长对话

　　ConverSATion 1

　　W: Jack, sit down and listen. This is important. we’ ll have to tackle the problems of the exporting step by step. And the first move is to get an up-to-date picture of where we stand now.

　　M: Why don’t we just concentrate on expending here at home?

　　W: Of course, we should hold on to our position here. But you must admit the market here is limited.

　　M: Yes, but it’s safe. The government keeps out foreigners with import controls. So I must admit I feel sure we could hold our own against foreign bikes.

　　W: I aGREe. That’s why I am suggesting exporting. Because I feel we can compete with the best of them.

　　M: What you are really saying is that we’d make more profit by selling bikes abroad, where we have a cost advantage and can charge high prices.

　　W: ExACTly.

　　M: But, wait a minute. Packaging, shipping, financing, etc. will push up our cost and we could no better off, maybe worse off.

　　W: OK. Now there are extra cost involved. But if we do it right, they can be built into the price of the bike and we can still be competitive.

　　M: How sure are you about our chances of success in the foreign market?

　　W: Well, that’s the sticky one. It’s going to need a lot of research. I’m hoping to get your help. Well, come on, Jack. Is it worth it, or not?

　　M: There will be a lot of problems.

　　W: Nothing we can’t handle.

　　M: Um… I’m not that hopeful. But, yes, I think we should go ahead with the feasibility study.

　　W: Marvelous, Jack. I was hoping you be on my side.

　　9. What does the woman intend to do?

　　10. Why does the man think it’s safe to focus on the home market?

　　11. What is the man’s concern about selling bikes abroad?

　　12. What do the speakers aGREe to do?

　　ConverSATion 2

　　W: What does the term “alternative energy source” mean?

　　M: When we think of energy or fuel for our homes and cars, we think of petroleum, a fossil fuel processed from oil removed from the ground, of which there was a limited supply. But alternative fuels can be many things. Wind, sun and water can all be used to create fuel.

　　W: Is it a threat of running out of petroleum real?

　　M: It has taken thousands of years to create the natural stores of petroleum we have now. we are using what is available at a much faster rate that it is being produced over time. The real controversy surrounding the mass petroleum we have is how much we need to keep in reserve for future use. Most experts aGREe that by around 2025, the petroleum we use will reach a peak. Then production and availability will begin to seriously decline. This is not to say there will be no petroleum at this point. But it’ll become very difficult and therefore expensive to extrACT.

　　W: Is that the most important reason to develop alternative fuel and energy sources?

　　M: The two very clear reasons to do so, one is that whether we have 60 or 600 years of fossil fuels left, we have to find other fuel sources eventually. So the sooner we start, the better off we will be. The other big argument is that when you burn fossil fuels, you release substances trapped into the ground for a long time, which leads to some long-term negative effects, like global warming and GREenhouse effect.

　　13. What do we usually refer to when we talk about energy according to the man?

　　14. What do most experts aGREe on according to the man?

　　15. What does the man think we should do now?