After I took office as mayor of a small Kentucky city，an unfortunate incident precipitated some hateful phone calls to my home。One night while I was conducting a citycouncil meeting，my wife answered the phone。
“Is this the home of Bert May，the mayor？”a woman’s voice asked。
When my wife explained that I was at a meeting and would return her call if she left a name and number，the caller said，“That’s confidential。This is his girlfriend。”
My wife，knowing this was all a ruse，calmly responded，“Lady，if you don’t leave your name and number，he won’t know which one to call back。”
给哪一个回电话
我上任为肯塔基州的一个小城的市长后，发生了一件不幸的事，从而招致了一些可恨的电话打到我家里。一天夜里，我还在主持市政会议，我妻子接到了一个电话。
“是伯特？麦因市长的家吗？”一个女人的声音问道。
我妻子向她解释说我还在开会，如果她留下姓名和电话号码的话，我会给她回话。通话人马上说：“这个保密。我是他的女朋友。”
我妻子知道这完全是欺诈。她镇静地回答说：“女士，如果你不留下姓名和号码的话，他就不会知道给哪一个回话。”
take office就职
例：How will you prepare to take office？你如何准备就任事宜？
precipitate[prisipiteit]vt。（突如其来地）使发生；促成
例：Falling sales precipitated the failure of the company。销售额下降促使该公司倒闭。
conduct[kndkt]vt。＆vi。引导，带领，担任指挥；控制，管理；传导
例：I think he conducted himself admirably，considering the difficult circumstances。考虑到那种困难的情况，我认为他的表现令人钦佩。
confidential[knfidenl]adj。秘密的，机密的；表示信任或亲密的；担任机密工作的
例：We have a confidential exchange of views。我们推心置腹地交换意见。
ruse[ru：z；ruz]n。诡计，计策
例：The children thought of a clever ruse to get their mother to leave the house so they could get ready for her surprise。孩子们想出一个聪明的办法使妈妈离家，以便他们能准备给她一个惊喜。
That’s confidential。意为“这个保密。”另外，keep to oneself也有“保守秘密”的意思，如：He promised to keep the news to himself。（他保证不把这个消息告诉别人。）此外，keep to oneself还表示“独处，不交际”，如：She kept to herself all morning。（整个早上她都是一个人。）
含有office的短语很多，如：
go to office去办公
the lawyer’s office律师事务所
booking office（火车站等处的）售票房
a box office（戏院的）售票处
an inquiry office问讯处
the Home Office[英]内政部
hold public office担任公职
do the office of the host尽主人之责
perform the last offices to[for]sb。为某人举行葬礼
The office of the mind is to think。头脑的功能是思考。
Through the good offices of a friend，he was able to get a job。经朋友的大力帮助，他找到了工作。
