My battery commander（连长） and I were interviewing candidates for a position as reconnaissance（侦测，勘探） sergeant¹ in our artillery²（火炮，大炮） unit. The selected soldier needed to have keen eyesight, plus the ability to react quickly. During one interview, the commander pointed³ to a hill about a mile away and asked a young sergeant, "Can you see that hill over there?"

"Yes, sir." he replied.

"Can you see the radio antenna⁴（天线，触角） on that hill?" Again, the soldier said that he could. "Well, then," the commander went on, "Can you see that bird sitting on the antenna?"

The sergeant leaned forward and squinted⁵（斜视） . "No, sir," he said, "but I can hear it is singing."

He got the job.