辦公室里的八卦你會參加嗎?我不想讓人覺得我八卦，但我也承認我常會參與其中。在我這個千變萬化的行業中，我認為我的行為是合理的，理由是八卦可以幫我獲得信息，弄清形勢——這樣想也許是錯誤的。

　　Amid a rise in office gossip，researchers are disagreeing over whether it is fundamentally good or bad. Some defend it as a way of building bonds among people and sharing essential information. But others hold that office gossip can be savage and destructive, as the New York Times reports. (At one company, PrintingForLess.com, which has a strict no-gossip policy, gossiping about colleagues can become a firing offense.)

　　隨著辦公室八卦的興起，研究人員對它到底是好還是壞也存在不同看法。一些人為它辯解說，這是同事間建立關系和分享必要信息的一種途徑。但根據《紐約時報》的報導，也有人認為，辦公室八卦可能十分低級，具有破壞性。(一家名為PrintingForLess.com的公司制定了嚴格限制八卦的政策，談論同事的閑話可能面臨解雇。)

　　(1) In one case analyzed in a scholarly journal, middle school teachers' gossip about their principal became so poisonous that the principal retaliated, many teachers fled the schoo1 and students' test scores declined. In this case, gossip amounted to "a form of warfare that brought everyone down."

　　(1)在某學校期刊分析的一個案例中，中學教師對他們校長的八卦很壞，以至于校長進行了報復，很多教師逃離了學校，學生的考成績一落千丈。在這個案例中，八卦成為了一種損人不利己的戰爭。

　　On the other hand, less malignant gossip that stops short of repeating lies or breaching confidences can serve as a source of understanding, (2) Gossip helps us analyze the motivations of other people, and enables those low on the food chain, in particular, to understand how power is used in their organizations, says this New York Times article. It is relaxing, it brings people together, and as a pastime it beats gambling, drinking or doing drugs，this reasoning holds.

　　另一方面，沒有重復謊言或泄漏機密的不存惡意的八卦可能帶來互相理解。 (2)《紐約時報》的文章說，閑談可以幫助我們分析其他人的動機，尤其是那些處于食物鏈低端的人可以了解所處組織中的權力是如何使用的。它是一種放松，可以讓人們融洽，作為一種消遣它比賭博、飲酒或吸毒要好，這種判斷也不無道理。

　　Whatever side you take, gossip is here to stay. It is a universal human practice and it is too complex to say it is either good or bad, a University of Colorado researcher says. When researchers at Case Western University asked students to cite 1essons they had 1earned from gossip, the students gave these examples: "Infidelity will eventually catch up with you" and "Cheerfu1 peop1e are not oecessari1y happy." This positive dimension of gossip was featured receot1y in the news1etter Work & Family Life.

　　無論你站在哪一面，八卦都不會改變。美國科羅拉多大學的研究人員說，這是人類普遍存在的，很難說清到底是好是壞。當凱斯西大學的研究人員要求學生列出從八卦中得到的教訓時，學生舉出的例子有：“最終將眾叛親離"和"快樂的人不一定幸福”。最近的《工作家庭生活》通訊提到了八卦的積極一面。

　　(3)I have seen gossip he1p co-workers in some places where I have work, giving rise to compassion or offers of support when someone is going though hard times. On the other hand, I have also seen gossip over an office romance, for example-distract people from the work and even force unwanted transfers.

　　(3)我看到八卦在我曾工作過的一些地方給同事帶來了好處，增進了感情或給遇到困難的人提供了支持。另一方面，我也看到八卦一一比如針對辦公室戀情，分散了人們的工作精力，甚至帶來了意想之外的變動。

　　四級句型講解

　　1. In one case analyzed in a scholarly journal, middle school teachers' gossip about their principal became so poisonous that the principal retaliated, many teachers fled the schoo1 and students' test scores declined.

　　本句是一個復合句，主句是middle school teacher' gossip about their principal became so poisonous.其中about their principal介詞短語作后置定語，修飾gossip。后面that引導結果狀語從句，與so相呼應。前面in one case...journal介詞短語作狀語，其中analyzed in a scholarly journal過去分詞短語作后置定語，修飾case。

　　語法重點：介詞短語作狀語，介詞短語作定語，結果狀語從句

　　2. Gossip helps us analyze the motivations of other people, and enables those low on the food chain, in particular, to understand how power is used in their organizations, says this New York Times article.

　　本句是一個復合句。 says前面的成分充當says的賓語。其中 analyze...other people是help的賓語補足語。to understand... organizations不定式短語作enables的賓語補足語。其中bow引導名詞性從句，作understand的賓語。

　　語法重點：賓語從句，賓語補足語

　　3. I have seen gossip he1p co-workers in some places where I have work, giving rise to compassion or offers of support when someone is going though hard times.

　　本句是一個復合句。gossip help co-workers in some places where I have worked是省略了引導詞的賓語從句，作seen的賓語，其中where引導限制性定語從句，修飾place。giving rise to...hard times現在分詞短語作結果狀語。其中when引導時間狀語從句。

　　語法重點：賓語從句，定語從句，分詞短語作狀語，時間狀語從句

　　英語四級閱讀美文：職業生涯的危機

　　In the new movie Up in the Air, Anna Kendrick stars opposite George Clooney as Natalie Keener, an ambitious new college graduate who takes a job at a company whose business is to fire people.

　　在最新影片《在云端》中，安娜·肯德里克與喬治·克魯尼演對手戲。她飾演娜塔莉·基納一一一位剛剛在一家替其他企業裁員的公司謀到一份職位的充滿抱負的大學畢業生。

　　(1) Natalie quickly gets to work developing a videoconferencing system that saves the company millions by performing terminations online. While on a cross-country trip to learn the rope，however, Natalie is shaken by the emotional implications of her prized job and quits.

　　(1)娜塔莉很快就適應了新工作，并且通過開發一種視頻電話會議系統，可以在網上般人就魚，從而幫她所在的公司節省了數百萬美元的資金。然而，在一次為熟悉業務的全國旅行中，她為自己本來引以為傲的這份工作給別人的情感帶來的重大影響感到震驚，并且最終提出了辭呈。

　　These days, many people---young and old---are experiencing a career-life crisis, asking: "What do I do when I realize my dream job isn't so wonderful after all?"

　　眼下，很多人一一無論老少，都在經歷著一場職業生涯的危機。他們都在捫心自問：當我意識到自己一直夢想的那份工作其實不怎么樣的時候，我該怎么辦?

　　Not long after Christine Hassler, 33 years old, of Los Angeles landed a prestigious and lucrative job as a Hollywood agent, she found herself arriving at work with knots in her stomach and counting the minutes until the weekend.

　　今年33歲、來自洛杉磯的克里斯汀·哈斯勒在一家好萊塢代理機構謀得一份令人羨慕、報酬豐厚的職位。但是不久之后，她就發現自己每次來上班的時候總是充滿不安，上班后分分衫、秒都在盼望周末快點到來。

　　"I didn't like the job, and I didn't like the person I was becoming while doing it-stressed out, irritable and unmotivated," she says.

　　她說，"我根本不喜歡這份工作，也不喜歡因為這份工作而逐漸改變的自己一一頓疲力盡、暴躁易怒、沒有斗志。"

　　Recognize the Impact

　　認識影響

　　(2) Securing a position in your most desired field is a major achievement, and when the day-to-day work doesn't turn out to be as great as you thought it would be, it's normal to feel depressed，disappointed and confused.

　　(2)在你夢想的領域獲得一份工作是一項重要的成就，而當日常工作結果并非你想象的那么完美的時候，感到沮喪、失望和困惑是非常正常的現象。

　　You may feel powerless to make a decision, and this state of limbo can cause you to experience physical symptoms like insomnia, malaise and stomachaches.

　　你可能會感到無力作出決定，而這種沒著沒落的感覺可能會使你

　　經歷種種癥狀，比如失眠、莫名的不適和胃痛。

　　Examine Expectations

　　審視期望值

　　The way to cope is first to examine your expectations. Says Ms. Hassler: (3)"Often, the first few years at a job aren't the most thrilling because you're learning the ropes, and it may be unreasonable to think that you'll be jumping out of bed to go to work every day, or that you'll get promoted before you've had time to prove yourself."

　　“應對這種狀況的辦法，首先就是審視自己的期望值。”哈斯勒女士說. (3)一般來說，每份新工作的最初幾年都不會那么令人興奮，原因是你還在熟悉業務當中。這時候，要求自己每天都很積極地起床上班，或者希望自己在有時間證明自身價值之前就得到提升，可能都是不合情理的的想法。

　　Plan on the Sidelines

　　自我規劃

　　If you're certain that you've made a wrong turn　not to get mired in feelings of negativity. "If you go to work every day with a woe-is-me attitude, you are going to feel even worse," says Ms. Hassler, who eventually left Hollywood to become a life coach and book author. She suggests talking about your feelings with a friend or mentor, but keeping your game face on at work.

　　如果你肯定自己的職業選擇是錯誤的一步，那么也要試著不讓自己陷在負面情緒里無法自拔。哈斯勒女士說，如果你每天去上班的時候都抱著我很倒霉的態度，那么你會感覺更差。哈斯勒女士最終離開了好萊塢，成為了一位生活指導和作家。她建議和朋友或者導師暢談自己的感想，但是在工作的時候則要保持正常心態。

　　Maintain your work reputation and in your free time you can start putting plans in place to transition your career. (4) Begin researching positions that are a better fit for your skills and interests, start saving money, and attend networking activities in different industries so that you can get plugged into their communities.

　　一方面保持在工作上的聲望，一方面在閑暇的時候開始自我規劃，為職業轉型做好準備。 (4)不妨開始研究更加適合自己技能和興趣的職位，開始存錢，參加不同行業的社交活動，以便將來能夠進入它們的領域。

　　Take the Pressure Off

　　消除壓力

　　And don't do anything rash. Although it's normal to make a career detour, it's also hard work, so you'll be well served to consider your next move carefully. (5) Putting pressure on yourself to find the perfect career right now will not make it happen any faster, so remove the sense of urgency.

　　不要行事魯莽。雖然職業轉型遇挫是很正常的事情，但是這也意味著要付出努力，因此仔細考慮自己的下一步行動有利無害。(5)給自己太多壓力，要求自己馬上找到完美的職業，只會適得其反，因此不要有緊迫感。

　　"Relax and spend some time getting to know yourself," says Ms. Hassler. "As we get a clearer picture of who we are, then what we want to do becomes easier to identify."

　　哈斯勒女士說，“不妨放松心情，花些時間了解自己。隨著我們越來越清楚自己是誰，那么也就更加容易找到我們到底想做什么。”

　　四級句型講解

　　1. Natalie quickly gets to work developing a videoconferencing system that saves the company millions by performing terminations online.

　　本句是一個復合句，主句是Natalie quickly gets to work。 developing a videoconferencing system現在分詞短語作方式狀語。that 引導限制性定語從句，修飾system。

　　語法重點：分詞短語作狀語，定語從句

　　2. Securing a position in your most desired field is a major achievement, and when the day-to-day work doesn't turn out to be as great as you thought it would be, it's normal to feel depressed，disappointed and confused.

　　本句是一個復合句，主句是Securing a position …major achievement 和it's normal to feel depressed, disappointed and confused。第一個句子中 securing a position...field動名詞短語作主語。when引導時間狀語從句。

　　語法重點：動名詞短語作主語，時間狀語從句

　　3. "Often, the first few years at a job aren't the most thrilling because you're learning the ropes, and it may be unreasonable to think that you'll be jumping out of bed to go to work every day, or that you'll get promoted before you've had time to prove yourself."

　　本句是一個復合句。because引導原因狀語從句。it是形式主語，真正的主語是后面的不定式短語，to think…prove yourself. 其中兩個that引導兩個賓語從句，作think的賓語。第二個從句中， before引導時間狀語從句。

　　語法重點：原因狀語從句，形式主語，賓語從句，時間狀語從句

　　4. Begin researching positions that are a better fit for your skills and interests, start saving money, and attend networking activities in different industries so that you can get plugged into their communities.

　　本句是一個復合句。 Begin researching positions, start saving money和attend networking activities in different industries是三個并列的祈使句。that引導限制性定語從句，修飾positions. so that引導目的狀語從句。

　　語法重點：祈使句，定語從句，目的狀語從句

　　5. Putting pressure on yourself to find the perfect career right now will not make it happen any faster, so remove the sense of urgency.

　　本句是兩個簡單句。第一個句子中. Putting pressure...right now 動名詞短語作主語，其中to find...right now不定式短語作目的狀語。 happen any faster是make的賓語補足語。

　　語法重點：動名詞作主語，不定式短語作狀語，賓語補足語