The Wrong Kind of Small Talk
Esther Greenbaum was a saleswoman① for a firm② of fax③ machines and business supplies. But she was also the most outspoken④ human being⑤ in the world — well, Westchester County, at least⑥. Her motto⑦ was “Every time⑧ I open my mouth, I put my foot in it⑨.”
Esther Greenbaum's major shortcoming? was that she had a complete absence? of small talk?. No, that's not quite true. She had small talk, but it was the wrong kind. In fact?， she had never learnt the basic rules of social communication, and as a consequence?， she made systematic? mistakes every time she opened her mouth. It was no coincidence? either that she wasn't a very good saleswoman.?
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①saleswoman /'seIlz?w?m?n/ n．女推销员，女销售员
②firm /f??m/ n．公司
③fax /fæks/ n．传真(机)
④outspoken /?a?t'sp??k?n/ adj.直言不讳的，坦率的
⑤human being人类，其复数形式是human beings。
⑥at least 至少
⑦motto /'m?t??/ n．座右铭，格言
⑧every time “每次”，是名词短语用作连词，引导时间状语从句。
⑨put one's foot in one's mouth犯使人难堪的错误，说错话
⑩major adj.主要的
?shortcoming /'???t?k?mI?/ n．缺点，短处
?absence /'æbsns/ n．缺乏，不存在
?that she had ...是表语从句。
?in fact 实际上， as a matter of fact 事实上
?as a consequence 因此，结果
?systematic /?sIst?'mætIk/ adj.非偶然的，经常的
?coincidence /k??'InsIdns/ n．巧合
?It is/was no coincidence that ... ……不是巧合。it是形式主语，that引导的从句是真正的主语。
