Michael: Do you feel tired these days Billy?
Billy: I sure do. Do you think it's because of insomnia?
Michael: No. I know exactly why we are so tired.
Billy: And your answer is?
Michael: We are very fatigued, burnt-out!
Billy: That's because we work so hard every day.
Michael: It's time for me to apply for some leave.
Billy: That's a great idea! We can apply together and then go on holiday.
Michael: But if we both apply for leave on the same day, the company might say no to both of us!
Billy: We need to develop a cunning plan then.
迈克尔：这些天你觉得累吗，比利？
比利：我确实觉得累，你认为这是因为失眠吗？
迈克尔：不是，我知道为什么我们这么累的确切原因。
比利：那么你的答案是？
迈克尔：我们非常疲劳，筋疲力尽！
比利：那是因为我们每天工作很辛苦的原因。
迈克尔：现在是我申请休假的时候了。
比利：好主意！我们可以一起申请，然后去度假。
迈克尔：可是如果我们俩在同申请休假的话，公司可能会对我们俩说不！
比利：那我们得想出一个妙计。
NEW WORDS 新单词
1) Insomnia: medical term for not being able to sleep
失眠，失眠症：无法入睡的医学术语
I know someone with insomnia who only gets two hours of sleep each night.
我认识一个患有失眠症的人，他每天晚上只能睡上两个小时。
2) Fatigued: very tired
疲乏的：很疲惫
After the weekend riding horses in the country-side, I was very fatigued.
周末在乡间骑马之后我非常疲惫。
3) Burnt-out: exhaust oneself
筋疲力尽：过度劳累
The project went on for over two years and by the end of it I was just burnt-out.
工程进行了两年多，到我筋疲力尽。
4) Leave: holiday
请假，休假：假期
The human resources department is responsible for approving leave applications from staff.
人力资源部负责批准员工的休假申请。
LESSON 课文
Everyone needs a holiday. In almost every country, companies are required by law to give their staff paid holidays each year in addition to the normal public holidays.
每个人都需要假期。几乎每个国家的法律都要求公司每年除了给员工正常的公共假期外，还给员工带薪的假期。
Why should staff take holidays? The answer is simple - it's because we are human beings and not machines. If we don't take a break from what we are doing every now and then, we will stop working efficiently and eventually break down. Actually, even machines need a rest sometimes to make sure they work at their maximum efficiency!
为什么员工应该休假？答案很简单－因为我们是人，不是机器。如果我们不每隔一段时间从我们所从事的工作中解脱出来，我们的工作效率就会降低，最终会累垮。实际上，甚至机器有时也需要检修，以确保它们的工作效率达到限度。
Companies usually offer their staff between 10 and 20 days of paid holiday each year after you have completed one year of full-time employment.
当你全职受雇于公司的时间达到了一年之后，公司通常每年给你10至20天的带薪假期。
All companies have their own rules for when staff want to apply for leave, but generally there will be a form to complete which you ask your manager to approve. If your direct manager agrees with the time and the length of your requested leave, you might then need the approval of your human resources department.
对于员工的休假申请，所有的公司都有他们自己的规定。不过通常来说你需要填一张表格，请求你的经理准假。如果你的直接顶头上司同意你要求的假期时间以及假期长短，那么接下来你可能需要人力资源部的批准。
Sometimes your company will not be able to approve your leave. Maybe you want to take too many days off together or maybe you ask for leave at a very busy time. It is important to be flexible in asking for leave and only make your holiday plans after your leave has been approved.
有时候你的公司不能批准你的请假。也许你一次要求的天数太多了，或者也许你要求的休假期间是一个非常忙碌的时期。申请休假要灵活，而且只有得到准假后再做度假计划，这是很重要的。
Before you go on leave make sure that you advise your colleagues and let them know of anything you want them to look after while you are away. Hand-over any important tasks to someone you can trust, turn your mobile phone off, get on the plane and enjoy your holiday!
在离开以前确保给同事一些建议，并且告诉他们你不在的时候你想让他们关照的事情。将重要的工作交给你可以信赖的人，关上手机，登上飞机，享受你的假期吧！
Dialogue - 对话
Jeff: Did you enjoy your holiday Joan?
Joan: Yes, but it was too short.
Jeff: But you were gone for about two weeks.
Joan: The holiday was great, but I am so tired that I feel like I need a holiday from my holiday!
Jeff: That sounds pretty stupid. You will just have to wait until next year.
Joan: I'm not sure that I can wait that long. I tend to get burnt-out really easily.
Jeff: I wonder if the human resources department will let me lend my holidays to you?
Joan: No! You should use the time to have a break.
Jeff: I don't like going on holiday though.
Joan: If you don't have a break, you will have a break-down!
杰夫：你的假期过得好吗，琼？
琼：好，不过太短了。
杰夫：可是你离开了大约两个星期。
琼：假期很棒，不过我很累，我觉得我需要为我的假期再要一个假期！
杰夫：那听起来很愚蠢。你只能等到明年。
琼：我不知道我是否能等那么久。我很容易疲惫。
杰夫：我在想不知道人力资源部会不会让我借一些假期给你？
琼：不要！你应该用这段时间来休息。
杰夫：不过我不喜欢去度假。
琼：如果你不休息，你会累垮的！
