1、Uint5II. Basic Listening PracticeW: I bought a camera from your store. Heres my receipt. I know its just warranty period, but the camera hasnt worked properly for some time, and now its not focusing at all.M: Were sorry youve has problem with one of our cameras. I t seems that the camera has suffere
2、d some damage, but youve been a regular customer, and wed like to look after this problem for you. Ill just give you a replacement.Q: What will the man do?W: Were upright all our staff equipment, and well need 50 laptops are 1st of next month. In the past Ive always found of your prices to the best.
3、M: Youre right about that, we do have the lowest prices in the country. Wed be glad to fill your order. Just send me the specs for each, and Ill send you a quote that Im sure you will take.Q: What does the man mean?W: We ordered 50 from your company, but on the invoice I see theres an extra charge f
4、or shopping. I thought shipping was included in the quote.M: Shipping is included; there must be a mistake on the invoice. Ill straighten on the mistake and send you a new invoice.Q: Which of the following is true?M: This was s time-sensitive document! Theres no point in delivering it three hours la
5、te!W: Im sorry, sir. Perhaps I could connect you to our complaints department if you wish to take it further.Q: What is true of the document?M: We were very surprised to receive such bad service from a company weve done business with in the past. So now we have this problem, and Id like to know what
6、 youre going to do about it.W: I think this is the result of a breakdown in communication, and we need to look at our communication methods both internally and externally. Obviously we want to keep our clients happy, and unfortunately weve fallen short this time. Im here to make sure it wont happen
7、again.Q: What is the reason of the problem, according to the woman?Keys: 1.C 2.D 3. A 4.B 5.CIII. Listening InTask 1: Attending a Business ReceptionChris: Ive been looking forward to this reception for weeks. I cant wait to get sure of my own leads. You know, start making new connections.Nora: Smart
8、 thinking. But what are you going to do with all those brochures?Chris: The party ends at two, I figure I can have them all distributed by one-thirty,Nora: No, no, no, no. Let me clue you in. Those brochures will make you look like a green hand.Chris: What should I do then?Nora: Hand out business ca
9、rds. Thats the way to do it.Chris: I dont understand whats wrong with these brochures about our company.Nora: This room is going to be filled with potential clients, but there is an unwritten law; you leave your work at the door. Chris: But how am I supposed to get anything of this if we cant talk b
10、usiness?Nora: You have business cards. Get out there and exchange cards. Just get a card for a card.Chris: Then follow up on Monday?Nora: You catch on quick. Lets split up so we can cover more ground.Chris: Great idea. This is going to be a piece of cake. Ill meet you back here at two.Chris and Nora
11、 are going to a reception. Chris is eager to making new connections. As the party ends at two, he intends to have all those brochures distributed by one- thirty. But Nora disagrees, saying that those brochures will make him look like a green hand. She advises him just to hand out business card and l
12、eave his work at the door. But Chris wonders how he can get anything out of this if she cant talk business. To this, Nora insists that he should just get a card for a card. Chris catches on quickly and knows that he can hand out business cards now and follow up on Monday. Finally, Nora suggests spli
13、tting up so that they can cover more ground. Chris feels it will be a piece of cake and promise to meet her back there at two.Task 2: A Work Qualification TestOnce there was a Scottish accountant. The business has been in the family for generations and generations. Over time, with the countless clie
14、nts that had gone in and out of the office, the marble step in front of the building had developed a big, deep dip in it from all the wear and tear.The accountants friends kept telling him that he had better get it replaced; otherwise hed be sued if anyone ever slipped and fell.Reluctantly, the acco
15、untant called a stonemason to get a quote for the repairs. When the stonemason got there, the accountant demanded a price for a new step.“Ah, big job,” said the e stonemason, “But I suppose I could give you a new step for a hundred pounds.” The accountant was stunned. “Are you crazy, man? I cant pay
16、 you a hundred pounds!” Thinking about it for a second, he turned to the stonemason and asked, “What would you charge me to dig up the step and turn it over so that the worn part is in the ground and Id get a new square step?” The stonemason hesitated, “20pounds.”“Do it!” Demanded the accountant, “A
17、nd call me when youre done.”The accountant went back inside to read his books, but after only 15minutes the stonemason rang the bell. As the accountant opened the door, he saw the stonemason standing there, pointing to a deep dip in the step. The stonemason laughed as he said, “Your great-great gran
18、ddaddy thought of that a hundred and fifty years ago!”Keys: FTFFTFor Reference3. countless clients that had gone in and out of the office 4. He turn the step over so that the worn part was in the groundTask3: Where to Start Your BusinessYou have to consider the location when launching a business. Yo
19、u will be “planning your business tree” there and will have to maintain it for years to come. You have to keep in mind a few things when deciding on a place t open your business.First of all, you have to take the local economy into consideration. Is your local area growing and building? Are the mark
20、et trends good? Even if you have to locate your business farther from your home, try to find a place that is building up and bringing people in. The worst thing you can do is to pick a place that is in the “bad area of town” because it is less expensive. Your address can be the first thing people wi
21、ll ask for, and it can say a lot about your business.The second thing you have to bear in mind is the job market. Since unemployment is low in most area in the Unites States, consider what type of employees you will need and find out if there are many in your area. The amount of money that you will
22、have t o spend I the recruiting phase could be an indicator that you should or should not locate the business in an area with a different employee pool.Another factor people have to consider is whether you can integrate with the local community and get to love it. To make the community warm to you,
23、you should become involved in it by joining the local Chamber of Commerce, Business Association, City Council Committees, or other local organization that could offer you help. Why plan on retiring “one day” to some great location? Why not move there now and start your dream business?21. What is the
24、 speaker mainly talking about?22. What must you find if you are going to locate a business at a distance from your home?23. According to the speaker, what is the worst thing you can do?24. What will the recruiting money tell you?25. What can you do the get on well with the locate people?Kes: 1D 2.C3
25、. C 4.A 5.CFor ReferenceTo decide on a good business location, one has to consider the local economy, the job market there, and whether you can integrate wit the local community.IV. Speaking OutMODEL 1 I am having cash problems.Bill: Helen, you started this company only a year ago. If you want it to
26、 grow, Im afraid you need to do something about cash flow.Helen: Bill, although youve worked here only for a couple of months, you already know this company inside out. I am having cash problems.Bill: Clearly you dont have the money you need to buy the equipment to be competitive. You have just bare
27、ly enough funds to cover your day-to-day operational expenses.Helen: I think my best bet is to secure a small-business loan.Bill: I dont think thats possible. It seems to me you dont have the collared for a loan.Helen: What can I do then?Bill: Try the Small Business Association. They help underwrite
28、 loans for a small business.Helen: So, even though I dont have much collateral, I can still quality for a loan?Bill: Under this special program, possibly.Helen: That would really help me cover our overhead. I just need to get some time to get the revenues up.Bill: Apply for the small-business loan,
29、and keep your fingers crossed!Now Your TurnSAMPLE DIALOG A: Youve worked as a consultant for a long time, so you know the company inside out. Im having cash problems.B: I see. If you want the company to grow, Im afraid you need to have more funds. Clearly you dont have the money you need to buy the
30、equipment to be competitive. You just barely have enough funds to cover your day-to-day operating expenses.A: I think my best bet is to ask the bank loan.B: I dont think thats the best solution. Nowadays the interest rates are very high. Youll have a difficult time paying back the loan.A: What can I
31、 do then?B: Try a business incubator.A: What can I get from them?B: They offer a range of services such as consultancy, training, and more importantly, venture capital.A: Can I really get venture capital from them?B: Possibly, if you prove your company is promising.A: Good, that would really help me
32、 cover our overhead. I just need some time to get revenues up.B: Well, apply for a risk investment, and keep your fingers crossedMODEL2 I have some very bad news.Helen: Bill, Ive been searching for a loan, but I was rejected everywhere. Now Im afraid I have some very bad news.Bill: What is it?Helen:
33、 Well, the company has been experiencing serious financial difficulties for quite a long time now.Bill: I know weve been operating in the red for the past few months.Helen: Exactly. After a long discussion with my partners, Ive come to the conclusion that the best course of action is to file for ban
34、kruptcyBill: What? Bankruptcy? I didnt know you were in this kind of serious financial trouble.Helen: Sales have been low all year long. Now two of our leading competitors are discussing a merger. Then well have to face even stiffer competition. I feel the situation is going to go from bad to worse.
35、 We simply cant afford to keep our doors open for long.Bill: When do you plan to make the announcement to tell all the employees?Helen: Early next week.Bill: What kinds of severance package will we able to offer them?Helen: Unfortunately, the best we can do is offer one months salary.Bill: Oh! How t
36、errible! OK, Ill contact Vivitek and see if they are interested in acquiring our company.Now Your TurnSAMPLE DIALOGA: I have some very bad news.B: Whats that?A: The companys products havent sold well for a long time, you know.B: Yeah. I know weve been operating a t a loss for several months.A: Exact
37、ly. And after a long discussion with my partner, Ive come to the conclusion that the best course of action is to file for bankruptcy.B: What? Bankruptcy? Id suggest that you find a merger partner instead. With combined strength, we can face the stiff market competition.A: Our sales have been low a l
38、ong time. Who will be willing to merger with us?B: You can tell them we have a team of well-trained skilled workers and our equipment is not technologically backward. In fact, we have a lot of to offer.A: Sorry, but Im still not confident at all. I still prefer to declare bankruptcy.B: When do you p
39、lan to make it known to the staff?A: Sometimes next month.B: What kind of severance package are you going to offer them?A: Unfortunately, the best we can do is offer one months salary.B: Thats terrible.MODEL3 Weve been looking for a merger partner.Bill: I hear that Vivitek has been considering acqui
40、ring a CD manufacturer for some time.Jessica: Thats quite true. Whats on your mind? Bill: My boss Helen thinks that our company would be a good match for Vivitek. And weve been looking for a merger partner.Jessica: Are you sure youroperation has much to bring to the table?Bill: Definitely. The quali
41、ty of our products is first-rate, and we have many reliable sales out lets. Whats more, Vivitek can propel us to even greater heights. It will be an all-around excellent match.Jessica: I think it might be, though we have yet to discuss details.Bill: As a matter of fact, weve already received a few a
42、ttractive bids.Jessica: Well, we of curse need to come up with a plan that is attractive for both partiesBill: True, but my boss has to keep our shareholders interests in mind.Jessica: Its reasonable to keep your employees welfare in mind.Bill: Yes, we dont want to disappoint them.Jessica: Then lets
43、 talk about specifics.Now Your TurnSAMPLE DIALOGA: I hear that your corporation has considered acquiring a software development company for some time.B: Thats quite true. Whats on your mind? A: Weve been looking for a merger partner. And we think our company would be a good match for you.B: Definite
44、ly. We have a number of first-rate programmers (program writerssoftware engineers), and one of our software products is a hit.A: Then why do you want a merger?B: We can certainly survive on our own. The problem with us is that we dont as many reliable sales outlets as you have. We hope your company
45、can propel us to even greater heights.A: As a matter of fact, weve already received a few attractive bids. So we have to be cautious in making a decision.B: I hope you will find our company an all-around excellent match. The merger wil turn out to be a win-win (double-wintwo-win) situation.A: I thin
46、k that might be, though we still have to discuss specifics.B: Well, we of curse need to work out a scheme that is attractive for both parties.A: True, we have to keep in mind the interests of the shareholders of both sides.B: Good. Thats why they call you headhunters.V. Lets TalkMartin: Dick, would
47、you review the result of the survey on leisure sporting activities. We need to plan our proposal for this Fridays business meeting.Dick: Sure. Ive summarized the results in the handouts, broken down by customer age groups and sporting activities. The survey was administered to 550 men and women betw
48、een the age of 18 and 55 years old, and the results have been compiled in the following age groups: 18to 26, 27to 35,36to 45, and 46to 55. According to the results, the most active group involved in sporting activities is between 18 and 26 years old, followed by those 36to 45 years old.Martin: Okay.
49、Dick: As far as particular sports are concerned, people in these two groups cited jogging as their favorite recreational sport followed by skiing, tennis, swimming, and cycling.Martin: And what about these groups broken down by gender?Dick: Oh, Martin, thanks for bringing that up. Men appears to be slightly more active than wom
