英语听力精选进阶版 15128（在线收听）

English at Work 

Episode 34: The business trip 

Language for clinching the deal 

Anna:  (At the airport) Tom, could you let go of my hand? 

Tom:  Sorry, it's just I get nervous flying. 

Anna:  Well, we've landed in Marseille now so you're safe… oh, I like your passport 

photo. 

Tom:  Oh do you? 

Anna:  I didn't know your middle name was Stanley. 

Tom:  After my great-great-grandfather. 

Anna:  Really? Come on we need to get a taxi. Taxi! Taxi! 

Narrator:  Hello again. Anna and Tom are on a very important business trip to try and 

sign a deal to sell their plastic fruit to a company in France. The company 

has received a better offer so Anna needs to convince them that Tip Top 

Trading's lemons are best. Are you feeling confident Anna? 

Anna:  Not really. It was OK speaking to them on the phone but seeing them face-to-face is quite scary. 

Narrator:  You'll be fine. Stay calm. They'll be pleased you've taken the time to fly out 

and see them – but tell them you're grateful for their time and recap what 

you told them on the phone. 

Anna:  Oh yes – beat the price of the competitor but get them to make a bigger 

order. 

Narrator:  Yes. If they order more you can offer a bigger discount. Good luck. 

Tom:  Oh look, we're here now. Now Anna, I hope you don't mind me saying, but 

just leave the talking to me. Right?  

Anna:  Err, well… 

Tom:  Oh, Madame Brown, ciao, great to see you 

Trader:  What? 

Anna:  Monsieur Brown. Bonjour. I'm Anna from Tip Top Trading. This is my 

colleague Tom. Thank you for sparing the time to see us. 

Trader:  No problem. Did you have a good flight? 

Tom:  It was great. I love those little bottles of wine they give out… I kept a few 

with me if you fancy a glass of vin rouge? 

Anna:  I think we should sit down and discuss business. 

Trader:  Of course. 

Tom:  Yeah, yeah, good idea. 

Anna:  Now, I believe Tutti Fruity has offered you a good price but as I said on the 

phone, we can beat that. 

Trader:  Yes you did. 

Tom:  Did you Anna?! 

Anna:  But to get this price you've got to buy lots more. 

Narrator:  Anna! That's not very subtle. You need to convince them they need to buy 

more without telling them they have to. 

Tom:  What she means is our Imperial Lemons are made with our unique laser 

curve technology. They are hard wearing and a joy to have on display in 

any shop window or restaurant. 

Anna:  Tom, that's amazing! 

Tom:  I read it on the back of the box! 

Anna:  So, we really feel that we have a product that you'll be proud to display. 

And to get this fantastic price you just need to place an order of 10,000.  

Tom:  And we can even throw in a free sample of our new Perfect Peach range. 

Anna:  Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee. I know you won't be 

disappointed. 

Trader:  Hmm. It sounds good. OK, I think you have a deal. 

Narrator:  Good work Anna. Don't forget to ask him to sign the contract and tell him 

when he can expect the order to be delivered. 

Anna:  OK. I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract. We'll get the 

lemons to you as quickly as we can. Tom, do you have a pen? 

Tom:  Erm, no actually. It was in my bag yesterday but it's gone… it was a nice, a 

good one too. 

Trader:  No problem. I have a pen. (signs the contract). There you go. 

Anna:   Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you. We'll get those 

lemons to you in two weeks' time. 

Trader:  Perfect! 

Narrator:  Good work Anna…oh and Tom too. The contract is signed but now you have 

to deliver what you've promised. There are many ways to clinch a deal; 

here are some of the phrases Anna used…  

Thank you for sparing the time to see us. 

Each lemon comes with a satisfaction guarantee - I know you won't be 

disappointed. 

I would be grateful if you could just sign the contract. 

Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you. 

Narrator:  So it's been a successful day. It's time for Tom and Anna to fly back to 

London and tell Paul the good news… or is it? 

(Back at the airport) 

Anna:  Oh no look, our flight to London is cancelled! It's the last one today. What 

are we going to do? 

Tom:  Well, I guess we're just going to have to stay here for the night. I'll sort 

out a hotel. 

Narrator:  Until next time. Bye! 

?  Listening Challenge  

What does Tom offer to throw in as part of the deal with the company in France? 

 (Answer: a free sample of our new Perfect Peach range)