4.2. The day of Philip Blake

Philip Blake is Mr Blake’s elder son. He has got a small house in Bishopton. Bishopton is a small place near London. Philip works in London. He is the manager of a plant. He always goes to London in the morning on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He doesn’t go to his office on Saturday and Sunday. Every morning Philip looks through newspapers. He is interested in the latest political and business events. Sometimes Philip goes to different cities to discuss business with their customers. He is a very busy man. Floy Robinson is a secretary to Mr Philip Blake. Her office is not large. She has got a typewriter, and many letters, cables and telexes on her desk. Every morning from Monday to Friday Floy comes to the office at nine. At 10 o’clock Floy usually looks through the mail and at 11 she comes into the manager’s office with the letters. The manager reads them and gives answers to the letters. Floy writes the answers in her book and goes to her office.

Floy usually has lunch at home but sometimes she has lunch at the plant with her friend Tom. She stays in the office till 5. In the evening Floy has French lessons. She learns the French language with pleasure. Floy wants to know French well to read books and see films in French.

5.6. A Business Trip

A British company was interested in buying boilers Model PK-67 from Russia. They sent an enquiry to Machinoexport. After Mr. Brown, the manager of the company, received a quotation from Machinoexport he met Mr. Smirnov to discuss the terms of the contract.

Brown:	Good morning, Mr. Smirnov.
Smirnov:	Good morning, Mr. Brown. Take a seat. A cigarette?
Brown:	Yes, please. You see, Mr. Smirnov, we’ve studied your quotation and the terms of the contract. I must say, that your prices are not attractive to us. They are too high. Can you give us a discount for a large order?
Smirnov:	That’s a problem. This is our usual price and as the quality of our boilers is very high we are heavy with orders at this price. But as we have done a lot of business with you we can give you a small discount.
Brown:	We’d like to have a discount of 5 %.
Smirnov:	I’m afraid that is impossible. We can offer you a 2% discount. Can you accept it?
Brown:	I think so. But in that case we ask you to agree to FOB terms.
Smirnov:	No problem, Mr. Brown. We can do it if it suits you.
Brown:	Thank you.

6.2. Going Through the Customs (from L.N. Hannikova)

A: Helen, the passport control officer will ask you for your passport. Produce it, please.

B: Oh, yes. Here it is. I believe he will ask us where we are going.

A: That’s right. Besides he will be interested to know how long you are going to stay there.

B: I am obliged to answer all questions. Is that so?

A: No doubt. You will have to tell the passport control officer about the purpose of your visit.

B Anything else?

A: Nothing else. They are usually very polite.

B: I’ll follow suit.

A: The custom officer will check your luggage.

B: What does it mean?

A: He will ask you: “Have you anything to declare?” You must answer the questions.

B: Well, I’ve got a bottle of whisky and a bottle of perfume. Are they liable to duty?

A: I don’t think so. I’ve got a box of chocolates.

B: They say that if there are liqueur chocolates, they are liable to duty. If there are peppermint chocolates, they are not.

A: Well, I don’t know exactly whether it is so. I wonder whether tobacco is duty-free.

B: I hardly think so. Anyhow as soon as we go through the customs, our journey will be coming to an end.

A: I am happy, about it. I am tired of the journey.

B: Yes, I am looking forward to having a rest.

A: I hope that Parkers will meet us at the airport.

B: Don’t worry. I am sure they are waiting for us.

A: John Parker will give you a bunch of roses.

B: Are you joking?

A: By no means.

B: I am happy about it.