英语听力精选进阶版 14798

English at Work 

Episode¹ 15: Seb Lime² 

More about telephone manner 

Anna:   (answering the phone) Yes? 

Denise:  Stop! That's all wrong. I'm going to call you again. This time… 

Narrator:  Hello. Here we are in the middle of a telephone training session³ with Denise 

and Anna. What fun! 

Denise:  …this time, you don't say 'yes' when you answer, it's rude. Call me and I'll 

show you how it's done.  

   (sound of 4-digit dialling, then phone rings) 

   Hello? Tip Top Trading. 

Anna:   Wow, that’s good. 

Denise:  And, you can say your name. Hello? Tip Top Trading. Denise speaking. Try 

it. 

   (dialling, then ring) 

Anna:   Hello? Tip Top Trading. Denise speaking. 

Denise:  No! 

Anna:   What? 

Denise:  Say: "Anna speaking!" 

Anna:   Oh, sorry, I'm so stressed by all this. Hello Anna speaking. 

Denise:  You sound like you're sitting on a pineapple. Listen to my voice: Hello? 

Denise speaking. 

Anna:   Hello? Anna speaking. 

Denise:  Good. Now, when the person has introduced themself – this is Mrs Smith or 

whatever, say: Hello Mrs Smith, how can I help you? Or, if you know them 

already, you might say: Hello Mrs Smith, how are you?  

Anna:   Okay, what if Mrs Smith wants to speak to Tom but he's not there? 

Denise:  You say: "I'm really sorry, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a 

message?" Or: "I'm afraid he's busy, shall I ask him to call you back?" 

Anna:   Okay.  

Denise:  And, to end a conversation, you can say: "Thank you for calling, goodbye." 

Let's do another practice! 

   (phone rings)  

Anna:   Hello? Tip Top Trading.  

Denise:   Hello, this is Mrs Smith. 

Anna:   Hello Mrs Smith, how can I help you?  

Denise:  I'd like to speak to Tom please. 

Anna:   I'm really sorry, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a message?  

Denise:  That's okay, I'll try again later. 

Anna:   Okay. Thank you for calling, goodbye.  

Denise:  Excellent! 

   (phone rings)  

   Oh! 

Anna:   How did you call me without dialling? 

Denise:  I didn't, that's a real call! 

Anna:   Oh no, I'm all nervous now. Hello? Tip Top Trading. This is Anna speaking. 

Mr Lime:  Hello Anna, this is Seb Lime. 

Anna:   Sublime⁴? 

Mr Lime:  Mr Lime from Citrus Ventures⁵. But I think we should be on first name terms 

now, so call me Seb. 

Anna:   Okay, er, Seb. How can I help you? 

Mr Lime:  I just wanted to say again that your Imperial⁶ Lemon is fantastic... and I 

was wondering if you'd like to do lunch with me sometime? 

Anna:   Lunch? Er...  

Narrator:  I knew it! Mr Lime is interested in more than just your lemons! 

Anna:   Would you like to discuss the Imperial Lemon? 

Mr Lime:  Forget the lemons Anna! The reason I want to see you is more of a 

personal nature.  

Anna:  Personnel⁷?  Er...    Can I call you back? I'm afraid I'm a bit busy at the 

moment...  

Mr Lime:  …bbbut… 

Denise:  Well Anna! Mr Lime eh? 

Anna:  Oh dear Denise, I think I need a bit more help from you. He wants to talk 

about personnel…people, staffing… 

Denise:  Are you sure? I think he means a personal nature, not personnel! That Mr 

Lime! 

Anna:  Oh! 

Narrator:  Mr Lime indeed. Anyway, Anna had an excellent phone manner. Let's hear 

those phrases again:    

   Hello? Tip Top Trading. This is Anna speaking. 

   Hello? Anna speaking.  

    Hello Mrs Smith, how can I help you? 

   Hello Mrs Smith, how are you? 

   I'm really sorry, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a message?  

   I'm afraid he's busy – shall I ask him to call you back? 

   Thank you for calling, goodbye. 

   But how is Anna going to handle Mr Lime's request? I can't wait till next 

time! Bye! 

  Listening Challenge  

What does Seb Lime want Anna to do?      

(Answer: To go for lunch with him) 

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 lime   

n.石灰，酸橙，酸橙树，粘鸟胶，钙；vt.施石灰，涂上粘性物质，沾上粘鸟胶

参考例句：

• Lime exists in many soils.许多土壤中都含有石灰。
• A broad avenue of lime trees led up to a grand entrance with huge oak doors.一条栽有酸橙树的宽阔林阴道通向巨大的橡木门的雄伟入口。

3 session   

n.会议，开庭期，市盘，学期；adj.短期的

参考例句：

• This matter will go over until the next session.这件事将留待下次会议讨论。
• Congress is now in session.国会现在正在开会。

4 sublime   

adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的

参考例句：

• We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
• Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。

5 ventures   

v.敢于，冒险( venture的第三人称单数 )；冒…的危险；拿…冒险；用…进行投机

参考例句：

• In the fairy stories, the youngest son usually ventures forth and tries to find his fortune. 在神话故事中，最小的儿子通常总是勇敢地出发寻求幸福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Besides selecting technological ventures for investment, the firms provide management, marketing and networking advice to the investee companies. 除甄选适宜投资的科技开发项目外，创业资金公司并为获得投资的公司提供管理、市场推广和建立网络等方面的意见。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 imperial   

adj.帝王的，至尊的；n.特等品

参考例句：

• They made an objection to the imperial system with resolution.他们坚决反对帝制。
• The Prince Imperial passed away last night.皇太子昨晚去世了。

7 personnel   

n.[总称]人员，员工，人事部门

参考例句：

• The personnel are not happy to change these rules.全体工作人员对改变这些规定很不高兴。
• Personnel has lost my tax forms.人事部门把我的税收表格给弄丢了。