第三十八讲

   You should be punctual.
   That is, neither too early, nor too late. If it is too early, the host may not get the things ready. If it is too late, you may keep the host waiting. Anyone, guest or host, who is really late for a social activity, should apologize to those who have already been there.

   Reading of the passage

   (para. 3) After making an appointment, generally, don’t change it as that is impolite. If you do have to change, you should inform the person by telephone or with a written note as soon as possible, so that he or she can make a rearrangement. Sometimes, an appointment has been already made, but something unexpected happens and you find no time to inform the person concerned. In this case, you should make an apology to the person afterwards.
   Explanations of Difficult Sentences
   ⑤(Para 3) --Sometimes, an appointment has been already made, but something unexpected happens and you find no time to inform the person concerned.
   Analysis: Notice that “unexpected and concerned” are both adjectives which function as post modifiers “of something and the person” respectively.
   Translation: 有时定好时间后，发生了意料之外的事，又没有时间通知相关的人。
   (2) Useful Words and Expressions

   ⑧. apologize v. to say one’s sorry 道歉，认错
   e.g. I apologized to her for stepping on her foot.
   I’m here especially to apologize to you.
   ⑨. inform v. to give information to 告知，通知
   e.g. I informed my boss that I was going to be away next week.
   He promised to keep us informed of how the negotiations were going on.
   ⑩. rearrangement n. putting into a different order 重新布置；重新安排
   e.g. The rearrangement of the furniture makes the room clean and tidy.
   This plan is not good and we need to make a rearrangement.
   ⑾. unexpected a. not expected 意想不到的
   e.g. Her promotion was completely unexpected.
   An unexpected guest is usually not welcome.
   ⑿. apology n. an expression of regret for a wrong 道歉，认错
   e.g. I must offer her an apology for not going to her party.
   It’s his fault and he should make an apology to us.