Business English in Fiction. Практикум

Unit 3

Section II. Speaking

Roleplay

(for two participants: A, B ) Background information.

Представитель консалтинговой фирмы консультирует бизнесмена, желающего приобрести предприятие.

А: Вы – бизнесмен, который собирается приобрести предприятие (магазин, гостиницу или др.). Вы не хотите по- купать «кота в мешке» и обратились к специалисту, который, после предварительного исследования, готов предоставить вам исчерпывающую информацию о деятельности интере- сующего вас предприятия. Задайте вопросы о финансовом положении предприятия, о доходности, о персонале, о пер- спективах развития и др. Поинтересуйтесь, каким образом была получена предоставленная вам информация.

В: Вы – специалист, собиравший информацию о дея- тельности предприятия, о его недостатках (плохая ситуация в управлении, чрезмерные полномочия у начальников отделов, убытки, воровство среди персонала, взяточничество). Однако, вы считаете, что ситуацию можно исправить, привлекая неис- пользованные источники прибыли. Вы предлагаете клиенту от имени своей фирмы оказать помощь в возрождении пред- приятия. Предложите применить антикризисное управление, сделать радикальные нововведения. Кроме того, сообщите о том, как была получена предоставленная клиенту информа- ция (негласное расследование, исследование финансовой и хозяйственной деятельности предприятия, наведение справок в финансовых и деловых кругах).

Section III. Writing

Vocabulary Practice

Translate the following sentences into English in writing. Use the Vocabulary list for the translation of the bold

words and expressions.

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Business English in Fiction

1.Несколько важных решений выло принято на этих

совещаниях.

2.Необходимо использовать все источники дохода, что-

бы создать благоприятную ситуацию для получения при-

были и, насколько я понимаю, существуют еще неопробо-

ванные источники дохода.

3.– Срок закладной кончается на следующей неделе.

–А можно ли ее возобновить?

–Я навел справки. Я думаю, что банк, который явля- ется держателем закладной, мог бы дать нам возможность продлить ее. Это дело их доброй воли.

4.Согласно оценке нашего бухгалтера убытки от хо-

зяйственной деятельности были очень высокие в этом году.

5.Сотрудники этой фирмы склонны к воровству, а на-

чальники отделов к взяточничеству. Кроме того, многие из них захватили чрезмерные полномочия и используют их для увеличения собственных доходов. Этого не случилось бы, если бы была эффективная структура управления.

6.Когда он предложил мне взятку, я хотел выставить его вон, но сдержался и решил, что мягкого упрека будет достаточно.

7.Давайте пошлем его на переговоры, он умеет торго-

ваться.

8.Наряду с официальным расследованием мы проводим

негласное расследование, чтобы выявить слабые и сильные стороны, оценить потенциальные возможности. Затем мы со-

ставляем отчет о финансовой и хозяйственной деятельно-

сти. Поэтому наши заказчики могут положиться на ту ин-

формацию, которую мы им предоставляем.

9. Если вы приобретаете это предприятие, вам придется

провести радикальные нововведения, особенно в сфере пи- тания и напитков.

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Unit 3

Test

1.

Match the words on the left with their meanings on the right.

2.

Match the words on the left with the words they are most likely to be associated with on the right.

3.

Fill in the gaps with suitable words from the list below.

1.There is a good deal of larceny in the hotel, particularly in the food and… department.

2.Can you give me a rough… of the cost?

3.There is no doubt that we could… a good profit position quickly enough.

4.We are going on a business trip next week. Could you… of our hotel reservations?

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Business English in Fiction

5.You can… on them for financial support.

6.To obtain this information you will have to make… among the city’s business community.

7.The strengths and… of this bank are evident.

8.I think that… measures are required to improve the situation.

9.The financial and operating study of the company activities revealed some … revenue sources.

10.The company is corrupt, their employees are prone to… .

1.inquiries

2.rely

3.bribery

4.weaknesses

5.establish

6.take care

7.estimate

8.beverages

9.tough

10.untapped

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Unit 4

Unit 4

Unit 4

Skills: Reading, Speaking, Writing

Section I. Reading

Background information to the extract from A. Hailey’s novel “Hotel”.

Владелец сети гостиниц (Curtis O’Keefe), желающий при- обрести независимый отель (St. Gregory Hotel) обращается с этим предложением к его владельцу (Warren Trent) и пытается убедить его, что только продав ему гостиницу, он сможет из- бежать финансового краха.

Vocabulary Guide

Here is the list of words and expressions commonly used in business communication. You will come across these words in the text that follows.

Look through the list carefully before you read the text. It will help you to understand the text adequately.

Learn these words and use them in the conversation you will have to make up as a business communication assignment in the Roleplay Section of the unit.

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Business English in Fiction

“I thought it might.” Curtis O'Keefe seemed about to rub his hands together, then restrained himself. “In any case, now we’ve reached that point I’d like to have you consider a proposal.”

Warren Trent said drily, “I imagined you’d get to it.”

“It’s a fair proposition, particularly in the circumstances. Incidentally, I should tell you that I’m familiar with your current financial picture.”

“I’d have been surprised if you were not.”

“Let me summarize: Your personal holdings in this hotel amount to fifty-one per cent of all shares, giving you control.”

“Correct.”

“You refinanced the hotel in ‘39 – a four-million-dollar mortgage. Two million dollars of the loan is still outstanding and due in its entirety this coming Friday. If you fail to make repayment the mortgagees take over.”

“Correct again.”

“Four months ago you attempted to renew the mortgage.

You were turned down. You offered the mortgagees better terms which were still rejected. Ever since you’ve been looking for other financing. You haven’t found it. In the short time remaining there is no chance whatever that you will.”

Warren Trent growled, “I can’t accept that. Plenty of refinancings are arranged at short notice.”

“Not this kind. And not with operating deficits as large as yours”.

Apart from tightening of the lips, there was no rejoinder. “My proposal,” Curtis O'Keefe said, “is a purchase price for

this hotel of four million dollars. Of this, two millions will be obtained by renewing your present mortgage, which I assure you I shall have no difficulty in arranging.”

Warren Trent nodded, sourly aware of the other's complacency. “The balance will be a million dollars cash, enabling you to pay off your minority stockholders, and one million dollars in

O’Keefe Hotels stock – a new issue to be arranged Additionally, as a personal consideration you will have the privilege of retaining your apartment here for as long as you live, with my assurance

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Unit 4

that should rebuilding be undertaken we will make other and mutually satisfactory arrangements.”

Warren Trent sat motionless, his face neither revealing his thoughts nor his surprise. The terms were better than he had expected. If accepted, they would leave him personally with a million dollars, more or less – no small achievement with which to walk away from a lifetime's work. And yet it would mean walking away; walking away from all he had built and cared about, or at least – he reflected grimly – that he thought he cared about until a moment or two ago.

Warren Trent said abruptly, “Suppose I refuse to sell. What are your plans?”

“I shall look for other property and build. Actually, I think you'll have lost your hotel long before that happens. But even if you don’t, the competition we’ll provide will force you out of business.”

The truth was: the O'Keefe Hotel Corporation wanted the St. Gregory very much, and urgently. The lack of an O'Keefe affiliate in New Orleans was like a missing tooth in the company’s otherwise solid bite on the traveling public. It had already entailed a costly loss of referral business to and from other cities – the sustaining oxygen of a successful hotel chain. Disquietingly too, competitive chains were exploiting the gap. If the St. Gregory was to be bought reasonably, the crucial moment was now.

“How much time,” Warren Trent asked, “are you willing to allow me?”

“I’d prefer your answer at once”. “I'm not prepared to give it.”

“Very well.” O'Keefe considered. “I’ve an appointment in Naples, Saturday. I’d like to leave here no later than Thursday night. Suppose we set a deadline of noon Thursday”.

“I see no reason to wait longer.” “That’s less than forty-eight hours!”

Obstinacy inclined Warren Trent to hold out for more time. Reason reminded him: he would merely advance by a day the Friday deadline he already faced. He conceded, “I suppose if you insist…”

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Business English in Fiction

“Splendid!” Smiling expansively, O’Keefe pushed back his chair and rose, nodding to Dodo who had been watching Warren Trent with an expression close to sympathy. “It’s time for us to go, my dear. Warren, we’ve enjoyed your hospitality”. Waiting another day and a half, he decided, was merely a minor nuisance. After all, there could be no doubt of the eventual result.

Comprehension Check

Answer the following questions about the text, use the bold words and expressions.

1.What did O’Keefe tell Warren Trent about the St. Gregory Hotel’s staff?

2.How did O’Keefe describe the current financial position of the St. Gregory?

3.What proposal did he make to W. Trent?

4.What points of the proposal did he emphasize to persuade W. Trent to accept it?

5.Why did W. Trent think that the terms offered by O’Keefe were good enough?

6.Why did O’Keefe want to buy the St. Gregory Hotel so badly?

7.What did they agree on at the end of their meeting?

Section II. Speaking

Roleplay

(for two participants: A, B )

Background information.

Переговоры о купле-продаже предприятия (фирма, магазин, гостиница или др.), которое находится на грани банкротства.

А: Вы, перспективный покупатель, обращаетесь к вла- дельцу предприятия с предложением купить его предприятие на взаимно выгодных условиях. Вы проявляете удивительную

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