对话一
W: Oh, hello John.
你好，约翰。
Are you using your dictating machine this morning?
今早你要用听写机吗?
I've got a long report I must dictate.
我有一篇长报告必须用听写机。
Can I borrow your machine?
我能借你的听写机吗?
M: Of course. But can you spare me a second?
当然。不过为我抽出点时间可以吗?
It's the message you sent to me about the delivery delay on the control desks.
这是你发给我关于控制台延期交货的消息。
What's gone wrong?
什么出问题了?
W: Everything, John.
所有环节都出了问题，约翰。
We have to get the steel sheets we need for these desks from new suppliers.
我们得从新供应商那拿到这批控制台所需的钢板。
Well, the suppliers have got some trouble or other.
供应商遇到了些麻烦。
They say they'll be a bit late for the delivery.
他们说要迟点发货。
M: But they can't be!
但他们不能这么做!
Those control desks are a special order.
这批控制台是特殊订单。
They are wanted for one of the big computer companies.
一家计算机大公司要这批货。
It's a very important contract.
这是份很重要的合同。
W: When did we promise delivery?
我们答应什么时候发货的?
M: On Thursday next week.
下周四。
And there's a penalty clause.
还有个惩罚条款。
We stand to lose 10 percent of our price for each week of overdue delivery.
发货每延期一周，我们都要损失百分之十的要价。
W: Oh, these penalty clauses! Why do you sales people accept them?
这些惩罚条款!你们销售部为什么接受?
M: We have to accept them, otherwise we don't get the contracts.
我们必须接受，否则就拿不到这份合同。
W: Well, let's get on to the Buying Department.
好吧，我们现在联系采购部门。
I only heard about the delay yesterday because we kept the production line clear to handlethese special sheets.
我昨天才知道发货延期了，因为为了处理这批特殊钢板我们一直保持生产线畅通。
It's a dreadful nuisance.
真是讨厌的麻烦。
M: It'll be more than a nuisance if we don't meet our delivery date!
要是我们发货日期前搞不定，可不只是麻烦了。
It'll cost us a lot of money.
我们要损失一大笔钱。
W: Keep calm, John.
冷静点，约翰。
We can perhaps claim compensation from the steel suppliers for failure to deliver on time.
我们也许可以向钢铁供应商索赔没能及时交货的损失。
That'll offset the penalty clause.
这可以弥补惩罚条款。
M: Well, if you can.
好吧，如果可以的话。
Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
请根据你刚刚听到的对话回答问题1至问题4。
1. Why did the woman send the message to the man?
问题1：女士为什么向男士发消息?
2. What does the woman say about the new suppliers?
问题2：关于新供应商女士说了些什么?
3. How did the man get the contracts?
问题3：男士怎么拿到合同的?
4. What does the woman suggest they do?
问题4：女士建议他们应该做什么?