At the Office 在办公室

 　　Manager : Rudy, will you please make ten copies of this report?

　　Rudy : I'd like to, but the photocopier¹ is out of order.

　　Manager : Then use the xerox² machine.

　　Rudy : It broke down one year ago.

　　Manager : Oh, forget it then. Hey, I told you to put files on the "in" tray, not on my desk.

　　Rudy : The pile is over ten feet high. I'm afraid it'll fall all over and bury you underneath³ if I put this file on top of it.

　　Manager : Very funny. What's wrong with you today? You are my secretary and you are not supposed to talk to me in that tone⁴ of voice. Didn't you know that?

　　Rudy : What do you expect? I've been working for you for three years, and you've never given me a holiday. I don't feel well today because I have a terrible headache. I'm not in the mood for being gentle and polite. If you can't stand it, it's your problem. I'm not going to change because I think it suits you best.

　　Manager : Keep your voice down, Rudy. I know you've had a hard day today, but you should at least show some respect for me. If you really don't feel well, go home. There isn't much work today anyway.

　　Rudy : I apologize for forgetting myself, but I do need some time off.

　　Vocabulary

　　注释

　　1.　xerox machine 复印机

　　2. to forget oneself 失态

1 photocopier   

n.复印机

参考例句：

• You've left your master in the photocopier.你把原件留在影印机里了。
• If the photocopier stops working,just give it a clout.如果那部影印机停止运转的话就敲它一下。

2 xerox   

n./v.施乐复印机，静电复印

参考例句：

• Xerox and Lucent are two more high-tech companies run by women.施乐和朗讯是另外两家由女性经营的大科技公司。
• You cannot take it home,but you can xerox it.你不能把它带回家，但可以复印。

3 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

4 tone   

n.语气，音调，气度，色调；vt.（up）增强

参考例句：

• There was a tone of mockery in his voice.他说话的语气含有嘲笑的意味。
• Holmes used an informal,chatty tone in his essays.霍姆斯在文章中语气轻松随便。