常春藤生活英語：Bobby's Balance 過猶不及

Bobby Jones liked his job as a computer programmer. His co-workers were all nice and the office was close to his house. There was only one problem—his boss. Mr. Li never complimented anyone. Most people in the office worked hard and even stayed a couple of hours late each night, but Mr. Li never said a word. As a matter of fact, he rarely talked to any of his employees.

One Monday morning, Bobby had a huge presentation that he had to give. He worked all weekend to wrap up the special computer program he designed to show to some important clients. After the presentation, everyone in the meeting applauded except for Mr. Li. Bobby sold the program and made millions of dollars for the company. However, Mr. Li still didn't come by Bobby's office to thank him in person. This was when Bobby decided that he had had it. He needed to work in a place where someone appreciated him enough to say thanks when a job was well done.

巴比?瓊斯很喜歡他這份計(jì)算機(jī)程序設(shè)計(jì)師的工作。他的同事人都很好，辦公室離家也近。只有一個(gè)問題──他的老板。李先生從不稱贊任何人。辦公室里大部分員工都很努力工作，甚至每晚都加班好幾個(gè)小時(shí)，但李先生從未說些什么。事實(shí)上，他很少跟他的任何員工交談。

巴比在某個(gè)周一的早上必須做一份很重要的簡報(bào)。他整個(gè)周末都在趕工完成一個(gè)他所設(shè)計(jì)的特殊計(jì)算機(jī)程序，好呈現(xiàn)給一些重要的客戶看。簡報(bào)結(jié)束后，除了李先生以外，與會(huì)的所有人都給予掌聲。巴比賣出程序，為公司賺進(jìn)了數(shù)百萬元。然而，李先生仍沒有到巴比的辦公室向他當(dāng)面道謝。這時(shí)巴比決定他受夠了。他需要的工作環(huán)境，是一個(gè)當(dāng)他工作表現(xiàn)良好時(shí)，有人能因賞識(shí)而向他致謝的地方。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.compliment　vt. & n. 贊美

Mitch complimented Beth on her new shoes.

米契稱贊貝絲的新鞋。

2.rarely　adv. 很少，難得

I rarely go to that restaurant for lunch.

我很少到那家餐廳吃午飯。

3.applaud　vi. 鼓掌;喝采

After the play, everyone stood up to applaud.

話劇表演結(jié)束后，所有人都起立鼓掌。

Phrases for Learning

1.wrap up...　　完成∕結(jié)束……

The police will soon wrap up their investigation.

警方很快就會(huì)結(jié)束調(diào)查工作。

2.except for...　　除……之外

No one passed the exam except for Vicky.

除了薇琪之外，沒有人通過考試。

3.have had it　　受夠了，忍無可忍

Jason has had it with his boring job.

杰森受夠了他那份無聊的工作。

參考字詞

1.computer programmer　n. 計(jì)算機(jī)程序設(shè)計(jì)師

2.employee　n. 受雇者，雇員

3.presentation　n. 報(bào)告;說明

4.client　n. 客戶

Tips In Use

...everyone in the meeting applauded except for Mr. Li.

(……除了李先生以外，與會(huì)的所有人都給予掌聲。)

1."except for"用于肯定句中時(shí)，表『除了……以外，……』。"except for"使用時(shí)，必須與表完全概念的形容詞 all, every, any, no 等并用。

No one is absent except for Janet.

(除了珍娜以外，沒有人缺席。

2. "except for..."用于否定句中(即有 nothing 出現(xiàn))時(shí)，表『除了……之外，其它什么也沒有』。等于"apart from..."、"aside from..."及"other than..."。

Except for art, nothing can interest him.

=Apart from art, nothing can interest him.

=Aside from art, nothing can interest him.

=Other than art, nothing can interest him.

(除了美術(shù)，沒有任何事可以使他感興趣。)