[译] 布鲁克在战争开始时服役。
[误] Brooke served in the rank at the beginning of the war.

[正] Brooke served in the ranks at the beginning of the war.
[注] rank的复数 ranks (= common soldiers; common people) 意为“士兵”，“老百姓”。又如：

• The general rose from the ranks.
  将军出身行伍。

ranks也可用同义短语the rank and file来替换。如：

• It was the question that was being discussed by the rank and file.
  那是一个街谈巷议的问题。