然缺乏其他新生所擁有的技巧，」消息人士說。

Harry was due to start at the college on May 8.

哈利預定五月八日起在該學院就讀。

Dictionary-新聞辭典

heir：名詞，意指「法定財產繼承人」、「繼承世襲職位的人」或「繼承者」。女性繼承人則是heiress。例句：Jussi Salonoja, 27, heir to his family's sausage business, was caught driving 80 km per hour in a 40 kmph zone.（二十七歲的尤西•薩羅諾亞是其香腸家族企業的繼承人，被查獲在限速四十公里的路段以時速八十公里行駛。）

throne：名詞，意指「王座」、「君主」或「君權」。例如：wade through slaughter to the throne（踏著殺戮的鮮血取得王位）。

amazed：形容詞，「吃驚的」、「驚愕的」。例句：I was amazed at his death.（我聽到他的死訊非常訝異。）

fail：動詞，英文裡的常用字，意指「表現欠佳」、「失敗」、「考試不及格」等等。例句：I have to do better on my final exam; otherwise I will fail the class.（我期末考得考好一點才行，不然這門課鐵定被當。）

insider：名詞，意指「內部的人」、「熟知內幕的人」、「消息靈通人士」。

recruit：名詞，意指「新兵」、「新生」。當動詞則有「招募」之意。例如：to recruit new police officers（招募新的警官）。