Visual Training

The squad¹（班，小队） were having "visual training". One smart recruit（新兵，招募） was asked by the officer to count how many men composed a digging party in a distant field. The party was so faraway（遥远的，恍惚的） that the men appeared as mere² dots, but unhesitatingly（迅速地） the recruit replied：
　　
"Sixteen men and a sergeant³（中士，军士） , sir."
　　
"Right, but how do you know there's a sergeant there?"
　　
"He's not doing any digging, sir."

视力训练

班里正在进行“视力训练”。一个聪明伶俐的新兵被班长叫出来数远处旷野上采掘队的人数。采掘队在很远的地方，那些人看起来只是一些小点儿。但是这个新兵毫不犹豫地回答。

“十六个兵外加一个中士，长官。”

“正确，可是你怎么知道那儿有一个中士？”

“他不干活，长官。”