新视野大学英语视听说教程 3 Unit 5-7

MODEL2   I have some very bad news.
Helen: Bill, I’ve been searching for a loan, but I was rejected everywhere. Now I’m afraid I have some very bad news.
Bill:   What is it?
Helen: Well, the company has been experiencing serious financial difficulties for quite a long time now.
Bill:   I know we’ve been operating in the red for the past few months.
Helen: Exactly. After a long discussion with my partners, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best course of action is to file for bankruptcy¹
Bill:   What? Bankruptcy? I didn’t 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 merger². Then we’ll have to face even stiffer³ competition. I feel the situation is going to go from bad to worse. We simply can’t 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 severance⁴ package will we able to offer them?
Helen:  Unfortunately, the best we can do is offer one month’s salary.
Bill:    Oh! How terrible! OK, I’ll contact Vivitek and see if they are interested in acquiring our company.

1 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

2 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

3 stiffer   

adj.严厉的( stiff的比较级 )；僵硬的；强烈的；拘谨的

参考例句：

• There are now stiffer penalties for drunken drivers. 现在对酗酒开车的处罚更严厉了。 来自辞典例句
• The language correspondingly became stiffer. 讲话的语言也相应地变得更加强硬。 来自辞典例句

4 severance   

n.离职金；切断

参考例句：

• Those laid off received their regular checks,plus vacation and severance pay.那些被裁的人都收到他们应得的薪金，再加上假期和解职的酬金。Kirchofer was terminated,effective immediately--without severance or warning.科奇弗被解雇了，立刻生效--而且没有辞退费或者警告。