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2011年ESL之商务英语 19 Buying Office Furniture

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19 Buying Office Furniture

GLOSSARY1

catalogue – a printed book with many pages containing photographs and writtendescriptions of items that are sold by a particular company

* If you order clothes through a catalogue, it’s really important to know the correctsize since you can’t try things on before you buy them.

to furnish – to purchase furniture and place it in a room that previously2 did nothave any furniture

* Maggie is really excited about furnishing her college dorm room.

desk – a large piece of furniture like a table, but with drawers, used for studyingor working, often with room for a computer

* When Shane is busy, he has papers spread out all over his desk.

file cabinet – a metal or wooden piece of furniture with large drawers thatusually lock, used to organize and store many pieces of paper

* This file cabinet contains files on all our clients, in alphabetical3 order.

bookcase – a large, tall piece of furniture with many shelves and an open front,used to store books and objects that one wants to display

* Let’s put these heavy encyclopedias4 on the bottom of the bookcase, and putyour awards and trophies5 at eye level on these higher shelves.

you name it – a phrase used when one has finished listing several items to showthat many other things could be included in that list

* Uncle Ron has worked as a carpenter, a lawyer, a school bus driver, a bankteller, an accountant – you name it!

office chair – a chair used in front of a desk at work, usually with wheels and aback and arms that can be moved for greater comfort

* With the right office chair, you’re less likely to get an injury from typing all daylong.

casters – small wheels placed underneath6 heavy pieces of furniture to makethem easier to move

* Louisa wants to buy a piano with casters so that she can move it from room toroom whenever she wants.

adjustable7 – able to be moved into a different physical position to become morecomfortable for someone to use

* This backpack is adjustable. Just pull here to make the shoulder straps8 longeror shorter.

keyboard tray – a small, flat piece of wood or metal underneath the top of adesk that holds a keyboard and rolls out when one wants to type, but then can bepushed back under the desk when one does not want to use the keyboard

* Older desks don’t have keyboard trays, but you can buy a separate one andinstall it with just a few screws.

drawer – a box that does not have a lid and slides in and out of another piece offurniture, like a desk or dresser

* Pens and pencils are in the top drawer, blank paper and cards are in thesecond drawer, and computer cables are in the bottom drawer.

lateral9 files – files and folders10 that are stored in a wide drawer so that they allface toward the right or left of the piece of furniture, not toward the person whoopens the drawer

* These lateral files are in chronological11 order, so the oldest files are on your leftand the newest files are on the right.

hutch – a piece of furniture that sits on top of a desk, with several cupboards orshelves that can store books or other papers above a computer

* Jake keeps reference materials like dictionaries and thesauruses in his hutch,where he can reach them easily while writing.

optional – something that can be chosen or used, but does not have to bechosen or used; not mandatory12 or required

* This travel package describes several optional sightseeing trips that areavailable for an additional fee.

solid – firm and stable; strongly built; made with strong materials

* These bookcases aren’t very solid. The shelves fell down when I startedputting books on them.

sturdy – strong and well-built; not likely to fall down or fall apart

* Before I bought a new chair, I sat in it and made sure it was sturdy.

to be cut out for – to be well qualified13 or prepared to do something

* Doran’s parents don’t think he’s cut out for the military, since he isn’t very goodat following instructions.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Which of these things would not be attached to a desk?

a) A catalogue.

b) A keyboard tray.

c) A hutch.

2. What does Kei mean when he says, “I think there’s one person who’s cut outfor this job”?

a) He thinks Natalia knows a lot about buying office furniture.

b) He thinks Natalia is choosing very expensive office furniture.

c) He thinks Natalia should design and build office furniture.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

you name it

The phrase “you name it,” in this podcast, is used when one has finished listingseveral items to show that many other things could be included in that list:

“Jessina loves sweet foods: ice cream, cake, cookies, candies, pies – you nameit!” The phrase “just to name a few” is used in the same way: “His favoritehobbies are biking, hiking, camping, and fishing, just to name a few.” The phrase“to name the day/date” is used to describe choosing a date for some futureevent, especially for a wedding: “Congratulations! Have you two named the dateyet?” Finally, the phrase, “name your price” is used to ask someone how muchhe or she wants to buy or sell something for: “I love this car! Name your price.”

solid

In this podcast, the word “solid” means to be strongly built and made of strongmaterials: “This children’s chair isn’t solid enough for an adult to sit on it.” Theword “solid” also identifies objects that are not liquids or gasses (vapor): “Waterbecomes solid at 32o Fahrenheit14.” Babies are fed “solid foods” when they’re ableto chew and aren’t limited to only liquids and purees: “Danny’s favorite solidfoods are cheddar cheese, ham, and blueberries.” The word “solid” sometimesmeans reliable or true: “Good journalists don’t print news stories until they’re surethey’re based on solid facts.” Finally, the word “solid” can mean withoutinterruption: “They’ve been working for 36 hours solid with absolutely no sleep.”

CULTURE NOTE

Specialized15 Office FurnitureA typical office has a desk with a hutch, filing cabinets, and office chairs. Butsome jobs require “specialized” (serving a specific purpose) office furniture thathelps the employees complete their work.

For example, a “receptionist” sits near the main door of an office building andgreets people who walk in, helping16 them find the information they need or meetwith the people they have come to see. The receptionist normally sits behind a“reception desk,” which has a nice “finish” (the way something appears,especially wood) on the side that faces the entrance with a low section thereceptionist can see over while seated, and a higher section where the peoplewho come into the office can set down their papers and speak with thereceptionist comfortably while standing17.

The “back office” (a room that is not open to the public, usually filled with officesupplies, photocopy18 machines, and fax machines) often has “mail slots” or“cubby holes” (many small boxes or shelves, usually with one for each employee,labeled with names) where mail and other items are “distributed” (given tosomeone) so that each employee can “check” (see what is there) his or hercubby hole once a day.

Often people who work in “call centers” (large buildings where many peopleprovide customer service or technical support over the phone) or “dataprocessing centers” (large buildings where many people type information intocomputers) don’t need their own office. Instead, they have a “cubicle,” or a smallarea separated from other workers by “partitions” (short walls that do not reachup to the ceiling), but they can hear the people around them and easily see them,often simply by standing up and looking over those partitions.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – a

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT19

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 720: Buying OfficeFurniture.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 720. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. Go there today and become a member of ESLPodcast and help support this podcast so that we can continue providing yougood English lessons – not great, but pretty good!

On this episode, we’re going to listen to a dialogue between Natalia and Keidiscuss some office vocabulary dealing20 with office furniture. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Natalia: Is that the Office Shop catalogue?

Kei: Yeah, I’m in charge of furnishing the new offices on the second floor. Theyneed everything – desks, file cabinets, bookcases – you name it.

Natalia: That sounds like fun. I love shopping for new furniture. Can I help?

Kei: Yes, definitely. I’ve picked out a few things already, but I’m having a hardtime deciding among all of these office chairs.

Natalia: Get this one. They’re on casters and are fully21 adjustable.

Kei: Okay, what about desks? Everybody has a different idea about officedesks.

Natalia: I like this one. It’s got a keyboard tray, file drawers, and space forlateral files. See?

Kei: All right, I guess that one is as good as any, but what about this one with ahutch?

Natalia: This desk has an optional hutch. If the new employees want a hutch,they can order one later.

Kei: Okay, last but not least, we need bookcases.

Natalia: These are solid wood and look sturdy. What do you think?

Kei: I think there’s one person who’s cut out for this job, and that person is notme!

[end of dialogue]

Our dialogue begins with Natalia saying, “Is that the Office Shop catalogue?”

Office Shop is the name of some store that sells office material, not a real place.

A “catalogue” is a printed book with many pages that usually containsphotographs and descriptions – pictures and text about what a particularcompany sells. So, you might have a clothing catalogue that shows all the latestdresses and shirts, pants, that sort of thing; you could have a office furniturecatalogue that shows things that you can buy for your office. Catalogues arebecoming less common because people now sell on the Internet and you don’tneed to send them a book.

Kei says, “Yeah, I’m in charge of furnishing the new offices on the second floor.”

“To furnish” (furnish) is a verb meaning to buy furniture, things like desks andchairs for a certain place, for a house or, in this case, for an office. The noun“furnishings” (plural) refers to furniture, but the verb “to furnish” means to go andbuy – select and buy furniture for a particular place. Kei says that the secondfloor offices need everything, “desks, file cabinets, bookcases – you name it.” A“desk” is a large piece of furniture, like a table, that you are able to write on or putyour computer on and other objects: paper, pencils, that sort of thing. Desks canbe very small, like a school desk where a student sits, or it can be very large, likewhat the president of the company might have. “File cabinets” (sometimes called“filing cabinets,” they’re the same thing) are large – typically large pieces offurniture that have big drawers in them – boxes, if you will, that pull out and youcan put into them pieces of paper that are put into cardboard files. A “file” is alarge piece of cardboard that is folded in half and you put papers in it, just likeyou would put meat in a sandwich, and then you put these files into a drawer – alarge box – and then that drawer goes into the file cabinet. A “cabinet” is ageneral term for a place to store things – to keep things. So here, we arekeeping the files; it’s a file cabinet. “Bookcases” (one word) are large pieces offurniture that hold books, of course. A bookcase has straight, flat pieces of eithermetal or wood, usually two or three, sometimes more; these are called “shelves.”

Individually, it’s a “shelf” (shelf). And, you put the books on the shelves. Keisays they need “desks, file cabinets, bookcases – you name it.” This is anexpression; when someone says, “you name it,” they mean that they have given you a list of possible things, but there are even more things that they could say.

It’s as if you are starting a list, but then you stop because there are so manythings on the list, you use the things that you say as a sample – as an example.

Natalia says, “That sounds like fun.” I’m not sure if she’s joking or being seriousthere. “I love shopping for new furniture.” So I guess she’s serious, she doesthink this will be fun. “Can I help?” Kei says, “Yes, definitely. I’ve picked out(I’ve selected a few things here) a few things already, but I’m having a hard time(I’m having a difficult time) deciding among all of these office chairs.” A “chair,”

of course, is what you sit on; an “office chair” would be a chair that you wouldtypically find in an office. Often office chairs are adjustable; you can make themtaller or shorter depending on what you want.

Natalia says, “Get this one (meaning buy this one). They’re on casters and arefully adjustable.” “Casters” (casters) are small wheels that you put on the bottomof a chair or any very heavy furniture so that you can move it back and fortheasily. You might have a desk on casters, possible. You probably wouldn’t havea bookcase on casters, but you might have a small filing cabinet on casters soyou could move it back and forth22 easily. Natalia says that the chairs that heshould buy should be adjustable. “Adjustable” means you can move it in differentpositions, as I was saying earlier, you can make it higher or lower for example.

Kei says, “Okay, what about desks? Everybody has a different idea about officedesks.” Natalia says, “I like this one. It’s got a keyboard tray, file drawers, andspace for lateral files. See?” A “keyboard tray” is a small, flat piece of wood ormetal that goes underneath your desk, and you can pull it out and type on it – putyour keyboard there so you can enter information into your computer. Thereason that some desks have keyboard trays is because the desk is too tall andin order to have a comfortable position for typing you want the keyboard to belower than the top of the desk. A “file drawer” is similar to what we talked aboutwhen we discussed file cabinets. A “file drawer” is a drawer that you put files inthat’s in a desk; a “file cabinet” is separate from the desk. “Lateral files” are akind of file drawer – file system where the files are facing either left or right.

Normally when you have a file cabinet, you pull out the drawer and the files areall facing you. In other words, they are in a direction so you can read themeasily. To have a “lateral file” means that the files are basically at 90 degreesfrom where you are so that they don’t face the same direction as the drawerpulling out, they face in a perpendicular23 direction – if that makes any sense.

Kei says, “All right, I guess that one is as good as any (meaning that’s goodenough), but what about this one with a hutch?” A “hutch” (hutch) is somethingthat goes on top of your desk; it’s usually something that has some places for storing things. So, it’s like a storage cabinet that goes on the top of a desk,usually at the back of the desk. Sometimes it can be a place to put yourcomputer, sometimes it’s a place for other equipment, it depends on the deskand the hutch.

Natalia says, “This desk has an optional hutch.” Something that is “optional”

means that it doesn’t have to go with the desk; you can choose it or not, it isn’trequired. Natalia says, “If the new employees want a hutch, they can order onelater.” They can get one after they first start using the desk.

Kei says, “Okay, last but not least (meaning this is the last thing we need to do,but it’s not necessarily the least important), we need bookcases.” Natalia says,“These are solid wood and look sturdy.” “Solid” usually means strong or wellbuilt, something that is firm, something that is stable. “Solid” has some othermeanings in English as well; take a look at our Learning Guide for those.

“Sturdy” (sturdy) also means strong, well built, something that won’t fall down orfall apart easily. Natalia says, “What do you think?” Kei says, “I think there’s oneperson who’s cut out for this job, and that person is not me!” “To be cut out for(something)” means to be well qualified to do something or to be well prepared todo something. You might say, “I’m not cut out for doing heavy lifting,” or, “I’m notcut out for painting,” it’s not something I would do a very good job at. That’s whatI tell my wife all the time!

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Natalia: Is that the Office Shop catalogue?

Kei: Yeah, I’m in charge of furnishing the new offices on the second floor. Theyneed everything – desks, file cabinets, bookcases – you name it.

Natalia: That sounds like fun. I love shopping for new furniture. Can I help?

Kei: Yes, definitely. I’ve picked out a few things already, but I’m having a hardtime deciding among all of these office chairs.

Natalia: Get this one. They’re on casters and are fully adjustable.

Kei: Okay, what about desks? Everybody has a different idea about officedesks.

Natalia: I like this one. It’s got a keyboard tray, file drawers, and space forlateral files. See?

Kei: All right, I guess that one is as good as any, but what about this one with ahutch?

Natalia: This desk has an optional hutch. If the new employees want a hutch,they can order one later.

Kei: Okay, last but not least, we need bookcases.

Natalia: These are solid wood and look sturdy. What do you think?

Kei: I think there’s one person who’s cut out for this job, and that person is notme!

[end of dialogue]

Our scriptwriter is cut out for writing wonderful scripts; that’s our own Dr. LucyTse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again here on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
2 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
3 alphabetical gfvyY     
adj.字母(表)的,依字母顺序的
参考例句:
  • Please arrange these books in alphabetical order.请把这些书按字母顺序整理一下。
  • There is no need to maintain a strict alphabetical sequence.不必保持严格的字顺。
4 encyclopedias a88b1e8f5e10dbff92d83626a0e989f5     
n.百科全书, (某一学科的)专科全书( encyclopedia的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • However, some encyclopedias can be found on the Web. 同时,一些百科全书能也在网络上找到。 来自互联网
  • Few people think of encyclopedias as creative enterprises; but they are. 鲜少有人想到百科全书是创意的工作,但它确实是。 来自互联网
5 trophies e5e690ffd5b76ced5606f229288652f6     
n.(为竞赛获胜者颁发的)奖品( trophy的名词复数 );奖杯;(尤指狩猎或战争中获得的)纪念品;(用于比赛或赛跑名称)奖
参考例句:
  • His football trophies were prominently displayed in the kitchen. 他的足球奖杯陈列在厨房里显眼的位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The hunter kept the lion's skin and head as trophies. 这猎人保存狮子的皮和头作为纪念品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
6 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
7 adjustable vzOzkc     
adj.可调整的,可校准的
参考例句:
  • More expensive cameras have adjustable focusing.比较贵的照相机有可调焦距。
  • The chair has the virtue of being adjustable.这种椅子具有可调节的优点。
8 straps 1412cf4c15adaea5261be8ae3e7edf8e     
n.带子( strap的名词复数 );挎带;肩带;背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 );用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带
参考例句:
  • the shoulder straps of her dress 她连衣裙上的肩带
  • The straps can be adjusted to suit the wearer. 这些背带可进行调整以适合使用者。
9 lateral 83ey7     
adj.侧面的,旁边的
参考例句:
  • An airfoil that controls lateral motion.能够控制横向飞行的机翼。
  • Mr.Dawson walked into the court from a lateral door.道森先生从一个侧面的门走进法庭。
10 folders 7cb31435da1bef1e450754ff725b0fdd     
n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 );纸夹;(某些计算机系统中的)文件夹;页面叠
参考例句:
  • Encrypt and compress individual files and folders. The program is compact, efficient and user friendly. 加密和压缩的个人档案和folders.the计划是紧凑,高效和用户友好。 来自互联网
  • By insertion of photocopies,all folders can be maintained complete with little extra effort. 插入它的复制本,不费多大力量就能使所有文件夹保持完整。 来自辞典例句
11 chronological 8Ofzi     
adj.按年月顺序排列的,年代学的
参考例句:
  • The paintings are exhibited in chronological sequence.这些画是按创作的时间顺序展出的。
  • Give me the dates in chronological order.把日期按年月顺序给我。
12 mandatory BjTyz     
adj.命令的;强制的;义务的;n.受托者
参考例句:
  • It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
  • There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。
13 qualified DCPyj     
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的
参考例句:
  • He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
  • We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
14 Fahrenheit hlhx9     
n./adj.华氏温度;华氏温度计(的)
参考例句:
  • He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
  • The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。
15 specialized Chuzwe     
adj.专门的,专业化的
参考例句:
  • There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
  • These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。
16 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
17 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
18 photocopy XlFzlM     
n.影印本;v.影印
参考例句:
  • The original reproduces clearly in a photocopy.原件复印得十分清晰。
  • What's wrong with the photocopy machine?复印机出了什么问题?
19 transcript JgpzUp     
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书
参考例句:
  • A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
  • They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。
20 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
21 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
22 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
23 perpendicular GApy0     
adj.垂直的,直立的;n.垂直线,垂直的位置
参考例句:
  • The two lines of bones are set perpendicular to one another.这两排骨头相互垂直。
  • The wall is out of the perpendicular.这墙有些倾斜。
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