商务英语情景口语100主题022

022 Delivering Bad News

Dialogue 1

A: Bob, can I talk to you for a minute? There have been some developments for the Stewart case that I really need to talk to you about.

B: Yeah, what's the matter now? We've had so much trouble with this case already. Don't tell me there's more bad news.

A: Well, I'm afraid there is. I have some bad news for you about the results of the forensic¹ tests....there won't be any results.

B: What? What does that mean? Why won't there be any results?

A: I hate to tell you this, but it seems that every shred² of evidence that would help us to convict were destroyed in a laboratory fire. There's nothing left. I'm so sorry...

B: Oh, no, you can't be serious. I never expect anything like this would happened. What are we going to do?

A: There's nothing that can be done. Everything is gone. I wish I could tell you differently, but what has happened has happened. We will just have to figure out a way to move on.

Dialogue 2

A: I got an email from our supplier yesterday about this quarter's order.... It doesn't look so good. Here, take a look.

B: "Dear Mr. Hardy³, I am sorry to inform you that your shipment will be delayed. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our warehouse⁴ has been temporarily closed. There has been a problem with fire hazard violations⁵ in our industry and government officials have closed several warehouses⁶ without warning." Wow, that's bummer.

A: So that means that we'll be late in getting our order....

B: Did they say how long we have to wait until the order is filled?

A: Keep reading....

B: "We deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused you. We apologize for this unexpected delay in the shipment of your order. We can assure you that this will not happen again. We expect normal shipment service to resume soon. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help in the meantime. Sincerely." Looks like they don't have a date for us when the order can be filled.

A: They say "soon", but who knows how soon "soon" will be.

1 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

2 shred   

v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少

参考例句：

• There is not a shred of truth in what he says.他说的全是骗人的鬼话。
• The food processor can shred all kinds of vegetables.这架食品加工机可将各种蔬菜切丝切条。

3 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

4 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

5 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

6 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。