Conversation Two
M: Can we make you an offer? We would like to run the campaign for four extra weeks.
W: well, can we summarize the problem from my point of view? First of all, the campaign was late. It missed two important trade affairs. The ads also did not appear into key magazines. As a result, the campaign failed. Do you accept that summary of what happened?
M: well, the delay wasn’t entirely our fault. You did in fact make late changes to the specifications of the advertisements.
W: Uh, actually, you were late with the initial proposals so you have very little time and in fact, we only asked for small changes.
M: Well whatever, can we repeat our offer to run the campaign for 4 extra weeks?
W: That’s not really the point. The campaign missed two key trade affairs. Because of this, we are asking you either to repeat the campaign next year for free, or we only pay 50% of the fee for this year.
M: Could we suggest a 20% reduction to the fee together with the four week sustention to the campaign.
W: We are not happy. We lost business.
M: I think we both made mistakes. The responsibility is on both sides.
W: Ok, let’s suggest a new solution. How about a 40% cut in fee, or a free repeat campaign?
M: Well, let’s take a break, we’re not getting very far. Perhaps we should think about this.
【听力材料评析】
这篇对话是围绕一次商业活动的推广是否延期和如何收费的讨论。对话中,女士否决了延期四周这个提议。理由是这次的活动已经错过了两个重要的商业活动事件,而且也没有在重要杂志上打广告。而男士则坚持要求延期,并表示:活动被耽搁的原因是女士所在公司没有及时给出对广告的修改。而男士认为是女士所在公司提交细节修改建议太晚而导致耽搁。女士坚持无需延期,且不应延期,而应定为活动失败。因此,女士向男士的公司提出降低收费或者明年免费为她们公司做活动的要求。最后,男士提出延期四周并给出20%的降价。可惜女士仍然要求更低的40%的降价和下一期的免费活动推广。而男士提出还需再议。显然,他对此提议并不表示赞同。
这篇文章总体不难,考查文章大意。而文章本身围绕是否延期和如何收费这个中心讨论点展开,没有较生僻的词汇。但值得注意的是,考生需要通过对话推知谈话者的身份,并对说话者的语气和话外音所包含的内容有所把握。另外,这是一篇在真实的商务谈判场景中会经常出现的状况。考生注意平时对商业和商务常识方面的知识积累,会对把握整个听力对话的大意很有帮助。
22: What do we learn about the man’s company?
23: Why was the campaign delayed according to the man?
24: What does the woman propose as a solution to the problem?
25: What does the man suggest they do at the end of the conversation?