第二輯? TEST 3
PART ONE
Thank you everybody, thank you. The Business Support Agency（鏈接資金的中介機構） or BSA are very proud of the part we play in the development of business success. Today I'll give you a bit of background on the agency and then outline the steps involved in applying for support, OK?
What we do, basically, is distribute financial support from our funds, which come from the central government Department of Education（中央政府教育部）on the one hand,and then that sum is matched - the amount fluctuates on a early basis - by contributions from a number of multinational companies. We then follow the procudures（流程） I'll be outlining in a moment. Some examples of this work, if you're interested can be seen in our annual report - I'll leave copies out for you to look at. Since we began, we've given out（發(fā)放了） over 300 grants（撥款，款項）. We made 20 awards last year alone, and expect that figure to rise to 25 next year. But we're not simply giving this money away（捐贈） - our criteria are strict. So, how do you apply? Well, there are four steps to making an application.?

In the first place, you should get in touch with our Project Co-ordinating Office（項目協(xié)調辦公室）. You can call them on 0188454545 and express your interest.They'll then send you an application form（申請表）. It's quite a lengthy document, I must warn you, and you'll need to fill in information about the history of your company, outline your requirements, and include the predicted benefits. That gives us the beginning of a picture and enables us to make an initial decision about whether to proceed any further. The third step would be having a meeting with one of our regional consultants（區(qū)域顧問）. This involves talking through your ideas for development if you get the grant and should help you to focus clearly on your exact needs（確切需求）. And the fourth step is producing a full plan, which needs to include all costs and dates. By this time, both sides will have a very clear picture. Now all this obviously takes up quite some time, and you need to think carefully about which personnel within your organisation are going to be available to put in the neccessary work. OK, well, that's then your role finished for the time being（暫時）. Meanwhile, we continue to go through（通讀，翻閱，徹查） your plans in detail.

Ultimately, whether or not you get a grant will be decided by out central committee（中央委員會）. This consists of representatives from our funding bodies（資金機構） and a panel of experts（專家小組）. For logistical reasons, they only meet every three months, so it can take a while for you to hear from us. Now, assuming you're successful - and around 80% of applications are - the BSA will be looking to fund 70% of your overall requirement. That proportion is up from a maximum of 60% last year. The payment will be made in quarterly instalments (按季度分期付款). This has proved to be the most generally useful method all round. The last job for you will be coming up with a progress review (進度評估,進度回顧), which you need to do at the end of the first year. Right, well, are there any questions?

for the time being 目前; 暫時
instalment? n. 分期付款，分期收款
grant? n. 基金的贈予款
go through? 翻閱; 翻找; 整理; 通讀; 徹查; 走（流程或固定程序）; 例行做; （法律、協(xié)議等） 被通過; （正式?jīng)Q定） 被批準

PART TWO

1. I'd been feeling for some time that a move was overdue, and I suppose it was just the fact that I thought I'd miss the friendliness of the place that held me back. But in the end, I realized that I could spend my life there and not move up the ladder - you could see how the roles with responsibility were filled by people who weren't themselves about to move on. I'm glad overall I can see my role will continue to develop here, and I've had no second thoughts - the only drawback is that it is a bit chaotic here...?

?? So even though I'd say that I was pretty effective at meeting deadlines, there are others who aren't. And their inability to sort out each days' tasks can create bottlenecks that cause frustrations.?

to improve promotion opportunities | colleagues' time management

overdue adj.
1.（到期）未付的，未做的，未還的；過期的
not paid, done, returned, etc. by the required or expected time
The rent is now overdue.
現(xiàn)在房租已屬拖欠。
2. 早該發(fā)生的；早應完成的
that should have happened or been done before now
A book like this is long overdue .
像這樣的書早就該有人出版了。

sort out? 解決，整理，分類，規(guī)勸，鎮(zhèn)定下來

PHRASAL VERB ? 解決(問題); 理清(細節(jié))
If you sort out a problem or the details of something, you do what is necessary to solve the problem or organize the details.

2. I was getting tired of the sense of doing the same thing over and over again, and decided it was time to ring the changes. I'm pleased I did, becasue I've got a greater range of responsibilities now, and it means my skills and abilities are put to better use. It is a smaller outfit（團隊，小組）of course, and the MD (managing director 總裁）does rather keep himself to himself. But generally I like the independece that leaves me, particularly with such high-quality support staff.?

?? On the other hand, something that should be addressed（解決）here is the issue of assessment. The system here isn't actually very relevant to what people actually do, so sometimes you're judged on the wrong issues.

to escape from monotony | performance appraisal procedures

ring the changes

To continually alter or change something. Primarily heard in UK, Australia.?

I'm not surprised that Tina showed up with purple hair today—she loves ringing the changes with her hair color.

She likes to ring the changes on how her office is arranged.

3. I'd been looking around for some time, but it wasn't until I went to see a recruiment consultant that I began to focus my aims. I suppose it's not surprising - I was doing so many different things that it was actually quite hard to work out (想出) what the core of the job was...but it was certainly at some distance from what I'd spent so long studying, and consultant helped me to realize my dissatisfaction came form under-using that background. So I do feel a lot more focused here.?

?? One drawback I guess is the failure to make the most of all the IT（不能充分利用全部的信息技術）, so that, for example, I end up sitting here emailing away to colleagues who can't even be bothered to reply or react.

to make better use of qualifications | internal communication

4. Well, I'd been convinced quite a while that my old company wasn't moving in the right direction. But of course it was only me that seemed to think so... everyone else was perfectly happy trundling (move slowly) along. So I was delighted when this opportunity came up, the chance to properly investigate market trends, even if it meant a greater number of trips. Some people might think it dull, but I get a lot out of it. I have to say I'd get even more out of it if I thought they had the big picture a bit clearer in their heads.?

?? At the moment no one knows what to do with my findings because the Board don't know where they're going long term.

to increase time spent doing research | clarity of company strategy

5. Well, I was feeling stuck（陷入困境）. It's not that I'm hugely ambitious, I guess I'd be looking at retraining myself if that was the a case (如果是這樣的話). But certainly my interpersonal skills weren't being used to their full extent. All I'd ever done was deal with one or two suppliers occasionally. Whereas now, I'm meeting clients and other contacts on a daily basis, which is what I was hoping for. The downside is that my lack of knowledge about computers is beginning to show. This place is so well equipped with all the latest software that I'm a bit out of my depth（力不從心). In my defence（我想說的是）, I'd say it wouldn't matter so much if they had more one poor overworkded guy that you could contact to ask for help when something goes wrong.

to deal with a wider range of people | IT support

PART THREE
A: What a meeting! Were you as surprised as I was, Jerry?
B: You bet. When the Chairman called us to it, I thought it might be about the takeover, there have been rumors about, but I didn't expect anything like the Cheif Executive being forced out (被迫離職).
A: No. It doesn't seem fair to blame him for the American project not making much money when it hasn't had that long to establish itself. And I can't see why the Board have decided to end it now. After all they didn't seem worried earlier this year, when the markets panicked about it and our share price dropped.
B: And fancy（想象一下）Keith Barnes becoming Cheif Executive. Did you know he joined as trainee 30 years ago?
A: Yes, he certainly knows the company, but he's had very little time in positions that'll help him as Cheif Executive. I doubt if he'd got what it takes to run a big company like this. If you ask me, the Chairman（董事長） wanted to make an internal appointment, and Keith was in the right place at the right time. Well we'll see how he turns out（表現(xiàn)如何）, but I reckon（認為） he'll only keep the job for as long as the Chairman behind him.
B: Yeah, you are probably right. And what about these new plans Keith talked about? It seems pretty risky to expand into areas where we've got no experience or expertise. This company has been making furniture for years, and we ought to stick to what we're good at and maybe expand through acquisitions（收購）. I know our market share' s growing, but the strategy still relies too much on low prices to attract customers. What we really need to do more is to make people want our beds and furniture because they're special, not because they' re cheap.
A: You mean moving into niche markets (小眾市場，利基市場)?
B: I'd describe it as staying in the mass market（堅持大眾市場）, but standing out from the rest（脫穎而出）.
A: Right. Consumers are becoming moredemanding these days after all.
B: Exactly. What about you, Tania? How do you feel about your new responsibility?
A: It's going to be quite a challenge I reckon. I mean sorting out the reorganisation of the business into divisions（將企業(yè)重組成多個部門）sounds simple enough, but I suspect it' ll produce plenty of headaches. And with several brands to deal with, some of which cut across（涉及兩個或多個群體）the divisions, it's going to be pretty complicated. I suspect it'll be tough to finish it in the time I've been given. And of course, congratulations on becoming Export Sales Manager（外銷部經(jīng)理）, Jerry.
B: Thanks.
A: You don't sound very enthusiastic. Don't you want the job?
B: Oh yes, it's just the sort of challenge I need. Something to get my teeth into（全力以赴）, and the chance to use what I learnt when I was in Export Sales before. But there are other people who've stayed in the department who might resent（氣憤）me going back into it over them.
A: Well, surely if you work closely with them, they'll realize you're all right?
B: Yes, I'm sure I can do it. I just need to get things off on the right foot（以正確的腳步開始 / 出發(fā)）, right from the beginning.
A: So will you be involved in the TV advertising campaign that Keith talked about?
B: I hope not. It's all very well promoting our cabinet furniture brands（柜類家具品牌）, but I think the money would be better spent on pushing bed sales: that's the side of the business that needs more consumer awareness.
A: Right. I can see why they've picked this time to plan a campaign, as advertising costs are relatively low at the moment, but I agree, they haven't got the plan quite right. Actually I'm not very happy about the way they've allocates money in general.
B: You aren't going to turn down the pay rise, are you?
A: No, I'm not that idealistic. And of course it's right to spend money on new products and machinery. But we've been asking for ages（好幾年） for better facilities for the factory workers in particular, and it doesn't look as though（好像）much is being done for them.
B: Maybe if we keep pressing for that, we'll find some way of getting the issue...

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