Consider the following points. Share your ideas with a partner or a small group. Be prepared to explain your answers to the class.

a) What is a private company? In what way does it apply to Harper & Grant Ltd.?

b) Why did the death of Ambrose Harper cause a crisis in the firm?

c) What is Alfred Wentworth’s ambition?

d) What for does H.G. want to raise a loan?

e) Is the bank manager positive about H.G.’s application for a loan? Why?

f) How did H.G. manage to raise a loan?

g) In what way are the shares of the company distributed? What changes are under way?

2. Recount the situation as if you were Mr. Brewer. What rules do bank managers stick to when granting loans?

3. Suppose you are Alfred Wentworth. What does Ambrose Harper’s death mean to you? What are you going to do?

4. Act out

a. the announcement of the will with a solicitor, Caroline, Hector Grant and Peter Wiles taking part

b. an imaginary conversation between Hector Grant and Caroline

c. an imaginary talk between Peter Wiles and Mr. Brewer in the bank

d. an imaginary talk between Mr. Brewer and the President of his bank

e. an imaginary talk between Peter Wiles and John Martin

Phrase list

Listen to the tape and practise the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the unit. Consult a dictionary and translate them into Russian.

quarterly breakdown of overheads

expenditure against budget

to place the order with somebody

to have the production capacity to do something

to meet the delivery dates

to put something at somebody’s disposal

to incur expenses

pro forma invoice

to apply to the National Bank for foreign exchange

a reduction on the unit price per desk

c.i.f. (f.o.b.)

a single order

a package deal

the budgeted turnover

marginal cost

the recovery on something

merchandise

an original letter of inquiry

irrevocable letter of credit, confirmed on a London bank

to quote in local currency

to be conditional on something (the rate of exchange)

PRE-LISTENING

Task I

Consider the introduction to the unit. Answer the following questions and be ready to give a story line. Use the word combinations in brackets.

1. Is the situation with the new export market in Abraca encouraging?

(to open up a new export market; to have orders from Abraca; to have a look at the quarterly breakdown of overheads; to detail actual expenditure against budget; the amount spent on travelling and entertainment)

2. Why did John Martin keep quiet about an enquiry from the Abracan government?

(to have an enquiry from the government; to give a quotation; to supply office furniture for government buildings; to place the order with somebody; to be one of the largest orders the firm has ever received; to wait until the order was definite)

3. Did John undertake anything in anticipation of the order?

(to check something with somebody; to have the production capacity; to meet the quoted delivery dates; to propose to visit England to see the factory)

4. What does the inquiry from the Abracan Ministry of Public Works read?

(to see the factory; to negotiate the order; to be suitably entertained; to book a hotel for somebody; to put a car at one’s disposal; a curious reference; 'special requirements'; to be astonished; to discover something)

Task2

Give the English equivalents for the following word combinations: