課件新視野笑話

Book2,3andBookTask1Assoonasthesingercompletedthesong,theaudiencecried,"Encore!Encore!"Thesingerwasdelightedandsangthesongagain.Shecouldn'tbelieveitwhentheaudienceshoutedforhertosingitagain.Thecycleofshoutsandsongswasrepeatedtenmoretimes.Thesingerwasoverjoyedwiththeresponsefromtheaudience.Shethankedthemandaskedthemwhytheyweresomuchinterestedinhearingthesamesongagainandagain.Oneofthepeopleintheaudiencereplied,"Wewantedyoutoimproveit;nowitismuchbetter."(96words)Unit2/Task1OnlyOnePeterhadalwayswantedtobeanactor,butneversucceededbecausehehadahardtimememorizinglines.Afriendofhistoldhimaboutasmallpartinay.HepromisedPeterthathecoulddoitbecausehe'donlyhavetorememberoneline.Peterdecidedtotakethepart.Hisonlylinewas,"Listen,Ihearthegunsroar!"Peterpracticedandpracticed,"Listen,Ihearthegunsroar!"OntheopeningnightoftheyPeterwasverynervous.Backstage,hepracticedhisline,overandoveragain,"Listen,Ihearthegunsroar!Listen,Ihearthegunsroar!"Finallycamehisturn,Peterwentontostage.HeheardaloudBOOMandcriedoutinspiteofhimself,"WHATTHE UnitTask2PutthecatAcouplewasgoingoutfortheeveningtocelebratethewife'sbirthday.Whiletheyweregettingready,thehusbandputthecatout.Thetaxiarrived,andasthecouplewalkedoutoftheirhome,thecatranbackintothehouse.Notwantingtheircattohaverunofthehousewhiletheywereout,thehusbandwentbackupstairstochasethecatout.Thewife,notwantingitknownthatthehousewouldbeempty,exinedtothetaxidriver,"He'sjustgoingupstairstosaygoodbyetomymother."Afewminuteslater,thehusbandgotintothecar,andsaid,"Sorryittooksolong.Thestupidoldthingwashidingunderthebed,andIhadtopokeherwithasticktogethertocomeout!"Task3ASuddenChangeintheParrot'sAyoungmannamedJohnreceivedaparrotasagift.Theparrothadabadattitudeandanevenworsevocabulary.Everywordoutofthisbird'smouthwasrude.Johntriedeverymethodtochangethebird'sattitudebyconstantlysayingpolitewords,yingsoftmusic,andanythinghecouldthinkoftosetagoodexample.Nothingworked.Finally,Johngotfedupandheyelledattheparrot.Andthebirdyelledback.Johnshooktheparrot,andthebirdgotangrierandruder.Finally,inamomentofdesperation,Johnputthebirdintherefrigeratorzer.Forafewminutes,Johnheardthebirdscreamandkick.Thensuddenlytherewassilence.Notasoundforoveraminute.Fearingthathe'dhurtthebird,Johnquicklyopenedthedoortothezer.Theparrotcalmlysteppedoutandsaid,"IbelieveImayhaveoffendedyouwithmyrudelanguageandactions.Iamtrulysorry,andIwilldoeverythingIcantocorrectmypoorbehavior."Johnwasgreatlysurprisedatthebird'schangeofattitude.Ashewasabouttoasktheparrothadcausedsuchasuddenchangeinhisbehavior,thebird ,"MayIaskwhyyouputthechickensthereandwhattheydidwrong?"Task2100PercentPolarOneafternoonintheArctic,afatherpolarbearandhissonpolarbearweresittinginthesnow.Thesonturnedtohisfatherandasked,"Dad,amI100percentpolarbear?""Ofcourse,son,you're100percentpolarAfewminutespassed,andthebearturnedtohisfatheragainandsaid,"Dad,lmethetruth.Icantakeit.AmI100percentpolarbear?Nobrownbearorpandabear?""Son,I'm100percentpolarbearandyourmotheris100percentpolarbear,soyou'recertainly100percentpolarbear."Afewmoreminutespassed,andthesonpolarbearagainturnedtohisfatherandasked,"Dad,don'tworry.Butit'llhurtmyfeelingsifit'snottrue.Ireallyneedtoknow...amIreally100percentpolarSomewhatangeredbythis questioning,thefatherpolarbearyelledathisson,"Whyonearthdoyoukeepaskingifyou're100percentpolarbear?""BecauseI'mzingtodeathoutUnitTask2CanIhavemychangeTomwasdownonhisluckandfeltheneededafewdrinks.Hewenttoabarandhadseveraldrinks.Whenhewasdone,hestoodupandwalkedtowardthedoor.Thebarmanshoutedafterhim,"Heymister,areyougoingtopayforthosedrinks?"Tomturnedaroundandreplied,"Ihavealreadypaidyou,"andthenwalkedoutofthebar.AlmostimmediayhesawoneofhisfriendsRichardandtoldhimaboutthebarman,"Justgointhereanddrinkallyouwant,thengetupandleave.Whenthebarmanasksyoutopaythebill,justlhimyouhavealreadypaid."Thissoundedeasyenough,soRichardwentinandhadseveraldrinks.Thebarmanwenttohimandsaid,"Beforeyoucamein,anothermanwashere.WhenIaskedhimtopayhisbill,hetoldmehe'dpaid,butIdon'trememberhimpayingme."Richardsaid,"Iwouldlovetostayandhearyourstory,butIdon'thavetime.CanIhavemychangeUnit Ayoungmancomesuptotheborderonhisbicycle.Hehastwolargebagsoverhisshoulders.Theborderguardstopshimandsays,"What'sinthebags?""Sand,"answerstheyoungTheguardisabitsuspiciousandaskstheyoungmantoopenthebagsforinspection.Theguardemptiesthebags,butfindsnothinginthembutsand.Thenhehasthesandyzed,onlytodiscoverthatthereisnothingbutpuresandinthebags.Sotheyoungmanisallowedtorideacrosstheborderwithhissandbags.Aweeklater,thesameyoungmanpresentshimselfattheborderwithhisbags.Theguardasks,"Whathaveyougot?""Sand,"saystheyoungTheguarddoeshisthoroughexaminationanddiscoversthatthebagscontainnothingbutsand.HegivesthesandbacktotheyoungmanwhothenridesacrosstheborderonhisbicyclewiththeThishappenseveryweekforthreeyears.Finally,theyoungmannolongerappearsatthebordercrossing.Manymonthsgobyandtheborderguardmeetstheyoungmaninanexpensivecafe."Hey,"saystheguard,"forthreeyearsyouweresmugglingsomethingthroughmycrossingstation.It'sdrivingmecrazy.Justbetweenyouandme,whatwereyousmuggling?"Theyoungmandrinkshiscoffeeandsays,"Bicycles."(231words)UnitTask2HowmanyparachutesareTherewerethreepassengersinanethathadasuddenenginetrouble.Onewasthesmartestmanintheworld,anotherwasalawyer,andtheotherwasalittlegirl.Thepilottoldthemtheymustjumpouttolightentheweightonboard;otherwise,thenewouldcrash.However,therewereonlytwoparachutes.Thesmartestmanintheworldjumpedtohisfeetandshouted,"Thepeoplewhowouldbenefittheworldthemostshouldgettheparachutes.I'mthesmartestman,soI'moneofthose."Withthat,heseizedaparachuteandthrewhimselfoutofthene.Thelawyerlookedatthelittlegirlandsaid,"I'veledagoodlonglife,andyou'rejuststartingyours.Youtaketheotherparachute."Withtearsinhereyes,thelittlegirlsaid,"Thatsmartmanwasveryunreasonable.Justnowhegrabbedmyschoolbagandjumpedout.Momwillscoldmeforlosingthebag.ButatleastIhaveaparachute."(171words)Task3WhydidyoustopatagreenOneday,twofriendsweredrivingdowntownwhentheycametoanintersectionwithatrafficlight.Thelightwasredbutthedriverspedrightthroughtheredlight.Thepassengerlookedinterroratthedriverandshouted,"Whattheareyoung?You'regoingtogetuskilled!!"Thedriverreplied,"Don'tworry,mymomalwaysdriveslikethis,andsheisallright."Later,theycametoanothertrafficlight,andthattoowasred.Againthedrivershotrightthroughthelight.Againthepassengerlookedatthedriverandshouted,"IthoughtIhavetoldyou,youwouldgetuskilled!Wouldyoupleasestopthisnonsense!?"Thedriverlookedatthepassengerandanswered,"Allright!Igetit,butItoldyoumymomdrovelikethisallthetime!Andshe'squiteOK."Theycametoanothertrafficlight.Itwasgreen.Thedriverslammedonthebrakes,suddenlystopthecar.Thepassengerwasthrownforward."Whatonearthareyoung?"hescreamed."Thisisthethirdtimeyoualmostgotuskilled.Whydidyoustopatagreenlight?""Well,"saidthedriver,"mymommightbecomingtheotherway."(205UnitTask2ScaredStevenwenttoapsychiatrist."Doctor,"hesaid,"I'vegottrouble.EverytimeIgetintobed,Ithinkthere'ssomebodyunderit.Igetunderthebed;thenIthinkthere'ssomebodyontopofit.Top,under,top,under.You'vegottohelpme!I'mgoingcrazy!""Justputyourselfinmyhandsfortwoyears,"saidthedoctor."Cometomethreetimesaweek,andI'llcureyourfears.""Howmuchdoyoucharge?""Ahundreddollarsavisit.""I'llthinkaboutit,"saidSixmonthslaterthedoctormetStevenonthestreet."Whydidn'tyouevercometoseemeagain?"askedthepsychiatrist."Forahundredbucksavisit?Acarpentercuredmefortendollars.""Isthatso?How?""Hetoldmetocutthelegsoffthe (138Task2Don'tbeafraidoftheWhileenjoyingfishingofftheFloridacoast,atouristoverturnedhisboatbyaccident.Hecouldswim,buthewasafraidofalligators.Sohejustheldtightontotheoverturnedboat.Afterawhilehesawacoastguardofficerwalkingclosetotheshore,andhegotexcited.Heshoutedattheofficer,"Arethereanyalligatorsaroundhere?""No,"themanshoutedback,"theyhaven'tbeenaroundforFeelinggreatlyrelieved,thetouriststartedswimminglazilytowardtheAbouthalfwaythereheaskedthecoastguard,justoutofcuriosity,"Howdidyougetridofthe"Wedidn'tdoanything,"theofficeranswered."Wow,howluckyIam."saidthetourist.Theofficerthenadded,"Thesharksgotthem."(127Task3FearofAtarecentsoftwareengineeringmanagementcourseintheUnitedStates,theparticipantsweregivenanawkwardquestiontoanswer:"Ifyouhadjustboardedanairlineranddiscoveredthatyourteamofprogrammershadbeenresponsiblefortheflightcontrolsoftware,wouldyougetoffimmediay?Ifyes,pleaseputupyourhands."Thenaofhandswereraised,butoneprogrammercalledSmithdidnotputuphishand.Whenaskedwhathewoulddo,herepliedthathehadnofearandwouldbequitehappytostayonboard."Withmyteam'ssoftware,"hesaid,"thenewasunlikelytoeventaxiasfarastherunway,letalonetakeoff."(115words)BookUnit YouForgotMycheckover:檢查；examine;inspectbacon:咸肉，熏肉toast:An80-year-oldcouplewashavingproblemsrememberingthings,sotheydecidedtogototheirdoctortomakesurenothingwaswrongwiththem.Theyexinedtothedoctoraboutthetheywerehavingwiththeirmemory.Aftercheckingthecoupleover,thedoctortoldthemthattheywerephysicallyokaybutmightwanttostartwritingthingsdowntohelpthemremember.Thecouplethankedthedoctorandleft.LaterthatnightwhilewatchingTV,theoldwomansaidtotheoldman,"Honey,willyoupleasegotothekitchenandgetmeadishoficecream?"Beforetheoldmanleft,sheadded,"Whydon'tyouwritethatdownsoyouwon'tforget?""Nonsense,"saidthehusband,"Icanrememberadishoficecream!""Well,"saidthewife,"I'dalsolikesomestrawberriesonit.YoubetterwritethatdownbecauseIknowyourmemoryisfailing.""Don'tbesilly,"repliedthehusband."It'sonlytwothings:Adishoficecreamandsomestrawberries.Icansurelyrememberthat!"Withthat,herushedintothekitchen.Afterabouttwentyminuteshereturnedfromthekitchenandhandedherateofbaconandeggs.Thewifetookonelookatthete,glancedupatherhusband,andsaid,"Hey,youforgotthetoast!"Task2 Wheredidtheprofessorgo?bravetheweather:absent-minded:心不在焉；forgetfulortooconcernedwithone'sthoughtstonoticewhatishappeningorwhatoneis Thisisatruestory,whichhappenedtofriendsofoursinasmalltowninSouthAfrica.Theywereahospitablecouplewhooftenentertainedtheirneighboursfordrinks,teaordinner.Onthisparticularspringnighttheyhadinvitedaretiredprofessortosupper.Duringtheevening,itbegantopourwithrain,andtheheavensreallyopened.Becausehehadwalkedthere,theyofferedtoputhimupforthenight.Theypointedoutthatbystayingovernight,hedidnotneedtogooutinthebadweather.Heagreedonthesoundnessofthatidea,thankedhishostsprofusely,andthematterseemedtobesettled.Butwhiletheywerewashingthedishesaftersupper,theforgetfulprofessordisappeared.Noonecouldfindhimanywhere.Eventually,afterabout40minutes,thefrontdoorbellrang.Therewastheprofessor,soakedtotheskin.Whenhewasaskedwhatonearthhehadbeenngintherain,herepliedthatbecausehewasgoingtostaythereovernight,hehadgonehometogethispyjamasandtoothbrush.Unitcalculus:tape:(sticksomethingontosomethingelseusingRobertwasauniversitystudent.Helikedtohavefun.Buthavingfunwasexpensive,sohewasrapidlyrunningoutofmoney.Therewasnothingtodobuttotrytocallhismotherforhelp."Hi,Mom.IcertainlymissyouandDad.I…uh…gotabigsurprisethisweekinmyPhysicscourse.Wehavetobuytwonewtextbooks.I'mgoingtoneed$100.""Iunderstand,"saidhismother."I'llsendyouthemoneyrightaway.Youleftyourcalculusherewhenyouwerehometwoweeksago.ShallImailthatatthesametime?""Oh,yeah.Thanks,"Robertsaid.Robert'smothermadeupaparcelwiththecalculusbookandtwochecks,andmailedittoRobertthatveryday.Whenshereturnedfromthepostoffice,herhusbandwaswaitingforher."Well,howmuchdidyougivetheboythistime?"asked"Isenttwochecks:onefor$100andtheotherfor$1,000,"answered"You'reoutofyourmind,"yelledDad."That's$1,100.He'lljustspendthatinacoupleofweeks.He'snevergoingtolearnthevalueofmoneythatway.""Don'tworry,honey,"Momsaid,"Itapedthe$100checktothecoverofhisbook,butIput$1,000onebetweenthepagesinChapter (224UnitDublin:(thecapitalofbycoincidence:(asituationinwhichseparatethingshappenbychanceatthesametimeorinthesameway)bewilder:使迷惑,(confuseindignant:(angrybecauseofanunfairMurphyappliedforanengineeringpositionatanIrishfirmbasedinDublin.AnAmericanappliedforthesamejob.Quitebycoincidence,thetwoapplicantshadthesamequalifications,andwereaskedtotakethesametestbythemanageroftheHumanResourceDepartment.Uponcompletionofthetest,bothmenmissedonlyoneofthequestions.ThemanagerwenttoMurphyandsaid,"Thankyouforyourinterest,butwe'vedecidedtogivetheAmericanthejob."Bewilderedbythemanager'sdecision,Murphyasked,"Whywouldyoubengthat?Webothgotninequestionscorrect.ThisbeingIrelandandmebeingIrish,Ishouldgetthejob!"Themanageransweredcalmly,"Wehavemadeourdecisionsbasednotonthecorrectanswers,butonthequestionyoumissed."Unconvincedandsomewhatindignant,Murphyquestioned,"Andjusthowwouldoneincorrectanswerbebetterthantheother?"Themanager'sanswertookhimbysurprise,"Simple,onQuestionNo.5,theAmericanputdown'Idon'tknow',andyouputdown'NeitherdoI'."(176words)disfigure:(spoilthebeautythatsomethingnaturallyhas)toss:投擲(throw)contactlens:眼鏡(asmallpieceofsticyouputonyoureyetohelpyouseeclearly)observant:觀察的(goodorquickatnoticingthings)Johnwasinaterribleaccidentatworkandlostbothofhisears.Sincehewaspermanentlydisfigured,hesettledwiththe forafairlylargecompensationanddecidedtoinvestthemoneyinasmallbutgrowing business.Afterweeksofnegotiations,heboughtthe.Thenherealizedthatheknewnothingaboutrunningsuchabusinessandquicklysetouttohiresomeonewhocoulddothatforhim.Sohesetupthreejobinterviews.Thefirstguywasgreat.Hekneweverythingthe andwasveryinteresting.Attheendoftheinterview,Johnaskedhim,"Doyounoticeanythingdifferentaboutme?"Andthegentlemananswered,"Whyyes,Icouldn'thelpbutnoticeyouhavenoears."Johngotveryupsetandthrewhimout.Thesecondinterviewwaswithawoman,andshewasevenbetterthanthefirstguy.Hethenaskedherthesamequestion,"Doyounoticeanythingunusualaboutme?"andshereplied,"Well,youhavenoears."AgainJohngotfuriousandtossedherout.Thethirdandlastinterviewwasthebestofallthree.Itwaswithaveryyoungmanwhowasfreshoutofcollege.Hewassmartandhandsome.Andheseemedtobeabetterbusinessmanthanthefirsttwoputtogether.Johnwasanxioustoemployhim,butaskedhimthesamequestion,"Doyounoticeanythingdifferentaboutme?"Andtohissurprise,theyoungmananswered,"Yes,youwearcontactJohnwasamazed,andsaid,"Whatanincrediblyobservantyoungman!Howintheworlddidyouknowthat?"Theyoungmanlaughedandreplied,"Well,it'sprettyhardtowearglasseswithnoears!"(292Unitaccountant:(someonewhosejobistokeepandcheckfinancialmarble:大理 typeofhardwhitedip:低洼處(a cewherethesurfaceofsomethinggoesdownsuddenly,thengoesupagain)wearandtear:磨損(theamountofdamagecausedtofurniture,cars,equipments,etc.whentheyareusedforalongperiodoftime)stonemason:(someonewhosejobiscuttingstonesintopiecestouseinbuildings)stun:使(surpriseorupsetsomeonegreatly)OncetherewasaScottishaccountant.Thebusinesshadbeeninthefamilyforgenerationsandgenerations.Overtime,withthecountlesssthathadgoneinandoutoftheoffice,themarblestepinfrontofthebuildinghaddevelopedabig,deepdipinitfromallthewearandtear.Theaccountant'sfriendskeptlinghimthathehadbettergetitreced,otherwisehe'dbesuedifanyoneeverslippedandfell.Reluctantly,theaccountantcalledastonemasontogetaquotefortherepairs.Whenthestonemasongotthere,theaccountantdemandedapriceforanewstep."Ah,bigjob,"saidthestonemason,"ButIsupposeIcouldgiveyouanewstepforahundredTheaccountantwasstunned."Areyoucrazy,man?Ican'tpayyouahundredpounds!"Thinkingaboutitforasecond,heturnedtothestonemasonandasked,"WhatwouldyouchargemetodigupthestepandturnitoversothatthewornpartisinthegroundandI'dgetanewsquarestep?"Thestonemasonhesitated."20pounds.""Doit!"Demandedtheaccountant."Andcallmewhenyou'reTheaccountantwentbackinsidetoreadhisbooks,butafteronly15minutesthestonemasonrangthebell.Astheaccountantopenedthedoor,hesawthestonemasonstandingthere,pointingtoaofthatahundredandfiftyyearsUnitbartender:(onewhomixesandservesalcoholicdrinksatabar)odds:機(jī)會；可能性(chance;probability)screw:(cheat;stumble:(walkinanunsteadywayandoftenalmostfall)dump:傾倒(putdownordropinacarelessway)Inabaraguytoldthebartender,"I'maprofessionalgambler;I'vemadelotsofmoneyfromThebartenderanswered,"Icanhardlybelieveit.Youroddsarefifty-fiftyatbest,right?""Well,Ionlybetonsurethings,"saidtheguy."Likewhat?"askedthe"Well,forexample,I'llbetyoufiftydollarsthatIcanbitemyrighteye,"hesaid.Thebartenderthoughtaboutit."Okay,"hesaid.So,theguypulledouthisfalserighteyeandbitit."Ah,youscrewedme,"saidthebartender,andpaidtheguyfiftydollars."I'llgiveyouanotherchance.I'llbetyouanotherfiftydollarsthatIcanbitemylefteye,"saidtheThebartenderthoughtitoveragainandsaid,"Well,Icanseeyou'renotblind.I'lltakethatbet."So,theguypulledouthisfalseteethandbithislefteye.Andthebartenderhadtopayhimanotherfiftydollars.Thentheguywenttothebackroomtoycardswithsomeofthelocals.Aftermanyhoursofdrinkingandcardying,hestumbleduptothebartenderandsaid,"Bartender,I'llgiveyouonelastchance.I'llbetyou500dollarsthatIcandumptomatojuiceintothatwhiskeybottlethreefootawaywithoutspillingadrop."Thebartenderthoughttheguymustbedrunknow."Okay,you'reon,"heTheguybegandumtomatojuicealloverthebartender,butnotadropfellintothewhiskeyThebartenderwasoverjoyed.Laughing,thebartendersaid,"Hey,pal,youowemefivehundredTheguysaid,"That'sokay.Ijustbettheguysinthecardroom1,000buckseach,thatIcoulddumptomatojuicealloveryoubutstillmakeyoulaugh!" (303words)Unitaviation:(theoperationandproductionofoverhear:(accidentallyhearwhatotherpeoplearesaying,whentheydonotknowthatyouhaveheard)spin:(turnarounddive:(gosteeplycutin:interruptsomeonewhoisspeakingbysayingOneday,anoldmannamedStumpyandhiswifeMarthawenttotheIllinoisStateAviationFair.Amanwassellingneridesfor$10per .StumpywasfascinatedandsaidtoMartha,"Ithinkwereallyshouldtrythat."Marthareplied,"Iknowyouwantto,Stumpy,butwehavealotofbills.Youknowthemoneyistight,and$10is$10."SoStumpywentwithout.Overthenextfewyearstheyreturnedeveryyeartothefair,andthesamethinghappened:Stumpywantedaride,butMarthasaidtheycouldn'taffordit.Finally,whenStumpyandMarthawerebothabout70yearsold,StumpyfixedhiseyesonMarthaandsaid,"Martha,I'm70now,andIdon'tknowifI'llevergetthechanceagain,soIjusthavetohavearideinthatairne."Martharepliedinthesameoldfashion,andStumpybecamedepressed.Thepilotstandingnearbyoverheardtheconversationandhecutin:"Excusemefolks,Ihaveadealforyou.I'lltakebothofyouuptogether,andifyoucanbothmaketheentiretripwithoututteringaword,I'llgiveyoutheridefor.Butifeitherofyoumakesasound,it's$10each."MarthaandStumpylookedateachotherandagreed.Thepilottookthemup,andstartedtoclimb,spin,dive,climbandspinagain.Therewasnosound.Afterthepilotlandedthene,hepraisedtheoldman,"Iwanttocongratulateyoufornotmakingasound.Youareabraveman.""Maybeso,"saidStumpy,"butIgottolyou,Ialmostscreamedwhenmywifefellout,but$10is$10!"BookUnitdownturn:時(shí)期(atendencydownward,especiallyinbusinessoreconomicactivity)predecessor:(onewhoprecedesanotherintime,especiallyinholdinganofficeoraposition)tactfully:機(jī)智地(withtact,withouthurtinganyone'sfeelings)dip:(aconsecutive:(followingoneafteranotherwithoutinterruption)stickupfor:defendorsupportcatchalotof :receivealotofAfterahigh-levelfiringatSupertech,thetopexecutivesgatheredforlunchto ethenewChiefExecutiveOfficer,CarlMartin,andsaygood-byetothedepartingCEO,DickJackson.LunchwasprettywelloverwhenJacksontookhisrecementasideandsaid::"Carl,it'sajungleoutthereinthebusinessworld.IfwegraduatesofHarvardBusinessSchooldon'tstickupforoneanother,whowill?Nobody,that'swho."Jacksonexinedthatatraditionhadgrownupatraditionthe 'sCEOshad.ThedepartingCEOleftthreenumberedenvelopesforthenewCEO.HehandedMartinthreeenvelopes."Openoneifthere'saproblemyoucan'tsolve."ThingswentsmoothlyforMartinatfirst,butsixmonthslatersalestookadownturn,andhewascatchingalotofheat.Athiswit'send,herememberedtheenvelopes.Hetookfromhisdeskthefirstenvelope.Themessageread,"Blameyourpredecessor."MartinheldapressconferenceandtactfullylaidtheblameatthefeetofthepreviousCEO.Thepress-andWallStreet-reactedpositively,salespickedup,andtheproblemwassoonbehindhim.Ayearlater,the wasagainexperiencingadipinsales,combinedwithseriousproductproblems.TheCEOopenedthesecondenvelope.Themessageread,"Reorganize."Thishedid,and quicklyAfterseveralconsecutiveprofitablequarters,the onceagainfellondifficulttimes.TheCEOwenttohisoffice,closedthedoorandopenedthethirdenvelope.Themessagesaid,"Preparethreeenvelopes." (251words)Unithard-nosed:頑固的,精明的(tough,stubborn,or hawk:鷹foreman:(amanwhoservesastheleaderofaworkcrewasinafactory)farandwide:everywhereMr.Stonewasknownfarandwideasahard-nosedbosswhowatchedhisemployeeslikeahawk.Hewasmakingoneofhisregulartoursofthefactorywhenhespottedayoungmanleaningagainstapileofboxesjustoutsidetheforeman'soffice.SinceGeorge,theforeman,wasn'taround,StonestoodofftothesideandwatchedtoseejusthowlongtheyoungmanwouldstandaroundngTheyoungmanyawned,scratchedhishead,lookedathiswatch,andsatonthefloor.Aftertenminutesorsoheyawnedagainandleanedbackonthepileofboxes.Stonesteppedfromhishidingceandwalkeduptotheyoungman."You!"heyelled."Howmuchdoyoumakeaweek?"Theyoungmanlookedupindifferently."Twohundredandfiftydollars,"heStonerushedintothecashier'soffice,took$250fromthecashbox,andreturned."Takeit,"hesaid,"andgetout!Don'tletmeseeyouaroundhereagain!"Theyoungmantookthecash,putitinhispocket,andleft.Seeingtheyoungmanshowednosignofembarrassment,Stonegotfurious.ThenhewentlookingforGeorge.Whenhefoundhim,Stonewasredwithanger."Thatlazyboyinfrontofyouroffice,"Stonesaid."Ijustgavehimaweek'spayandfiredhim.What'sthematterwithyou,lettinghimstandaroundasthoughhehadnothingto"Youmeanthekidintheredshirt?"Georgeasked."Yes!Thekidintheredshirt!"Georgesaid,"Hewaswaitingforthetwentydollarsweowehimforlunch.Heworksforthecoffeeshoparoundthecorner."Unitdeluxe:spade:黑桃(ayingcardwithablack,leaf-shapedfigureonit)castaspell:fascinate;charmAmagicianwasworkingonadeluxecruiseshipintheCaribbean.Theaudiencewasdifferenteachweek,sothemagiciandidthesametricksoverandoveragain.Hefelthecouldcastaspellovertheaudiencewheneverhewantedto.Therewasonlyoneproblem:Thecaptain'sparrotwatchedeveryshowandbegantounderstandwhatthemagiciandidineachtrick.Onceheunderstoodthat,hestartedshoutinginthemiddleoftheshow."Look,it'snotthesamehat!""Look,he'shidingtheflowersunderthetable!""Hey,whyareallthecardstheAceofSpades?"Themagicianwasfurious.Eachtimetheparrotrevealedoneofhissecrets,theaudienceroaredwithlaughter.Theperformanceheintendedtobedarkandmysteriousturnedintoacomedy.Hewasinarage.Hedreamedofvariouswayshecoulddoawaywiththetroublesomebird.Buthedidn'tdaretotouchit.Itwasthecaptain'sparrotafterall.Onefoggynighttheshipcollidedwithanenormousicebergandsank.Themagicianfoundhimselfonapieceofwood,inthemiddleoftheocean,andtheparrotwasbyhisside.Theystaredateachotherwithhate,butdidnotutteraword.Thiswentonforseveraldays.Afteraweektheparrotfinallysaid,"Okay,Igiveup.ButIhopeyou'lllmewhattricksyouaregoingtodowiththeboat."UnitRolls-Royce:(abrandofBritish l:擔(dān)保物(propertythatyouagreetogivetoabankifyoufailtopaybackyouhaveprincipal:(theoriginalamountofmoneythatsomebodyborrows)transaction:(tradingatr