【生词预览】

scheme计划，random任意的，strike up开始（谈话），reprimand训斥

【笑话原文】

Was He Fired?

A co-worker had a unique scheme to meet women. He’d call a random number. If a man picked up, he apologized for dialing the “wrong” number. But when a woman answered, he’d strike up a conversation. One day, the department manager overheard him bragging how he averaged two dates a week from this ploy. Was he fired? Did he receive a reprimand? No, he was named Director of Telemarketing.

【中文译文】

他被开除了吗？

一个同事对付女人有一套。他随意打一个电话号码，如果是男人接电话，他就道歉说打错了。但如果是女人接电话，他就会搭上话。有一天，部门经理听见他吹嘘说，他用这套办法平均每星期约会两个女人。他被开除了吗？他收到训诫了吗？没有。他被任命为电话销售部主任了。

【词汇讲解】

1.scheme计划. a scheme for the term’s work学期工作安排。也有“诡计”的意思：That so-called sale is a scheme to swindle the consumer.那场所谓的大贱卖其实只是个欺诈消费者的骗局。

2.random任意的／胡乱的。random killings胡乱杀戮；random bullets乱飞的流弹；a random talk漫谈。Ask some random students to join in a discussion.任选几名学生一起参加讨论。

3.strike up开始（谈话）。strike up a friendship开始建立友谊。 A military band struck up a funeral dirge.军乐队奏起葬礼哀乐。

4.brag吹嘘（及物／不及物）。He bragged about his new car.他吹嘘自己的新车。That is nothing to brag about.那没有什么可夸耀的。也可以作名词，是“大话”的意思：His brag was tiresome to listen to.他的自吹自擂听得人厌烦。

5.ploy计策／手段。a delaying ploy拖延之计；a bargaining ploy讨价还价的手段；a propaganda ploy宣传挤俩。This is a ploy to gain publicity for his new book.这是为他的新作求名的手段。在口语里，还有“忙碌的活动”的意思：Angling is his latest ploy.他最近忙着钓鱼。

6.reprimand训斥。The boy got a new reprimand from his teacher.那个男学生又收到老师一顿训斥。We can’t let his behaviour go without reprimand.我们不能让他任意胡来而不加谴责。