評論
打印
禮節美語——BE-249 Cell Phones I
Sue跟坐在隔壁的同事George聊天。
Sue: Hey George, take a look at this article. It says several major airlines are considering allowing people to use their cell phones while in the air.
George: Oh no, really? That's one of the worst ideas I've ever heard.
S: Oh? Why do you feel that way?
G: Well, I fly for business quite frequently and a plane is now one of the last places where I don't have to hear people chatting on cell phones. I really enjoy the peace and quiet.
S: But it would be so convenient if we were able to make calls during long flights. Just think of how much work we could get done!
Sue告訴George, 現在好幾家航空公司都考慮允許乘客在飛行途中使用手機。George覺得這個主意簡直糟糕透了，因為飛機是公共場所里所剩無幾不用聽別人打電話的地方之一，I really enjoy the peace and quiet. George說自己很享受這種寧靜，但是 Sue 覺得，如果能在飛機上打手機，就方便多了，好多事都能在飛機上處理完畢。
G: I think perhaps people are taking the idea of multitasking a little bit too far. I get calls from people on my cell phone and they say things like "Where were you? I've been trying to reach you all afternoon." Well, I was on the golf course and I turned off my cell phone...is that a crime?
S: I see what you mean. We are so connected these days that there is hardly any time for peace and quiet. I'll tell you a secret that's a little embarrassing: I leave my cell phone on all night long, just in case a call comes in.
George覺得有些人 take the idea of multitasking a little bit too far. to take something too far 意思是一件事做得過頭了，multitasking is spelled m-u-l-t-i-t-a-s-k-i-n-g, multitasking, multitasking 意思是同時做好幾件工作。George說，有時候去打高爾夫球，把手機關機turn off the cell phone，就會有人因為找不到他而質問他到哪里去了，George跟Sue這些手機24小時開機的人形成了鮮明對照。
G: I know lots of people who do that. They say, "what if there is an emergency?" I guess I can understand why someone would feel that way, but I think sometimes we need to turn off our cell phones and tune out all the noise.
S: I can see your point. I get really frustrated by businesspeople that seem to never put down their cell phone. I have to listen to their long, boring conversations and there is really no way I can tune it out.
G: So people take calls every 2 or 3 minutes! Most of the time I think business conversations can probably wait until you get back to the office.
George認為，不能因為擔心別人有急事，就把手機隨時開機。Sue對George的看法表示贊同，說 I see your point. point在這里是觀點的意思，有時候別人打電話，交談內容很無聊，可是 There is no way I can tune it out. 我又沒辦法把這種噪音屏蔽掉，to tune something out意思是不去管它，聽而不聞。George也覺得，其實很多跟工作有關的電話都可以等回辦公室再打。
A: Well, I'm torn. At first I thought it would be nice if I could talk with my friends during a long, boring flight; but putting myself in other passengers' shoes, hours of endless chatter sounds terrifying!
B: Oh-ho-ho, under my influence, you finally learned how to 換位思考! I'm so proud of you, baby!
A: Ehhhh....Kat...
B: Ok ok, kidding. But seriously, I think that is such a bad idea, I really don't want to hear all the details of someone's break-up or the latest details about your gross health problems!
A: 那咱們接著來聽聽Sue和George怎么說吧!
