英语听力精选进阶版 14803

English at Work 

Episode¹ 21: Don’t panic! 

Language for asking for help 

图片1

Narrator:  Hello, welcome back to Tip Top Trading where everyone is gossiping about 

Paul’s announcement that Anna is to lead the company’s new stock² 

management system for the new laser-curved fruit.   

(Denise on phone) 

Denise:  Yes Anna…the new girl…she’s done really well although I don’t know what 

experience she’s got….anyway, about the hairdresser you mentioned, oh I 

loved his aftershave… 

Tom:  I can’t understand it. I’ve got all the experience and all the ideas…she’s 

just such a… 

Anna:   Tom. Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to check you’re ok with me leading 

this strategy⁴ for stock management. 

Tom:  Oh of course not. You deserve⁵ it. 

Narrator:  That was a nice touch Anna. 

Anna:   But Tom, now you must help me.  

Tom:  Eh?! 

Narrator:  Anna! That’s not the best way to ask for help.  Remember what I’ve always 

told you about politeness? 

Anna:  Be polite – yes you keep telling me that.  

Narrator:  And if you want someone to help you, ask them, don’t tell them – even if it 

is Tom!  

Anna:  Oh right.  I’m in a bit of a panic. I’ve never done this before. I don’t know 

where to begin.  

Narrator:  Well start by asking your colleagues for help like this: 

   I would be most grateful if you could give me some help 

  Please could I ask you for some advice? 

  I know you’re busy but could you spare me a few minutes of your time 

please? 

  Go on, give it a try! 

Anna:   Right, thanks. I'll try. Erm, excuse me Tom. Sorry about earlier. I’m a little 

nervous about leading this strategy thing and I would be most grateful if 

you could give me some help….please?  

Tom:  Of course Anna. Why didn’t you say, I’d be delighted. I’ve lost count of the 

number of projects I’ve lead over the years. 

Anna:  Great, thanks. So…where do you think I should begin? 

Tom:  Give me a few minutes and I’ll find some of the excellent work I did last 

year.  You’ll just need to copy it really. Hold on… 

Paul:  Ah Anna…just popping out for some biscuits….err³, how’s the stock 

management strategy coming along? 

Anna:  Oh very good Paul….actually, please could I ask you for some advice? 

Paul:  Yes of course….although I don’t know if I’ll be much use! 

Tom:  …now where did I save those damn⁶ documents?… 

Anna:  I’m very grateful for this opportunity but I’m a little unsure of where to 

start. Tom is looking for some his old work but… 

Paul:  Really?! To be honest, this isn’t Tom’s speciality⁷. At a time like this I would 

ask Denise. 

Anna:  Denise!? 

Paul:  Yes…she may only be the office assistant but she always has words of 

wisdom.  Right…custard creams of chocolate digestives? 

Anna:  What? 

Paul:  Biscuits? 

Anna:  Oh…custard creams please.  Err, Denise, I know you’re busy but could you 

spare a few minutes of your time please? 

Denise:  Of course Anna, always happy to help you.  

Anna:   Well you know the stock management control system? 

Denise:  The one you’ve now got to work out…well done for getting that! 

Anna:  Thanks. I really don’t know where to begin. It was OK writing it down for 

Paul but how do I put it in to practice? There’s just too much to do! 

Denise:   Calm down Anna. You’ll be fine. The first thing you need to do is to look at 

our current system.  

Anna:  Look at our current system. How do I do that? 

Denise:  Easy! Just take the lift down to the warehouse⁸ and speak to Mr Ingle and 

then write down what you find – and draw up an action plan of tasks you 

need to do – like a shopping list – I’m very good at those.  

Anna:  Go and see Mr Ingle? Oh do I have to. 

Denise:  He’s ok really Anna. If you approach him in the right way he won’t bite 

your head off! 

Anna:  What? Bite my head off! Oh…well, if he won’t bite me…then I suppose I 

should go and see him. Thanks for your advice Denise, I could kiss you. 

Right, I’m going to go and see him right now.  

Narrator:  Make an action plan! A good idea. Well done Denise, you’re smarter than 

you look!  And well done Anna, you eventually got the help you needed by 

using these phrases: 

  I would be most grateful if you could give me some help 

  Please could I ask you for some advice? 

  I know you’re busy but could you spare me a few minutes of your time 

please? 

  Remember, if you’re stuck for ideas just ask for help…but maybe not Tom, 

I wonder how he’s getting on? 

Tom:  (shouting across room) Here Anna, I’ve got them.  Look, all my ideas from 

my last stock control project…pages and pages of them.  Just copy these, 

they’re brilliant. Anna? Anna! 

Paul:  …too late, I’ve just seen her in the lift. Fancy⁹ a custard cream Tom? 

Narrator:  So Anna is off to speak to the prickly Mr Ingle. Let’s hope she uses those 

phrases to ask for help, otherwise she might get her head bitten off – and 

it could get very messy!  See you next time. 

Listening challenge: 

What does Denise advise Anna to do first when planning the stock management 

strategy?  

(Answer: To look at the current system) 

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 stock   

n.存货，储备；树干；血统；股份；家畜；adj.存货的；平凡的，惯用的；股票的；畜牧的；vt.进货，采购；储存；供给；vi.出新芽；进货

参考例句：

• The shop takes stock every week on Friday mornings.这家商店每星期五早晨盘点存货。
• Experts have forecast an upturn in the stock market.专家已预测股票市场价格有上升趋势。

3 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

4 strategy   

n.方法，策略，战略

参考例句：

• The only way to take the enemy position is by strategy,not by forceful attack.只可智取，不可强攻。
• Tactics differs from strategy.战术有别于战略。

5 deserve   

vt.应受，值得；vi. 应受报答，值得受赏

参考例句：

• You really deserve a good beating,you naughty boy.你这个调皮孩子真该打。
• I do not deserve all the praises bestowed upon me.我不配得到这些赞扬。

6 damn   

int.该死，他妈的；vt.指责，贬斥，诅咒

参考例句：

• Damn this useless typewriter!这台破打字机真该死！
• I knew damn well what he was going to say.我非常清楚他要说什么。

7 speciality   

n.专业，专长，名产，特产

参考例句：

• Silk is the speciality of this village.丝绸是这村子的特产。
• His speciality is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

8 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

9 fancy   

n.想像力，幻想；喜好，爱；adj.想像的，时髦的，华丽装饰的，奢侈的；技巧的；vt.想象，自认为，喜好

参考例句：

• He seemed to have taken quite a fancy to her.他似乎相当喜欢她。
• I have a fancy that it's going to rain.我想大概要下雨。