（上接 第一部分 ）

1. situation : the combination of all the things that are happening in a particular place and at a particular time, especially when this is causing problems

例：

I tried to explain the situation to my boss. （我试着把情况解释给老板听。）

With no rain for six months, the situation in the region was becoming desperate. （已经半年没下雨了，这个地区的旱情越来越严重。）

The economic situation in the US is getting better. （美国的经济情况逐步好转。）

in a situation

If you are ever in a situation where someone starts shooting, drop to the ground. （如果你周围有人开枪，你要马上卧倒。）

In the present situation, I don't think it would be a good idea to try to sell your house. （以现在的情况看，我觉得你现在卖房子不太明智。）

2. a state of affairs : an unsatisfactory, disappointing, or unusual situation that causes a lot of problems

例：

a sorry/sad/unsatisfactory state of affairs (=very bad)

There aren't enough teachers, which is a sad state of affairs. （师资力量不足，这非常糟糕。）

It's a sorry state of affairs when an old lady has to wait 12 hours to see a doctor. （一个老太太要等 12 小时才能看医生，这真是太糟糕了。）

I must say this is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. （我只能说，这真是太糟糕了。）

3. the state of play : what is happening now in a situation that is still developing and is likely to change - use this especially in business and political contexts

备注： ''the state of play'' 常用于英式英语中。

例：

Every four weeks we get a briefing from the managers, giving us the state of play. （我们每个月都会收到经理递上来的简报，告诉我们公司业务情况。）

What is the state of play in the current negotiations? （现在谈判进行得怎么样了？）

4. scenario : a situation that could possibly happen but has not happened yet - use this especially when you are discussing what might happen

例：

Under a likely scenario, world population will double by 2050. （到 2050 年，全球人口可能会翻一番。）

worst-case/nightmare scenario (=the worst possible situation)

This is every politician's nightmare scenario. （这是每个政客都不想看到的情况。）

The worst-case scenario was that he would have to have an operation. （最差的情况就是他必须要做手术。）

5. environment : all the things that influence the way you live, work, and develop, such as the physical conditions you live in and the people around you

例：

Do girls learn better in an all-female environment? （如果周围同学都是同性，女生会学得更好吗？）

I didn't feel that the neighborhood was a very safe environment for kids. （我觉得这片区对小孩来说不安全。）

working/home environment

We have tried to create a working environment in which everyone can develop their skills. （我们已为员工努力营造了适合他们发展的平台。）

6. climate : the economic, social, and political situation that exists at a particular time - use this especially when you are discussing what can be done or what people believe at that time

例：

Hopefully, when the financial climate gets better we'll be able to take on more workers. （等公司经济情况好些，我们会再招些人。）

Small businesses are finding it hard to survive in the present economic climate. （现在的经济环境，小企业觉得很难存活下去。）

It's important to create a climate of trust between staff and management. （在员工和管理层之间建立信任感很重要。）