對于一家企業來說,20-30歲的年輕人是能為公司奮勇拼搏的新鮮血液,但對于個人來說,這個年齡層的人也面臨著成家立業、傳宗接代的重任。個人與事業,形成了一對不大不小的矛盾。如何處理好這個平衡,成了這一代人最頭疼的問題。
Tommy: Is everything OK? ①You seem out of step today.
Jenny: Yeah, everything is fine. I just found out some important news this morning. I’m still figuring out how to tell Mr. Jacobs.
Tommy: Oh, you aren’t quitting, are you? I’d hate to see you go.
Jenny: Well, I might be leaving, yes…in about nine months.
Tommy: Why nine mon…oh! You’re pregnant?!
Jenny: Shhh. Keep your voice down. I don’t want the whole office finding out yet.
Tommy: Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t contain myself. (Whispering) You’re pregnant?
Jenny: Yes. It’s a complete surprise actually. Jim and I hadn’t been trying or anything. Then yesterday I felt really sick, so I went to the doctor to see what was up. Turns out, I’m having a baby.
Tommy: That’s great news. You know you’ll be a great mom. I’ve seen the way you take care of everyone in the office. ②But you don’t seem over the moon about it.
Jenny: I’m worried about securing my job, that’s all. The company doesn’t allow leave for very long, which means my options are returning to work and paying someone to take care of the baby, or staying at home without
my income.
Tommy: Oh, I didn’t even think about that. Will you and Jim be able to get by?
Jenny: Yeah, ③we’ll make do. I’ll have to talk to Mr. Jacobs to get all the details. As far as I know they offer parental leave, but only for 12 weeks, which is basically nothing. ④Do me a favor and keep this under your hat, would you?
Tommy: Sure, ⑤Mom’s the word. Hehe. Who else have you told about this?
Jenny: No one. You are the first. ⑥But your booming voice probably let the cat out of the bag.
Colleague: Hey, Jenny, congratulations!
Jenny: Thanks.
Tommy: Sorry.
湯米:一切都還好吧?你今天挺反常的。
詹妮:沒事,一切都挺好的。我今天早上發現了一件重要的事,我還在想應該怎么跟雅各布斯先生開口。
湯米:噢,你該不會要辭職吧?我不想看你離開。
詹妮:呃,我可能得離開一段時間,可能……大概9個月后。
湯米:為何是9個月……哦!你懷孕了?!
詹妮:噓噓!小聲點兒。我可不想搞得整個辦公室都知道。
湯米:不好意思,不好意思。我控制不住自己。(小聲說)你懷孕了?
詹妮:是的,事實上這完全是個意外。我和吉姆并沒有想要小孩或什么的。但是昨天我突然覺得很不舒服,所以我去看醫生,想知道到底怎么了。結果就是,我有寶寶了。
湯米:這消息真是太棒了。你要知道,你一定會是個好媽媽的。我看你平時把辦公室里的同事照顧得那么周到就知道了。但你看起來不是很高興呢。
詹妮:我是在擔心怎么保住我的飯碗,沒別的。公司不允許休太長的假期,這就意味著我只能選擇要不回來工作,給孩子找個保姆,要不就不工作呆在家里(照顧
孩子)。
湯米:噢,我都還沒想到那兒呢。那你和吉姆負荷得了嗎?
詹妮:嗯,我們盡力而為。我得去跟雅各布斯先生談一下,了解一下細節。據我所知,公司是有產假的,但只有12個星期,基本上不算什么。幫個忙,別把這事兒張揚出去,好嗎?
湯米:肯定,一定保密。你還告訴誰了?
詹妮:沒有了,你是第一個知道的。不過你的大嗓門估計都把秘密泄露出去了。
同事:嗨,詹妮,恭喜啦!
詹妮:謝謝。
湯米:對不起。
Smart Sentences
① You seem out of step today. 你今天挺反常的。
out of step: not in a normal state(異常)。例如:
Since Mr. Maston got the phone call, he seems a bit out of step.
自從梅森先生接了那個電話后,他就有點不對勁。
② But you don’t seem over the moon about it. 但你看起來不是很高興呢。
over the moon: very pleased about sth.(因某事很高興)。例如:
My sister is over the moon about being accepted by Peking University.
我妹妹被北大錄取后,高興極了。
③ We’ll make do. 我們盡力而為。
make do: manage to get by with sth. less than satisfactory(設法應付,將就)。例如:
I had to make do with my old PC last week.
上周我只能用那臺舊電腦來應付。
④ Do me a favor and keep this
under your hat, would you? 幫個忙,別把這事兒張揚出去,好嗎?
do sb. a favor: do sth. for sb. even if you don’t have to(幫某人忙)。例如:
Mary did me a favor by picking up my son this afternoon.
瑪麗幫了我一個忙,下午去接我兒子。
keep sth. under sb.’s hat: not to tell anyone about sth.(不讓秘密泄露)。例如:
You can’t tell Mel. He can never keep anything under his hat.
你不能告訴梅爾,他從來沒法保密。
⑤ Mom’s the word. 一定保密。
mom’s the word: don’t say anything, keep that a secret(別聲張,要保密)。例如:
—Is Monica getting married next month?
莫尼卡下月就結婚嗎?
—Shhh, mom’s the word.
噓,別聲張。
⑥ But your booming voice
probably let the cat out of the bag. 不過你的大嗓門估計都把秘密泄露出去了。
let the cat out of the bag: let others know sth. that was being kept secret(泄密)。例如:
About your resignation, Maple, I think I let the cat out of the bag at last night’s dinner.
美保,關于你要辭職的事,我想昨晚晚飯時我把這個消息走漏了。