B: 我是Mike! What are we going to teach today, Xiaobei?
A: 今天,我们要谈一下穿着打扮对你能产生多大的影响,聊聊裁员,还要告诉你怎么说咬紧牙关忍受。
B: But first, let's learn a word!
今天我们要学的词是root cause. Root is spelled r-o-o-t, root, and cause, c-a-u-s-e, cause, root cause. root cause 根本原因。世界经济论坛说,The lack of competitiveness in Europe is the root cause of financial instability and rising unemployment numbers in the region. 缺乏竞争力是欧洲经济不稳定和失业率高的根本原因。波音787梦幻客机全面停飞。The root cause for the Dreamliner's problems are currently under investigation. 梦幻客机根本问题出在哪里目前正在调查之中。The root cause of gun violence in the U.S. is a hot button topic these days. 美国枪支暴力的根本原因是如今的热门话题。好的,今天我们学习的词是 root cause, root cause, root cause...
B: I think that's a big part of it. People like to feel like they have a say in things and there is no better way to learn a language than to have a native speaker to practice with. It's just one of the many important services I bring to the team.
A: 这么说,你在咱们组很重要啊!
B: 当然! The following phrase we're going to learn is exactly what can be used to describe me. Let's listen!
我妹妹的公司最近业绩不佳,于是公司请了个特别有销售经验的经理,希望能靠着这位高人扭转公司的销售状况。 让我想到一个习惯用语,那就是: Great white hope. Great is spelled g-r-e-a-t, white; w-h-i-t-e, and hope; h-o-p-e. Great-white-hope. Great white hope.
Great white hope 指身负众望的人或事。The new hire at my sister's company is expected to vastlyexpand sales. He is their great white hope. 大家都觉得我妹妹公司新雇的经理能把销售搞上去。在下面的例句中,一个政党的主席谈到了代表自己政党参选的理想候选人所具备的素质,咱们来听一听:
"We need a candidate who can appeal to middle-class voters like our opponent. It has to be someone that represents our traditional values, has strong leadership skills and communicates effectively. Every possibility we've looked at lacks what our party requires to win the next election. Where is our GREAT WHITE HOPE?"
我最近听说有的IT产品公司要开发一款智能电视,能够直接跟家里的电脑啊,DVD机啊,音响啊什么的连接,只要你一声令下,它就会自动为你播放电脑或DVD机的片子。The concept represents the company's great white hope for the future.这个概念代表了这家公司未来希望的所在。这产品要是真出现了,我一定会买,多方便啊。 好的,我们再来听听刚才那段话:
"We need a candidate who can appeal to middle-class voters like our opponent. It has to be someone that represents our traditional values, has strong leadership skills and communicates effectively. Every possibility we've looked at lacks what our party requires to win the next election. Where is our GREAT WHITE HOPE?"
刚才我们说到了电子产品业界的新概念,下面的例句中,我们听听在冷饮业有什么好点子。
"With another ice cream shop down the street from mine, I've had to find ways to be unique. My plan is to introduce some super premium favors using the finest ingredients. The dark chocolate with bite-sized pieces is my GREAT WHITE HOPE. I believe it will bring in lots of customers."
"With another ice cream shop down the street from mine, I've had to find ways to be unique. My plan is to introduce some super premium favors using the finest ingredients. The dark chocolate with bite-sized pieces is my GREAT WHITE HOPE. I believe it will bring in lots of customers."
A: Mike, you need to work harder on being our team's great white hope!
B: 好吧好吧, What if I start wearing nicer clothes to work everyday?
A: 穿漂亮衣服有什么用啊?
B: Dressing to impress helps to improve your work performance and makes people to take you more seriously.
A: 真的?
B: Yes! I'll just let this weeks Business Etiquette explain how it works.
Business Etiquette: You Are What You Wear
Cathy 早上上班见到同事 Adam.
Cathy: Hi, Adam, nice tie.
Adam: Thanks.
C: By the way, can I ask you a personal question?
A: Ask away!
C: How come you're the only one at the office who wears a tie to work every day? I'm not criticizing your fashion choices, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to.
A: No. I'm happy to answer that question! I assume you're like most people: you prefer to wear comfortable clothing whenever possible, right?
Cathy 问了 Adam 个personal question 私人问题,问Adam 为什么每天上班都西装领带的,而公司的着装标准并不严格,所以其他人一般都是怎么舒服怎么穿。Cathy 还补充说,I'm not criticizing your fashion choices. 意思是说我不是想对你的穿着指手划脚,而是好奇。Cathy 承认,平时如果没事,他就会穿得很随便。
C: Absolutely! If it's a special event or a business meeting or something, then sure, I'll put on a suit or a nice business dress. But I much prefer to dress more casually.
A: I understand that logic. But of course you've heard about "power-dressing," no?
C: Yeah....if you wear nicer looking clothes, people take you more seriously, right?
A: That's the idea. I think everybody knows that the clothing we wear affects how others perceive us. But I've also discovered that what I wear affects how I think.
C: Really? That's an interesting idea. What exactly do you mean?
Cathy 说,如果有什么特别活动或是要开会,She'll put on a suit or a nice business dress. 穿西装或套装,否则的话,她还是喜欢穿得随便些,to dress more casually. Adam 问 Cathy 有没有听过 power-dressing 的说法,也就是说,如果穿得正式,别人就会更把你当回事。Adam 说,他发现,power-dressing 不仅会影响别人对自己的看法,同时也会对他自己的精神状态产生影响。
A: Well, there's a lot of research out there that says the position of our bodies affects our thoughts.
C: I've heard about that. I read an article that said if you sit up straight your thoughts become sharper than if you were slouching.
A: Exactly! But there are some new studies that show what you are wearing can also affect your thoughts.
C: Give me an example.
A: Scientists found that students who were wearing white lab coats performed better on tests than students who were wearing their own clothes.
C: Ah! So because the white lab coat has an association with intelligence, the students' brains actually got more intelligent?