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2008年ESL之购物 06 A Call from a Telemarketer

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06 A Call from a Telemarketer

GLOSSARY1

lady of the house – the female2 head of the household; the woman with the topposition in the family, usually the wife and/or mother* Maria had spent many years being bossed around by her parents and oldersisters, and was happy to get married and finally become the lady of the house.

what is this regarding3? – a formal way to ask what something is about; a politeway to ask why someone is calling * “Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting a call from the police,” she said, “What is this regarding?”

cable4 company – a company that provides cable TV service that gives peopleaccess to additional5 movie, sports, and other TV stations for a monthly6 fee* I need to call the cable company tomorrow so that we will be able to watch theboxing match on TV this Saturday!

bundle7 – group; a package deal; two or more services for one price* I pay $19.99 a month for a bundle of services on my cell phone, including textmessaging and unlimited8 calls.

to sign up – to officially agree to do something; to commit to paying a company;to sign a contract * Ling wanted to exercise more so she signed up for a three-month gymmembership.

no extra charge – for free; to give away one item or service with purchase ofanother* When I bought my new camera, the salesman gave me batteries for no extracharge.

to switch – to change; to stop using one company’s services and start usinganother’s; to stop doing one thing and to start doing another* I told my mother that she should switch to a cheaper way to heat her home aftershe received a $500 bill last month.

do-not-call registry – created in 2003 by the US Federal9 Trade Commission10, itallows people who do not want to get sales phone calls to add their name to this list and it bans (or does not allow) telemarketers from calling them* I haven’t received one telemarketing phone call since I added my name to thedo-not-call registry last year.

to take off – to remove; to erase11; to delete12* Olivia asked that her address be taken off the public message board.

call list – list of phone numbers used by a telemarketing company to make sales calls; a list of potential customers used by a telemarketing company* On his first day at his new telemarketing job, Jorge was given a call list with 30names and telephone numbers.

prior13 relationship – contact between two people in the past; a relationship thathappened before the present* I did not have a prior relationship with the lawyer, but I trusted him because my friend had used his services for years.

telemarketers – people who are paid by a company to call other people by phone and sell a product or service* I used to work as a telemarketer, but I quit because I didn’t like the way peoplereacted to me when I called them at home or at an inconvenient14 time.

sales pitch – the way a person tries to sell something; the words and actions used by a salesperson15 to try to get you to buy a product* The knife salesperson’s sales pitch involved cutting through a thick piece ofwood to show the high quality of her products.

to demand – to insist; to require someone else to do something; to ask in a very strong and impolite way* When her mother came home and saw her messy room, her mother demandedthat she clean her room right away.

do I make myself clear? – a stronger, more forceful way to ask, “Do youunderstand?”, usually used when making a demand or insisting that someone dowhat one says* “You are not allowed to see that boy again,” said Tanya’s father, “Do I makemyself clear?”

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.  What does a telemarketer do?

a)  Sell things over the phone.

b)  Work at the check-out counter in the supermarket.

c)  Fix television sets.

2.  Why is Doris so unhappy to receive this phone call?

a)  She doesn’t like to watch cable television.

b)  The telemarketer asked her a personal question.

c)  She had asked to be placed on the do-not-call registry______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

bundleIn this podcast, the word “bundle,” refers to a group of individual services that areoffered at one price: “The new company has a bundle of services, which includes Internet, phone, and cable services for $50 a month.”  A bundle can also be anumber of things tied together: “Uwe untied16 the bundle of newspapers to look foryesterday’s business section.”  A bundle is also a slang17 term for a large amountof money: “Going out to dinner and a movie can often end up costing a bundle!” Many American parents will refer to their small child as a “little bundle of joy”: “My little bundle of joy will celebrate his second birthday next week!”  To say someone is a “bundle of laughs” is to say that they are generally happy and easy to get along with: “Everyone just loves having Natalia around.  She is a realbundle of laughs.”

To switchThe phrase, “to switch,” in this podcast means to change from using onecompany’s services to using the services of a different company: “Mr. Kimswitched phone companies just last month and has already saved $20.”  Toswitch can also mean to change or exchange something very suddenly: “Thetwins quickly switched name tags18 to confuse their teacher.”  A switch can also bea small device19 used to turn something on and off, most commonly lights andelectronics: “Could you turn on the light?  The switch is by the door.”  Or: “I can’tfind the switch to turn on this radio.”  A switch can also be a thin stick used to hitpeople or animals as a punishment: “In the story, when the boy behaved badly,his father hit him with a switch.”

CULTURE NOTETelemarketing is a sales “technique” (way something is done; method) used by many American companies to “promote” (sell; make known) their products orservices.  Telemarketing, or sales by phone, is an industry that “grosses” (earns)over 200 billion dollars a year in the U.S.

Traditional businesses are not the only ones who use telemarketing; many othertypes of organizations in the U.S. also use this powerful tool to their advantage. “Charities” (organizations that make no profit) use phone calls as a way to raiseboth money and “awareness” (making something known) for their “cause” (whatsomeone believes in and works20 for).  Political parties and “candidates” (a personwho runs for a political position) also use telemarketing to raise “campaign funds”

(money for a candidate21 to advertise, travel, pay employees, etc.) so that they canbe elected or re-elected.  Often, “market research firms” (companies that makemoney researching what people like and dislike) will also call customers at homeand ask them a series of questions known as a survey; however, these calls donot involve the sale of a product or service.

Businesses and organizations, while very different, all use similar telemarketingtechniques.  Most calls made by telemarketers are made by “predictive dialing,”

where a computer, rather than a person, dials a phone number.  After a fewrings, the computer will “turn the call over” (give the phone) to an availabletelemarketer.  The telemarketer will then ask to speak to the head of thehousehold, and the call will go forward from there, with the telemarketer oftenimmediately “launching” (starting; beginning) into his or her sales pitch.

Because many Americans are annoyed by “unsolicited” (unwanted) calls, thereare a few rules governing telemarketing practice in the U.S.  Telemarketers mustgive their name and the name of their company if the person on the other endrequests that they do so.  Telemarketing calls can only be made between thehours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., which unfortunately still does not prevent theunwanted phone call in the middle of dinner!

______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers:  1 – a; 2 – c

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 375: A Call from aTelemarketer.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode23 375.  I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

You can visit our website at eslpod.com to download a Learning24 Guide for this episode and all of our current episodes25.  You can also visit our ESL PodcastStore, which has additional courses in English you may be interested in.

This episode is called “A Call from a Telemarketer.”  A “telemarketer” is someonewho calls you on the telephone to sell you something.  Let’s listen.

[start of dialogue]

Doris:  Hello.

Telemarketer:  Hello, may I speak to the lady of the house?

Doris:  What is this regarding?

Telemarketer:  I’m calling from Cheetam Cable Company and we have a very special offer.  This month only, you can get a bundle of services for the low, lowprice of $69.99!  This offer...

Doris:  Thank you, but I’m not interested.

Telemarketer:  But that’s because you haven’t heard the rest of the offer yet.  Ifyou sign up today, you will get at no extra charge, all of the equipment you’llneed to switch to our cable company. Doris:  As I said, I’m not interested.  I’m also on the national do-not-call registry and I want to be taken off your call list. Telemarketer:  If you’re on my list, it means that you have a prior relationship withour company and telemarketers are allowed to call you.  Now about that specialoffer...

Doris:  I don’t want to hear your sales pitch.  I demand to be taken off your calllist and I don’t want to get any more calls from your company.

Telemarketer:  Is that a “no” on the special offer?

Doris:  Yes, that’s a “no” on the special offer and a “no” on getting any more calls from your company.  Do I make myself clear?

Telemarketer:  Yes, very clear.  If you’re not interested in our special offer, I cantell you about our other services...

Doris:  No you can’t!  [Hangs up the phone]

[end of dialogue]

Doris answers the phone by saying, “Hello.”  The telemarketer says, “Hello, may Ispeak to the lady of the house?”  “The lady of the house” would be the femalehead of the house or the family.  Usually the wife and/or mother, that would bethe lady of the house.  Sort of an old-fashioned26 expression now, but you will stillhear it.  The opposite would be “the man of the house,” which would be thehusband or father, or head of the house who was a man.  Not all houses havelady and man of the house present.

Doris says, “What is this regarding?”  This is a formal way of asking for theperson to tell them what they are calling for.  It’s a polite way of asking why areyou calling: “What is this regarding?”  The telemarketer says, “I’m calling fromCheetam Cable Company and we have a very special offer.”  A “cable company”

is the company that brings cable television that gives you many differenthundreds of channels to watch.  “This month only,” the telemarketer says, “youcan get a bundle of services for a low, low price of $69.99!”  A “bundle” (bundle),here, means a group or a “package,” two or more things for one price; so, abundle of services.  Maybe you’ll get sports and movies and other types oftelevision all for one price; that would be a package or a bundle.  Thetelemarketer says, “This offer,” trying to continue to sell Doris.  Doris says,“Thank you, but I’m not interested.”  This is a polite way of telling someone whocalls you that you don’t want to talk to them anymore, that you are not interestedin buying what they are selling.

The telemarketers don’t give up easily, however.  This one says, “But that’s because you haven’t heard the rest of the offer yet.  If you sign up today, you willget at no extra charge, all of the equipment you need to switch to our cablecompany.”  “If you sign up (if you become a member – if you agree to buy this) today, you will get at no extra charge (meaning for free) all of the equipmentyou’ll need to switch to our cable company.”  “To switch,” here, means to change,to stop using this company and start using a different company’s services.  Boththe expression “to switch” and “bundle” have additional meanings in English; takea look at our Learning Guide for some of those explanations.

Doris says, “As I said, I’m not interested.  I’m also on the national do-not-callregistry and I want to be taken off your call list.”  The “do-not-call registry,” or list,was created by the U.S. federal government in 2003 to allow people to say tobusinesses “I don’t want you to call me,” and if a business calls someone whoasks not to be called, they can be “penalized,” they may have to pay a fine to thegovernment because it is against the law for them to call you if you asked not tobe called.  So you call up the government, or you go on the website, and you putyour telephone number in, and any company that uses telemarketers – uses salespeople27 who call by telephone – has to check that list first to make sure thatyour name is not on it.  Most Americans, I think, or a very high percentage ofAmericans now have their telephone numbers on that list; I know I do. Unfortunately now, we have a new problem, which is spam.  But that’s at leastone thing we don’t have to worry about: telemarketers.  Doris says, “I want to betaken off (or removed) your call list,” the list of people that you have that you callto try to sell things to.  You can use that expression “take me off” also to requestthat someone remove your email address from their list: “Please take me off ofthis list” – please remove me, delete my email.

The telemarketer then says to Doris, “If you are on my list (my call list), it means that you have a prior relationship with our company and telemarketers areallowed to call you.”  One of the exceptions28 to the rule about the do-not-callregistry is that if you have a business or other relationship with the company, thecompany can call you, even if you are on the do-not-call registry.  So forexample, your telephone company, you have a relationship with them – you pay them for your telephone service – they could call you and try to sell you things. Now usually if you tell the company “I don’t want any more phone calls,” they willtake you off even that list so you won’t get any more calls, at least sales calls. So, a “prior relationship” is some contact in the past between two people. Telemarketers, we’ve already mentioned, are people who are paid to call you tosell you things.

Doris says, “I don’t want to hear your sales pitch.”  The “sales pitch” (pitch) is theway that someone tries to sell you something.  It’s the speech that they use – thewords that they use to try to get you to buy something.  Doris then says, “Idemand to be taken off your call list.”  “To demand” means to insist, to requiresomeone else do something; that is “to demand.”  

“I don’t want to get any more calls from your company.”  The telemarketer says,“Is that a ‘no’ on the special offer?” meaning “so you don’t want to buy the specialoffer?”  Doris says, “Yes, that’s a “no’ on the special offer and a ‘no’ on gettingany more calls from your company.”  She’s getting a little angry here (Doris). Doris says, “Do I make myself clear?”  This is a very strong, more forceful way ofsaying “do you understand me.”  Usually it’s made when you are, perhaps, angry with someone, or you are making a demand on someone, or insisting thatsomeone do what you are saying to them.  “Do I make myself clear?” is something a parent might say to a child, for example, or you might say to somesalesperson who was bothering you, and that’s what Doris is doing here.

The telemarketer says, “Yes, very clear.  If you’re not interested in our specialoffer, I can tell you about our other services.”  So, the telemarketer wants tocontinue to try to sell her things.  Doris says, “No you can’t,” meaning “I will notlet you,” and she hangs up the phone.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Doris:  Hello.

Telemarketer:  Hello, may I speak to the lady of the house?

Doris:  What is this regarding?

Telemarketer:  I’m calling from Cheetam Cable Company and we have a very special offer.  This month only, you can get a bundle of services for the low, lowprice of $69.99!  This offer...

Doris:  Thank you, but I’m not interested.

Telemarketer:  But that’s because you haven’t heard the rest of the offer yet.  Ifyou sign up today, you will get at no extra charge, all of the equipment you’llneed to switch to our cable company. Doris:  As I said, I’m not interested.  I’m also on the national do-not-call registry and I want to be taken off your call list.

Telemarketer:  If you’re on my list, it means you have a prior relationship with ourcompany and telemarketers are allowed to call you.  Now about that specialoffer...

Doris:  I don’t want to hear your sales pitch.  I demand to be taken off your calllist and I don’t want to get any more calls from your company.

Telemarketer:  Is that a “no” on the special offer?

Doris:  Yes, that’s a “no” on the special offer and a “no” on getting any more calls from your company.  Do I make myself clear?

Telemarketer:  Yes, very clear.  If you’re not interested in our special offer, I cantell you about our other services...

Doris:  No you can’t!  [Hangs up the phone]

[end of dialogue]

The script22 for this episode was written by Dr. Lucy Tse. From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan.  Thanks for listening.  We’ll seeyou next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan.  This podcast is copyright29 2008.

 


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
2 female 3kSxf     
adj.雌的,女(性)的;n.雌性的动物,女子
参考例句:
  • We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
  • The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。
3 regarding ukNzQo     
prep.关于,至于;就…而论,在…方面
参考例句:
  • Regarding John,I will write to him at once.至于约翰,我将立即给他写信。
  • Regarding these facts,a special committee is to be appointed.鉴于这些事实,必须成立一个专门委员会。
4 cable wSoyT     
n.缆绳,索;电缆;电报;vt.电汇,打电报
参考例句:
  • Don't forget to cable us as soon as you arrive.别忘了一到就给我发个电报。
  • The worker attached a cable.工人连接电缆。
5 additional rJTyM     
adj.添加的,额外的,另外的
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
  • I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。
6 monthly 7EixE     
adj.每月的,持续一个月的,每月发生的;adv.每月,按月; n.月刊;(复数)monthlies:月经
参考例句:
  • The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
  • The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元,包括水电费在内。
7 bundle bsmz6     
n.捆,包,束;一堆,一批;v.把…扎成一捆
参考例句:
  • My uncle sent me a large bundle on my birthday.我生日时叔父给我寄来一个大包裹。
  • Dad found a bundle of spelling mistakes in my composition.爸爸在我作文里找出一大堆拼写错误。
8 unlimited MKbzB     
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的
参考例句:
  • They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
  • There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
9 federal RkSxm     
adj.联盟的;联邦的;(美国)联邦政府的
参考例句:
  • Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
  • The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。
10 commission 1bkyS     
n.委托,授权,委员会,拥金,回扣,委任状
参考例句:
  • The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
  • The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成,其中包括两名妇女。
11 erase woMxN     
v.擦掉;消除某事物的痕迹
参考例句:
  • He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
  • Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。
12 delete ix2xR     
vt.删除文字,擦去(字迹)
参考例句:
  • If you delete 50 words,we can put the whole story on one page.如果你删掉50个字,我们可以把整篇报道安排在一个版面上。
  • I selected a file and pressed the Delete key.我选定了一个文件,按下了删除键。
13 prior kQGxA     
adj.更重要的,较早的,在先的;adv.居先;n.小修道院院长;大修道院副院长
参考例句:
  • The duty to protect my sister is prior to all others.保护我的妹妹是我最重要的责任。
  • I took up one-year prior course in German in this college.我在这所大学读了一年的德语预科。
14 inconvenient m4hy5     
adj.不方便的,令人感到麻烦的
参考例句:
  • You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
  • Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗?
15 salesperson 7Yoxa     
n.售货员,营业员,店员
参考例句:
  • A salesperson works in a shop.售货员在商店工作。
  • Vanessa is a salesperson in a woman's wear department.凡妮莎是女装部的售货员。
16 untied d4a1dd1a28503840144e8098dbf9e40f     
松开,解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 ); 解除,使自由; 解决
参考例句:
  • Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来,我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
  • He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。
17 slang 2Thz2     
n.俚语,行话;vt.使用俚语,辱骂;vi.辱骂
参考例句:
  • The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
  • Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。
18 tags d57ac45256849d9b13e2422d91580fb9     
n.[计算机]标记( tag的名词复数 );附加语(为加强语气,如 Yes, I do 一句中的 I do);名言;污块毛
参考例句:
  • He put name tags on all his shirts. 他给自己所有的衬衣都缝上了标有姓名的签条。
  • The old scholar's writing is always full of tags. 那位老学者的文章里总是有很多名言警句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 device Bv8x6     
n.器械,装置;计划,策略,诡计
参考例句:
  • The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
  • The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。
20 works ieuzIh     
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。
21 candidate csfzT     
n.候选人;候补者;投考者,申请求职者
参考例句:
  • Voters like a candidate who has the common touch. 投票者喜欢那些平易近人的候选人。
  • The local newspapers dressed up the candidate as a boxer.当地报纸把那个候选人描绘成一个拳击手。
22 script 2Z4x4     
n.剧本,广播稿;文字体系;笔迹,手迹
参考例句:
  • It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
  • The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。
23 episode Titzy     
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。
24 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
25 episodes 1db57fa55fb5d3266c7c3e1655670db6     
插曲,片断( episode的名词复数 ); 一集
参考例句:
  • The novel deals with the romantic episodes of her early life. 小说叙述了她早期生活的浪漫插曲。
  • Three episodes have been telescoped into a single programme. 把叁集的内容压缩成了一个节目。
26 old-fashioned FmIzps     
adj.旧式的,保守的,挑剔的
参考例句:
  • Why do you still dress in an old-fashioned mode?你为什么还穿款式陈旧的衣服?
  • Here is an old-fashioned pump for drawing water from a well.这里有一个旧式水泵可从井里抽水。
27 salespeople xjuz25     
n.售货员,店员;售货员( salesperson的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The shop usually employs additional salespeople for the Christmas toy trade. 这家商店通常雇一些临时售货员来做圣诞节玩具生意。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Under our new system, salespeople sit down with each of our dealers. 根据新的制度,销售人员应逐个地同承销商洽商。 来自辞典例句
28 exceptions 19ad27801b95bd1f2c6c2bf83dbb7515     
例外( exception的名词复数 ); 不包括在内的人(或物); 规则的例外; 例外的事物
参考例句:
  • Most children like sweets, but there are some exceptions. 大多数孩子喜欢吃糖果,但也有一些例外。
  • Such exceptions do not invalidate the rule. 这些例外并不证明此规则无效。
29 copyright XZRyV     
n.版权,著作权
参考例句:
  • He retained the copyright of his book.他保留此书的著作权。
  • This company has a proprietorship of the copyright.这家公司拥有版权所有权。
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TAG标签:   购物  ESL英语
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