Barbara: I'm doing market research here, but I studied public relations in college.
I'd like to do PR for a large multinational company. Alan:
That sounds exciting, and the pay would be better, too. Yeah, if I were you, I would keep an eye on the job postings on the Internet.
Barbara: Thanks, I will.
TTFFF
Viewing and speaking Task 1
Voice-over: It's time for John to make his first visit to see if he can help turn
things around. He really has his work cut out this time, but will Matt be prepared to take on board any of John's suggestions? They meet at Sticmatz HQ, the Aitkenhead's family home. John needs to get a handle on Matt, his business and his expectations. John:
For the forthcoming financial year, how many units are you hoping to sell?
Really, I'd expect to sell very... a minimum of three million units by this time next year. Three million units? Yeah.
Three-million-unit sales next year? That's an awesome target. So what is this business going to do in the current year to fuel that phenomenal expansion?
We're really, really gonna hop on the marketing and sales in a way that we haven't even touched... scratched the surface of. We're looking for two quality salespeople, and we can now more aggressively market the product at trade shows, um, and just generally do a lot of grass roots marketing to really get the brand out there.
Matt:
John: Matt: John:
Matt:
Voice-over: John's read the business plans, seen the product, and met the
entrepreneur. To him, the problems are obvious. John:
They've clearly got some very real challenges. Firstly they must raise some money. And that is not going to be easy. The sales targets for next year are wildly optimistic. Three million units. Now that would be a hard task, even if they had a fully-fledged operational,
functioning sales and marketing department, which they don't have.
They're going to need to employ the right people. They need to get the money from the investment to employ some hard-headed salesmen.
Voice-over: But can Matt deliver on getting the investment before the business
sinks? John:
Firstly you must raise some money. So the first priority, having got the money, is to employ an experienced salesman. Ahem.
You need to employ someone who understands branding, understands negotiation with supermarkets, or national chains.
Matt: John:
Unit 6 The truth can be stranger than fiction. Lead in
Basic listening
(1)W: M:
What's that? Is it a toy? Did it get chewed by a dog?
Hey, that's my mascot! My uncle gave it to me when I was five, and it's been with me ever since. It brought me luck in all my exams. I can't bring myself to part with it.
What does the man say about his mascot? Wish me luck! I've got a job interview this afternoon. I'm really nervous. Stay calm, best of luck! I've got my fingers crossed for you.
Why does the man say he has crossed his fingers for the woman?
Q: (2)W:
M:
Q:
(3)W: Oh no! Did you see that black cat walk right in front of me? That's unlucky! M:
Really? I guess it depends on where you come from. In my home town it's the opposite. It's lucky to see a black cat cross your path. So no need to worry!
Q: Who thinks seeing a black cat passing the path is unlucky?
(4)M: Guess what I did this morning. I smashed my mirror. A great way to start the
day! W: Q:
Oh no! Seven years' bad luck, isn't it? What happened in the morning?
(5)M: I can't believe this rain! It's been pouring for hours! Where can I dry my
umbrella? W:
Not in here please! It's unlucky to open an umbrella indoors. You can put it on the porch.
Where does the woman ask the man to dry his umbrella?
Q:
CCADB Listening in Task 1
W: My brother is going to pick up some tickets for the David Copperfield show. You
interested in coming with us? M: I don't know. I've seen card tricks before and rabbits from hats. I even do tricks
myself—watch me change this coin into an ice cream cone. W: Very funny. David Copperfield is the world's greatest magician. He's certainly
worth a look. M: Actually, I have seen him on television. He pulls off some pretty amazing stunts.
I wish I knew how he performed his tricks. Then I could also make a person float in the air. I could pull a rabbit out of my hat. I could escape from a straitjacket and handcuffs—all underwater. And I could saw a woman in half. W: A magician never tells his secrets. David attempts the impossible and no one
has any idea how he does it. I saw him on TV when he walked through the Great Wall of China. M: How could he do that?
W: I have no idea, but I know what I saw. He entered a canvas shelter on one side
of the wall, and came out of a canvas shelter on the other side. M: Yes, but was he always in full view of the camera, or did they cut to a commercial
or something else? W: Not only was the camera running all the time, but he was hooked up to a heart
