千萬別學(xué)英語提高版(一)

1、Situation 1 Getting up in the morningThe alarm clock rings.Catherine: Honey,its seven oclock. Time to get up.James: OK, just a few more minutes.C: No, you told me to make sure you were up by seven.J: I know, but I can sleep till seven-thirty if I dont take a shower.C: James, you know that is impossi

2、ble. You have a meeting with your boss and later with an important client .J: Christ , I almost forgot. Thats what happens when I dont get enough sleep.C: Enough sleep? You went to bed at ten, thats nine hours.J: Do you have to be right all the time? But you are right, Im getting up.C: Jump in the s

3、hower, that will make you feel better, and Ill make a pot of strong coffee, but what do you want for breakfast?J: Something simple, how about the bagel and cream cheese.C: No problem. Itll be ready before you are.J: You dont be so sure.C: Why wouldnt I be? You havent beate n m e yet.J: True, but the

4、re is a first time for everything.Christ kraist n. 基督教 救世主( 特指耶穌基督bagel 5beil n. 百吉餅( 先蒸后烤的發(fā)面圈Situation 2 BreakfastJames: Ah, the coffee smells great, is that bagel ready? Im starving.Catherine: Its ready just like it always is and just like I told you it would be.J: What would I do without you? You

5、re the best. Takes a sip of coffee. And this coffee is pretty good, too.C: We both know you just like me for my cooking.J: Thats not so. In fact, Im the one who made dinner of the last two nights.C: Oh,yeah, I guess that means its my turn tonight.J: Only if you want to, I dont mind cooking once a da

6、y, especially when the weather is nice and I can barbecue .C: OK, but lets get back to breakfast, can I get you anything else?J: A little more coffee will be great, with a little more sugar in it this time, please.C: Sure, do you want another bagel or some fruit?J: No, thanks, Im just not that hungr

7、y in the morning, you know that.C: I know, but I was reading in a magazine that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. J: Ive heard that too, but I just cant force myself to eat when Im not hungry.C: Why dont I pack you a snack for later in the morning, you could eat them around ten when y

8、ou get hungry.J: Thats a great idea. I always regret not eating breakfast right at ten oclock.C: What shall I make?J: How about a beer?C: James, be serious.J: OK, how about an apple and some cheese.C: Thats better. Just give me a minute to get it packed.J: Take your time, Im still early.Situation 3

9、Driving to workCatherine: Here it is James. Now get going, I dont want you to be late.James: Thanks, dear. Ill be home a little late tonight, remember the client.C: OK, but call if you are going to be home after ten.J: I will.Bye.C: Bye.James gets in the car and leaves for work. He turns on the news

10、.News: .and there was an accident on highway 99, a truck turned over blocking westbound traffic for about two miles. Drivers on highway 99 west might want to take local road to work this morning. The current time is seven forty-three on this sunny morning, and the temperature is seventy-six degrees,

11、 the weather forecast for late today is mostly sunny, with some clouds forming in the afternoon and a slight chance of showers in the early evening, well keep you updated with more traffic and weather throughout the day, but now lets enjoy forty-five minutes of commercial-free rock and roll.Situatoi

12、n 4 The Gas StationJames: Damn, Im almost out of gas.James pulls into a gas station. 駛進(jìn)Attendant: What can I do for you?J: Fill it up with unleaded, please. And can you check the oil, too?A: Sure, pal. 朋友He opens the hood and checks the oil. 發(fā)動機罩A: Youre about a quart low, shall I put a quart in for

13、 you. 夸脫J: Please.A: You know, you could really use a new set of tires. The ones you have are badly worn. I could do that for you right now, it wouldnt take more than thirty minutes.J: And the price?A: Well. that depends on how good a set of tires you want.J: No, Im late for work anyway. Ill just ta

14、ke the gas and the oil today. How much will that be? A: Lets see. Forteen for the gas and two-fifty for the oil makes sisteen dollars and fifty cents.J: Do you take credit cards?A: Only Visa and Master card, not American Express.J: Fine, here is my Visa.unleaded Qn5ledid adj. 無鉛的,不含鉛的(汽油pal pAl n. 好

15、朋友, 伙伴, 同志vi. 結(jié)為朋友hood hud n. 頭巾, 兜帽, 車蓬, 引擎罩v. 用頭巾包裹, 給. 加罩, 覆蓋quart kB:t n. 夸脫( 容量單位worn wC:n adj. 用舊的, 疲倦的vbl.wear 的過去分詞Situation 5 Arriving at WorkSteve: Good morning, James. Youre early. Whats up?James: Morning, Steve. Early is right. Ive got two important meetings today, one with the boss and

16、one with a client. Youre pretty early yourself, something important?S: Yeah, Im meeting a client, too. Someone from a big computer company, I think their headquarters are in TaiWan, but this guy runs the New York office.J: Wang Computers. Thats my client too. But I think the owner is a Chinese-Ameri

17、can, Im not sure if they have an office in TaiWan. I guess were working on this account together. 賬單S: Good. To tell the truth, I was a little scared. The account is very big. Its just too much work for one man. Say, what time do you meet with the boss, Mr. Barnes?J: Ten-thirty. Why?S: I was right.

18、Were on this account together. Im scheduled to meet with Mr. Barnes at ten-thirty too.J: Well then, partner, lets get busy preparing something for the meeting.S: Good idea. Where should we begin?J: I dont know about you, but I always begin big projects by going to the bathroom, and then with a hot c

19、up of coffee. Can you wait for me?S: Just h urry, Ill get the coffee ready.J: That sounds like an excellent plan.run rQn vt. 管理Situation 6 Planning for the MeetingJames: Im back.Steve: Here is your coffee. You feeling better?J: I feel like a Champ . Where should we begin?S: As always, its best to be

20、gin at the beginning. What h ave you prepared for your meeting with Wang?J: Basically, I just have an outline of a presentation of our companys new software. I think our product is high quality and that people from Wang will realize that once they hear a description ofit.S: Well, James. That is a li

21、ttle too simple. We know the product is good, but we have to convin ce them of that too. Luckily, I put together a vedio presentation on my notebook computer using our software. If they like the presentation and I am confident they will, then that automatically means they like our companys product.

22、自動的J: Steve, thats why you are at the top of sales. You think of everything in advance. Im really just a computer software engineer, I can make the stuff but I cant sell it. 東西S: Of course you cant. Thats why Mr. Barnes put us together. Ill take care of selling the software, and you can answer any t

23、ough technical question that the people from Wang might ask. Im as bad at science as you are at sales.J: Steve, You are too modest . Youre great at sales, but I know you know something about computers too. I still remember when we first started working here, you taught me a thing or two about apple

24、Macintosh computers.S: Sure I know about Macs, but thats because I used one all through college. Plus, any dummy can use Mac. 加上J: I couldnt.S: Not at first. But after about three days, youre already better than me.J: OK, Ok, so Im a computer nerd .champ tFAmp n. Informal A champion. 冠軍convince kEn5

25、vins vt. 使確信, 使信服confident 5kCnfidEnt adj. 自信的, 確信的modest 5mCdist adj. 謙虛的, 謙讓的, 適度的a thing or two 一點know be up to a thing or two ( 口語 精明; 通達(dá)世故, 有經(jīng)驗learn a thing or two 知道 學(xué)到 一點show tell a person a thing or two 多少教人一點事物nerd n. 書呆子Situation 7 The SecretaryJames: Are you sure thats okay? I mean she do

26、esnt really work for me. What if she gets angry. S: No problem. She works for me. And you and I are working on this project together. Watch and learn.Steve picks up the phone.Lisa, could you come in here please?Lisa: I can, but I wont. Its only eight fifty-five and I dont start work until nine ocloc

27、k.J: Well, Steve, I guess she knows who is the boss.S: Very funny. Well just hve to wait for five minutes. Thats all.J: Whatever you say.At two minutes after nine oclock.S: Lisa, do you think you could come in here now?L: Of course, Mr. Dawson; Ill be right in. Lisa comes into the office. What do yo

28、u need sir? S: Could you make Mr. Goddard here about twenty copies of his outline.L: Why? Doesnt he have a secretary?S: A little angry. Of course he does. But were working on a project together and I would really appreciate it if you would just cooperate with me right now.L: All right, all right, yo

29、u dont have to get mad. Do you say ten or twenty copies?J: Actually ten will be fine. Its small group today.S: But I said twenty, so make it twenty.L: Yes, sir, Mr. Dawson.Situation 8 Meeting the BossMr. Barnes calls Steve on the intraoffice phoneBarnes: Dawson?Steve: Yes, this is he.B: Contact Godd

30、ard and come up to my office immediately. I want to go over todays meeting inadvance.S: Mr. Goddard is with me now. Well come up right away. 馬上Steve to James. Well, that was the old man. Its show time. And he sounds a little nervous, which means we have to be even more careful.James: Ill be extremel

31、y careful. I just dont want him to yell at me again. Im an engineer, not a secretary.S: Be careful. Lisa might hear you. Anyway, lets go.Steve and James go up to Mr. Barnes office, and the secretary sends them in. They knock on the door.B: Come in.J: Good morning, sir.S: Good morning, Mr. Barnes. Ho

32、w are you?B: Ill be a lot better after this meeting is over. I hope you two have done your homework because this is a huge deal. If we can convince Wang about our company then large computer firm s will follow. I dont have to tell either of you that could mean millions of dollars. Im counting on you

33、.S: Dont worry, Mr. Barnes. Sir, you can depend on us. Isnt that right, James?J: Yes, I think, I mean of course you can.B: I had better be able to. And if you two do a good job, I wont forget it when it comes time for promotion s either. I put you on this assignment because you are my two best men.

34、I know you wont disappoint me. Well, lets hear about your ideas for the presentation. Goddard, would you like to start?J: I think it might be best to let Mr. Dawson begin, he is the expert at sales.yell jel vi. 大叫, 忍不住笑, 呼喊vt. 叫著說n. 叫聲, 喊聲assignment E5sainmEnt n. 分配, 委派, 任務(wù), ( 課外 作業(yè)Situation 9 Going

35、 to LunchSteve: Wow, that went pretty well. Mr. Barnes was easy today.James: Easy on you maybe. I dont think he likes me.S: Dont be ridiculous . He likes you, but he is a businessman like me, and so I know how to talk to him.J: Im not so sure.S: Well, Im sure that Im hungry. Why dont we continue tal

36、king over lunch?J: That sounds great, Im starving.They walk outside the building to a restaurant.S: Do you like Italian food? This place is terrific.J: Like it? I love it. Lets go in.They sit down and look at the menu for a while, then the waitress comes.S: What are your specials today?Waitress: Tod

37、ay we have roast ed lamb and vegetable lasagna , I highly recommend the lasagna.J: The lasagna sounds good, Ill have that.W: And you, sir?S: No, no vegetables for me. I want some meat. Ill try the lamb, please.W: Also an excellent choice. Would you care for anything to drink?S: Yes, Ill have a doubl

38、e martini.J: Steve, what about the meeting?S: Oh, yes. Better make that a mineral water.J: Ill have some lemon, please. And could you bring us some bread to start.W: Of course, Ill be right back with that.J: I like this place, they have very really good service.S: Just follow me and you wont go wron

39、g.J: Not with restaurants, at least.ridiculous ri5dikjulEs adj. 荒謬的, 可笑的lasagna lE5zB:njE (=lasagne 烤寬面條( 上澆肉末番茄汁mineral 5minErEl n. 礦物, 礦石Situation 10 The MeetingSteve: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Today my colleague Mr. Goddard and I will be introducing you to a revolutionary new software program. I

40、t combines all the functions of various other programs - word-processing, translating, financial management, graphic design and more - into one. I will be leading the first part of the presentation while Mr. Goddard will be answering technical questions at the end.Wang: I have a question from the be

41、ginning.S: Yes, please go ahead.W: Im wondering about the price of your program. In other words, will it be cheaper to buy your product or should we just buy all of the others separately?S: Im glad you asked that question, Mr. Wang. I was going to save this part until the end of the meeting. But sin

42、ce you asked, Ill tell you. Our program is on average 40% less expensive than it will be to buy the programs it replaces separately.W: And what about the after-service and upgrade?S: All our products are guaranteed for one year. As for upgrade s, they will also be free for one year and can be downlo

43、aded from the internet.W: Im also curious about compatibility with our computers. Do you have a separate product for Apple or.S: Perhaps my colleague should answer that, and it is more on the techinal side.James: Mr. Wang, I developed this product to work on both PCs and Macs, I assume your company

44、is mainly interested in the PC version. But I assure you Mac users will have no problems with our product either.W: Thats what I was afraid of. I want Mac users to have problems. otherwise theyll keep buying from Apple and not from my company.S: I apologize, sir. But I cannot help you with that.coll

45、eague 5kCli: n. 同事, 同僚revolutionary 5revE5lu:FEnEri adj. 革命的average 5AvEridV n. 平均, 平均數(shù), 海損adj. 一般的, 通常的, 平均guarantee 7ArEn5ti: n. 保證, 保證書, 擔(dān)保, 抵押品vt. 保證, 擔(dān)保compatibility kEm7pAti5biliti n. 計 兼容性Situation 11 With a Co-workerLarry: Steve, James, how did the presentation go?Steve: Dont ask.James: Oh,

46、it wasnt that bad. Steve did very well, I think they are sold.S: They were until you told them that we are making the same product for their competitor s. You never tell them that.J: I am sorry, but I can not lie just to make a sale. Maybe thats why Im terrible at sales.S: Yeah, thats right. From no

47、w on you just stick to designing and programming and leave the selling to me.L: Dont be too hard on him, Steve. Mr. Wang might appreciate his honesty. Even if you have lied to him, he is a smart guy, especially when it comes to computers. And he probably would have known anyway. Now he knows you guy

48、s and our company are honest. Well just see what happen.J: True, and besides, Apply is really a tiny company when compared to all these PC giant s, I dont think Mr. Wang feels threatened by them.S: I am sure well know soon petitor kEm5petitE n. 競爭者stick to 堅持( 真理等, 堅持干( 某事giant 5dVaiEnt n.

49、 巨人, 大力士, 巨大的動物或植物, 偉人, 天才adj. 龐大的, 巨大的Situation 12 Backing the Bosss OfficeBarnes: Seeming quite upset. I hope you two to know what youve done.James: Im sorry, Mr. Barnes. It was all my fault. Steve was doing just fine until I opened my big mouth. I took full responsibility .Steve: Yes, sir. I told

50、 him to keep quiet about that Mac stuff and just let me do the talking.B: Is that so?J: Yes, sir.B: Now seeming quite happy. Well, thats interesting since Mr. Wang has just signed a contract to order fifty thousand units. Good job, Goddard. He said he was impressed both by your technical knowledge a

51、nd your honesty. As for you, Dawson, well talk tomorrow. Right now, Im too happy to think about anything negative .S: But, Mr. Barnes, sir.B: That will be all.J: Come on, Steve. You can only make it worse by talking now. Good bye, Mr. Barnes. And thank you.B: No, thank you, Goddard. You did a fine j

52、ob today. This company needs more men like you. We may be talking about a promotion soon. Now get out of here.J/S: Yes, sir. Good bye.responsibility ris7pCnsE5biliti n. 責(zé)任, 職責(zé)As for 至于, 就. 方面說來negative 5neEtiv n. 否定, 負(fù)數(shù), 底片adj. 否定的, 負(fù)的, 陰性的vt. 否定, 拒絕( 接受Situation 13 In the Parking LotSteve: James, w

53、ait. I really want to say Im sorry for my behavior before.James: Dont mention it.S: No, really, I did a rotten thing back there and I just wanted to apologize.J: Forget about it. You are under a lot of pressure over the last few weeks, I know how important this project was to you.S: Yeah, but it was

54、 important to you too. And I shouldnt have turned on you like that.J: Well, you may have a chance to make it up to me .S: How?J: If I become vice president, then Ill need my own good men to work for me.S: Would you do that for me?J: Of course I would. Ive seen you work, and youre very talented . Even today youre much better prepared than I was. I just got lucky.S: It wasnt all luck. You have so much more technical knowledge than I do and you are not afraid to tell the truth.J: Exactly, and thats why like today we make a good team. Id hate to lose you and I know the comp