Can You Speak Over the Telephone. Как вести беседу по телефону - [14]

Mr Sokolov: Good morning. Could you please connect me with someone who can tell me what time the afternoon plane from Moscow will be arriving?

Operator: You want Flight Information. I’ll try and put you through. I’m sorry. Flight Information is engaged at the moment. Will you hold on or call back?

Mr Sokolov: I’ll hold on, thanks.

Operator: I’m putting you through to Flight Information now.

Clerk: Flight Information. Can I help you?

Mr Sokolov: Could you please tell me if there is any delay on the flight from Moscow this afternoon?

Clerk: Yes, it’s due in at 16.35, that’s an approximate delay of twenty minutes.

Mr Sokolov: Thank you. Good morning.

2. Calling Train Inquiries

Telephone Operator: British Railways, King’s Cross.

Passenger: Train Inquiries, please.

T.I.: Inquiries.

Passenger: Can you give me the times of fast trains to Edinburgh, please, and arrival time? I’d like to get there about 6.00 p.m.

T.I.: Just a minute. Let’s see. Week days 8.48 arrive 5.10, 9.30 arrive 5.30, 10.20 arrive 6.30. Do you want any more?

Passenger: No. That’s fine, thank you very much. These are week day trains, aren’t they?

T.I.: Yes, Monday and Saturday inclusive.

3. Inquiring about Books

Secretary: Consular Department.

Mr Com: This is Corn speaking. I’m calling you to inquire about some books, please.

Secretary: Yes, what kind of books are you interested in, Mr Corn?

Mr Com: You see, I’m working on the problem of American-Soviet relations prior to World War II.

Secretary: Mr Corn, this is the Consular Department and we, as a rule, do not deal with such questions. Here, in the city we have a branch office of our book company “Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga”. You may approach them if you wish.

Mr Com: What is their phone number, please?

Secretary: It is seven-seven-four; two-five-nine-three.

Mr Com: Thank you. Good-bye.

Secretary: Good-bye.

4. Renting a House

Mr Frolov: Good morning. Is this Mr Applebee?

Mr Applebee: Yes, I’m Applebee.

Mr Frolov: I’m Frolov and I’m calling about the house you advertised to rent for the summer months.

Mr Applebee: How many are you in your family, Mr Frolov?

Mr Frolov: Four: my wife, two children and myself. Your house sounds like the sort of place we need for three months — June, July and August.

Mr Applebee: Yes, of course, we have all the conveniences and plenty of rooms to accommodate all of you.

Mr Frolov: How many closets and dressers do you have?

Mr Applebee: A lot.

Mr Frolov: My wife and I would like to see your house, Mr Applebee, but I don’t have a car right now. Can we get to you easily some other way? We are on West 86th Street.

Mr Applebee: Yes, of course. Take the 86th Street subway station, and in fifteen minutes you will be here. You have our address, don’t you?

Mr Frolov: Yes, I do.

Mr Applebee: How soon would you like to come?

Mr Frolov: Is this Saturday at three o’clock all right?

Mr Applebee: Fine. I’ll expect you.

Mr Frolov: Thank you, Mr Applebee. Good-bye.

Mr Applebee: Good-bye.

EXERCISES

I. Read the dialogues and reproduce them paying attention to telephone phrases.

II. Practise the spelling of the following names by phone:

Mr Smith, Miss McKennan, Mrs Sonnenfeld, Mr Kutuzov, Mr Surikov, Mr Schipatchev, Mrs Raskolnikov

III. What would you say in reply to these remarks and questions?

1. There will be a delay on your long-distance call to Paris. Will you wait? 2. Where can we get in touch with you, sir? 3. I’ve heard you are looking for a nice summer cottage. What sort of place do you need? 4. We have an apartment with all the conveniences. 5. Flight Information. Can I help you? 6. What kind of books are you interested in? 7. There is some delay on the flight from Moscow today. 8. Sorry, Train Inquiries is engaged now. 9. What information would you like to obtain? 10. Whom could we approach to make inquiries about your export of furs to this country?

IV. In what situations would you say the following?

1. Could you put me through to somebody who can tell me the take-off time of the plane to Milan? 2. What time does the coach leave for the airport? 3. I’ll go to the airport on my own. 4. Where can I pick up the ticket? 5. “Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga” is concerned with a wide range of records, books, stamps and other goods. 6. I would like to rent an apartment for a year. 7. Will you check my telephone line, operator? It doesn’t operate properly. 8. When is Flight 903 due to get to Washington? 9. What is the arrival time of the train from Liverpool? 10. I’m afraid your charge for the summer cottage is too high.

V. Make inquiries by phone:

1. about the take-off time of the plane to Moscow; 2. about the arrival time of the train from Paris; 3. about the goods the company is importing; 4. about the accommodation at the hotel; 5. about books dealing with modern British and American fiction, available at the shop; 6. about the trunk-call which is delayed

5. Visas

Working in groups of two, read aloud the following Telephone Dialogues.

Dialogue 1

Business Visa

Secretary: Consular Department.

Mr Ноrn: Good morning. This is Horn speaking.

Secretary: Good morning, Mr Horn. Could I help you?