Text 4: Business visits

When one businessman wishes to have a business talk with another and to visit him, he first is to make an appointment either by telephone or by exchanging letters.

Here is an example of how a business visit is carried out:

Receptionist: Good morning, sir.

Mr Hill: Good morning, I have an appointment with Mr James. My name is Mr Hill. Could you tell me where his office is?

Receptionist: Please take a seat for a moment, sir. I'll ring through to his office and tell him you are here.

Mr Hill: Thank you so much. I hope he is ex­pecting me.

Receptionist: Mr Hill, Mr James' secretary is just coming down to meet you. She'll take you up to his office.

Mr James' secretary: Mr Hill?

Mr Hill: That's right. Good morning.

Mr James' secretary:Good morning, Sir. If you'd like to come with me we can go up straight away.

Mr Hill: Thank you. Which way?

Mr James' secretary: This way, please.

Mr Hill: Oh, is it the twentieth floor?

Mr James' secretary: You are quite right. The twentieth floor. It's our new office. We have moved in this month.

Mr Hill: It's a very impressive building.

Mr James' secretary: Here we are. This way, please. Mr James, Mr Hill.

Mr James: Good morning. I'm happy to see you. We haven't met for ages. How are you?

Mr Hill: Good morning, Mr James. I'm glad to see you too. I'm fine. And I hope you are quite all right.

Mr James: Thank you. I hope you had a very good trip.

Mr Hill: You are quite right. It was very smooth. Though when I left London it was rather warm but here in New York the weather is not very good.

Mr James: Oh, it's nasty. We hate it. But it can't be helped.

Mr Hill: Then we should better get down to business.

Vocabulary

to talk - разговаривать

talk - разговор, беседа

business talk - деловая беседа

to have a business talk - иметь деловую беседу

reception - получение

receptionist - секретарь (в приемной)

to take a seat - садиться

to ring (rang, rung)- позвонить

to ring (through) to the office- позвонить в офис

to expect - ожидать

to take smb up to the office- проводить кого-либо в офис (наверх)

to take smb to the of­fice - проводить кого-либо в офис

to take smb down - проводить кого-либо (вниз)

straight away - сразу, немедленно

floor - этаж

to move in - въехать

to move into this building - въехать в это здание

impressive - впечатляющий

age - век

We haven't met for ages.- Мы давно не встреча­лись

trip - поездка

business trip - деловая поездка

to have a good trip- хорошо съездить

smooth - спокойный, гладкий, плавный

nasty - скверный, неприят­ный, злобный

to hate - ненавидеть

It can't be helped.- Ничего не поделаешь.

to get down to business - приступить к делу

Exercises

28 Read the followoing sentences paying attention to the intonation:

(1) Could you help me?

(2) Could you repeat it please?

(3) Could you tell me where his office is?

(4) Could you say on what floor the office is?

(5) Is it the twentieth floor?

(6) Are you Mr Hill?

(7) Can a businessman come to see another businessman without an appointment?

(8) Is there a rule about making appointments?

(9) Had Mr. James made an appointment?

(10) Did he receptionist know that?

(11) Did the businessman speak long?

29 Answer the following questions:

(1) Is there a rule about making appointments? Or can a businessman come to see another businessman without an appointment?

(2) Who is Mr Hill?

(3) Had he made an appointment with Mr James before he came to his office?

(4) Did the receptionist know about the appointment?

(5) What did she ask Mr Hill to do?

(6) What did the receptionist do then?

(7) When did the secretary come?

(8) Who took Mr Hill to Mr James' office?

30 Write down the questions for the following answers:

(1) _______________________? - Oh, yes. Mr James was very happy to see Mr Hill.

(2) _______________________? Yes, they did. Like many other people they first exchanged a few remarks about the weather.

(3)________________________? Oh no, they were not in London, they were in New York.

(4)________________________? I suppose Mr James is an American citizen, but I don't know his national­ity. After all, it is not very important.

31 Sum up what the text says about the rale of making an appointment.

32 Write down what Mr Hill said in each case:

Receptionist: Good morning, sir.

Mr Hill: _____________

Receptionist: Please, take a seat for a moment, sir. Ill ring through to his office and tell him you are here.

Mr Hill: _____________

Receptionist: Mr Hill, Mr James' secretary is just coming down to meet you. She'll take you up to his office.

Mr James'secretary: Mr Hill?

Mr Hill: _____________

Mr James: I'm happy to see you. We haven't met for ages. How are you?

Mr Hill: _____________

Mr James: Thank you. I hope you had a very good trip.

Mr Hill: _____________

Mr James: Oh, it's nasty. We hate it. But it can't be helped.

Mr Hill: _____________