英语听力精选进阶版 15131

English at Work 

Episode¹ 38: Oranges and lemons 

Language for good customer relations 

Narrator:  Hello and welcome again to English at Work, where things are a little tense. 

Anna is finding it hard to work with new employee, Rachel. She’s told Paul, 

the boss, about Rachel’s incompetence² but he’s done nothing about it.   

So Anna, how are you feeling today?  

Anna:  Frustrated. All that work I put in, getting the contract for Imperial³ Lemons 

and Rachel has sent out a load of second-hand⁴ plastic oranges! 

Narrator:  I guess you’re going to have to call your client and sort out the mess. 

Anna:  I guess so. (Door opens) Oh hi Tom. 

Tom:  (Whispering) Is she about? The man-eater? 

Anna:  No it’s all clear, she’s gone out for a cappuccino. 

Tom:  Good good. Look I managed to call the guy she bought the second-hand 

oranges from, and I cancelled the order. 

Anna:  Phew, great! 

Tom:  Yeah, yeah… and last night I managed to order some Imperial Lemons and 

sent them to that company in France – Fruit Traders International. Here’s 

the paperwork.  

Anna:  Tom, that’s brilliant! Here, let me give you a big hug – you saved the day!  

Tom:  Ooh, that’s a bit tight. 

Denise:  Oh not again! You two just can’t leave each other alone… 

Anna:  Bbbut it was just… 

Denise:   Say no more Anna. Now, I was looking for my special red pen, have you 

seen it anywhere? 

Tom:  No. Funny that, my pens have gone missing too.  

Denise:  I’ll go and get some more. 

Tom:  Now Anna, I don’t want to interfere⁵ but have you called that company in 

France to see how they are? 

Anna:  Well, they’re fine aren’t they? 

Denise:  It’s good customer service to call them and see how they are. 

Anna:  But what do I say? 

Tom:  Tell you what. I’ll go over there and you can call me and practice. 

Anna:  Right. (Shouting across office) OK Tom, I’m calling your number now. 

Tom:  (On phone putting on posh voice) Hello – Fruit Traders International.  

Anna:  Yes, hello… (silence) 

Tom:  …introduce yourself and ask me how I am. 

Anna:  Oh right. Hello I’m Anna from Tip Top Trading. How are you today? 

Tom:  I’m very well. Now ask me about the order. 

Anna:  I hope you have received our Imperial Lemons and that you are happy with 

the order. 

Tom:  Yes, very very happy. The lemons are… fantastique! 

Anna:  Oh that’s good. Erm… we do hope you are pleased with our service and 

that you may use us again. 

Tom:  We certainly will. Thank you. 

Anna:  Do you have any questions you may want to ask? 

Tom:  No… actually yes…. err⁶, can I… err… buy you dinner sometime? 

Anna:  Very funny Tom. They won’t ask that! 

Tom:  No. I’m asking you. 

Anna:  Oh right… erm… OK then… yes! 

Narrator:  Hooray! Or should I say oh dear? Silly Anna has agreed to go on a dinner 

date with Tom – but there is still some business to attend to. Don’t forget 

to make that call to your client Anna. 

Anna:  No I won’t – in fact I’ll do it right now.  

Narrator:  Good! While she makes that call, here is a reminder⁷ of some of the phrases 

she could use… 

Hello I’m Anna from Tip Top Trading. How are you today? 

I hope you have received our order and are happy with it. 

We do hope you are pleased with our service and that you may use us 

again. 

Do you have any questions you may want to ask? 

Denise:  Are you OK Anna? You look a bit annoyed. 

Anna:  I am - I just called our client in France to check everything was OK and 

they said Rachel had already called them and told them our lemons were 

so last season and they would be stupid not to choose oranges! 

Denise:  That’s terrible. 

Tom:  (approaching) …hey Anna, how about this restaurant for our date… I mean 

our business meeting. Look at this menu… 

Anna:  Not now Tom. Rachel has messed things up again. She’s causing so much 

trouble. She’s got to go. 

Tom:  Oh… yeah right. This calls for action. 

Narrator:  It certainly does. It sounds like Rachel has gone too far this time and it’s 

up to Anna to sort things out. But what can she do? Join us again next time 

on English at Work to find out. Bye! 

Listening Challenge  

What item has Denise and Tom both lost?  

(Answer: Their pens) 

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 incompetence   

n.不胜任，不称职

参考例句：

• He was dismissed for incompetence. 他因不称职而被解雇。
• She felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss's incompetence. 她觉得，本是老板无能，但她却成了替罪羊。

3 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。

4 second-hand   

adj.用过的，旧的，二手的

参考例句：

• I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
• They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

5 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

6 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。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。