circle n. 圓周，圓形物；（具有共同興趣、利益的人們所組成的）圈子；集團；vt. 包圍，環繞
circuit n. 電路
circuitous adj. 迂回的，繞圈子的
circular adj. 循環的；圓的
circulate v. （使）循環；傳閱，流傳；發行，銷售
circulation desk 圖書借還臺；發行處
circumference n. 圓周；周長
circumlocution n. 迂回累贅的陳述，拐彎抹角地講話；遁詞
circumscribe vt. 劃界限；限制
circumspect adj. 慎重的，仔細的
circumstance n. 環境，情況
circumvent v. 用計謀戰勝，規避
citadel n. 堡壘，要塞
cite vt. 引用；舉例
civil adj. 公民的；市民的；國內的
civilian adj. 市民的，平民的；民間的
civility n. 禮貌，客氣，謙恭；（常用作civilities）禮儀；客套；寒暄
civilization n. 文明，文化
civil rights 公民權
Civil War 內戰
I work as the editor of a small newspaper. Our offices and printing presses are located on the grounds of an old citadel that has been standing since the days of the Civil War. The rent here is relatively cheap. However, the facilities are rather old and we’re constantly making repairs to the electrical circuits in our building. According to our circulation desk, we circulate about 10,000 papers each day. If I were to draw a circle around our circulation area, the circumference would be about 15 miles.
Ours is a civilian company. However, due to our location, the military has the right to circumscribe the content of our newspaper. For that reason, I’m a bit circumspect about the articles that we publish. I try to print the news without being too critical of the government, the military or the people in power.
Today, I’m thinking about running a story about lawyers. Lawyers have been around since the start of civilization. They are credited for writing the first civil code and the bill of civil rights. However, they are disliked for their circuitous manner of speaking and their ability to circumvent the law by citing obscure legal doctrines. They always make circular arguments to avoid the issue. Some lawyers are kind and helpful. Others are known for their lack of civility. A lot depends on the circumstances and how much money you have.
Perhaps a story about lawyers might be too controversial. I’d better think of a more agreeable subject.
我在一家小報社當編輯。我們報社的辦公室和印刷設備位于一座內戰時修建的古老城堡里。這里的租金相對便宜，但設施陳舊，我們時常要維修樓里的電路。根據發行處的統計，我們每天發行的報紙1萬份。如果圍繞這發行范圍畫一個圈，周長將達15英里左右。
我們報社是一家民營企業。但由于位置特殊，軍隊有權限制報紙的內容。正因為這樣，我對所發表的文章非常謹慎。我盡量印些不是特別批判政府、軍隊及當權者的新聞。
今天，我在考慮出一篇關于律師的文章。自人類文明起源時就有了律師。他們被譽為第一部民法典和公民權議案的撰寫人。但因為他們說話愛繞圈子，又有本市引用晦澀難懂的法律條文來規避法律約束，所以很是不討人喜歡。涉足政界的律師尤其擅長拐彎抹角地講話。他們總是循環論證，避開主題。有些律師挺和善而且樂于助人的，其他律師則以沒有禮貌著稱。很多律師是為視具體情況及財富多寡而轉移的偽君子。
也許關于律師的文章爭議太大，我還是想個更愉快的話題吧！
