對(duì)話一
W: Oh, hello John.
你好，約翰。
Are you using your dictating machine this morning?
今早你要用聽(tīng)寫(xiě)機(jī)嗎?
I've got a long report I must dictate.
我有一篇長(zhǎng)報(bào)告必須用聽(tīng)寫(xiě)機(jī)。
Can I borrow your machine?
我能借你的聽(tīng)寫(xiě)機(jī)嗎?
M: Of course. But can you spare me a second?
當(dāng)然。不過(guò)為我抽出點(diǎn)時(shí)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(tái)延期交貨的消息。
What's gone wrong?
什么出問(wèn)題了?
W: Everything, John.
所有環(huán)節(jié)都出了問(wèn)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(tái)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(shuō)要遲點(diǎn)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(tái)是特殊訂單。
They are wanted for one of the big computer companies.
一家計(jì)算機(jī)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(shí)候發(fā)貨的?
M: On Thursday next week.
下周四。
And there's a penalty clause.
還有個(gè)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(jià)。
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(gòu)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?yàn)闉榱颂幚磉@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(diǎn)，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(méi)能及時(shí)交貨的損失。
That'll offset the penalty clause.
這可以彌補(bǔ)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(qǐng)根據(jù)你剛剛聽(tīng)到的對(duì)話回答問(wèn)題1至問(wèn)題4。
1. Why did the woman send the message to the man?
問(wèn)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(wèn)題2：關(guān)于新供應(yīng)商女士說(shuō)了些什么?
3. How did the man get the contracts?
問(wèn)題3：男士怎么拿到合同的?
4. What does the woman suggest they do?
問(wèn)題4：女士建議他們應(yīng)該做什么?
