Ⅰ.核心學習：不確定的答覆
Michael: You look pretty wound up. What's up?
邁克爾：你看起來很不開心，有什麼事嗎?Billy: It's nothing, just my boss keeps asking about the annual stock report.
比利：沒什麼，只是我的老闆總是問我年度股票報告的事。
Michael: What does she want to know?
邁克爾：她想知道什麼?
Billy: She wants to know if I know when it will be done. But I am unsure.
比利：她問我知不知道報告什麼時候做好，可我還不能確定。
Michael: You should tell her you are unsure.
邁克爾：你應該告訴她你不能確定。
Billy: I try, but I can't express myself correctly.
比利：我盡力了，可我不能正確地表達。
Michael: Fine, I will teach you some useful business English that will help you.
Ⅱ.單詞簡析
1) Annual :once a year
每年一次
ex:It is time for our annual office party.
我們辦公室開年度派隊的時候到了。
2) Excuse : reason, delay
藉口，託辭
ex:Jack is full of excuses about why he doesn't work hard.
傑克為自己不努力工作找了一堆藉口。
3) Raise : increase in salary
ex:Time will tell if I get the raise or not.
我能不能加薪，到時自會有分曉。
4) Stock :piece of the company, ticket
股票
ex:My friend Tom made a fortune by trading stocks.
我的朋友湯姆靠股票交易發了一筆財。
5) Trading ： buying and selling, one for another
交易
ex:Let's do some tape trading. I'll give you a Beatles tape for your Will Smith tape.
咱們來做個交易，我用披頭士樂隊的磁帶來換你的威爾·史密斯的磁帶。
Ⅲ.課文篇
Often the big boss wants to know why you have not finished a report or project. This lesson explains a few common excuses you can use to satisfy your boss when you are unsure about an outcome. If the boss asks a question like, "Will you be done by this afternoon?" you should give him/her a clear synonymfor being UNSURE.
通常大老闆想知道你為什麼沒完成一份報告或一個專案。本課解釋了一些常用的藉口，在你對事情的結果不能確定時可以用來應付你的老闆。 如果你的老闆問你一些諸如“你今天下午能完成嗎?”之類的問題，你可以給他一個和“不能確定”意思相同的答覆。
Synonyms for UNSURE“不能確定的”的`同義詞：
1) 50/50: "Can you be done by tonight?"
"There is a 50/50 chance."
50%的機會：“你今晚能完成嗎?”
“有50%的可能。”
2) It could happen: "Will Bobby get here for the meeting in time?""If he tries hard, it could happen."有可能：“鮑勃能及時趕來參加會議嗎?”“如果他盡力而為的話，有可能。”
3) I am not sure: "Can you do some information trading this Friday evening?""At this time I am not sure."我不能確定：“你能在這個星期五晚上做一些資訊交易嗎?”“現在很難說。”
4) Maybe yes, maybe no: "Will you stamp my visa into your lovely country?""Maybe yes, maybe no!"可能會，也可能不會：“您能為我去貴國簽證嗎?”“可能會，也可能不會。”
5) "Will our company's stocks increase in value?""Maybe, time will tell."“我們公司的股票會升值嗎”“有可能，時間會證明的。”
Ⅳ.對話篇
Gordon: Miss Molly, will you be done with the stock report by this afternoon?
戈登：莫莉小姐，今天下午以前你能完成這份股票報告嗎?
Molly : Sorry to say I am unsure, time will tell.
莫莉：很遺憾我還不能確定，看時間吧。
Gordon: Well, do your best. I am off to lunch now.
戈登：好吧，你盡力而為吧。現在我要去吃午飯了。
Molly : Sir, can you pick me up a sandwich before the cafe closes at two o-clock?
莫莉：先生，您能在咖啡店兩點關門之前幫我買一個三明治嗎?
Gordon: There is a 50/50 chance. I won't make it before then, but I will try.
戈登：有五成的可能晚點兒，不過我會盡力。
Molly : Well, do you best.
莫莉：好吧，請儘量幫忙。
Gordon: Oh, did the boss say he would give you a raise?
戈登：噢，老闆說過要給你加薪了嗎?
Molly : He said maybe yes, and maybe no.
莫莉：他說有可能會，也有可能不會。
Gordon: What does that mean?
戈登：那是什麼意思?
Molly : It means if I work hard this month, it could happen.
莫莉：意思是說，如果我這個月工作努力，就很有可能加薪。
Gordon: Good luck.
戈登：祝你好運。
Molly : Thanks.
莫莉：謝謝。
