新视野大学英语视听说教程 4 Unit 4-3

Task 2: SOHO
Script
The modern concept of small office and home office, or small and home office, often (S1) shorted to SOHO, is concerned with business that employ from one to ten workers. Also (S2) known as a virtual business, the SOHO has not evolved beyond the idea of an (S3) independent business person who has a few support stall members.
Business (S4) enterprises that are large are often called Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
Before the19th century and the (S5) spread of the industrial revolution around the globe, (S6) nearly all offices were small offices or home offices, with only a few exceptions. Most businesses were small, and (S7) so was the amount of paperwork that went with their business activities.
At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, the term “Small or Home Office” and (S8) the acronym¹ SOHO have been used t to great extent by companies that sell products to large number of small business with a small-sized office.
Some products are often designed specifically for the SOHO market. (S9) Many books are written and sold specifically for this type of office to tell people how to equip a small office.
Nowadays many consultants², lawyers, and real estate agents in small and medium- sized towns operate from such home offices.
(S10) In the field of software development, engineers often have to work 20 hours or more at a stretch, so they can hardly adapt to normal office hours. They often work in small offices to have more freedom.

1 acronym   

n.首字母简略词，简称

参考例句：

• That's a mouthful of an acronym for a very simple technology.对于一项非常简单的技术来说，这是一个很绕口的缩写词。
• TSDF is an acronym for Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities.TSDF是处理，储存和处置设施的一个缩写。

2 consultants   

顾问( consultant的名词复数 )； 高级顾问医生，会诊医生

参考例句：

• a firm of management consultants 管理咨询公司
• There're many consultants in hospital. 医院里有很多会诊医生。