英语听力精选进阶版 15124

English at Work 

Episode¹ 30: Two heads are better than one 

Language for negotiating² 

Anna:   (On the phone) Yes, we have plenty in stock³. They're ￡4 per unit… They 

are good quality ones… 

Narrator:   The company in France that Anna called earlier has called her back. Let's 

hope they're making an order. 

Anna:  …laser technology isn't cheap… hmm, I see… Well, thanks for calling back. 

Bye. 

Paul:  Everything OK Anna?  

Anna:  Not really. One of the companies I cold called has rung back… 

Paul:  Good, good… 

Anna:  …but they don't want to place an order. They say we're too expensive. 

Paul:  So you let them go? Didn't you negotiate⁴ with them? 

Anna:  Oh, was I meant to? I wasn't sure what to say. 

Tom:  Having trouble Anna? Don't worry, I'm sure that I can help. Negotiating is 

my thing! 

Narrator:   "Negotiating is my thing"! What is he like? Mind you, he has won a Pear 

Salesman of the Year award so he must be doing something right.  

Anna:  Are you sure Tom? Don't you want to negotiate your own deals? 

Tom:  I owe you one Anna after you saved my bacon with Mr Socrates the other 

night. And besides you and me… 

Paul:  Come on you two. Get a move on. Europe is waiting for us! Custard cream 

anyone? 

Tom:  No thanks. Right. Now you need to call that French company back and ask 

them what kind of price they are willing to pay. 

Anna:  And then say that's fine? 

Tom:  No! Negotiate. Say "I don't think we can go that low". 

Anna:  "I don't think we can go that low". 

Tom:  If they want a bigger discount, tell them they will have to buy more stock. 

Anna:  More stock, bigger discount. 

Tom:  Yeah. And if you still can't agree a price, tell them "I'll meet you half way". 

Anna:  Meet half way?! That means going to Paris! 

Tom:  No. Half way on the price. That line always works⁵ for me. I sold a load of 

plastic pears that way once. 

Anna:  So that's "I'll meet you half way". Thanks Tom. I'm really impressed. You… 

you… 

Tom:  Am I, really?! 

Anna:  What? I was going to say, you really do know your stuff⁶ – despite what 

other people say. 

Tom:  What? Uh? 

Anna:  Right, I'm off to make that call right now. 

Narrator:  Good luck Anna and well done Tom! Nice to hear him give some useful 

advice but will it work? Let's remind ourselves of the phrases he suggested 

Anna uses when negotiating a sale: 

What kind of price are you willing to pay? 

I don't think we can go that low. 

If you buy more stock, I can offer you a bigger discount. 

I'll meet you half way. 

Narrator:  Let's see how Anna has got on. 

Anna:  Success! They've agreed to buy 5,000 Imperial⁷ Lemons. 

Tom:  Brilliant. I knew you would be great. Did those killer⁸ lines of mine work? 

Anna:  Sort of – but when I said what price were they looking to pay, they said the 

full price! As long as I send them the contract today so I'd better go and 

get an envelope and post it as soon as I can. 

Tom:  Oh great. 

Anna:  Tom… Tom… can you come over here to the stationery⁹ cupboard and get 

an envelope from the top shelf for me? 

Tom:  Yeah, suppose so… I'm coming... (Door slams¹⁰ shut) …oh! 

Anna:  Oh Tom, why did you do that? It won't open… it's locked… help, help! 

Tom:  Help! 

Narrator:  Uh oh. This should be interesting. How are they going to explain being 

locked in the stationery cupboard? Until next time. Bye! 

Tom:  Let us out! We're stuck! 

Listening challenge: 

What does the company in France agree to buy from Tip Top Trading? 

(Answer: 5,000 Imperial Lemons) 

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 negotiating   

n. 谈判 动词negotiate的现在分词

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• We want to get all the parties back to the negotiating table. 我们想把有关各方拉回到谈判桌上来。

3 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。

4 negotiate   

v.洽谈，协商，谈判，顺利通过，成功越过

参考例句：

• I'll negotiate with their coach on the date of the match.我将与他们的教练磋商比赛的日期问题。
• I managed to negotiate successfully with the authorities.我设法同当局进行了成功的协商。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。

7 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。

8 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

9 stationery   

n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封

参考例句：

• She works in the stationery department of a big store.她在一家大商店的文具部工作。
• There was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationery.文具一多，心里自会觉得踏实。

10 slams   

v.砰地关上（门或窗）( slam的第三人称单数 )；用力一放；使劲一推；猛劲一摔

参考例句：

• I'm sick of your slams. 对于你的谩骂我真受够了。 来自辞典例句
• Kentucky steal Ball and Ron Mercen slams for two. 肯塔基队争到球，罗恩默塞扣篮得2分。 来自互联网