你在忙什么？
687. I've been asked to draw up the holiday roaster this year and， as far as possible， I'd like to please everybody.
上司需要我安排出今年的休假日程表，并且需要尽量让每一个人都认可。
688. I'm thinking of going to my brother's.
我筹备去我兄弟那儿休假。
689. Then， give me a couple of dates.
那样，告诉我一下你的休假日期吧。
690.I can't promise anything， but I'll do my best.
我不可以保证什么，但我会尽力。
691. I'd like to spend my three-week holidays either in May or October so that I can get a cheap holiday.
我想在5月或10月份度过这三周假期，如此可以少烧钱。
692. I wish everybody was like you.
我期望每个人都能像你如此。
693.Why can't we go when we want？
为何大家不可以想何时走就何时走呢？
694.Someone has to keep the firm going and there must be always be someone on duty who is capable of standing1 in for the person who is away .
公司需要继续运作，就需要要有人顶替休假者的工作。
695.I suppose it helps if we're all trained to do more than one job.
我想假如大家都掌握做不止一项工作，事情就好办多了。
696.Will I clash2 with Mary if I go off at the beginning of July？
假如我7月初离开，会和玛丽发生冲突吗？
697.You'd better give me two alternatives just in case.
你最好给我两个选择的时间空间，以防万一。
Dialogue A
（A： Mr. Hubert， a clerk of the company； B： Miss Janet， the secretary）
A： Hi， Miss Janet， what are you busy doing？
B： I've been asked to draw up the holiday roster3 this year and， as far as possible， I'd like to please everybody. What about you？
Where are you going for your holidays this year？
A： I'm thinking of going to my brother's. He lives by the sea， a summer Mecca.
B： How nice！ Then， give me a couple of dates. I can't promise anything， but I'll do my best
A： Let me see. I'd like to spend my three-week holidays either in May or October so that I can get a cheap holiday.
B： I wish everybody was like you. But lots of people want to go away in July or August.
A： Why can't we go when we want？
B： You know， someone has to keep the firm going and there must be always be someone on duty who is capable of standing in for the person who is away. For example， you should not be away at the same time as Mary because you're the only one who knows how to do Mr. Wilson's work.
A： I suppose it helps if we're all trained to do more than one job.
B： Of course， it does.
A： Will I clash with Mary if I go off at the beginning of July？
B： You probably will. You'd better give me two alternatives just in case.
A： Can you put me down for either the end of August or the beginning of October？
B： OK.
Notes 注解
1.as far as possible 尽量地
I will take part in your activity as far as possible.
我尽量地来参加你们的活动
类似表达法： as soon/quickly as possible
如： This should be done as soon/quickly as possible.
这种事应当尽快地去解决。
2.a cheap holiday 烧钱不多的假期
3.a summer Mecca 暑期度假胜地
4.You'd better give me two alternatives just in case. in case 的意思作万一，以防讲，此处为省略句。等于in case I can't arrange one time.
如： In case I forgets， please remind me of my promise.
万一我忘记了，请提醒我所许下的诺言。
5.holiday roster 假期值班表
另外，秘书还要拟定其他表格：
calendar's schedules 日程表
Yearly calendar年度计划书
Monthly calendar月报表
Weekly calendar 周报表
Itinerary4 旅程安排表
Words and expressions
roster/'r+ust+/ n. 登记表
Mecca/'mek+/ n. 渴望去的地方；向往的目的
promise/'prmis/ v. 许诺；保证
firm/f+： m/ n. 公司
capeble/'keip+bl/ a. 有能力的
train/trein/ v. 练习
clash/kl$M/ v. 发生冲突
alternative/： l't+： n+tiv/ n. 选择
