在一些大型企业中,公司总部会不定期地派人员前往子公司视察工作业务并提出改善的意见。接待总公司到访的管理人员,前期的准备工作是一件不可怠慢的事。包括流程的制定、接送的安排、住宿及膳食的预订等都需要考虑得面面俱到。
发音：美式发音
语速：150词/分钟
使用方法：精听+角色扮演
Receptionist: Yes, those rooms are booked for you. They're the best rooms we have in the hotel and I can assure you that your guests will be well taken care of.
(酒店)前台:是的,房间为您预订好了,是我们酒店里最好的房间,我可以向您保证,您的贵宾一定会得到妥善招待的。
Danielle: Thank you so much. They are the 1)executives from the head office of my company so ①I have to make sure they get top-shelf treatment. You've been very helpful. Have a great day.
丹妮尔:非常感谢。他们是我们公司总部的高级管理人员,因此我得确保他们能得到最好的待遇。十分谢谢您。祝您愉快。
Darren: You've been on the phone and rushing around all morning. ②Where's the fire?
达伦:你整个早上都在打电话,忙个不停。怎么回事啊?
Danielle: The fire is arriving in the morning…in the form of two executives from head office. ③Have you been living under a rock? How could you not have heard about it?
丹妮尔:今天早上突然接到通知……总部要来两位高管。你与世隔绝了吗?怎么可能没听说这个消息呢?
Darren: I've been locked down in the programming department. ④We don't get wind of important news until three days after it is relevant. So you are in charge of arranging everything for them?
达伦:我在项目部被隔离了。那些重要的消息我们都要三天后才能收到风。那么,你负责这次接待的安排工作?
Danielle: That's right. I've booked their accommodation and made dinner reservations, I've also arranged for a driver to 2)collect them from the airport. ⑤I have called you up to pick your brains about security passes. Will their company IDs be activated on our system, or am I better off getting new passes for them while they are here?
丹妮尔:是啊。我给他们预订了住处和晚餐,还安排了一个司机到机场去接他们。我打电话叫你过来是想请你帮忙弄弄安全通行证的事情。我们的系统能识别他们的通行证吗,还是我最好在他们来的时候办好新的通行证给他们?
Darren: As far as I know, the 3)chips from their IDs won't 4)sync up with our machines. I can have new passes made up. That's no problem at all.
达伦:据我所知,他们的通行证在我们的机器上是不能同步使用的。我可以做新的通行证。一点儿问题也没有。
Danielle: Great. I need them as soon as possible.
丹妮尔:太好了。我想要尽快拿到。
Darren: I'll do it now. ⑥They will be ready in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
达伦:我现在就着手做。马上就能准备好。
Smart Sentences
① I have to make sure they get top-shelf treatment. 我得确保他们能得到最好的待遇。
top-shelf treatment: among the best treatment of its kind(顶级待遇)。
例如:
Mr. Thompson is one of the big donors of the hospital and he deserves top-shelf treatment here.
汤普森先生是医院的主要捐赠人之一,他在这里应该得到最好的待遇。
② Where's the fire? 怎么回事啊?
Where's the fire?: expression used when seeing a lot of hurrying(在看到众人忙乱时的发问用语)。例如:
Tiffany, where's the fire? Everyone has been around all morning.
蒂凡妮,怎么回事啊?一个上午人人都忙个不停。
③ Have you been living under a rock? 你与世隔绝了吗?
live under a rock: being isolated from the world(与世隔绝)。例如:
Having lived under a rock for weeks, I was surprised to know Tommy is our CEO now.
因为我与世隔绝了好几星期,听到汤米当上了CEO的消息很吃惊。
④ We don't get wind of important news until three days after it is relevant. 那些重要的消息我们都要三天后才能收到风。
get wind of: learn about sth., esp. sth. that was being hidden from you(收到风声)。例如:
We got the wind of the merger a long time ago.
我们很早就听到要并购的消息。
⑤ I have called you up to pick your brains about security passes. 我打电话叫你过来是想请你帮忙弄弄安全通行证的事情。
pick sb.'s brain: ask sb.'s help with a problem(让某人帮忙)。例如:
A successful CEO knows how to pick the brains of his people.
一名成功的CEO懂得如何把手下人的智慧为自己所用。
⑥ They will be ready in two shakes of a lamb's tail. 马上就能准备好。
two shakes of a lamb's tail: in a very short time(在很短的时间内)。例如:
I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
我马上就回来。