商务英语情景对话100主题

DaytodayOffice日常事务

1Faxes传真

2TelephoneCalls电话

3MakingTelephoneAppointments电话预约

4Memos备忘录

5BusinessCorrespondence商业信函

6PlacinganOrder下订单

OfficeTalk办公室谈话

7Coworkers同事

8Bosses老板

9Brainstorming集体讨论

10Commuting乘公交车上下班

11TheWorkingLunch工作午餐

BusinessTrip商务旅行

12InternationalBusinessTravel国际商务旅行

13DressingfbrBusiness商务着装

14HotelSituations旅馆情景

15NegotiatingtheSubway乘地铁

ClientReception接待客户

16ReceivingClients接待客户

17EntertainingClients招待客户

18AccommodatingForeignClients接待国夕卜客户

19FactoryTours参观工厂

BusinessCommunization商务交流

20PersonalIntroductions个人介绍

21SmallTalks聊天

22DeliveringBadNews传达坏消息

23PoliteQuestions礼貌提问

24Farewells道别

Negotiation谈判

25ClarifyingtheStakes说明利害关系

26MakingConcessions做出让步

27DiscussingtheBottomLine讨论底线

28AcceptingandConfirming接受和确认

29HardBargainersVSSoftBargainers强硬的对手和温和的对手

CompanyOrganization公司结构

30CEO执行总裁

31Stockholders股东

32BoardofDirectors董事会

33ManagerialStaff管理人员

34LaborStaff普通员工

MeetingsandInterviews会议和面谈

35ExecutingMeetings开会

36PerformanceReviews业绩评估

37Agendas会议议程

38MakingRequests提出要求

Presentations业务陈述

39PreparationandDevelopingYourTopic准备利展话题

40IntroductionsandBeginnings介绍和开头

41MakingTransitionsinthePresentation陈述中的过渡

42Conclusions结论

43O&A(QuestionandAnswerPeriod)提问阶段

Data数据处理

44Trends趋势

45Systems制度

46Scheduling日程安排

47SWOTAn山sis态势分析

48StatisticalReports数据统计报告

Technology技术

49Email电子邮件

50ComputerTechnology计算机技术

51RunninganInternetBusiness网上做生意

52ElectronicGadgets数码产品

53WebbasedMarketing网上营销

FinancialTopics财务话题

54Costing成本

55Budgets预算

56Auditing审计

57TheEconomy经济

58Fundraising集资

LegalTopics法律话题

59Confidentiality机密

60Lawyers律师

61Contracts合同

62Copyright版权

63Patents专利

64EnvironmentalRegulations环境条例

MarketingTopics营销话题

65MarketingSurveys市场调查

66TargetAudience目标消费者

67PrintandMediaAdvertising印刷和媒体广告

68PromotionalEvents促销活动

69DevelopingtheMarket市场开发

SalesTopics销售话题

70SellingPoints卖点

71TradeShows贸易展览

72SalesReviews检查销售额

73ProductDemonstrations产品演示

74FollowinguponLeads线索追踪

75CustomerService顾客服务

InternationalTopics国际话题

76Sourcing得到供货

77Export/Import出口/进口

78ExchangeRates汇率

79InternationalGreetingMethods国际问候方式

BigBusiness跨国公司

80Mergers合并

81Competition竞争

82ClimbingtheCorporateLadder进入管理层

83BranchOffices分支机构

84Consulting咨询

EmploymentPractices雇用惯例

85FairPay公平薪酬

86RecruitingPersonnel人员招聘

87Retirement退休

88Partnership合作关系

89R&um6s简历

90JobInterviews求职面试

SocialandEqualityIssues社会利平等话题

91WomenintheWorkforce职业女性

92Discrimination歧视

93Welfare福利

94LaborUnions工会

95StrikesandDemonstrations罢工和示威游行

ContinuingEducation继续教育

96ManagementTraining管理人员培训

97Seminars/Workshops研究会/研讨会

98CompanyRetreats公司培训

99Teambuilding团队建设

100MBA工商管理硕士

1Faxes传真

Dialogueone

M:CanyouhavethebriefsfromtheAndersonfirm'slawyeronmydesk

bytomorrowmorning.Therearequiteafewverytimesensitivematters

withthiscase.I'mafraidIcan'twaitanylonger.

F:GettingthoseAndersonbriefshasbeenharderthanyoucanimagine.

Ihavetriedtocontacttheirlawyermanytimes.ButeverytimeIcall,His

secretarysayshe'sinameetingoroutoftheofficeorawayonbusiness.

Iambeginningtothinkheistryingtoavoidme.

M:That'shighlypossible.Heknowsifwemissourfilingdeadline,we

don'tstandachancetocompeteagainstthemforthebid.Trytogeta

holdofhimagain.Givehimacallandseeifhecanfaxthemfirstthing.

F:WhatifIcan'tspeaktohimdirectly?

M:Askhissecretarytofaxthem.Ifsthesamething.Havethem

faxedoverwithacopyalsofaxedtoMartin'soffice.

F:HowdoIfindMartin'sfaxnumber?Isheinyourrollerdesk?

M:No,butyoucanalsocalltheirofficeandaskthesecretarytogiveyou

theirfaxnumber.I'llemailyoutheirofficenumberlatertoday.

F:Ok,I'llgetonitfirstthing.

M:Besureyoudo,IneedthosebriefsASAP

Dialoguetwo

M:Didyouputthismorning'sfaxesonmydesk?I'mwaitingforsome

urgentfaxesfromheadquarters,I'mprettysuretheycameinlastnight.

F:Everythingthatcameintheofficefaxmachinelastnightisallonyour

desk,butInoticedthatsomeoffaxescamethroughprettyblurred,maybe

youtakealookatthem,ifthecopyisunreadable,I'llcallthenandask

themtorefax.

M:Yeah,you'regoingtohavetocallthemandgetthemtoberefax.These

copiesaresodark.Ican'tmakeoutanyofthewords.

F:Whataboutthatone?

M:Thisone?ThisoneissolightandIcanbarelyreadit.Howcanthat

be?

F:Youknow,Ithinkthefaxmachineisoutoftoner.Icanchangethe

tonercartridge.Thatshouldsolvetheproblem.

M:Yes,butthisonewillhavetoberefaxedaswell.Andlook,there's

about3pagesmissing.Itlookslikethefaxmachineatehalfofmy

importantfaxes,andonesthatmadeitthrougharesoblurredortoolight.

Theyareunreadable.

F:Iguessthefaxmachineisoutofpapertoo.Don'tworry,I'llhave

someonelookatitthisafternoon,andinthemeantime,I'llhaveyour

documentsrefaxedtoourotherfaxmachine.

2\TelephoneCalls电话

Dialogue1

A:Hello,thankyouforcallingBradfordandSons.ThisisTracy

speaking,HowmayIhelpyou?

B:Hello.Iwouldliketospeaktoyourdirectorofhumanresources,Ms.

Jenkins,Please.

A:Justamoment.I'llchecktoseeifsheisatherdesk.MayItellherwho

iscalling?

B:ThisisBillBurtonfromMilfordInsurance,I'mcallinginregardstoour

meetingnextTuesday.

A:Thankyou,Mr.Burton.Canyoupleaseholdforamoment?rilcheck

toseeifsheisavailable.

B:Noproblem.

A:I'msorry.Ms.Jenkinsisawayfromherdesk.Shehasalreadyleftfor

lunch.Wouldyouliketoleaveamessageforher?

B:Yes,pleasehaveherreturnmycallwhenshereturnstotheoffice.It's

bestifshecangetintouchwithmebefore3pmtoday,shecanreachmeat

myofficenumber,635-8799.

A:I'msorry.Ididn'tquitecatchthat,couldyoupleaserepeatthenumber?

B:Noproblem,myofficenumberis635-8799.Tellhertoaskfor

extension31.

A:I'msorry,Mr.Burton,justtoconfirm,yournameisspelledB-U-R-T-O-

N,isthatcorrect?

B:Yes,andIrepresentMilfordInsurance.

A:IwillmakesureMs.Jenkinsreceivesyourmessageandreturnsyour

callbefore3pmthisafternoon.

B:Thankyouverymuch.

Dialogue!

A:Hello,PasadenaInn,thisisSandy,howmayIdirectyourcall?

B:I'dliketospeaktosomeoneaboutreservations.

A:Icanhelpyouwiththat.Whatdatewouldyouliketomakea

reservationfor?

B:We'llbearrivingMay12th,butIwouldliketomakereservationsfor

penthouse.

A:Oh,I'msorrySir.Ionlyhandlebookingsforourstandardrooms.The

personyouneedtospeakwithisTonyParker,Hemakesallthe

arrangementsforourexecutiveaccounts.Unfortunately,he'snothereright

now.CanItakeyournameandnumberandhavehimgetbacktoyou?

B:Whendoyouexpecthimbackin?

A:He'llbeoutallafternoon,hemightnotbeabletoreturnyourcalluntil

tomorrow.Willthatbealright?

B:Yes.Isuppose.MynameisSamDarcy.Hecancontactmeat660-843-

3235.

A:Couldyoupleasespellyourlastnameforme?

B:Sure.It'sD-A-R-C-Y.

A:Okay.Mr.Darcy,andyourphonenumberis660-843-3233?

B:That's3235.

A:Sorry!3235.Great.I'llhaveTonycallyoufirstthingtomorrow

morning.

3.MakingTelephoneAppointments电话预约

Dialogueone

M:Hello,BillBretonspeaking.WhatcanIdoforyou?

F:Hello,Mr.Breton,thisisJennyJenkinsofBradfordandsons

returningyourcall.I'msorryyoumissedmewhenyoucalledmyoffice

thismorning.Mysecretarysaidyoucalledconcerningourmeetingnext

Tuesday?

M:YesMsJenkins,thankyouforreturningmycall.Fmgladtofinally

getholdofyou.IwanttoletyouknowIwillnotbeabletomakeour

meetingnextTuesday.Iwouldbeoutoftownthatday.Isthereany

possibilitywecanmovethemeetingtoMonday?

F:Iamsorry.I'mafraidIamcompletelybookedonMonday.Wouldit

bePossibletopostponeuntilyoureturn?

M:Oh,dear.IwascountingontakingcareofourmeetingbeforeIleave.

ButIsupposeIcanshutoffafewthings.Yes,wecanarrangesomething.

IwillbebackThursdaymorning.WhataboutThursdayafternoon?

Wouldthatworkforyou?

F:Thatshouldbefine.Shallwesayabouttwoo5clock?

M:Perfect!Ilookforwardtoseeingyouattwoo'clocknextThursday

afternoon.Ifyouneedtochangethetime,plsfeelfreetocallmeonmy

cellphone.

F:ThanksBurdon,rilseeyouonThursday.

Dialoguetwo

F:Hello

M:Hello,isDorasavailable?

F:ThisisDoras,whoiscallingplease?

M:Hi,Doras,thisisM汰ecallingfromparker'sdentistry.I'mcallingto

confirmyourappointmentfortomorrowmorningat9amwithDoctor

Parker.

F:Oh,Ialmostforgot.Thankyouforcallingtoremindme.Actually,I

doneedtochangethetimeofmyappointment.Ihaveaschedulingconflict,

AndIcan'tmakeitthatearly.

M:IfIputyouinthatlaterslot,wouldthatworkout?

F:Itwouldhavetobeafterlunch.Doyouhaveanythingavailableabout

2o'clock?

M:Sorry,Mam.Theonlyopeningwehaveafterlunchis1:15,butI

mightbeabletoworkyouinat4:00.Wouldthatbeabettertime?

F:Thafsallright.IthinkIshouldbeabletomakeitat1:15.Can

youputmedownforthattimeslot?

M:Noproblem,Ihaveyourappointmentchangedfromtomorrow

morningtotomorrowafternoonat1:15

F:Wonderful.Thanksverymuch.

4Memos备忘录

Dialogue1

A:Ihavebeenwaitinghereintheconferenceroomfortenminutesalready,

whattimeisthemeetingstart?Whereisanyoneanyway?

B:Didn'tyouhearaboutthat,ourmeetingwaspostponeduntilFriday.

A:Whythemeetingwaspostponed?Noonetoldmeanythingaboutit.

B:Didyougetthememo?

A:Whatmemo?Theyhaven'tanymemothiswholeweek,Icheckmy

inboxeveryday.AndIhaven5tseenanything.

B:Thememowentout3daysago.Itshouldhavemadetoyourinbox,

butmaybelostinallcollectorsonyourdesk.

A:YouknowhowthingsgetpilotaboutmydeskwhenI'mbusy.I

knowsometimesIdomanypleasethings,ButIalwaysreadallthememos

goaround;theygodirectlytomyinbox.Areyousureweresendto

wholeoffice?

B:Itshouldhavegotaroundtoeverybody,theyalsopostacopyofthe

memointhebreakroom.Don'tyoueverlookatmessagespostonthe

bulletinboard?

A:I'musuallytoobusytotakeabunchofcoffeebreakbythewater

cooler,Anyway,I'msurethememonevergettomyinbox,I'llhaveto

talkoursecretaryaboutit.

B.That'sright,Youwillneverknowwhatyourmissingoutofitifyou

don'treadthememos.

Dialogue2

A:Ms.Dorsen,Ineedtotakeadictationforme,

B:Yes,sir.

A:Theyshouldgooutintraofficememorandumtoallemployeebythis

afternoon,areyouready?

B:Yes,sir,Goahead.

A:Attentionallstaff:effectiveimmediately,allofficecommunication

arerestrictedtoemailcorrespondenceasofficialmemos,theuseof

instancemessageprogrambyemployeeduringworkhourarestrictly

prohibited.

B:Sir,Doesthisapplytointraofficecommunicationonlyorrelatealso

restrictexternalcommunications?

A:Itshouldapplytoallcommunications.Notonlyinthisoffice

betweenemployees,butalsoanyoutsidecommunications.

B:Butsir,manyemployeesuseinstancemessagingtocommunicatewith

clients.

A:Thiswerejusthavetochangethecommunicationmethods,Idon't

wantanyoneuseinstancemessaginginthisoffice,itwastetoomuchtime.

Now,please,continuethememos.Wherewerewe?

B:Thisapplytointernalandexternalcommunications.

A:Yes,anyemployeewhopersistusinginstancemessaging,will

firstreceiveawarning,andplacedonprohibition,andthesecondsense,

theemploymentwillbetermination.Anyquestionregardingthisnew

policymaybedirectlytothedepartmentofhis.

B:Isthatall?

A:Yes,pleasegivethismemotypeoutanddistributetoallemployees

before4:00PM

5/BusinessCorrespondence

Dialogueone.

A:DidyouseetheletterIgotfromBradfbrmfilms?Theysentthe

respondstoyourphonecalllastweek.

B:Ifyouwanttoseesomethingaboutmycalllastweek,whydidn'tthey

sentittome?

A:Iguessitmusthavecontactinformation,sotheysentitaddressedin

careofyourdepartmenthead,anyhow,theywrotetoconfirminreading

whatyoudiscussedaboutMiltoncontract.

B:CanIseeitfirstinseconds?

A:Sure,hereitis.

B:DearMr.Clock,bothertoyourtelephonecalllastFriday,I'm

readingtoconfirmourmeetingonJuly21st,aswediscussed,our

meetingistoreviewthecontractdetails.

A:Didtheyaskyoutosentthefilesbeforehand?

B:Let'ssee,We'llbegratefulforthecompletetosendrelatedmaterials

toourofficepriortoourmeeting.Itlookslike...Hey!Wasthere

anythingelsewassendalongwiththisletter?

A:Idon'tthinkso,whydoyouask?

B:Theletterwrites:pleasefindtheenclosedcopyofouragendafor

yourreview,Idon'tseeanythingelseintheenvelope.

A:Maybetheyforgottoattachittotheletter.Youshouldgivethem

anothercall.

Dialogue2.

A:Canyouhelpmeforaminute?

B:Sure,whatIcandoforyou?

A:I'mtrytowritealettertooneofourclients,ButIjustdon'tknow

exactlywhattosay,Idon'tevenknowhowtogetstarted,IknowI

shouldwritedearMr.Mrs.orMs.,buttheproblemisIdon'tknow

thenameofcontactperson.

B:YoucanjustputDearSirorMadam,officialesenotpersonal,youcan

writetowhommayconcerned.

A:OK,SoIfirstthanksthemfortheirbusiness,Icansaysomething

like"weareverygratefulforyourcontinuesupport",Howisthat?

B:Good!Butalso,writeoffthebedyouwanttotellthemthereasonof

yourwriting,givethemmorereference.

A:Like"Regardingournewproductline,wewouldliketoannouncea

specialpricediscount"

B:Right,doyouneedthemtorespond?

A:Yes,theletterwouldhaveasurveyinside,andtheyshould

completeitandreturntoouroffice.HowshouldIwritethat?

B:Youcantellthem"Pleasefindingtheenclosedcustomerservice

survey,elsealso,youcansay:"Attachacustomersurvey".Ifyou

needresourceitrightaway,youcantellthemtheurgentbysaying"

Pleasereturnthesurveywithoutdelayassoonaspossible.Maybeit

morepolitewiththisasearlyasconvenience."

B:Great!andwhatdoyouthinkIshouldcloseitwith?

A:Sinceyoudon'tknowthemthatwellpersonally,probablythebest

wayiswouldbeyour?oryoursincerely,youcanalsosayBestRegards.

ButIdon'tthinkitwouldbepropertybecauseyoudon'thavethename.

Andobviously,shouldhavethem.

B:OK,Thanksalotforyourhelp!

6PlacinganOrder下订单

Dialogue1

A:Ourtonercartridgesarealreadyoutofink...Couldyoumakean

orderforanewset?

B:Wewillneednewcartridgesforalloftheofficeprinters?Thatwillbe

alargeorder,probablyabouttwoorthreecases.Theofficesupplystore

weusuallygothroughmightnothavethatmanyinstock.

A:Youcandoublecheckwiththehousekeepingdepartment,butIam

prettysureallofthemachineswillneednewcartridges.Lasttimewhen

wemadeourordertothesupplier,thequantitywasalsoespeciallyhigh.

Theyareusedtoreceivingsuchbulkordersfromus.Aslongaswegive

themaheadsupacoupledaysinadvance,theycanusuallyfilltheorder.

B:OK,Iwillmakeafewcallsandrunourorderbyhousekeepingfirst

tomakesure.IsthereanythingelseweneedtoorderwhileIamatit?

A:Ithinktheonlythingistoner.Trytoseeiftheycandeliveritbefore

theendofbusinessdaytomorrow.Weshouldreallytrytodobetterabout

waitinguntilthelastminutetofillordersthatareusuallymadeona

monthlybasis.Anyhow,seewhatyoucandotoexpeditetheorderthis

time.

B:OK,willdo.

Dialogue2

A:MayIhelpyou?

B:Yes,Iwouldliketoplaceanorderfortonercartridges.Wehavea

standingagreementwithyourcompany,sowewillneedthesame

amountaslasttime.

A:Letmekeyinyourinformationintomycomputer.Iwillpullupour

recordsforyou.Doyouhaveanordernumber?Whatnameistheorder

listedunder?

B:ItshouldbeunderLeslieSmith.Thenumberis184796

A:Yes,Mr.Smith.Ihaveanorderforthreecasesofcartridges,it

thatwhatyouwouldliketorefill?

B:Yes.

A:Istherethecorrectbillingaddress?

B:No,plspostthebillto124HildrodLane,MiltonCounty,98830.

A:Iwillsendyouaninvoiceinthenextfewdays.Yourordershould

bedeliveredbeforetheendofthedayonMonday.

B:Thankyou.

7Co-Workers

Dialogue1

A:I'mreallyfedupwithHarry!He'sthebiggestairheadI'veevermet.

Healwaysmakescarelessmistakes,andhe'sapaintoworkwith.

B:Youshouldn'tbesonegative.You'llalwayshavesomeco-workers

thatarehardertoworkwiththanothers.Butifyouarenegativeandstart

name-callingintheoffice,itwillmakeabadworkingenvironmentfor

everybody.

A:Youonlysaythatbecauseyoudon'thavetoworkwithhim.The

peopleinyourdepartmentseemtocapableandnicetobearound.Take

Maryforexample.She'ssmartandenthusiastic.I'veneveranyoneas

cheeryassheis.

B:Everybodyhastheirstrengthsandweaknesses.EvenLarry.He

mightbeapaintobearound,buthe'salsoverygoodatstayinginbudget

onprojects.Mary,ontheotherhand,spendsourprojectmoneylike

there'snotomorrow.Also,she'sneverwillingtostayalittlelateratthe

office.Shealwaysleaveat5:00pmsharp.

A:Isn'tthereanyoneintheofficethatisaperfectco-worker?What

aboutBob?EverybodylovesBob.Eventhoughhe'sfreshoutthecollege

andstillabitgreen,heisagreatco-worker.

B:Youareright.He'sahardworker,easytogetalongwith,honest,

andheneverstealsthecreditonprojects.Theonlythinghe'slackingin

isexperience.

A:Maybethat'swhyhe'ssonice!

Dialogue2

A:Doyougetalongwithyourco-workers?

B:Igetalongprettywellwithmostofthem.Itseemstherearealways

afewrottenapplesinthebunch,though.LikeMargaret.Idon'tknow

whymanagementhasn'tfiredheryet.She'saterriblegossip.

A:Doyouthinkmanagementshouldfiresomeonejustbecausethey

gossip?

B:It'snotonlythatshegossip,butshealsotriestostartproblems

amongotheremployeesbyspreadingrumorsandtellingliesaboutherco­

workers.She'snottrustworthy,andinmyopinion,Ithinkshe'snuts.

A:Sohowdoyoudevelopgoodrelationshipsintheoffice?

B:Ithinkoneoftheimportantthingsisjusttobeconsiderateofyourco­

workers'feelingsandneeds.Ifyouareawareofotherpeopleanddoyour

parttomakeagoodworkingenvironment,youshouldbeabletoget

alongwithmostofthepeopleyouworkwith.

A:Ithinkyou'reright.Butitdoesseemthattherearealwaysafewco­

workersthatarehardertoworkwiththanothers.

8Bosses

Dialogue1

A:Howarethingsattheofficelately?

B:Justawful.Twoweeksago,wegotanewboss,andIcan'tstand

him.Heisreallyunreasonableaboutourworkload.Sincehecame,

I'vebeensobusythatIhaven'thadtimetobreathe!

A:Thatbad,huh?Whatabouthispersonality?It'saniceguyatleast?

B:Ishouldbesolucky.Henotonlygiveustoomuchwork,butheis

alsojustplainmeanaboutit.Heconstantlyyellsatusorcriticizesus.

Heisalwaysdegradingtheemployees.

A:Whataterribleworkingenvironment!Haveyoutriedtotalkanyone

aboutit?Maybethebossofyourboss?

B:Iwasgoingto,butmybossguessedwhatIwasthinking.Hegave

mesomuchworktodothisafternoonthatIdidn'tgetaroundtomeeting

withthesupervisorofourdepartment.

A:Itmustbeterrible.Whydon'tyoujustquit?

B:Ifitwasn'tforthemoney,Iwouldquitinaheartbeat.Butthe

problemis,Ican'tsupportmyselfifIdon'twork.

A:Yeah.Butabosslikesthat?Todealwithhimeveryday,you

shouldgetaraise!

Dialogue2

A:Doyougetalongwithyourboss?

B:ActuallyIdo.Sheisreallyunderstandingandreasonablemostof

thetime.TherewasonlyonetimeIdidn'treallyagreewithher.

A:Whenwasthat?

B:Onceshefiredoneofmyco-workersfordrinkingonthejob.Ifelt

badforhim,becauseitissohardtofindajobthesedays,andhehasa

familytosupport.

A:Well,heshouldn'thavebeendrinkingonduty.It'syourboss'

responsibilitytomakesureemployeesaresafe,andalsodoingtheirjobs.

B:Youareright.Shewasbeingagoodbosswhenshefiredhim,But

Ijustfeltsonyforhim,that'sall.

A:Didthisincidentwithyourco-workeraffectyourrelationshipwith

yourboss?

B:Notreally.Allofusattheofficerespectourbossalot.

A:Youareluckyyoucangetalongsowellwithyourboss.Itmakesa

bigdifferenceinhowmuchyouenjoyyourjob.

B:Nokidding.Ifyoudon'tlikeyourbossorco-workers,theycan

makeyourlifemiserable.

9Brainstorming

Dialogue1

A:Haveyouthoughtupanygoodideasforourbusinessproposal?

B:Ihaven'tcomeupwithanythinggoodyet.Somehowmybrainisn't

functioningtoday.

A:Maybeyoushouldtakeabreak,you'vebeensittingatyour

computerforthreehourstryingtoputsomethingtogether.Nowonder

yourmindisn'tverysharpnow.

B:Icameupwithafewdifferentthoughtsontheproposal,butnow

I'vecompletelyrunoutofideas.

A:Maybewecanshelvetheproposalforawhilewhileyoubrainstorm.

B:Wecoulddothat,butIhatetoputeverythingonhold.

A:You'reright,it'snogoodtohavethingsupintheairfbrtoolong.

Dialogue2

A:We'vegottocomeupwithawaytosolvethisproblem!Nooneis

gettingalltheirworkdoneduringtheworkday.Weneedtodosome

brainstormingtocomeupwithatime-managementsolutionforouroffice.

B:Well,whatdoyousuggest?It'snotthatweareallwastingalotof

time.Factis,we'reunderstaffed.Peoplejusthavetoomuchtodo.

A:Soyouthinkweshouldhiresomenewpeople?Thatisonepossible

solution.Whatelsecouldbetheproblem?

B:Maybewedohavesomeproblemswithtime-management.If

peoplewerealwaysontimetowork,theymightgetmoredoneinthe

morningbeforelunch.

A:That'strue.Also,maybewecouldshortenthelunchbreakfrom

onehourtofortyfiveminutes.Thatwouldaddalittletimetoeveryone's

day.

B:Fifteenminuteswouldbegood,butIwonderifitwouldmakeabig

impactontheemployees'output.Istillthinkit'saproblemwithtoo

muchworkload.

A:Weendeduprightwherewestarted.Maybeitistimetolookfor

sometempworkerstohelpwithafewprojects.Thatwouldlighten

everyone'sload.

10Commuting

Dialogue1

A:Where'sBill?Theambassador[aem'baessds]isalreadyhere.The

meetingissettostartat9am.

B:He'slateagain.Trafficisprobablyholdinghimup.Youknow,

hecommutesfromthesuburbs.It'snoteasycommutingeveryday.We

shouldcuthimsomeslack.

A:Eventhoughthetrafficisbumper-to-bumperoutthere,Idon'tthink

it'sheavytrafficthatmakesBilllate.Hetakesthetrain,remember?

B:Oh,that'sright.Well,thetrainshouldn'tbelate.Thatmeans

thereisonlyoneexplanation....Billmusthaveoverslept.

A:Well,tobefare,sincehe'scomingallthewayfromLancaster,

he'sgottogetupmuchearlierthantherestofus.Hemustgetstartonhis

commuteabout6:30,notellingwhattimeheactuallygetsup.

B:That'sright,becausehe'sgottogettothetrainstationfromhis

house,thentakethebluelineintothecity,thenswitchtrainstothered

line.Inall,thetrip'sgottotakemorethan2hours.

A:Whydoesn'thejustdrivetowork?

B:It'stoodifficulttoparkyourcarinthecity.Also,thetraffic

cominginfromthesuburbsisanightmare.

Dialogue2

A:Ican'twaituntilmycarisrepaired.Thecommutingwithpublic

transportationiskillingme.

B:Itcan'tbethatbad.

A:Butitis!Takethismorningfbrexample.Thesubwaywasso

packedthismorning;Igottotallysquishedbyaboutahundredbusy

commutersonthewaytowork.

B:Atleastthesubwayisbetterthanthebus.It'sfasterfbronething.

Andusuallylesscrowded.Butthedrawbackisthatthesubwayismore

expensivethanthebus.Itaddsupovertime,ifyoutakeiteveryday.

A:That'strue.Thebusisevenworse.Justthinkingabouttakingthe

buseverydaymakesmetired!Hey,howdoyougettoworkeveryday?

B:Iridemybike.Idon'tlivetoofaraway,soit'sprettyconvenient,

it'sonlyaboutatenminutebikeridefrommyhousetotheoffice.

A:I'llbetit'sgoodexercise,too...agoodwaytokeepfit.

B:Yes,notonlyagoodwaytokeepinshape,butagoodwayto

relievestressaswell.Whileyou'restressedoutbyyourcommute,I'm

releasingallthestressofthedaywithmine.

OilTheworkinglunch

Dialogue1

A:Excuseme,Don?Ihatetobotheryou,butIneedyourhelpon

something.DoyouhavetimetobriefmeontheMartinaccounttoday?

B:Oh,that'sright.Youaresupposedtodeliverabriefonthat

accounttomorrow.IknowtherearesomethingsIneedtosharewithyou

aboutthat.But,gosh,Idon'tknow....Thingsarereallybusyfbr

metoday,theonlytimeIcanmanagetosqueezeoutmightbeoverlunch

break

A:Ihatetomakeyouworkthroughyourlunchbreakwithhowbusyyou

are....

B:It'sokay....I'vealreadyhadseveraldaysinarowworkingthrough

lunch

A:Howaboutthis....Wecanmakeitaworkinglunchthisafternoon,

andI'llordersomeChinesefoodfordelivery.It'llbemytreat.

B:Youdon'thavetodothat

A:Iinsist.Ireallyappreciateyoutakingtimetoworkwithmein.

Whatisyourfavoritefastfood?I'llcatertoyourtaste.

B:ActuallyIdolikeChinese....Let'smakeitadateforChopSuey

andtheMartinaccountatabout12:30.Doesthatsoundgood?

A:Great.I'llbringthefood.

Dialogue2

A:Forourlunchmeetingwiththeinvestors,dowehavetomakea

reservationattherestaurantordowejustshowup?

B:Usuallyforlunch,wedon'thavetoreserveatable,theyshould

allowwalk-ins.Buttobeonthesafeside,I'llorderatableforhalf-past

twelve.Willthatsuityourschedule?

A:I'vearrangedtomeetthemattherestaurantattwelve.Canyou

makethereservationalittleearlier?Ifwestartearlier,itwillgiveus

moretimeforalongerlunch.

B:Areyouplanningontreatingtheinvestorstoafull-coursemeal?

A:Yes,we'llstartwithappetizers,followwithasoupandsalad

course,thenmaindishesofprimeriborcordonbleuchicken,and

finishupwithadeliciousrichdessertofsomesort.

B:That'llbeprettyheavyforamid-daymeal,don'tyouthink?

A:Asalongaswestayawayfromanythingalcoholic,weshouldbe

okay.

B:Withyourprim