Unit 6
Supply
Describing product features
1. Listening Listen to the phone call about the supply of some office shelving systems. As you listen fill in the missing information on the specification sheet.
Listening task
A：Good morning. I'm phoning to enquire about your office shelving system...code number SS007.
B：Oh yes, what would you like to know?
A：Well. I'd like to check on the dimensions first-make sure that they'll fit. First of all, how wide are they?
B：Just a moment, sir, I'll get the specifications... you asked about the width... yes, the standard unit is 3.5 meters wide.
A：And the height?
B：They're 2 meters high with flexible positions for the shelves.
A：How many shelves can actually be fitted?
B：Really as many as you like, but normally five.
A：I see. I need to know how much they stick out-in other words, how deep are they?
B：They're 30 centimeters deep.
A：Thanks, that's the dimensions. Now, what about delivery?
B：Well, it depends how far you are from our warehouse.
A：We're about ten miles from the center.
B：I see-well, that's in our free delivery area, so there'll be no extra charge for delivery.
A：Good. Actually, what I meant was how long does it take after I place an order?
B：I see, sir. We guarantee delivery within two weeks.
A：Good. Well, we're interested in ten of your standard units for a suite of offices. How much do you charge?
B：Well, the unit cost is ₤98 but in view of the size of the order, we can offer a 5 per cent discount... just a moment, I'll just do the figures... yes, that comes to ₤931-let's round it off and call it ₤930.
A：That sounds reasonable. Finally, what sort of guarantee do you offer?
B：Well, these units are extremely sturdy and reliable. There's the usual one-year guarantee but they have an average life of at least 20 years...
Dimensions
Width ____________________________
Height _____________________________
Depth _____________________________
Delivery
Cost ______________________________
Time ______________________________
Price
Unit price ___________________________
Discount price for 10 units ______________
Guarantee Period _____________________
Average life _________________________
2. Presentation
In the telephone conversation the speakers discussed.
# dimensions
# time
# cost
Here is some of the language you heard.
2.1 Dimensions
Questions: How wide are they? (note the adjective form)
What's the width? (note the noun form)
How high are they?
What's the height?
Answers: They're 3.5 meters wide. (note the position of the adjective)
The width is 3.5 meters.
They're 2 meters high.
The height is 2 meters.
2.2 Time
Question: How long does it take after ordering? (note the verb)
Answer: It takes two weeks.
2.3 Cost
Questions: How much is it?
How much does it cost?
How much do you charge?
Answers: It's ₤98.
It costs ₤98.
We charge ₤98.
3. Controlled practice
A. Complete the following table. Use a dictionary if necessary. The first one has been done for you.
Noun form Adjective Opposite adjective
width wide narrow
long
depth
low distance
speed
reliability
B. Ask questions about the technical and commercial specifications of the printer above. In all cases, use an adjective form with How.
1． The width of the printer How wide is it?
2． The depth of the printer _________________________________?
3． The speed of the printer _________________________________?
4． The time to deliver ______________________________________?
5． The cost of delivery _____________________________________?
6． The reliability of the printer ________________________________?
7． The length of the cable __________________________________?
8． The length of the guarantee period _________________________?
9． The cost of the printer ___________________________________?
10． The distance to the nearest service center _________________?
课文注释及词汇讲解
* enquire 询问，询价
eg. A customer enquired about the price of our new product in his letter.
有位客户来信询问新产品的价格。
* office shelving system 办公室排架设备
* code number 货号，商品号
* check on 查明，核实
eg. I'd like to check on the dimensions first.
我想先查一下尺寸大小。
* specification 规格[注意：用复数形式]
* standard unit 标准件，标准单位
* fir 安装，为……提供设备
eg. How many shelves can actually be fitted?
实际上能安几层架子？
The room is so narrow that the machine won't fit in.
房间太小了，机器安不下。
* stick out 突出，伸出
eg. The lumber is so long that part of it sticks out of the desk.
要料太长了，有一部分都伸到甲板外面去了。
* centimeter 厘米
* delivery 交货，送货，运货
eg. time of delivery 交货期
make delivery of 交货
take delivery of 提货，收货
* depend 因……而定，取决于……[常与介词on连用]
eg. Delivery costs depend on how far you are from our ware house.
送货费用取决于贵公司到我们仓库的距离。
* center 市中心]
* free 免费的
eg. free delivery 免费送货
* extra 额外的
eg. an extra loss 额外损失
* charge 费用， 收费
eg. How much do you charge for delivery costs?
收多少送货费？
* place an order 订货
eg. I'd like to place an order for ten cars.
我想订购10辆汽车。
* guarantee 担保，保证
eg. What sort of guarantee do you offer?
你们提供什么样的担保？
We guarantee delivery within two weeks.
我们保证两周交货。
There is a usual one-year guarantee for our TV sets.
我们生产的电视机通常保修一年。
We guarantee satisfaction to customers.
我们保证令顾客满意。
* in view of 鉴于，由于，考虑到
eg. In view of our relationship, we would offer you a discount of 5%.
考虑到双方的关系，我们愿提供5%的折扣。
* do the figures 计算一下数目
行为动词do与不同的宾语搭配会有不同的含义，翻译时一定要灵活。
eg. They did London in five days.
他们花了五天时间游览伦敦。
I have to do ten copies.
我得抄10份。
* How long does it take (sb.) to do ... ?(某人)做……要多长时间？
eg. How long does it take to deliver the goods by ship?
这批货船运要花多长时间？
* come to 达到，总计为
eg. The total price comes to ₤100.
价格总计达到100英镑。
* round ... off 将……[数字]取整，四舍五入
eg. If we round ₤931 off, we get ₤930.
将931英镑取整，得930英镑。
* reliable 可靠
* average life （商品）平均使用寿命
shelf life 储存期限，货架寿命
* product features 产品特征
* personal computer 个人电脑[简称PC]
* sheet 单，表
eg. quotation sheet 报价单
# 补充说明：
首先补充一下小数的读法。请看下例：
1.1 = one point one
1.25 = one point tow five （而不是one point twenty-five）
1.375 = one point three seven five
1.01 = one point o one
0.5 = o point five /point five
另外，在实际业务中，我们常常不用表示长、宽、高的词， 而简单地说成"33 X 24 X 10 cm"，读thirty-three by twenty- four by ten centimetres".这里的"by"即乘号的读法。
此外，在许多地方度量衡的单位不用公制而是用英制，请看下面的例子：
1 in. [one inch] 一英寸
2 in. [two inches] 二英寸
1 yd. [one yard] 一码
2 yd. [two yards] 两码
1 ft. [one foot] 一英尺
2 ft. [two feet] 两英尺 [注意：英尺的复数形式为feet]
one mile 一英里
two miles 二英里
