全新版大学英语听说教程第二册 Unit06

2-6-A

Identifying the Major Event in a Conversation

W: Here we are, Mr. Wang. This is a newly-built building.

M: What a fine building! How many floors are there?

W: Forty. Our company has offices on four floors in the building.

M: Yours is really a big company.

W: Yes, it is. The sales office is on the first floor. The marketing 1 and accounting 2 offices are on the second floor. And we have many other departments: personnel. research, etc. They are all on the 8th floor.

M: Where's the manager's office?

W: It's on the 9th floor.

Passage:

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our company. Our company was established in 1999. It is a joint-venture company specializing in sportswear. Most of our products are for young students; some are for adults. All our products sell well both at home and abroad. In recent years, we have expanded our markets from China to Southeast Asia, East Africa, North America, and South America.

2-6-B

Who Is to Be Promoted?

(The Personnel Department is having a meeting. Joan Black is the chairperson of the meeting. )

Joan: I think John Jeffrey's already been with the company for 20 years. Surely he's not still expecting promotion 3. Do you agree, Peter?

Peter: Well. in my opinion, John's always shown great loyalty 4 to the company. It's time this was rewarded. What do you think, Clive?

Clive: It's not just a question of loyalty. Would he be any good at the job? He would need to manage a small team -- he's got no experience of that yet.

Peter: He never will have any experience unless we give him a chance!

Joan: We can't afford to be sentimental 5. I don't think he's the man for the job. He's always been a follower 6, not a leader. Let's move on to the other candidates. Rita Hayden has already shown great personnel management skill, I feel, even if she's ...

Peter: Oh, come on, Joan! Rita's still learning her trade! We can't afford to take a risk with someone so inexperienced.

Clive: I agree with Peter. I favor Susan Palmer. She's got a lot of experience. She's already worked in the department on other occasions so she knows the ropes and she's ...

Joan: But Susan's always struck me as a bit cautious. We need someone dynamic for this job.

Peter: I'd agree with Clive. I think Susan Palmer would do a good job. Maybe she's a bit cautious but she's solid, reliable... We need those qualities too.

Joan: Well, if you're both so sure, I suppose I'll have to agree. Still, we'll wait a week before confirming it just in case any other applicants 7 put their names forward.

2-6-C

A Good Salesman

Mr Stevenson was the owner of a general appliance store. He had seen many newly-weds coming into his store to shop for their first refrigerator, washer and dryer 8, and air-conditioner. Pen and pencil in hand, they would ask him a lot of questions about price, features and after-sale services, but they would usually walk away at the end of their inquiry 9.

The other day a young couple came into his store. They asked him all the usual questions and he answered all of them patiently. But when he suggested an order at the end, they replied firmly, "We'll have to look around places first."

Although feeling a bit disappointed, Mr Stevenson did not show it. Instead, he smiled, moved closer and said, "I know you will go to Discount Dan to look at the price tags. That's perfectly 10 understandable. I do the same. In fact, they sell the same stuff as we do. But if you buy things there, there is something you will not get. And that is me. I come with everything I sell. I've been in the business for thirty years and in a few years' time I'm going to give my store to my daughter and son-in-law. I hope they will carry on the family business. I stand behind everything I sell and I will make sure that you will never regret buying things from me."

After this short speech Mr Stevenson offered the young couple some ice cream to thank them for their interest.

Impressed by his honesty and sincerity 11, the young couple decided 12 to place an order.