▲ 水星凌日。（圖／翻攝NASA Tumblr）
文／Buffy Kao
今年已發生過三次的水星逆行將再度出現！第四次水星逆行（12月19日）似乎是今年最後一次。據占星學家的說法，大約每兩年會出現一次的水逆期間，3C產品容易故障，且最好避免做出某些重大決策，因為在思維短路的情況之下，恐怕會做出錯誤決定。
雖然這種看法見仁見智，不過凡事小心也不為過，今天我們就來看看工作中若遇到「水逆」問題，身在國際職場的你該如何用英文表達，這也常見於多益考題中，不妨趁機惡補一下英文吧！
1. IT篇：break down
水逆期間，如果不幸發生電腦或是電子產品故障的話，可用break down來形容，這也能用來表示車子拋錨。句型：My ___broke down.由於描述狀況的時候事情已經發生了，所以我們慣用過去式來表達。空格中可以填上任何物品，如computer, cell phone, tablet, car, photocopier等，多益聽力部分常出現影印機壞掉的情境，說話者便會使用這個片語。
break down如果用在形容人的話，則是表達情緒激動、崩潰的意思。breakable為形容詞，意思是「易碎的」，在機場裡常用來表達託運行李中的物品，如What’s in the package is easily breakable, so please handle with care.（這包裹裡面的物品極為易碎的，麻煩請小心處理。）若breakable用來形容人的話，表示「個性脆弱的」意思。
在breakable前加上un-即「unbreakble」，表達否定的意思表達否定的意思，就是不易碎的、堅固的、牢不可破的，如They are famous for their unbreakable glass used to make vases and windows.（他們以牢不可破的玻璃聞名，用在製作花瓶或窗戶等物品上。）unbreakable用在形容人的話，則為堅強的意思。
情境對話一
閱讀對話，並試著回答以下的問題：
W: Oh, I can’t believe it’s happening again.
M: What’s the matter?
W: The photocopier broke down again, and it’s already the second time this month.
M: I thought the repairperson had it fixed just two weeks ago.
W: Yeah, he did. But he also said replacing the part is only a temporary fix, the permanent solution is to get a new one, considering how old this one is.
M: Well, that’s going to be a problem since our budget for office suppliers has been cut down by 10%.
Questions
1. What seems to the problem?
2. What happened two weeks ago?
3. What did the repairperson suggest?
4. Why can’t the office purchase a new photocopier?
Answers
1. The photocopier is not working.
2. They had the photocopier repaired two weeks ago.
3. He suggested they buy a new machine because this one is getting too worn out.
4. They don’t have enough fund to get a new one because of budget cut.
2. 合約篇：renew the contract
在職場中經常會談論到更新合約、續約的問題，這時英文的表達便是用renew這個動詞。由字首來看，我們知道re-為again或back的意思，new是新的意思，因此這個單字為「使它更新」，當談到合約的時候，可想而知就是要表達續約。
Contract是合約，注意不要跟contact搞混，後者的意思是聯繫，可作動詞或名詞使用。例句：
If there is any question regarding the product, please feel free to contact me. （如果針對產品有任何問題，請盡量與我聯繫。）
*contact在此為動詞。
I will be in contact when we have the final decision regarding the contract. （若我們對於合約做出了最後的決定，我們會與你聯繫。）
*contact在此為名詞，和in一起用，變成一個副詞片語，亦是常見的說法。
※renewable可更新的，可用來表達再生能源（renewable energy）。
情境對話二
閱讀對話，並試著回答以下的問題：
W: Hey, Carl, how was the meeting? I missed it because I was out of town.
M: Oh, did Sarah send you to a client’s? Well, after thorough assessment, we will renew our contract with Darton Power.
W: Yeah, I was meeting with Mr. Yamish to talk about next year’s plan. That’s good news. They offer the best price, I believe.
M: Also, they have been quite satisfactory, meeting all our requirements.
W: No doubt. I really don’t think there is other choice.
M: Yeah, I agree. Besides, they are offering a 5% discount for the second year.
Questions
1. Why was the woman absent for the meeting?
2. What will happen to the contract with Darton Power?
3. Why do the speakers think Darton Power is a good choice?
4. What is Darton Power offering them?
Answers
1. She was meeting with a client to talk about next year’s plan.
2. They will renew the contract with Darton Power for the second year.
3. It has the best price and provides satisfying service.
4. It is giving them a 5% discount for the second year contract.
多益模擬試題
1.
W: I heard that the award ceremony was wonderful.
M: Yeah, John broke down when he received The Employee of the Year.
Question: What does the man mean?
A. John’s award was broken.
B. John got emotional when he received the award.
C. John’s car broke down on his way to the ceremony.
2.
W: Unfortunately, the contract is nonrenewable.
M: I guess we will have to go through the whole process again.
Question: What does the woman imply about the contract?
A. It will be renewed under some conditions.
B. It will not end until someone ends it.
C. It will end and will not be renewed.
解析：
1. 正確答案B，break down作為形容人的時候表示情緒激動。
譯
W：我聽說頒獎典禮很棒。
M：是的，John接獲年度最佳員工獎項的時候情緒非常激動。
Question：男的是什麼意思？
A. John的獎項壞了。
B. John接獲獎項的時候變得情緒激動。
C. John的車子在他來餐將典禮的路上拋錨了。
2. 正確答案C，nonrenewable意為無法更新的，是否定的意思，這裡形容合約無法續約，要重新簽約。
譯
W：很不幸地，這個合約無法續約。
M：看來我們又來重頭來過整個流程了！
Question：女的暗示合約怎麼了？
A. 在特定情況下可以續約。
B. 除非有人停止合約，否則將持續下去。
C. 合約將停止並無法重新簽約。
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