Sarah转到新部门工作不久，在去吃午饭的路上遇到原来的同事Amanda。
S: Hi Amanda, how are you? I've missed working with you and the whole gang since my transfer last week.
A: We've missed you too. The office just isn't the same without you. How is your new job?
S: It's great. I really get to focus on what I like to do and everyone has been very nice and welcoming. However, I'm having a small problem with my new colleagues.
A: What happened?
Sarah告诉Amanda她很想念原来的同事，“I missed working with you and the gang.” Gang有团伙的意思，在这里指常聚在一起的一群人。Amanda也说，The office just isn't the same without you. Sarah走了，办公室好像就不一样了。虽然Sarah很喜欢她新的工作，但是在跟新同事相处时却遇到了一些小麻烦。
S: Well, three people are celebrating their birthdays this month and the policy here is for everyone to contribute ten dollars to a card and cake for each person.
A: Wow, so you'll be out 30 dollars on your first week at work!
S: I know. It is a lot of money and I haven't gotten to know any of the people celebrating their birthdays well enough yet. At our old department, it was only three dollars for each birthday and there were only ten of us.
原来，这个月有三个新同事过生日，Sarah不得不跟着一起凑份子，买卡片和蛋糕为同事庆祝。They want her to contribute to the card and cake. contribute是贡献的意思，凑份子也可以用名词whip-round。这样一来，She will be out 30 dollars.(一下要出三十块。)Sarah跟这些同事还不熟，所以觉得有点亏。Amanda安慰她说，
A: Well, every department is different. You wouldn't want your new co-workers to think you're a Grinch, right?
S: What is that? It doesn't sound like a good thing to be.
A: A Grinch is a person who spoils the mood at a happy occasion by being selfish or unenthusiastic. You know - a party pooper.
S: I definitely don't want to be that! But, I still think it's unreasonable for them to ask me for such a big sum of money when we don't know each other very well. What should I do?
Amanda警告Sarah，如果她不出份子钱的话，同事会认为她是Grinch, grinch专门用来形容自私、不热情、扫兴的人。Sarah当然不想让新同事觉得她是个败兴的人，a party pooper， 可她还是很不甘心，觉得新同事的要求不合理(unreasonable)。这笔份子钱，Sarah最后会出吗?答案将在明天的口语栏目揭晓。
