胡敏读故事记托福词汇041：决定 ecision
“What’s the commotion?” I asked. In the commodity business, it’s commonplace for people to be shouting and running around. But this was different. “Is there some kind of incredible Christmas sale?” I muttered to myself. Personally, I’m not fond of the way merchants commercialize every holiday. It gets worse every year.
“乱哄哄的吵什么呀?”我问道。在商品买卖这一行，人们喊叫着跑来跑去是很平常的事。但今天不一样。“是不是又有什么让人傻眼的圣诞节特大甩卖呀?”我嘟囔着。就我而言，我很讨厌每次过节时商人们搞的这些商业化的炒作，这些玩艺儿一年不如一年。
Suddenly, my sectary blasted through my office door. “The President called. He wants to commission you to advise the committee on farm commerce. He says that the local commissioner recommended you for the job because you’re the most committed commercial lawyer in the farming community. What shall I tell him? The commonsense answer would be yes, wouldn’t it?”
突然，我得秘书咣的一声撞进办公室。“总统打过来电话，他想委任您作农业贸易委员会的顾问。他说当地专员推荐您担任这一职务，因为您是农业社区中最忠诚的商业律师。我应该怎样答复总统?按常识来讲，应该回答Yes，对吧?”
I took three deep breaths. Of course the answer should be yes. Who wouldn’t want a job with a food salary and commodious living quarters? I could give up being a commuter and trade in my compact car. No more using communal toilets. I suppose my status would never leave me short of female companions. On the other hand, advising the committee is a twenty-four-hour-a-day commitment. When would I find time for my hobbies? I don’t think my dog will like it if I turn our daily one-hour walk into a five-minute compaction. Then again, he’s only a dog. It’s not like I’m committing a crime. In fact, with the extra money I earn, I can hire someone to walk him for two hours every day.
我做了第三次深呼吸。回答当然应该是Yes。谁会不要一个薪水高、住房宽敞的工作呢?我可以不用再做个上下班做公车的乘客，也可以把我的小型汽车折价换新车。不用再去公共厕所。我想凭我的地位身边的女性伴侣应该不会少。再者，给委员会做顾问可是一天24小时的义务。我什么时候会有时间搞我的业余爱好呢?我想我的狗会很不高兴，它每天1小时的散步被我压缩成5分钟的溜达了。可他不过是条狗嘛。我又不是在犯罪。实际上，等我挣了更多的钱，就能雇人每天陪他走上两个小时了。
Smiling, I looked up at my secretary. “Suzette, call the President and tell him I’m in my way.”
我微笑着抬起头对秘书说：“苏泽特，给总统打电话，告诉他我已经能动身了。”
Words:
commerce n. 商业
commercial adj. 商业的，贸易的
commercialize vt. 使商业化，使商品化
commission vt. 委任，任命;委托，委托制作
commit vt. 犯(错误)，干(坏事)
commitment n. 信奉，支持;许诺，委托事项
committed adj. 忠心耿耿的，效忠的
committee n. 委员会
commodious adj. 宽敞的
commodity n. 商品，日用品
commonplace adj. 平凡的
commonsense adj. 具有常识的
commotion n. 骚动，动乱
communal adj. 公共的;公社的
community n. 社区;社会
commuter n. 通勤者;经常往返者
compact adj. 紧凑的，紧密的;简洁的;小巧的，袖珍的;[美](汽车)小型的;vt. 压缩;使密集
compaction n. 压紧
companion n. 同伴，同事
