《BEC中级综合强化教程》听力专项练习听力原文(4)

　　第八套题

　　Part Two. Questions 13—22

　　Section One. Questions 13——17

　　Question13  Well I guess it's all for the best in the long run. I mean it’s never been easy with all of us spread out over the city. And then there are different phone lines. Half the time when I am answering calls they've come to the wrong branch. Then there are the students. I mean half of them have never been in the city to even this country before. It’s no wonder they are late. They don't know how to find their way round. But this way, when all the changes are over and we’ve settled down in the new building, we'll be easier to get to. So I reckon they’ll get here more promptly. And then won't have any excuse any more for coming in late and missing lectures.

　　Question14  I think it all depends where you're sitting—where you’re looking from. Overall I'm convinced it’ll work out well, It's the right decision. I’d have done the same thing. I'm really convinced that a large number of students are going to be delighted. They’ll see the benefits immediately. OK, yes I', anticipating some complaints. With people of this nature, I think that’s inevitable, but the majority will welcome it. I've explained it to all my lecturers. They understand it, accept it. It also means I can organize the timetables better so they’ll do their teaching over a shorter day. So that's obviously a benefit. I’m sure the rest of the staff will feel the same.

　　Question15  In the early days I had to take premises all over the place, anywhere I could get them, just to get the business off the ground. But over the years I've always looked for the opportunity to get everyone together on one site. When all this is over, we’ll look better and we'll perform better. I know it means we’re going to attract more business. And another thing, we're supposed to keep all the records on the database, but half the time, the various PCs aren’t working or the network's down or something. That can surely only get better. Personally I can’t wait.

　　Question16  I can't say I really understand why they’re doing it. I mean it's all these buildings, all this equipment. You know, it seems they’re organized as it is. It's got to be money, hasn’t it? That's why we’re all here in the lectures-keep costs under control. Of course, lots of us are late for class sometimes, and I know that's bad, and embarrassing-walking in when everyone else is already in their place and its all started ages ago. But I do think it’s a bit worrying that it will surely mean some of them are going to lose out. I mean they wouldn't be doing this if they didn’t recognize they would save some salaries, would they?

　　Question17  I wish them luck. That's the main thing I say…I think they’re an excellent organization—very well run. The students are always happy, more than satisfied. I just think it's beyond my imagination what they’ll have to do. I mean, you think of all the different branches, all the things, all the procedures, can you imagine what all the changing will involve? Anyway, I suppose the bottom line is as long as they keep their external relations as efficient as they've always been, there’s no problem. At the end of the day I want my percentage. It's up to them to sort out the move.

　　Section Two. Questions 18—22

　　Question18  We've been discussing it for months, and now they’ve finally made a decision. Personally I think we should have a vote and get all the shareholders involved before any new factory is built. It's all very well diversifying into new areas, but it’ll involve a huge investment. And getting bigger doesn't always bring proportion that rewards. Everybody seems to think that going over the finer details is very boring.  So we’ve ended up making these decisions without any proper research. I'm not very pleased about some of the aGREements we reached. Certain matters don’t seem to be looked into properly at all'

　　Question19  Well, I'm relieved that’s over. It's always so awkward when the previous person was so popular, but the vote was pretty unanimous. That’s encouraging , as it's always better to have a leader who everyone supports. I don’t think my bid was very successful because I felt so apprehensive. It's difficult when you have to try to persuade everyone, but I was the logical person to propose him. I shouldn’t have been worried because it was just a question of standing up and explaining why. Anyway he's got lots of new ideas, so hopefully he’ll be a success. And I'll be associated with it.

　　Question20 I'm not sure it’s realistic to expect us to achieve those sorts of figures. I mean it hasn't been on the market all that long. It can take ages for this sort of product to get establish. Bill really didn’t understand the problems. And I always seem to end yp arguing with him. He got annoyed, as usual.  But he's been unrealistic about what’s possible. I managed to stay calm, but because of our enormous difference of opinion, no decision's been made yet.

　　Question21 That's it. We finally decided to do it. The meeting went on for ages and I don’t think the new chairman was very happy. But it's a majority decision. We proposed that the company will be floated on the market in June or July, but we don’t know what the price ill be yet. Greentown disagreed strongly with Mr.Lee about the date. But that was resolved in the end. I thought they'd never stop arguing about it, but I completely support what was settled in the end.

　　Question 22  I think it's a good plan. It has some problem in that area and it’s good Mrs.Lau has thought and has come up with something innovative. She gave the presentation very well. And it's something we’ve never thought of before. And everybody understood that is the direction we want to go in the future. I think it all went very well. It really got me thinking. And we've all got to go off and look at what she’s proposed so that we can come up with some ideas of our own for next week's follow-up meeting.