Part Two. Questions 13—22

　　Section One. Questions 13——17

　　Question13 Joe, I've got Mr Brand on the line and he says he hasn’t got the cheque for his trip yet. Apparently he had to pay the hotel in cash and it was quite a lot of money. Do you know if his form has been processed yet ?

　　Question14 We are going to start the campaign by putting full page ads in all the major newspapers over a period of a month. They'll be in weekly, probably on a Monday, and after that we are planning to focus on TV and Radio.

　　Question15 Woman: Mr Carpenter has decided to postpone it until after the next consignment has gone out. I shall fax everyone who was due to come and give them some alternative dates.

　　Question16 I shall be coming round to each of you to discuss how you think things have gone so far. I'm going to need as much detail as possible BECause I want the documentation to be a realistic record of events.

　　Question17 It's very sophisticate model. You can programme it to send stuff at any time and then if there’s a problem a message appears on this little screen here. It's even suggests what you can do about it to put it right!

　　Section Two. Questions 18—22

　　Question18 Well in a sense I've got no choice in the matter. No one’s actually told me to get the qualification. It's just that form my point of view, my own sense of confidence, if you like, I feel that if I’m going to be responsible for instructing other people in the company, then I should do something to improve my own level of knowledge. On the other hand, I don't know what I feel about the course itself. One thing is for sure, I am not looking forward to the journey there and back every day. It’s going to be very tiring. Mind you, I know I shouldn't complain. It’s only for a month after all.

　　Question19 It's certainly a challenge, isn’t it? Of course I am nervous in some ways. Who wouldn't be? Then again there’s a lot to look forward to as well. For starters, it's going to be something like twenty people doing it. So I’m sure that's going to include some interesting types, you know, people you enjoy spending time with on the course itself and also afterwards. Could be some useful contacts, too. Well, OK. I need the course. If I don’t it, I won't be able to cope with all the latest equipment. I mean, these days, you have to swim fast to stay afloat, don’t you? But still I don't see why it can’t be enjoyable at the same time.

　　Question20 What I mainly feel, really, is nervous. You know, like I am being sent back to school or something. I am feeling very lacking in confidence, which is of course not the best starting position. After all these years of doing the job, and doing it well, I'm proud to say ,and picking it up as I’ve gone along. It seems embarrassing to be told to go get a piece of paper, to have to have a certificate, especially when you feel you know what you're doing. Yes, of course, I do realize there’ll be things on the course I haven't done before. And that concerns me too. Because I don’t know how well I'll retain it all, if I’ll be able to recall it afterwards. Oh, perhaps it will all be OK in the end, I certainly hope so.

　　Question21 Yes, the course content does look good in the brochure. I know in a sense I shouldn't complain. After all it’s a chance to enhance my skills and knowledge. And that's welcome at times. But it’s still a bit of gamble, isn't? I just have to hope it really does improve my chances of hanging on to my job here. It’s a bit frightening, to tell you the truth, with so many people having to go. After 20 years in a company, you don't want to think about being out of work, do you? But I really wish the brochure would tell you more. It looks good, as I said, but there’s no detail, nothing on the time or the teachers. So I feel bit in the dark really.

　　Question22 At this age, you've just got to want to get ahead and do whatever it takes to be ahead of the test. That’s what drives me anyway. I just can't wait to get started. Ever since I first saw the notice up on the board, I knew it was for me. I do appreciate it’s a bit far away. Yes, and I am a little hazy on some of detail or what the other people will be like. But those are small things, unimportant points to my mind. It's certainly not cheap. Not by anyone’s standards. But you get what you pay for, don't you? I am really confident that I’ll be enjoying the benefits of it for years to come. So I'm sure it represents good value for money and time.

　　第八套题

　　Part Two. Questions 13—22

　　Section One. Questions 13——17

　　Question13 Well I guess it's all for the best in the long run. I mean it’s never been easy with all of us spread out over the city. And then there are different phone lines. Half the time when I am answering calls they've come to the wrong branch. Then there are the students. I mean half of them have never been in the city to even this country before. It’s no wonder they are late. They don't know how to find their way round. But this way, when all the changes are over and we’ve settled down in the new building, we'll be easier to get to. So I reckon they’ll get here more promptly. And then won't have any excuse any more for coming in late and missing lectures.

　　Question14 I think it all depends where you're sitting—where you’re looking from. Overall I'm convinced it’ll work out well, It's the right decision. I’d have done the same thing. I'm really convinced that a large number of students are going to be delighted. They’ll see the benefits immediately. OK, yes I', anticipating some complaints. With people of this nature, I think that’s inevitable, but the majority will welcome it. I've explained it to all my lecturers. They understand it, accept it. It also means I can organize the timetables better so they’ll do their teaching over a shorter day. So that's obviously a benefit. I’m sure the rest of the staff will feel the same.

　　Question15 In the early days I had to take premises all over the place, anywhere I could get them, just to get the business off the ground. But over the years I've always looked for the opportunity to get everyone together on one site. When all this is over, we’ll look better and we'll perform better. I know it means we’re going to attract more business. And another thing, we're supposed to keep all the records on the database, but half the time, the various PCs aren’t working or the network's down or something. That can surely only get better. Personally I can’t wait.

　　Question16 I can't say I really understand why they’re doing it. I mean it's all these buildings, all this equipment. You know, it seems they’re organized as it is. It's got to be money, hasn’t it? That's why we’re all here in the lectures-keep costs under control. Of course, lots of us are late for class sometimes, and I know that's bad, and embarrassing-walking in when everyone else is already in their place and its all started ages ago. But I do think it’s a bit worrying that it will surely mean some of them are going to lose out. I mean they wouldn't be doing this if they didn’t recognize they would save some salaries, would they?

　　Question17 I wish them luck. That's the main thing I say…I think they’re an excellent organization—very well run. The students are always happy, more than satisfied. I just think it's beyond my imagination what they’ll have to do. I mean, you think of all the different branches, all the things, all the procedures, can you imagine what all the changing will involve? Anyway, I suppose the bottom line is as long as they keep their external relations as efficient as they've always been, there’s no problem. At the end of the day I want my percentage. It's up to them to sort out the move.

　　Section Two. Questions 18—22

　　Question18 We've been discussing it for months, and now they’ve finally made a decision. Personally I think we should have a vote and get all the shareholders involved before any new factory is built. It's all very well diversifying into new areas, but it’ll involve a huge investment. And getting bigger doesn't always bring proportion that rewards. Everybody seems to think that going over the finer details is very boring. So we’ve ended up making these decisions without any proper research. I'm not very pleased about some of the aGREements we reached. Certain matters don’t seem to be looked into properly at all'

　　Question19 Well, I'm relieved that’s over. It's always so awkward when the previous person was so popular, but the vote was pretty unanimous. That’s encouraging , as it's always better to have a leader who everyone supports. I don’t think my bid was very successful because I felt so apprehensive. It's difficult when you have to try to persuade everyone, but I was the logical person to propose him. I shouldn’t have been worried because it was just a question of standing up and explaining why. Anyway he's got lots of new ideas, so hopefully he’ll be a success. And I'll be associated with it.

　　Question20 I'm not sure it’s realistic to expect us to achieve those sorts of figures. I mean it hasn't been on the market all that long. It can take ages for this sort of product to get establish. Bill really didn’t understand the problems. And I always seem to end yp arguing with him. He got annoyed, as usual. But he's been unrealistic about what’s possible. I managed to stay calm, but because of our enormous difference of opinion, no decision's been made yet.

　　Question21 That's it. We finally decided to do it. The meeting went on for ages and I don’t think the new chairman was very happy. But it's a majority decision. We proposed that the company will be floated on the market in June or July, but we don’t know what the price ill be yet. Greentown

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