6.3 Speaking over the Telephone Part I

Exercise 6.3.1 Read and translate dialogues.

Making an Appointment

I

A: Hello, I’d like to talk to Mr. Smith

B: I’m afraid you have the wrong number. What number were you calling?

A: I was calling 340-175.

B: This is 340-175. But there is no one by the name of Smith here. This is a private residence.

A: I’m sorry to have bothered you.

B: That’s quite all right.

II

A: I’m sorry I can’t hear what you are saying. Could you speak up, please?

B: Hello, hello... Are you there?

A: Your voice is fading and there’s so much background noise interfering. Hello, hello... (No reply). Operator, we had a very bad connection and could scarcely hear each other. Then we were out off completely. Could you help us?

Operator: Yes, sir. I’ll try to do something about it.

III

Secretary: Two-four-nine, double eight-double two.

A: I would like to make an appointment with Mr. Jeffrics. This is Mr. ... speaking.

S: Oh, yes, Mr. ... Good morning. I’ll get his schedule. Are you there?

A: Yes.

S: When would you like to come, Mr. ...?

A: Tomorrow, if possible.

S: I’m afraid he’s tied up tomorrow. Is it urgent? If it is, perhaps we could fit you in somewhere.

A: No, it isn’t that urgent. Is the day after tomorrow possible?

S: What time would you like to come?

A: As late as possible in the afternoon.

S: I’m sorry, that afternoon’s full too. How is Friday afternoon at five?

A: Yes, that’s perfect, thank you. Good bye.

IV

A: Hello. Is this Mr. Summerset? This is Mr. ... speaking.

Mr. S: Hello. How are you?

A: Fine, thanks. Pretty busy. How are you, Mr. Summerset?

Mr. S: O.K. I can’t complain.

A: Glad to hear that. There is something. I’d like to talk to you about. Can we meet early next week?

Mr. S: Sure, with pleasure.

A: Could you come in my office, say, on Monday afternoon?

Mr. S: Let me consult my schedule. Yes, I guess it’ll be all right. What time do you suggest?

A: Suppose we make it 3.30. Will it suit you?

Mr. S: Yes, that’s fine.

Being Unable to Keep an Appointment

Mr. I: Hello. Could I speak to Mr. Stimms’s secretary, please.

S: Good morning. This is Mr. Stimms’s secretary.

Mr. I: This is Ivanov, of the Ministry of Transportation. I would like to know whether has received an invitation to our Annual Meeting?

S: Yes, Mr. Ivanov, we have received your invitation, thank you.

Mr.I: Is Mr. Stimms coming?

S: No, Mr. Ivanov, he is not. I am sorry but Mr. Stimms left town and he won’t be back until next week. Haven’t you received our letter informing you that he is not attending the Meeting?

Mr. I: No, not yet.

S: We sent it to the Department yesterday afternoon.

Mr. I: It’s a pity Mr. Stimms is not able to be present at our Annual Meeting. Give him my best regards when he returns, please.

S: Thank you, I will. Good bye.

Mr. I: Good bye.

Exercise 6.3.2 Answer the questions.

1. Who would Mr. A like to talk to?

2. Does Mr. A have the right number?

3. Whose number is that?

4. What’s wrong with the connection?

5. How do they hear each other?

6. What are the operator’s actions?

7. Who would Mr. A like to make an appointment with?

8. When does Mr. A want to come?

9. Is Mr. Jeffrics free?

10. Is it an urgent meeting?

11. What time suits Mr. A?

12. When is Mr. Jeffrics free?

13. How is Mr. A?

14. Why does Mr. A want to meet Mr. Summerset?

15. When are they going to meet?

16. What time does Mr. A suggest?

17. Does the time suit Mr. Summerset?

18. Who is Mr. Ivanov speaking to?

19. What does Mr. Ivanov do?

20. Why is Mr. Ivanov calling the secretary?

21. Have they received the invitation?

22. Where is Mr. Stimms invented to?

23. Why can’t Mr. Stimms come?

24. When will Mr. Stimms be back?

25. When was the letter sent to the Department?

26. Have they received it?

Exercise 6.3.3 Write T if the sentence is true and F if the sentence is false.

1. You have the right number.

2. But there is no one by the name of Smith here.

3. This is the reception.

4. Could you speak down, please?

5. Your voice is too loud.

6. We had a very bad connection and it was too loud.

7. We were cut off completely.

8. I can’t do anything about it.

9. I would like to make an appointment with Mr. Jeffrics.

10. I’d like to come next week, if possible.

11. Mr. Jeffrics is free tomorrow.

12. Oh, but it’s very urgent.

13. As soon/early as possible in the morning.

14. That afternoon full too.

15. How is Friday afternoon at two?

16. I’m not O.K. Pretty busy.

17. I’d like you to visit me.

18. Can we meet tonight?

19. Could you come in my office, say, tonight?

20. I guess it’s impossible.

21. What time do you suggest? Suppose we make it 3.30.

22. Could I speak to Mr. Stimms?

23. This is Ivanov, of the Ministry of Transportation.

24. I would like to know about the invitation to our Annual Meeting.

25. We haven’t received your invitation yet.

26. Mr. Stimms left town but he’ll be back until next week.

27. Haven’t you received our letter informing you that he is attending the meeting?

28. We sent it to the Department yesterday afternoon.

29. I’m very glad that Mr. Stimms is able to be present at our Annual Meeting.

30. Give him my best regards when he returns, please.

Exercise 6.3.4 Give the English equivalents for the following.

Вы ошиблись номером; но здесь нет никого по имени; это домашний номер; простите за беспокойство; все нормально; я не могу расслышать, что вы говорите; “Вы меня слышите?”; фоновый шум; плохое соединение; почти не слышать друг друга; договориться о встрече; говорит ..., взять расписание; быть занятым; срочный; втискивать; как можно позже; загруженный; с удовольствием; я думаю(предполагаю); предлагать; подходить кому-то; ежегодный; возвращаться; присутствовать; передать привет.

Exercise 6.3.5 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and word combinations.

Flat/house; to trouble smb; that’s O.K; speak louder; hardly; disconnect; time-table; busy; pressing; very busy; propose; I think; get an invitation; return; assist; can’t be present.

Exercise 6.3.6 State what part of speech the following words belong to.

1. private

1. noun b) adjective c) verb d) adverb

2. bother

1. verb b) adverb c) proposition d) noun

3. noise

1. adverb b) noun c) verb d) adjective

4. scarcely

1. adjective b) verb c) noun d) adverb

5. schedule

1. noun b) verb c) pronoun d) adjective

6. possible

1. noun b) adverb c) adjective d) verb

7. urgent

1. adjective b) noun c) verb d) adverb

8. until

1. adverb b) proposition c) pronoun d) noun

9. annual

1. noun b) adverb c) verb d) adjective

10. our

1. noun b) pronoun c) adjective d) adverb

Exercise 6.3.7 Match the words and word combinations in column A with those in column B.

A	B
1. have the wrong number	a. не могли бы вы говорить громче, пожалуйста?
2. there is no one by the name...	b. мы могли бы втиснуть Вас куда-нибудь
3. private residence	c. думаю, это будет хорошо.
4. to have bothered you	d. это Иванов - из министерства транспорта
5. Could you speak up, please?	e. квартира
6. your voice in fading	f. передайте ему привет
7. there is some back-ground noise	g. разрешите мне свериться со своим расписанием
8. have a very bad connection	h. говорит мистер ...
9. scarcely hear each other	i. позвонить не на тот номер
10. be cut off completely	j. не могу пожаловаться
11. make an appointment	k. едва слышат друг друга
12. this is Mr. ... speaking	l. это не срочно
13. Are you there?	m. вам подойдет?
14. he’s tied up	n. здесь нет никого
15. we could fit you in somewhere	o. иметь плохую связь
16. it isn’t that urgent	p. он не будет присутствовать на совещании
17. that afternoon’s full	q. этот день занят
18. pretty busy	r. ваш голос исчезает
19. I can’t complain	s. договориться о встрече
20. let me consult my schedule	t. он связан
21. I guess it’ll be all right	u. надоедать Вам
22. Will it suit you?	v. очень занят
23. This is Ivanov, of the Ministry of Transportation	w. мистер ... уехал из города и не вернется до следующей недели
24. Mr. ... left town and he won’t be back until next week.	x. быть вообще разъединенным
25. he is not attending the meeting	y. Вы меня слышите?
26. give him my best regards.	z. появляется какой-то шум

Exercise 6.3.8 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. This is a private _______ (residence; cottage; firm).

2. I’m sorry to have _____ (worried; troubled; bothered) you.

3. Could you ______ (speak louder; speak up; speak aloud), please?

4. Your voice is _______ (loosing; disappearing; fading).

5. We had a very bad _______ (connection; contact; communication).

6. We could _______ (hardly; scarcely; only just) hear each other.

7. Is it ______ (quickly; pressing; urgent)?

8. I ______ (think; guess; consider) it’ll be all right.

9. What time do you ______ (suggest; offer; propose)?

10. _______ (expect; suppose; think;) we make it 3.30

11. He won’t _____ (return; come back; be back) until next week.

12. Haven’t you ______ (got; received; obtained) our letter?

13. It’s a pity Mr. Stimms ______ (doesn’t manage; can’t; is not able) to be present at our Annual Meeting.

Exercise 6.3.9 Fill in the gaps with the related words.

1. This is a private _______ (RESIDENT).

2. There is some background noise _______ (INTERFERE).

3. We had a very bad _______ (CONNECT).

4. We were cut off _______ (COMPLETE).

5. Sure, with _______ (PLEASANT).

6. I would like to know whether Mr. Stimms has received an _______ (INVITE) to our Annual ________ (MEET).

7. I’m sorry but Mr. Stimms ______ (LEAVE) town.

8. Haven’t you received our letter _______ (INFORM) you that he is not _______ (ATTEND) the Meeting?

Exercise 6.3.10 Fill in the prepositions if necessary.

1. I’d like to talk ______ Mr. Smith.

2. I was calling ______ 340-175.

3. There is no one ______ the name ____ Smith here.

4. I’m sorry to have bothered _______ you.

5. We were out _______ completely.

6. Could you help ______ us?

7. I’d like to make an appointment ______ Mr. Jeffrics.

8. I’m afraid he’s tied ______ tomorrow.

9. We could fit you ______ somewhere.

10. How is Friday afternoon _______ five?

11. Can we meet early _______ next week?

12. Could you come ______ my office, say, _____ Monday afternoon?

13. Haven’t you received our letter informing you that he is not attending _____ the meeting?

14. We sent it _____ the Department.

15. Mr. Stimms is not able to be present ____ our Annual Meeting.

16. Give _____ him my best regards.

Exercise 6.3.11 Make up sentences using the given words.

1. calling/were/What/you/number?

2. by/Smith/here/There/of/no one/ name/is/the.

3. you/sorry/to/I/have/am/bothered.

4. can’t/saying/hear/I/are/what/you.

5. Your/and/interfering/voice/there’s/is/background/fading/noise/some.

6. to/about/I’ll/do/try/it/something.

7. would/appointment/I/with/an/like/to/Mr. Jeffrics/make.

8. Is/possible/the/tomorrow/after/day?

9. As/the/possible/as/afternoon/late/in.

10. we/next/Can/week/meet/early?

11. consult/me/schedule/Let/my.

12. 3.30/Suppose/it/we/make.

13. we/Department/it/yesterday/sent/the/to.

14. a/Mr.Stimms/pity/able/to/be/It’s/is/Annual/at/Meeting/not/our/present.

15. then/my/him/he/Give/best/returns/regards.

Exercise 6.3.12 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Я бы хотел поговорить с мистером Смитом.

2. По какому номеру Вы звонили?

3. Извините за беспокойство.

4. Я не могу расслышать, что Вы говорите?

5. Не могли бы Вы говорить громче?

6. Ваш голос исчезает и появляется какой-то шум.

7. Было очень плохо слышно.

8. Мы почти не слышали друг друга.

9. А затем нас вообще разъединили.

10. Я попытаюсь что-нибудь сделать.

11. Я возьму его расписание.

12. Когда бы Вы хотели прийти?

13. Извините, этот день тоже занят.

14. Говорит мистер ...

15. Есть кое-что, о чем я хотел бы поговорить с Вами.

16. Не могли бы Вы зайти ко мне в офис, скажем, в понедельник днем?

17. Какое время Вы предлагаете?

18. Это Вас устроит?

19. Вы не получили наше письмо, извещающее Вас о том, что он не будет присутствовать на совещании?

20. Мы отправили его в Департамент вчера днем.

21. Жаль, что мистер Стимз не сможет присутствовать на нашем ежегодном совещании.

Exercise 6.3.13 Make up your own sentences using the words and word combinations.

Go ahead, call back later, the wrong number, speaking, hold on, leave/take a message, connect, charge, alphabetical directory, hear, speak up/down, make an appointment, private.

Exercise 6.3.14 Make up your own dialogues. Phone Mr. Slow and tell him that you are unable to keep the appointment and give your reason.

Exercise 6.3.15 Match a line in column A with a line in column B.

A	B
1. Hello, this is Chesswood 285120. I’m afraid I’m not at home at the moment, but please leave your name and number after the tone and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.	a. Good morning. Can I have extension 321, please?
2. I’m afraid Mr. Barrett’s in a meeting. Can I take a message?	b. No, I’m sorry, it isn’t. She’s just gone out. Can I take a message? She’ll be back in a minute.
3. Shall I ask Miss Jackson to give you a call when she gets back?	c. Hi, Annie. This is er ... Pete here. Pete Nealy. Er ... I need to speak to you about next weekend. Can you give me a ring? Erm ... I’m at home, by the way. It’s ten o’clock now and I’ll be here all morning, er ... until two. Yes, thanks. Bye.
4. Good morning. Payne and Stracey Advertising.	d. Thank you very much. Frank? It’s me. Diana.
5. Hello, Mrs Barrett... I’m afraid Mr Barrett’s on another line at the moment. Do you want to hold or ...? Oh, he’s free now. I’m putting you through.	e. Yes, please. This is Pam Haddon. He rang me earlier and left a message on my answer phone and I’m returning his call. Can you tell him I’m back in my office now?
6. Hello. Is that Sandra?	f. Yes, please. I’m sure she’s got my number but I’ll give it to you again, just in case. It’s 01924 561718.