I hope we can_____before noon.

e to inquire about the tender．Would you like to tell me something about it in detail？

B: Sure．We are inviting tender for the construction of a thermal power plant．We already got more than ten tenders from various countries.

A: We learnt that this project is very competitive．When do you start to the bid？

B: The end before this month．Tenders received after the deadline will not be considered．If you are interested in this tender, you can have a set of tender documents and get the details of the requirements.

A: What should we prepare if we would like to take part in the bid？

B: First, you're required to get the bid documents against payment RMB 500 yuan．The document should be designated department with in designated time.

A: Shall we pay tender bond？

B: Yes．If you fail to furnish a tender bond before the opening of the tender, your tender will not be considered．And detailed engineering of the works, technical specifications and other tender documents should precede the invitation to tender for the contract.

A: I see.

B: It's well known that your company has great experience in this field．We hope you will consider this tender invitation carefully.

A: I think we will.

"Mummy ! Mummy ! I saw some really big tadpoles (蝌蚪) in the pond (池塘). You've promised to catch some for us. "Phillip says, following me towards the kitchen. "Some of them have already got legs!" "Yes! We can catch them and watch them turn into frogs!" Geoffrey says suddenly. "Can we go？ Right now？"The telephone has been ringing. I try to get the receiver, but it is too late. It has been cut off.

"Give me a minute to catch my breath. 'I beg. "Put the groceries away. Get some jars out. I'll go change."

We go to the wide pond which lies smooth and still, its surface dotted with pink (粉红色 ) and white lilies (睡莲). Phillip and Geoffrey, laughing and shouting, run to the water's edge. I feel the peace of the place broken by the children. I hope there are no tadpoles so we can leave quickly. There's dinner to cook.

It is quite some time before we have taken the first tadpole to the bank. "The children are wild with joy. Back in the pond we go, and we try hard to catch five more fat ones. We all agree that's enough. The sun has gone down. A frog goes to the opposite shore. It's well past dinner time, bath time and bedtime when we really leave. But none of us thinks of those things. Phillip and Geoffrey are in high spirits, and I am the same because I have done what I should.

Phillip and Geoffrey's voices must be ______.

A．sharp, nervous, tiresome

B．anxious, angry, inspiring

C．soft, sweet, pleasing

D．eager, excited, demanding

A: Shall we begin to discuss the terms of insurance right now？

B: OK.

A: We have a deal on CIF price．It means that the insurance should be borne by you, right？

B: Certainly．The premium should be paid by us．All our export goods sold on CIF terms arc insured with the PICC．They provide many kinds of coverages of marine insurance, such as F．P．A．, W．P．A．, A．R．and so on.

A: What kind of coverage will you arrange for our order then？

B: Usually we']] only insure W．P．A．for this kind.

A: We hope you can cover the Packing Breakage Risk for us.

B: We can do that for you．But additional premium should be on your account.

A．We will pay that．So, please insure the consignment against W．P．A．and Packing Breakage Risk for 150% of invoice value.

B: I am sorry, we only can insure goods for 110% of the invoice value．For 150% , the extra premium will be borne by you.

A: Then we made a deal that we will insure this consignment against W．P．A．and Packing Breakage Risk for 150% of invoice value．Is there anything else about the insurance clause？

B: I don't think so.

A: Very well, we have settled everything about this transaction, except the terms of payment.

B: As you know, we prefer the L/C 20 days in advance which expires 15 days after receiving the paking list.

A: I suppose you have known our financial standing and credit well now after our long-term cooperation．We know an irrevocable L/C can ensure that the seller gets payment duly．But, on the other hand, it would increase the buying cost．Therefore, could you consider giving us D/P this time？

B: I am sorry．But our rules only allow us to accept other terms of payment by L/C, although the buyer has had two or three transactions with us before.

A: But why not if you have known the buyer's credit after several deals？

B: We hope you can understand．We have got some serious lessons from the credulity．One of them was through D/P documentary collection．When the shipment worth US ＄50000 was effected, the buyer refused to make the payment．But we can do nothing with it．And that buyer had had one or two deals before this one.

A: I see．But the flexible terms of payment will definitely bring you more orders as well as facilitate the buyers' purchasing.

B: Sure．We don't mean we won't accept other terms of payment forever．As a matter of fact, we will do so when we have known well about the buyer's credit after a real long-term cooperation.

Letter A

Dear Mr…

As our new letterhead indicates，we have recently changed the name of our business from(old name)to(new name)．

There will be no change in management and we will provide the same products and fine service on which we have built our reputation in the industry．We would appreciate it if you should inform your accounts payable department of our announcement and direct them accordingly.

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Letter B

Dear...,

As of Monday, July 1, 2000, Kabuki Sales Corporation of America's Eastern Regional Office will be located in our new offices and the Sales Division at 401 Grandiosa Boulevard, Tampa, Florida, 33715．The telephone number for this new location…

Our Manufacturing Division will remain at 3333 Santa Fe Avenue, in St．Petersburg.

I have enclosed our most recent brochure on robotic equipment for your review．I hope you find it interesting.

Yours truly,

Letter C

Gentlemen,

This is to inform you that The (Name of Company) is now open and is located at 5555 4th Avenue North, St．Petersburg, Florida.

Our store offers a complete and diverse line of computer software packages for both personal and business application．Since we do not represent any individual computer hardware manufacturer, the products that we carry are compatible with many systems．We are therefore able to offer to our customers a wide range of excellent software packages．Enclosed, for your review, is a partial list of the items we currently have available.

We hope that you will come and visit us soon.

Sincerely yours,

Letter D

Dear…,

It is my great pleasure to advise you that (name of new sales representative) will now be representing our firm in your area.

(Name of individual) has been handling our accounts in (local) for some time and is extremely familiar with the field of (specify).

Our new representative is scheduled to visit your office on (date).

Truly yours,

Letter E

Stapleton, VT 10080

Julyl8, 2008.

Happy Antiques company(幸福古董店)

Dear Sirs,

Happy Antiques Wholesale will hold its Summer Sale July 18-28.

As a preferred client, you are invited to take part in a pre-sale showing on July 16 when we will allow a discount up to 20% on specially marked articles．We feel this is just one small way that we can repay you for all your business through these years．Our enclosed booklet shows you some of the outstanding values available.

Thank you for your supporting to our company, we hope we will see you on July 16.

Yours sincerely,

oices through the thin wall separating my bedroom from theirs. Their loving words were sweet, touching— and surprising.

My parents married on September 14,1940, alter a brief dating. She was nearly 30 and knew it was time to 'start a family. The handsome, well-educated man wh0 came by the, office where she worked looked like a good bet. He was attracted by her figure, her blue eyes. The romance didn't last long.

Seeds of difference grew almost immediately. She liked to travel; he hated the thought. He loved golf; she did not. He was a Republican, she a loyal Democrat. They fought at the bridge table, at the dinner table, over money, over the perceived shortcomings of their respective in-laws.

There was a hope that they would change once they retired, and the angry winds did calm somewhat, but what remained changed itself into bright, hard bitterness. "I always thought we'd..." my mother would begin, before launching into a precise listing of my father's faults. The complaints were recited so often, I can repeat them by heart today. As he listened, my father would say angry threats and curses in a low voice.

It wasn't the happiest marriage, but as their 602 anniversary(纪念日)approached, my sister and I decided to throw a party. Sixty years was a long time, after alit why not try to make the best of things？ We'd provide the cake, the balloons, the toasts, and they'd follow one rule: no fighting.

The agreement was honored. We had a wonderful day. When we thought back, we found it was an important celebration, because soon after, things began to change for my parents.

Bob married Nancy because of______.

A．her nice appearance

B．her good education

C．her romantic nature

D．her position as an office girl

A: I made a very close study of the draft contract last night.

B: Any questions？

A: Yes．There are a few points which I'd like to bring up．First, the packing．It's stipulated in the contract that all the machine parts should be packed in wooden cases．This can be done with the machine parts, but it's impossible to pack a truck base like that.

B: I see.

A: Second, about the terms of payment．Your draft contract says that payment is to be made by D/P．This is not our practice．We prefer to have the payment made by L/C through a negotiating bank in France.

B: And…

A: And the third point is about arbitration．It's stipulated that arbitration shall take place in China．In all our past contracts signed with you, it was stipulated that arbitration took place in a third country.

B: Yes, that's right.

A: But how is it that this time you wish to have it carried out in China？

B: Shall we take up the matter point by point？

A: That's a good idea.

B: Now, the first point is about packing．We agree to a different packing for the truck.

A: This can easily be done.

B: Second, about terms of payment by L/C.

A: Thank you.

B: As for arbitration, in our dealings with many countries, arbitration is to be carried out in China．The Arbitration Commission of CCPIT enjoys a high prestige among friendly companies．Personally I hope you'll accept this clause．Furthermore, the disputes that have arisen from our business transaction were all settled through friendly consultations．Very rarely was arbitration restored to.

A: I see．OK．The new arbitration clause is acceptable．Is there anything else？

B: As far as the contract stipulations are concerned, there is nothing more．Thank you very much.

A: When should we sign the contract？

B: We'I1 revise the contract this evening, and have it ready to be signed tomorrow morning at ten．How's that？

A: Perfect.

Counter-offer

Joe, the representative of the buyer, is at Mr．Liang's office, discussing the offer with Mr．Liang.

Joe: Mr．Li, Thank you for your prompt offer．I have studied your offer carefully and consulted our home office．After investigating and comparing, we found that your price is about 5 percent higher than those offered by European Suppliers.

Liang: I hope you also should consider the quality of the goods as well．I'm sure you know very well that our product is made of pure silk．This, of course, increases the cost but promises the superior quality.

Joe: I will agree with you about the importance of quality．But 5 percent is a big difference which we can't not accept because that will leave us little benefit in the intense competition on the world market.

Hang: We can give you a 2 percent discount if your quantity can be adjusted up to 10 000 pieces．And we have confidence that even your selective customers will be satisfied with the fashionable design and superb quality of our goods.

Joe: I am afraid 2 percent is not enough for us to open a new market for your products．We believe 4 percent at least will make your product more competitive.

Liang: I'm afraid we can't give 4 percent reduction by all means．Considering you are a new customer, a 3 percent reduction is really the best we can do.

Joe: Well, Mr．Li, does this price include seaworthy packing？

Liang: The outer packing is for container transportation．That is the usual practice.

Joe: How long will this offer be valid？

Liang: Within one week.

Joe: I'll try to persuade our head office to accept the price with 3 percent discount and inform you of the answer at an early date.

Hang: We will await your good reply.

ce the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago, we have both always looked forward to the new times a year when we can see each other.

Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boy friend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other self-destructive behavior. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even stealing out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him. No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn't believe me. Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared.

I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble. I felt like I was getting nowhere. I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang with a bunch of losers, especially her boy friend.

By the time she left, I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience. It had been so frustrating that I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship, but I didn't.I put the power of friendship to the ultimate test. We'd been friends for far too long. I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself. I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything.

A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boy friend. I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face. It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life. Never had I been so proud of a friend.

What word best sums up Jennie's boy friend？

A．A drug user.

B．A loser.

C．A trouble maker.

D．A criminal.

Lin: Glad to meet you again, James.

James: Hi, Lin．Glad to meet you, too．Are you prepared to start another round ？

Lin: I really have to say you are an expert in price negotiation．Have you got the feedback from your head office？

James: Yes, they still think your price is on high side, compared with what quoted by other suppliers.

Lin: As you know, the sustaining inflation and dull economic situation results in the increasing in the cost of raw material．Given the increasing cost of our production, our offer is very close to our bottom．And you know, as famous brand in this field, our silk products are of superior quality.

James: They are of the best quality, but we simply can't accept this price．Frankly speaking, two of your competitors have made us an offer at a price 10% lower than yours．After comparing samples, we believe the quality is similar．Buyers won't pay more for similar quality.

Lin: Our price is a bit higher, but the quality of our production is far superior to those of other competitors, it is not SIMILAR．Then what's the acceptable price in your mind？

James: Will you consider reducing your price by 10% ？

Lin: That's much more than we can do for you．But considering our long friendly business relationship, we are ready to reduce our price by 5 % if your quantity is not less than 5000 pieces．You know, business mainly rely on the size of your order.

James: We accept the quantity．But for this quantity, our final counter- offer requires a cut of 7%．I hope you'll consider it again.

Lin: Since it is a big order, I think we'll accept your price as an exception．It's quite a bargain.

James: If I place an order now, when would you be able to ship it ？

Lin: We should be able to get that off to you right away．Are you ready to place your order now？

James: The order will be mailed to you next week.