Reserving a Table for a Business Lunch

Manager: Hello, manager speaking. What can I do for you?

Visitor: I'm from room 223. I'm expecting several visitors at 1 o'clock and I'd like to reserve a table.

M.: How many visitors are you expecting?

V.: There'll be four of us.

M.: Good. Where would you like to sit?

V.: It doesn't matter actually, any table would do. Your restaurant is so cosy. Then, I don't think your restaurant is crowded at this time of day, is it?

M.: No, but I'll keep a table for you near the window in the corner. You'll be quite comfortable there. What would you like to have?

V.: Well, I don't really know. I've invited my business friends to lunch. What would you recommend?

M.: Would you like table d'hote or a la carte?

V.: We'll have it a la carte.

M.: Then, I strongly recommend you to begin with prawn cocktail. It's the speciality of the house.

V.: Good. I'm sure it's worth trying. Is the dish hot? I'm not very keen on spicy food, you know.

M.: No, it isn't.

V.: Good. And what do you think we should have to follow? Any soup? Mushroom or chicken soup?

M.: We seldom eat soup at this time, I'm afraid. I'd recommend mut­ton chops. They are delicious.

V.: What vegetables are you serving today?

M.: Fried potatoes, cauliflower, beans. What would you have for des­sert?

V.: Just cakes and coffee.

Unit 4

11. The Financial System

M.: Wouldn't you care tor something a little stronger? We have a won­derful choice of wines.

V.: A bottle of champagne then, please.

M.: Anything else?

V.: Nothing I can think of at the moment.

M.: You can order later. If your friends don't like the dishes we can replace them.

V.: Thank you. When do I pay?

M.: After lunch, of course.

V.: By the way, do you add the service charge to the bill?

M.: Yes, we do.

V.: How do I pay?

M.: In cash or by credit card.

Words and word combinations you may need

The suggested areas for comment are:

• public sector (not-for-profit) or private sector;

• particular skills;

• educational background (diplomas, scientific degrees, courses of train­
ing);

• ways of finding a good job Gob centres, interview techniques, recruitment
agencies);

• situation in your country's labour market (newjobs, types of employment);

• brain drain.

II.

Any table would do. - Нам подойдет

любой столик.

table d'hote - дежурные блюда a la carte — порционные блюда prawn cocktail — салат из креветок It's the special! I} of the house. - Это фир­менное блюдо нашего ресторана. Is the dish hot? - Блюдо острое? spicy food - пряная пиша What do you think we should have to fol­low? — Как вы считаете, что мы должны.iaкалать дальше?

mutton chop — отбивная и:) барани­ны

cauliflower n - цветная капуста

delicious adj - вкусный

for dessert — на десерт

Wouldn't you care for something a little stronger? — He хотите ли чего-ни­будь покрепче?

service charge - плата за обслужива­ние

The Financial System

• a) Read and translate the text, b) Answer the comprehension questions to the text, c) Render the text.

Text A The Financial System

The financial system of a developed country is a network of finan­cial institutions comprising organisations carrying out and regulating financial activities, the ministry of finance, the treasury, the central bank, the tax service, stock and currency exchanges.

Financial activities embrace budgeting, financing, investment, banking, taxation and insurance. Financial assets flow in the system from savers, who act as sources of funds, to borrowers, who use them. Savers and borrowers in the system are linked by financial intermediar­ies — banks, finance, investment and insurance companies. Banks oc­cupy a central place in any financial system.

Historically the heart of financial services industry in Britain has been located in the famous " Square Mile" in the City of London.'The City is one of the largest financial centres in the world.

R

Unit 4

II- The Financial System

There are more overseas banks in the City than in any other finan­cial centre. The banking sector in Britain accounts for about a fifth of lotal international bank lending.

The world's largest financial markets - the London Stock Exchange, the Foreign Exchange Market, the Financial Futures and Options Market, eurobond and eurocurrency markets, the world's largest in­ternational insurance market — are also located there.