2014年ESL之商务英语 15 Doing Pro Bono Work

 

Doing Pro¹ Bono Work 

Claire: Welcome to the firm. Are you getting the hang of things here? 

Jack²: I am. I worked in another firm for two years before coming here, so I have some experience under my belt. But let me ask you one thing: Is the firm serious about wanting each person to do five hours of pro bono work each month? 

Claire: It is. This firm takes community service very seriously. Everyone does pro bono work and everybody is expected to hit the target of 60 hours each year. 

Jack: This is so different from my previous firm. There, everything was about billable hours. Nobody cared about anything but how many hours we could rack up with each client. 

Claire: Billable hours are important here, too, but we bill ourselves as the firm with a social conscience. That’s what sets us apart from our competitors. If you fall short of your expected pro bono hours, believe me, you’ll hear about it. 

Jack: It’s refreshing³ to work for a firm that’s not all about the bottom line. 

Claire: Don’t get carried away. This firm is still here to make money. It’s just not 100% of its focus. 

Jack: Maybe just 98%? 

Claire: That’s right. And in this industry, that’s unheard of. 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。