ESL Podcast 358 – Surfing the Internet

Isaiah: Aren’t you supposed to be working?

Nancy: I just thought I would take a break and surf the web a little.

Isaiah: You’d better be careful which sites you visit. You know that Big Brother is watching.

Nancy: The boss told us that, but I don’t believe it. They’re not going to care if I read a blog or check out a forum¹ once in a while.

Isaiah: That may be, but I would suggest clearing your history and your cache after you do that. You never know when someone is going to be checking up on you.

Nancy: Listen, I’ve installed plug-ins and downloaded programs I’m not supposed to onto this computer, and I’ve never gotten into trouble. I think the boss is just using scare tactics² to keep us from messing around when we’re supposed to be working.

Isaiah: Like I said, you can dig your own grave if you want to. Vivian was shopping on the Internet on her work computer a couple of weeks ago, and some questionable³ pop-ups opened when she moved to a new tab. She didn’t notice it, and when the boss went onto her computer to get a document while she was at lunch, he saw it. She was in hot water.

Nancy: Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. I know how to cover my tracks.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 tactics   

n.策略；战术，兵法

参考例句：

• They planned the tactics for the next day's battle.他们制定好第二天的战术。
• He decided to switch tactics.他决定改变策略。

3 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。