How to get an 'A' on your final exam

怎样在期末考试得‘A’

During my senior year in college, I served as a teacher’s assistant. One of my roles was to administer and proctor the exams. The class was a freshman introductory course, which had well over five hundred students.

在我读大三那年，我成为了一名教师助理。我任务之一是主持和监管考试。课程是新生入门课，有500名学生。

The students were given four exams during the semester and one cumulative final exam at the semester’s end. In order to manage these five hundred college freshmen, I had to establish rules. The rules were as follows. The exams began at exactly 9:00 A.M. The students would pick up test booklets and blue books and proceed to a seat of their choosing. They would have exactly fifty minutes to complete the examination. At exactly 9:50 A.M., I would call out, “Pencil down!” Everyone had to stop writing immediately, put their pencils down, proceed to the front of the room and turn in their blue books. Those who did not put their pencils down at exactly 9:50 A.M. and turn in their blue books would receive an automatic “F”, no exceptions!

学生在这个学期有4门考试，在学期末还有个期末考试。为了管理这500名新生，我要制定一些规则。规则如下，考试会在9点整开始，学生会拿走考试小册子和蓝色本子，走到他们选的位置坐下来。他们有50分钟的时间完成考试。9点50整，我会喊，“停笔！”，每个人都必须马上停笔，放下手中的笔，走到前面的房间和交蓝色本子。在9点50整没有停笔交蓝色本子的会自动得“F”，没有例外！

When final exam time came, the students were so indoctrinated into the system that I only needed to announce one warning at 9:40 A.M. So as the final minutes ticked away, I announced, “It is 9:40. You have ten minutes until pencils down.” Then at 9:50 A.M., I barked my last command for that semester: “It’s 9:50, pencils down. You know the rules!” And boom, all pencils went down, just like always. All 500 students stood – or was it only 499? Yes it was. Everyone filled the aisle except for one sneaky guy – a guy way up in the nosebleed section.

当期末考时间快到的时候，学生们知道我会在9点40分提醒一次。所以随着期末考试时间的流逝，我宣布，“9点40分了，离停笔时间还有10分钟。”然后到了9点50分，我大声发出本学期最后一个命令：“9点50分，停笔。你们知道规则的！”全体学生放下手中的笔，如往常一样。500名学生起立 – 可能是499名？是499名。每个人都挤在侧廊除了一个猥琐的家伙 – 一个家伙走到鼻血节的位置（最远）。

He was just writing and writing away. I saw him up there, but he didn’t think I could. Once again, I barked, “Pencils down, everyone!” But he kept writing and writing, trying to beat my system. How dare he! Boy, would I get him! At 9:58 A.M., as I began to organize the stacks of examination packets, I saw this young man running down the aisle to surrender his exam to the table.

他一直在那写啊写。我看着他在那，不过他以为我看不见。再次我大叫，“每个人放下手中的笔！”可是他还在一直写啊写，试图打破我的制度。他好大的胆子！男孩子，看我怎么收拾你！9点58分，我开始整理这一大堆试卷时，我看见这个年轻的男孩子从侧廊跑下来把他的试卷放到桌子上。

“Here, Mr. D’Angelo, take my blue book!” he huffed and puffed.

“D’安其罗先生，拿上我的蓝色本子！”他气喘吁吁地说道。

“I cannot accept this. You know the rules. Pencils down at 9:50 A.M., or you get an automatic ‘F.’”

“我不能拿，你知道规矩的。9点50分停笔，不然自动拿‘F’。”

“Please, Mr. D’Angelo, take my blue book!”

“求你了，D’安其罗先生，拿走我的蓝色本子吧！”

“No! You know I can’t do that. It’s against the rules.”

“不！你知道我不能这么做。这违反规则。”

“Please, please, take my blue book! I’m barely passing this class.  My mom and dad will kill me if I have to repeat this class. Just take it, and no one will ever know.” A tear began to stream down his cheek.

“求求你拿走我的蓝色本子吧！我就没通过这门课。如果让我爸妈知道我要重修这门课他们会杀了我的。你就拿走吧，不会有人知道的。”泪水一颗颗的划过他的脸颊。

“I’m sorry. I just can’t.” I went back to the stacks, organizing them one by one. The young man just turned and walked away with his shoulders slumped.

“对不起，我不能这么做。”我走回到试卷堆里，整理试卷。年轻的男孩子垂头丧气地转身走开了。

Now with a stack of five hundred or so blue books in my arms, I watched the freshman walk up the stairs toward the exit. Just about at the halfway point, I saw him boldly turn around, with great confidence, you might say with a hint of arrogance.

500张蓝色本子堆在我的手臂里，我看着新生们沿着楼梯走向出口。大概走到中途点，我看见他勇敢地转过身来，超有自信，你可能觉得还有一点傲慢。

He swiftly jogged down to me.

他轻轻地慢跑到我身旁。

He questioned softly, “Mr. D’Angelo, do you know who I am?”

他轻声问着，“D’安其罗先生，你知道我是谁吗？”

“Why no, and frankly I couldn’t care less.”

“我不知道，我也不在乎。”

“Are you sure you don’t know who I am?” he inquired with even greater confidence. I started to get a little concerned. Was this the dean’s son? What had I gotten myself into?

“你确定你真的不认识我？”他问得更自信了。我开始留意了他一下。这不是系主任的儿子吗？我都干了些什么？

“No, I’m, sorry. I don’t.” I said with a little hesitation in my voice.

“对不起，我不知道。”我带着迟疑的口吻说道。

“Are you absolutely, 100 percent sure that you don’t know who I am?”

“你真的百分之一百确定你真的不认识我吗？”

“For the last time, no. I don’t know who you are!”

“我最后再说一次，我不认识你！”

“Well then, good!” and he shoved his blue book into the middle of the stack and ran out the door.

“非常好！”他把他蓝色的本子塞到试卷堆中间然后冲出了门。