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Business Etiquette: Attending a black-tie event I
Jim在走廊上碰見同事Gary。
Jim: Gary, did you hear about my upcoming trip to New York?
Gary: I think I did hear something about it. You and Henry are attending some kind of function, right?
J: Yeah. It's an anniversary celebration for one of the companies we do a lot of work with, you know, Walcon Electronics.
G: Right! Walcon is one of our biggest clients.
J: It's Walcon's 120th anniversary and they're throwing a big party.
Jim馬上要出差，到紐約去。Gary說，他聽說了Jim的 upcoming trip. upcoming is spelled u-p-c-o-m-i-n-g, upcoming, upcoming是即將發生的意思，Gary還知道，他們這次是要去參加什么活動，function 在這里指正式的社交活動。公司最大的客戶之一 Walcon Electronics 慶祝成立120周年，they're throwing a big party. 他們要辦個大派對。英語里說辦派對，經常會用動詞 throw, t-h-r-o-w, throw.
G: Walcon Electronics is 120 years old?
J: Yep. They started out as a shoe manufacturer and then branched off into electronics in the late 1960s.
G: That's a big change, moving from shoes to electronics. But you have to give the company's founder credit for thinking ahead.
J: Absolutely. Today they're one of the world's top home electronics brands.
G: Well, you'll have fun. New York is always a great place to visit.
J: Yeah, but I'm a bit worried. I've never attended a function like this before. Look, here's the invitation.
Walcon電器公司最開始是生產鞋的，60年代才改行生產電器。這里用到的兩個動詞詞組，一個是 start out 意思是起步，另外一個是 branch off 意思是改變前進的方向。Gary 說，You have to give the company's founder credit for thinking ahead. 咱們不得不佩服這個公司創始人有遠見，to give someone credit for something 意思是肯定某人的做法。紐約是個好玩的地方，可Jim卻很擔心，他拿請柬給Gary看。
G: Oh my! It's a black-tie event. That means you have to wear a tuxedo.
J: A tuxedo? I don't own a tux!
G: Not very many people do....you can rent one, though.
J: Oh wow. That means it's going to be a very formal event, huh?
G: A black-tie event is about as formal as it gets. Men wear tuxedos and ladies wear evening gowns.
J: What else should I expect?
G: There will probably be a band playing soft music. Waiters will walk around serving drinks. Most of the guests will mainly stand around socializing with each other.
原來，這次活動是 a black-tie event 參加者要穿禮服、打黑領結的正式活動，男賓要穿燕尾服，tuxedo, tuxedo is spelled t-u-x-e-d-o, tuxedo, 女賓要穿 evening gown 晚禮服。Gary說，A black-tie event is about as formal as it gets. 這基本上要算是最正規的活動了。as....as it gets 是指最徹底的表現，兩個as之間加形容詞。Jim會喜歡這種活動嗎？我們下次繼續聽。
哦, Black-tie event 就是非常正式的場合。我朋友要是嫁給了什么歐洲王子，那我穿這個華麗的夜禮服去參加她的王室婚禮，就很合適了，對不對？
B: That's right. So save it till one of your friends marries a prince.
A: 啊？這得等到什么時候啊！ 其實女孩子只要找對了人，都可以像公主一樣幸福。
B: Yes. Every girl can have her own prince charming.
A: 不過，你還記得“美語三級跳”節目里那個男朋友么？
B: How can I forget him? He's such a lousy boyfriend!
A: 是啊，他還有更過分的呢，聽聽吧。
