英语听力精选进阶版 15125

English at Work 

Episode¹ 31: Sign on the dotted line 

Language for project management 

Anna:   Help, help! (Banging on door)  

Tom:  Help us! We're locked in. 

Narrator:   Oh dear. Do you remember that Tom and Anna are locked in the stationery 

cupboard? What are they going to do? And what will people say when they 

are discovered in there? I have a feeling we're about to find out…  

Denise:  Goodness, what's that? Anna is that you? And is that you Tom? 

Anna:  Yes, help! We're locked in. 

Denise:  Don't panic, I've got the key (unlocks door). There. How on earth… 

Tom:  …it's not how it looks Denise. We were just… erm… 

Anna:  …just looking for envelopes. 

Denise:  Really?!  

Anna:  Yes, yes, really. The door slammed³ shut and locked from the inside when 

Tom walked in. 

Tom:  Yeah, she's right. Just walked in, and shut the door and bang². 

Denise:  Hmm. Let's just keep it our little secret shall we. (Aside to Anna) I thought 

you had better taste Anna!  

Paul:   Ah there you are Anna, I need a word with you… Oh, you look like you've 

been caught doing something you shouldn't! Ha ha. 

Anna:  …but I haven't.  

Paul:  Just joking Anna. Now could you step in to my office, we need to touch 

base about the European marketing⁴ strategy⁵.  

Anna:  Are we playing baseball?!  

Narrator:  No Anna! Touch base. He wants to catch up with you, probably to see how 

you're getting on. Go on Anna, let's see what he has to say. 

Anna:  Oh I see. (Office door shuts) That door doesn't lock does it? 

Paul:  No, I don't think so. Right Anna. Biscuit? These new peanut ones are quite 

nice. So how are things with the project? 

Anna:  Well, I've done some cold calling and have an order from a company in 

France. 

Paul:  I see. Very impressive⁶ but have they signed on the dotted line yet? 

Anna:  The dotted line? 

Paul:  Have they actually signed the contract yet? 

Anna:  Well, no, but… 

Paul:  …that's the problem. There's a rival⁷ company who's also targeting the 

European market called Tutti Fruity - and they'll do anything to steal our 

customers. 

Anna:  Oh I see. 

Paul:  So, to keep our head above water, we need a clear strategy… and that's 

why I've put you in charge. So what shall we do? 

Narrator:  I've a feeling Paul hasn't a clue – that's why he wants you to come up with 

the ideas. 

Anna:  I think you're right – but I don't know what to say. 

Narrator:  Tell him we need to price the rivals⁸ out of the market, that means offer the 

lowest prices so nobody wants to buy plastic fruit from our rivals. You could 

say that we need to corner the market, that means Tip Top Trading 

dominates⁹ the plastic fruit market.  

Anna:  Oh, thanks. That's very useful. 

Paul:  So Anna, any thoughts? 

Anna:  Lots Paul. I think we've got to compete on price. 

Paul:  Oh yes? 

Anna:  We need to price Tutti Fruity out of the market. We need to corner the 

market so that everyone knows we are the best choice for good quality, 

good value plastic fruit. 

Paul:  I like it! 

Anna:  And… and… 

Narrator:  Tell him we need to build good relationships with our customers – that 

means we give them good service.  

Anna:  …we need to build good relationships with our customers. Talk to them 

regularly, send them gifts… go and meet them face to face. 

Paul:  Face to face? Yes, great idea – just what I was thinking. If we follow this 

strategy I reckon¹⁰ there could be a bonus for us all by Christmas. 

Narrator:   Well done Anna. Very convincing. If you can put your ideas into practice 

you'll save the company. Let's remind ourselves of the words you used to 

create the European marketing strategy…  

We've got to compete on price.  

We need to price the rivals out of the market.  

We need to corner the market. 

We need to build good relationships with our customers. 

Narrator:  Well, things seem to be going well for Anna… or are they? 

Denise:  Anna! Anna! That man from France has called again and left a message. 

He's not happy this time. Something about us trying to rip¹¹ them off! 

Anna:  What? Rip them off? 

Denise:  It means over charging them or giving them poor quality goods. 

Anna:  That's not fair. I'm going to have to sort this out. 

Narrator:  That's it Anna – go and build a good relationship with your customer! Bye 

for now. 

Listening Challenge:  

Paul tells Anna he wants to touch base, what does he mean?  

(Answer: To catch up and discuss how things are going) 

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 bang   

n.巨响，猛击；vi.砰砰作响；vt.砰地敲，猛击

参考例句：

• Pack it up, you kids;or I'll bang your heads together!住手，你们这些小孩，再弄就揍你们！
• She fell and got a nasty bang on the knee.她摔倒了，膝盖猛撞在地上。

3 slammed   

v.砰地关上（门或窗）( slam的过去式和过去分词 )；用力一放；使劲一推；猛劲一摔

参考例句：

• He slammed on the brakes and the car juddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，汽车在剧烈震动中停下来。
• He walked out of the room and slammed the door. 他走出房间，猛地关上了房门。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 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。

6 impressive   

adj.给人深刻印象的，感人的

参考例句：

• This cinema is so impressive that we can't help crying.这影片如此感人以至我们禁不住流下泪来。
• The suit made him look especially impressive.他穿上这套衣服真精神。

7 rival   

n.竞争对手，敌手；vt.与…相匹敌，比得上

参考例句：

• None of us can rival him in strength.我们谁也没他劲大。
• She defeat all her rival for the job with nonchalant ease.她从容不迫地击败求职的所有竞争者。

8 rivals   

竞争对手( rival的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• one of the President's chief rivals 总统的主要政敌之一
• She always managed to outsmart her political rivals. 她总有办法表现得比她的政敌智高一筹。

9 dominates   

v.控制( dominate的第三人称单数 )；在…中占首要地位；在…中具有最重要（或明显）的特色；在…中拥有最重要的位置

参考例句：

• The spire of the tower dominates the foreground. 塔尖在前景中占了主要地位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The company dominates this segment of the market. 这家公司控制着这一部分市场。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 reckon   

vt.计算，估计，认为；vi.计（算），判断，依靠

参考例句：

• Don't reckon upon your relatives to help you out of trouble.不要指望你的亲戚会帮助你摆脱困境。
• I reckon that he is rather too old to marry again.我认为他的年龄太大，不太适于再婚。

11 rip   

n.拉裂，破绽，激流，浪荡子；vt.撕裂，激昂地说，贬损；vi.裂开，仓促地冲过...

参考例句：

• He had seen the rip in the book.他看到了书里的裂缝。
• I tried not to rip the paper as I unwrapped it.我把纸打开的时候，尽量不把它撕破。