對話一
W: Oh, hello John.
你好,約翰。
Are you using your dictating machine this morning?
今早你要用聽寫機嗎?
I've got a long report I must dictate.
我有一篇長報告必須用聽寫機。
Can I borrow your machine?
我能借你的聽寫機嗎?
M: Of course. But can you spare me a second?
當然。不過為我抽出點時間可以嗎?
It's the message you sent to me about the delivery delay on the control desks.
這是你發(fā)給我關(guān)于控制臺延期交貨的消息。
What's gone wrong?
什么出問題了?
W: Everything, John.
所有環(huán)節(jié)都出了問題,約翰。
We have to get the steel sheets we need for these desks from new suppliers.
我們得從新供應(yīng)商那拿到這批控制臺所需的鋼板。
Well, the suppliers have got some trouble or other.
供應(yīng)商遇到了些麻煩。
They say they'll be a bit late for the delivery.
他們說要遲點發(fā)貨。
M: But they can't be!
但他們不能這么做!
Those control desks are a special order.
這批控制臺是特殊訂單。
They are wanted for one of the big computer companies.
一家計算機大公司要這批貨。
It's a very important contract.
這是份很重要的合同。
W: When did we promise delivery?
我們答應(yīng)什么時候發(fā)貨的?
M: On Thursday next week.
下周四。
And there's a penalty clause.
還有個懲罰條款。
We stand to lose 10 percent of our price for each week of overdue delivery.
發(fā)貨每延期一周,我們都要損失百分之十的要價。
W: Oh, these penalty clauses! Why do you sales people accept them?
這些懲罰條款!你們銷售部為什么接受?
M: We have to accept them, otherwise we don't get the contracts.
我們必須接受,否則就拿不到這份合同。
W: Well, let's get on to the Buying Department.
好吧,我們現(xiàn)在聯(lián)系采購部門。
I only heard about the delay yesterday because we kept the production line clear to handlethese special sheets.
我昨天才知道發(fā)貨延期了,因為為了處理這批特殊鋼板我們一直保持生產(chǎn)線暢通。
It's a dreadful nuisance.
真是討厭的麻煩。
M: It'll be more than a nuisance if we don't meet our delivery date!
要是我們發(fā)貨日期前搞不定,可不只是麻煩了。
It'll cost us a lot of money.
我們要損失一大筆錢。
W: Keep calm, John.
冷靜點,約翰。
We can perhaps claim compensation from the steel suppliers for failure to deliver on time.
我們也許可以向鋼鐵供應(yīng)商索賠沒能及時交貨的損失。
That'll offset the penalty clause.
這可以彌補懲罰條款。
M: Well, if you can.
好吧,如果可以的話。
Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
請根據(jù)你剛剛聽到的對話回答問題1至問題4。
1. Why did the woman send the message to the man?
問題1:女士為什么向男士發(fā)消息?
2. What does the woman say about the new suppliers?
問題2:關(guān)于新供應(yīng)商女士說了些什么?
3. How did the man get the contracts?
問題3:男士怎么拿到合同的?
4. What does the woman suggest they do?
問題4:女士建議他們應(yīng)該做什么?