礼节美语 Business Etiquette 248 Art for an Office 2

 　　公司主管James找到公关部主任 Felicia 商量购置艺术作品，美化工作环境的事。James说自己偏爱相片，Felicia表示赞同。

　　F: I often go to photography exhibitions at the local museum. Sometimes the pictures are of nature - you know - wild animals or sunsets...that kind of thing. But my favorite pictures are of people; sometimes you can catch someone in a private moment and it's a very interesting window into how other people live.

　　J: Yes, I like to hang out at the museum as well. I'm also a big fan of sculpture. Last time I was in Italy I made a special trip to go see Michelangelo's "David." It's really a very impressive¹ work of art.

　　F: I'd love to see that! I was in Paris two years ago and I spent half my time there walking around the Louvre Museum...it was amazing.

　　Felicia也经常去博物馆看摄影展，她最喜欢看人物写真，It's an interesting window into how other people live. 这是观察到其他人生活的一扇窗子。James说，他也很喜欢泡博物馆。I like to hang out at the museum as well. 除了摄影作品外，James 和 Felicia 两人也都很喜欢雕塑，他们谈到了 Michelangelo's "David" 意大利著名雕塑家米开朗基罗的作品大卫，以及巴黎的 Louvre Museum 卢浮宫。

　　J: You know...come to think of it, maybe we should buy some art pieces from the local artists to support the local community.

　　F: I've got an idea! Let's try to find one very beautiful, very impressive large piece of art - or maybe a mural - to put at the entrance of our offices. Then, instead of buying works² of art to hang in the various hallways, we can rent the artworks and rotate³ what we have on display!

　　J: Felicia...that's a brilliant idea. I think you just solved our dilemma⁴.

　　F: Thanks, boss!

　　James忽然想到，他们其实应该购买当地艺术家的作品，也算是为社区做些贡献。他所说的come to think of it, 是我忽然想起的意思。Felicia提议，买一件大的艺术作品，或是mural壁画，放在办公室大门口，然后可以租艺术品挂在走廊的墙上，这样一来，还可以隔一段时间换一批。James觉得这个主意好。

　　J: We'll get one major artwork for our entranceway and maybe commission⁵ a couple of sculptures for the outside garden area. Then we will find an art rental⁶ company and rotate our pictures on a three-month basis.

　　F: That way, we will eventually get around to everybody's taste in art, and if some people don't like some of the art...well, they won't have to look at it for long.

　　J: All right, that's our plan! Let's do it. Thanks again, Felicia.

　　F: Not at all.

　　James 还说，we can commission a couple of sculptures. commission is spelled c-o-m-m-i-s-s-i-o-n, commission 动词，在这里是向艺术家定购作品的意思。James 还说，挂在公司里的艺术作品，可以每三个月换一批，这样就能满足员工不同的艺术品味了。

1 impressive   

adj.给人深刻印象的，感人的

参考例句：

• This cinema is so impressive that we can't help crying.这影片如此感人以至我们禁不住流下泪来。
• The suit made him look especially impressive.他穿上这套衣服真精神。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 rotate   

v.（使）旋转，转动；使轮流

参考例句：

• The doctor asked the patient to rotate his eyes.医生叫病人转动一下眼球。
• You can rotate the wheel with your hand.你可以用手转动轮子。

4 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

5 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

6 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。