2014年ESL之商务英语 24 A Product Recall

A Product Recall 

Melissa: This is a disaster! If we have to recall 100,000 units, we’ll take a huge loss this year. 

Lee: We have no choice. The product defect poses a safety hazard. If we don’t act quickly, we’ll have a huge liability issue on our hands. 

Melissa: I think we’re blowing this out of proportion. Only a small amount of our June product run was affected¹. 

Lee: Yes, but even one case of someone getting hurt because of the defect would be a PR nightmare, and that’s on top of the charges of negligence² we’d have to face in court. We need to get ahead of this now. 

Melissa: All right, all right. I guess we have no choice. Should we hold a press conference to announce the recall? 

Lee: We’ll send out a press release first and then hold a press conference. 

Melissa: I’m putting you in charge of it. Get it done. 

Lee: You mean in charge of getting the press release sent out? 

Melissa: I mean that and the press conference. You can face the press and answer their questions. 

Lee: You’re throwing me to the wolves? 

Melissa: Not at all. I’m helping³ you raise your profile in the company. You should be thanking me. 

Lee: Somehow I don’t feel so grateful. 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 negligence   

n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意

参考例句：

• They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
• The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。