But he made a wise comment, “Before they grow so big, the baobabs start out by being little.”

“That is strictly correct,” I said, “But why do you want the sheep to eat the little baobabs?”

He answered me at once, “Oh, come, come!”, as if he were speaking of something that was self-evident. And I was obliged to make a great mental effort to solve this problem, without any assistance.

〖精读笔记〗

◆wise /waɪz/ adj.聪明的；明智的

◆comment'kɒment/ n. 评论；意见

◆start out by 从…开始;从…着手

◆strictly /'strɪktli/ adv.完全地

◆at once立刻，马上

◆self-evident/'self'evidənt/ adj. 不证自明的;不言而喻的

◆be obliged to do 被迫做某事

◆mental /'ment(ə)l/ adj.智力的;脑力的

◆effort /'efət/ n.努力, 尽力

◆assistance/ə'sɪst(ə)ns/ n. 帮助, 援助