lesson 1 The Company in Which I Work.pptVIP

Lesson One The Company in Which I Work by Joseph Heller, Selected From “Something Happened” The detailed explanations elderly: adj. old and becoming old drain: v. to use too much of sth. so that there is not enough left drain sb./sth. of sth. …time and success drained them of energy and ambition --their energy and ambition are depleted (耗尽) by long years of effort and success; they no longer have energy and ambition because they are old and successful credit sb. with sth.: v. to believe that someone has a quality, or has done something good fitful: adj. happening irregularly for short periods of time; from time to time that: adv. so; to such a degree bypass: v. to avoid obeying sb. [a rule, or system], in an official position take up one’s time: occupy one’s time take one’s time: take it easy, easy does it alarmed: adj. ultimately filled with fear and worry He turns scarlet with rage and embarrassment: his face flushes because of anger and embarrassment trial: (in the text) a short process during which you use sth. or employ sb. to find out whether they are satisfactory for a particular purpose or job, [be on trial][take/have sth. on trial]—be in the process of being tested or tried on the verge of : very near to (the stated condition or action) collectively and individually: as a group and as an individual They are always on trial, always on the verge of failure, … --they are watched and examined by others as a group and as an individual all the time and are always about to fail They strained, even the most secure and self-assured of them, to look good on paper. strain: v. try very hard to do sth. using all your physical and mental strength self-assured: adj. self-confident They, even those who are the safest and most self-confident, tried their best to look good in written form. [careful/close] scrutiny: n. careful and thorough examination (翻译)—比如，每星期都会记录下上一个星期公司每个销售办事处和销售部的销售结果,然后同前一年同期（同一个星期）的销售结果相比较。 land: vt. informal to succeed in getting a c