Using English at Work：20 Working at My Desk(1)

This is lesson four of ESLPod.com's "Using English at Work." I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, from the Center for Educational Development.

In the third lesson of our course, we talked about vocabulary related to a morning meeting at the office.

In this fourth lesson, we're going to learn words about working at your desk.

We'll listen first to the story read at a slow speed.

When I get back to my desk, I clear off a few stacks of paper on the top of my desk so I have some space to work.

I open the computer file I have been working on for the past week.

This document is a report that is due next week and the deadline is fast approaching.

I open my filing cabinet and take out two files and a manila envelope that has the information I need in them.

I look around for the pad of paper I used to jot¹ down some ideas yesterday, and take out the paper clips, stapler², and Scotch³ tape I know I'll also need.

Now I have everything in front of me so I can get down to business.

The first thing I have to do is get organized.

I scan the information I have in front of me and take notes on the things I want to include in the report.

Before I analyze⁴ the data for the report, I need to skim the background information to make sure I haven't missed anything.

I was making good progress but I'm feeling thirsty, so I decide to take a quick break.

This story begins with me saying that when I get back, or return, to my desk, I clear off a few stacks of paper on the top of my desk so I have some space to work.

"To clear off" means to organize and remove things that are covering the surface of a table, desk, or shelves.

I usually like to clear off the papers on my desk at the end of the day so I have a clean desk when I return to work the next morning.

In this case, I'm clearing off a few stacks of paper.

1 jot   

n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下

参考例句：

• I'll jot down their address before I forget it.我得赶快把他们的地址写下来，免得忘了。
• There is not a jot of evidence to say it does them any good.没有丝毫的证据显示这对他们有任何好处。

2 stapler   

n.订书机

参考例句：

• The stapler belongs to her.这订书机是她的。
• Can you hand me that stapler?请你把订书机拿给我，好吗？

3 scotch   

n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的

参考例句：

• Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。
• Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

4 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。