Phrase list

Listen to the tape and practise the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the unit. Consult a dictionary and translate them into Russian.

to be due back from somewhere to do shorthand

to set letters out

to sort the letter and to stamp it with today’s date an ‘’in’’/ ‘out’ tray

to take action stationery letterheads

the file under Bills of Lading Hold on!

the hold-up

a consigned vessel date of clearance

to get on to forwarding agents to be on the list

the invoiced sales

order intake for the month to be cleared

to dial the number direct to handle business

to check up with a bank to rate somebody as sound to agree a commission

(to pay by) sight draft irrevocable letter of credit bills of lading

long-term assessment

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PRE-LISTENING

Task 1

Consider the introduction to the unit. Answer the following questions and be ready to give a story line. Use the word combinations in brackets.

1.What unpleasant surprise is waiting for J. Martin after his trip to Abraca?

(to be due back from the trip; a pile of work; to be an efficient secretary; to cope with the emergency by doing something; the Chief clerk, the General Office; to lend a shorthand-typist)

2.What does the General Office deal with?

(to be a very busy place; to handle printing and duplicating; to open letters and send them round to the appropriate offices; to collect all the outgoing letters; to frank letters; to post letters; an addressing machine; to print addresses on envelopes; to fold the letters, to seal the envelopes)

3.What is the mail, handled by Harper & Grant Ltd., used for?

(to be used for advertising and publicity; to address order acknowledgements; to send delivery notes; monthly statements оf account)

4.Who did Mr. Baker spare from his department?

(the Chief Clerk; to do something reluctantly; to be inexperienced but willing; to find the stationery; to give a few helpful hints; to leave somebody to his/her fate)

5. What bigger emergency does Mr. Martin have to cope with?

(to fail to arrive somewhere; to ring somebody in a panic; to be responsible for something; to see that something is done; to be delivered by a certain date; to use forwarding agents; to clear the goods through customs; to transport the goods; to go wrong somewhere along the line)

6. What do Mr. Martin and Mr. Grant discuss when John reports to H.G. on his trip to Abraca?

(to need attention; to discuss the chances of opening up a new market; to use somebody as an agent; to pay the money for the goods; to transfer the money)

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7.What method of payment does Mr. Grant choose?

(an irrevocable letter of credit; to be sent by a bank to an exporter; to inform somebody that payment for goods is at the bank; to prove that the goods have left the country; to show a copy of a bill of lading; the signature of the captain; to be loaded on to the ship; to be paid to the exporter; send a letter of credit to the exporter's bank; a promise to pay as soon as the exporter has shown proof that he has sent the goods)

Task 2

Give the English equivalents for the following word combinations:

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LISTENING

Exercise 1

You are going to hear a talk between Elizabeth Corby and Mr. Baker. Before you listen to the conversation look at these statements. After you have listened to the tape determine whether these statements are true (T) or false (F). Explain why.

1.Elizabeth Corby turned to Mr. Baker for help because they got a bit of a crisis on in Mr. Grant's office.

2.Mr. Martin was due back from Abraca that morning, but Sally Langly telephoned to say that she got flu, and that’s why he would need someone to help him .

3.Sally asked Mr. Baker to spare a girl from his department because the other two girls in the Sales Office couldn’t do shorthand.

4.Fenella’s shorthand was reasonable, she set her letters out well, but Mr. Baker didn’t think she was the world's fastest worker and didn’t expect she would manage.

5.That day's post was sorted and stamped the date in the General Office.

6.Elizabeth Corby showed Fenella the “in” tray with all the letters and memos which had come in while Mr. Martin had been away.

7.Elizabeth wrote a note with each letter to show whether she had taken any action or not.

8.Sally kept all the stationery (letterheads, envelopes, flimsy, and so on) in the separate drawer.

9.Elizabeth’s office is not far from Sally’s office, down the corridor.

10.Fenella denies it'll be fun to have a change.

11.Sally made Fenella sure the work at the Sales Office was rather different from the work in the General Office.

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