公司主管 Lenny 要接受媒体采访，让秘书 Jessica 帮他请了一个咨询顾问，预先做准备。Lenny 打电话问 Jessica:
Lenny: Hey, Jessica…did you set up that appointment with the media consultant?
Jessica: I sure did, boss. I expect him any minute now.
L: Good. I’m kind of jittery about this interview. I’m new at this and the idea of going on television gives me butterflies in my stomach.
J: Don’t worry sir, I’m sure you’ll do just fine…oh, here’s the consultant!
Carl: Hi, I’m Carl Anderson from Plus 1 Media Consultants.
J: Hi Carl. Mr. Lee is waiting for you in his office. Please come this way.
秘书Jessica告诉老板，咨询顾问约好了，随时会到。I expect her any minute now. Lenny承认，他以前没接受过采访，I’m new at this. 所以感觉很紧张，I’m kind of jittery about this interview. jittery is spelled j-i-t-t-e-r-y, jittery 意思是紧张，心里打鼓，也可以说 The interview gives me butterflies in my stomach. to have butterflies in one’s stomach 也是心里紧张，七上八下的意思。正说着，咨询公司的Carl到了，Jessica 带她去见 Lenny.
C: Good morning, Mr. Lee. Nice to meet you!
L: Hello Carl. So…I hear you can help me nail this upcoming interview.
C: Our company specializes in media matters. We can help you learn how to put your best foot forward, what pitfalls to avoid and how to sound friendly without sounding insincere.
L: Those would be good points…okay, let’s hear what you got.
C: For starters, let’s talk about the news organization that’s going to be interviewing you. Business Watch International or BWI is a hard-hitting business news channel. They won’t make it too easy for you.
Carl工作的咨询公司做的就是跟媒体有关的事情。They specialize in media matters. specialize is spelled s-p-e-c-i-a-l-i-z-e, specialize是专门从事的意思，后面跟介词 in. Carl能教 Lenny 如何 put your best foot forward 展现出自己最好的一面，让他显得友好但又不虚伪。Carl说，准备采访Lenny的媒体 BWI is a hard-hitting business news channel. hard-hitting意思是力度大，毫不客气的。Lenny问：
L: So no softball questions, huh?
C: Actually, the interviewer will probably start off with a couple of really easy and complementary questions. But don’t let these fool you into a false sense of security. Right after the interviewer butters you up, he or she will throw you a curve ball.
L: Okay, so in the beginning I’ll try to remain guarded.
Carl说，采访Lenny的记者上来会先问几个简单的问题，这种问题也可以叫 softball questions，相对于 hardball questions, 刁难人的题。但是Carl警告Lenny说，Don’t let these fool you into a false sense of security. 别上当，错误地觉得自己安全了。to fool someone into a false sense of security 意思是给人错觉，让人觉得自己很安全。Carl 还说，Right after the interviewer butters you up, he or she will throw you a curve ball. 这里所说的 to butter someone up 意思是恭维某人，throw a curve ball at someone 意思是出其不意地刁难某人。看起来，Lenny一定得保持警觉，remain guarded. 或者也可以说，He cannot let his guard down. 不能放松警惕。