【英语多益通】又是水逆！你break down了吗？
▲ 水星凌日。（图／翻摄NASA Tumblr）
文／Buffy Kao
今年已发生过三次的水星逆行将再度出现！第四次水星逆行（12月19日）似乎是今年最后一次。据占星学家的说法，大约每两年会出现一次的水逆期间，3C产品容易故障，且最好避免做出某些重大决策，因为在思维短路的情况之下，恐怕会做出错误决定。
虽然这种看法见仁见智，不过凡事小心也不为过，今天我们就来看看工作中若遇到「水逆」问题，身在国际职场的你该如何用英文表达，这也常见于多益考题中，不妨趁机恶补一下英文吧！
1. IT篇：break down水逆期间，如果不幸发生电脑或是电子产品故障的话，可用break down来形容，这也能用来表示车子抛锚。句型：My ___broke down.由于描述状况的时候事情已经发生了，所以我们惯用过去式来表达。空格中可以填上任何物品，如computer, cell phone, tablet, car, photocopier等，多益听力部分常出现影印机坏掉的情境，说话者便会使用这个片语。
break down如果用在形容人的话，则是表达情绪激动、崩溃的意思。breakable为形容词，意思是「易碎的」，在机场里常用来表达托运行李中的物品，如What’s in the package is easily breakable, so please handle with care.（这包裹里面的物品极为易碎的，麻烦请小心处理。）若breakable用来形容人的话，表示「个性脆弱的」意思。
在breakable前加上un-即「unbreakble」，表达否定的意思表达否定的意思，就是不易碎的、坚固的、牢不可破的，如They are famous for their unbreakable glass used to make vases and windows.（他们以牢不可破的玻璃闻名，用在制作花瓶或窗户等物品上。）unbreakable用在形容人的话，则为坚强的意思。
情境对话一阅读对话，并试着回答以下的问题：
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%. Questions1. 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?
Answers1. 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. 合约篇：renew the contract在职场中经常会谈论到更新合约、续约的问题，这时英文的表达便是用renew这个动词。由字首来看，我们知道re-为again或back的意思，new是新的意思，因此这个单字为「使它更新」，当谈到合约的时候，可想而知就是要表达续约。
Contract是合约，注意不要跟contact搞混，后者的意思是联系，可作动词或名词使用。例句：If there is any question regarding the product, please feel free to contact me. （如果针对产品有任何问题，请尽量与我联系。）*contact在此为动词。
I will be in contact when we have the final decision regarding the contract. （若我们对于合约做出了最后的决定，我们会与你联系。）*contact在此为名词，和in一起用，变成一个副词片语，亦是常见的说法。
※renewable可更新的，可用来表达再生能源（renewable energy）。
情境对话二阅读对话，并试着回答以下的问题：
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.
Questions1. 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?
Answers1. 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.
多益模拟试题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. 正确答案B，break down作为形容人的时候表示情绪激动。 译W：我听说颁奖典礼很棒。M：是的，John接获年度最佳员工奖项的时候情绪非常激动。
Question：男的是什么意思？A. John的奖项坏了。B. John接获奖项的时候变得情绪激动。C. John的车子在他来餐将典礼的路上抛锚了。
2. 正确答案C，nonrenewable意为无法更新的，是否定的意思，这里形容合约无法续约，要重新签约。 译W：很不幸地，这个合约无法续约。M：看来我们又来重头来过整个流程了！
Question：女的暗示合约怎么了？A. 在特定情况下可以续约。B. 除非有人停止合约，否则将持续下去。C. 合约将停止并无法重新签约。