Lesson II. Making Arrangements 1 Lesson, Making, Arrangements

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Part One -- Requesting Information

Mr. Shelli is the Sales Manager of Modern Office Limited. He buys office equipment in Europe and sells it in Dongali. The equipment is usually sent by sea. Today Mr Shelli is enquiring about a shipment of typewriters that he is expecting. His Secretary Maria telephones the United Shipping Agents Ltd. Mr Da Costa of the shipping agents tells Maria that the shipment should arrive on Saturday and it usually takes two days to unload the cargo and clear the Customs. Maria says she will telephone Mr Da Costa on Tuesday morning to ask if the shipment is ready for collection. Here is the wrote episode.

MR SHELLI: Maria, I am waiting for some more typewriters to arrive we've nearly sold out.

MARIA: When should they be here?

MR SHELLI: We ordered them two months ago so they should be here by now.

MARIA: Shall I telephone the shipping agents and ask them when the ship arrives?

MR SHELLI: Yes. Yes, please Maria. You can get all the information from the copy of the Bill of Lading -- you will find it in the file.

MARIA: Certainly, Mr Shelli. (TO HERSELF) Now, where is the Bill of Lading? Ah,here it is. And the agent's telephone number is --- 74319. (LIFTS RECEIVER)

ROSE: Switchboard.

MARIA: Give me an outside line, please Rose.

ROSE: Here you are Maria.

MARIA: Thank you. (STARTS TO DIAL) Seven Four Three One Nine

MALE VOICE: United Shipping Agents Ltd. Can I help you?

MARIA: Good morning. This is Modern Office Ltd. I'd like to enquire about a shipment of typewriters coming from Switzerland.

MALE VOICE:From Switzerland?

MARIA:Yes.

MALE VOICE:Hold the line, please,caller,I'll put you through to Mr da Costa. He deals with shipment from Europe.

DA COSTAa Costa speaking.

MARIA: Oh, good morning, Mr da Costa. This is Modern Office Limited. I want to enquire about a shipment of typewriters coming from Switzerland.

DA COSTA: I-lave you a copy of the Bill of Lading?

MARIA: Yes, I have.

DA COSTA: Good. What ship are the type-writers coming on?

MARIA: The "Motazuri"

DA COSTA: The "Motazuri" ?

MARIA: Yes, when did it leave Marseilles?

DA COSTA: Hold the line please. (LOOKS THROUGH PAPERS) The "Motazuri" left Marseilles two weeks ago. It should arrive on Saturday.

MARIA: When can we collect the typewriters?

DA COSTA: Well, it usually takes two days to unload the cargo and clear the Customs. Sunday, Monday, yes, you can collect the shipment on Tuesday.

MARIA: Thank you, Mr Da Costa. I'll telephone you on Tuesday morning to ask if the shipment is ready for collection..

DA COSTA: Yes, I shall know by then.

MARIA: Thank you, very much Goodbye.

DA COSTA: Goodbye.

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Part Two -- Passing on of Information

First Maria tells her boss what she has found out from the shipping agents The consignment is due to arrive on Saturday. It will take two days to unpack the crates and clear the customs. Then the typewriters must be. tested before they can be sent to Mr Marengo, the Principal of the Government Secretarial College. Mr Shelli asks Maria to passe on this information to Mr Marengo. Here are the arrangements.

MR SHELLI: Maria, did you find out when those typewriters are due to arrive?

MARIA: Yes, Mr Shelli. I telephoned the shipping agents and they said the ship should be here on Saturday.

MR SHELLI: On Saturday? I see. When did the ship leave Marseilles?

MARIA: Two weeks ago. And the voyage From Marseilles takes about three weeks.

MR SHELLI: Hm ... I see, so it should be here at the end of this week.

MARIA: That' right.

MR SHELLI: So when can we collect the typewriters?

MARIA: Well, it usually takes two days to unload the cargo. Then it has to clear the Customs.I think we could collect the. shipment on Tuesday.

MR SHELLI: Morning or afternoon?

MARIA: I don't know. I'll telephone the agent on Tuesday morning to ask if the shipment is ready for collection. If it is,
we'll send the van to collect it.

MR SHELLI: You see, if we collect the typewriters before noon on Tuesday, we, can unpack them on Tuesday afternoon. But then we will have to test them and make sure they are all working properly. How many typewriters are there in the shipment?

MARIA:Forty. So that will take almost a day.

MR SHELLI: Mm ?- Tuesday, Wednesday. So, the typewriters will be ready for delivery to the customers by Thursday morning. Maria, will you telephone the Government Secretarial College,and ask for the Principal, Mr Marengo. Tell him his twenty typewriters should arrive on Thursday morning.

MARIA: Certainly, Mr Shelli. (LIFTS RECEIVER)

MR MARENGO: Government Secretarial College. Mr Marengo speaking.

MARIA: Oh, good morning, Mr Marengo. This is Modern Office Limited. The twenty type writers you ordered from us should be here on Saturday.

MR MARENGO: On Saturday? When can you deliver them?

MARIA: Well, it takes about two days to unload the ship and clear the goods through Customs.

MR MARENGO: Two days to unload and clear Customs?

MARIA: Yes, and then it takes us another two days to unpack all the crates and test the machines.

MR MARENGO: So they should arrive on Thursday.

MARIA: Yes. I'll give you a ring on Thursday morning to tell you what time to expect them.

MR MARENGO: Thank you very much. Goodbye.

MARIA: Goodbye.

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Test(1)

Answer questions. You do not need to use complete sentences in your answers just the correct phrase ,like this: Did Mr Shelli order more typewriters or more office furniture? More typewriters. Now you answer.
1.Did Mr Shelli order more typewriters three months ago or two months ago?
2.Did Maria phone the Shipping Company or the Typewriter Company?
3.Did she find the telephone number in her book or on the Bill of Lading?
4.Did Mr da Costa say it would take five days to unload the cargo or two days?

Test (2)

Asking questions like this:

You want to find out when the ship left Marseilles. When did the ship leave Marseilles? Now you ask questions.
1.You want to find out when the train left London.
2.You want to know when the plane arrived in Dongali.
3.You want to know when you can collect the typewriters.
4.You want to know when the company can deliver them.
5.You want to know when you can test the typewriters.