我只是在开玩笑

　　Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young engineer fresh out of MIT, "What starting salary were you looking for?"

　　一个刚从麻省理工学院毕业的年轻的工程师去一家公司应聘，面试进行到了最后，人力资源部的面试人员问他：“你期望的起薪是多少？”

　　The engineer replied, "In the neighborhood of $150,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

　　他说：“年薪15万左右吧，还要看公司的其他福利政策。”

　　The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years?"

　　面试官说：“那么，五周休假，两周带薪年假，医药费全包，退休金基金由公司出一半，每两年租借一辆公司的车给你，你觉得这些福利政策怎么样？”

　　The young man sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"

　　年轻人坐直身子，说：“天哪！你不是在开玩笑吧？”

　　The interviewer replied, "Well, yeah, but you started it."

　　面试官答道：“我是在开玩笑，不过，这个玩笑是你起的头！”

　　重点讲解：

　　1. fresh out of

　　刚从…来的；刚经历过…的；

　　eg. From what I've heard he started wheeling and dealing fresh out of college.

　　据我所知，他刚走出大学校门就开始投机取巧。

　　eg. I was 21, fresh out of boot camp and well into my final stages of technical training.

　　我当时21岁,刚从新兵训练营出来,正在进行最后阶段的专业训练。

　　2. in the neighborhood of

　　大约；在…左右；

　　eg. He's won in the neighborhood of four million dollars.

　　他已经赢了约400万美元。

　　eg. Its speed is probably in the neighborhood of 380mph or even more.

　　它的时速大约达到了380英里，或者更快。

　　3. every 2 years

　　表示每隔两年，此处every表示每隔……时间；

　　eg. I went home every other week.

　　我隔周回一趟家。

　　eg. It has been snowing, roughly every third day, for as long as I've had the flu.

　　自从我得了流感以来，这段时间一直在下雪，大约每三天一场。

　　4. kidding

　　口语常用；

　　文中Are you kidding?表示你在开玩笑吧？用法还有：

　　eg. I'm just kidding.

　　我只是开玩笑。

　　eg. Are you sure you're not kidding me?

　　你确定不是在和我开玩笑吗？