商务对话：讨论集团的其他同事

    In this conversation, some members of an office clique¹ are standing² around the water cooler. They are mostly gossiping about employees who don’t belong to the clique.
    Julie: Did you see Nadia this morning? I really don’t likethe dress she’s wearing.
    Sally: I know what you mean. Her clothes are never in fashion, anyway.
    Michael: Hey, I heard through the grapevine that Todd willprobably get the new job in Marketing³.
    Sally: I’m not surprised. He’s such a brownnoser.
    Bill: Yeah, the only reason he’s moved up so fast is by sucking up all the time.
    Mira: I heard that there was a little back-biting involved, too!
    Michael: Did you hear the latest rumor⁴? Mario and Vanessa have the hots for each other. Someone saw them together a few days ago.
    Mira: No kidding! And he’s still going out with Florence.
    Julie: Shh ... keep it down. Chuck’s coming. He can be a real rumor-mongerer.
    . . . . .
    Chuck: Hi, everyone. What’s up?
    参考译文：
    在下面的对话里，办公室的一个小集团里的几个成员站在水冷却器旁。他们可能是在谈论那些不属于他们集团的其他同事。
    Julie: 你今天早上看见Nadia了吗？我一点都不喜欢她穿的衣服。
    Sally: 我明白你的意思。她的衣服从来都很土。
    Michael: 嘿，我听（传闻）说Todd很有可能调到市场部工作。
    Sally: 我一点都不觉得惊讶，他可是个马屁精。
    Bill: 就是，他之所以升职那么快，惟一的原因就是他每时每刻都在拍马屁。
    Mira: 我听说还和他诽谤别人有关。
    Michael:你听到最新的谣传了吗？Mario 和 Vanessa好上了。有人前些天看见他们在一起。
    Mira: 别开玩笑了。他现在还在和Florence 约会呢。
    Julie: 嘘，小点声。Chuck来了。他是十足的传谣者。. . . . .
    Chuck: 大家好，谈什么呢？

1 clique   

n.朋党派系，小集团

参考例句：

• The reactionary ruling clique was torn by internal strife.反动统治集团内部勾心斗角，四分五裂。
• If the renegade clique of that country were in power,it would have meant serious disaster for the people.如果那个国家的叛徒集团一得势，人民就要遭殃。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

4 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。