托尼的工作显然做得不好，因此在汇报时少不了被老板责难。
(t = tony, b= boss)
t: hello, it's tony, in manchester.
你好，我是托尼，曼彻斯特。
b: oh, hello tony. how's the exhibition? is it going well?
你好，托尼。展会怎么样？一切都顺利吗？
t: er, no, not really. it's very quiet actually! we are not doing much!
呃，不是很顺利。实际上非常安静。我们都没什么可干的。
b: what? that's awful? how can you say that, tony? did you speak to the conference manager again?
什么？那么糟？ 怎么会这样呢，托尼？你和展会的经理又谈了吗？
t: er, no, no. why?
呃，没，没有。怎么了。
b: to get a better stand of course! we are paying a lot of money for that exhibition and for your hotel! can't you speak to him again?
要一个好的展位呀！我们为这个展会和你们的旅馆付了很多钱的！你不能再和他谈谈吗？
t: er, ok. i'll do my best.
呃，好的，我会尽力的。
b: have you spoken to any good agents yet?
你有没有和一些好的代理商谈谈？
t: well, yes. there is one company, they seem very nice.
哦，有。有一家公司看起来不错。
b: nice? nice? have they got any experience? are they reliable?
不错？不错？他们有经验吗？可靠吗？
t: erm, er, i'm not sure. i'll ask may...
呃，嗯，我不太肯定。我会问下梅……
t: hello? are you still there?
喂，您还在吗？
b: yes, i'm here.
嗯，在。
t: em, we aren't sure about the agents.
嗯，代理商我们不太确定。
b: tony, please could you speak to them again and get more details about their experience.
托尼，你能不能再和他们谈谈，多了解一些他们的经历。
t: but, they want to sign a contract tomorrow.
可是，他们想明天签合同。
b: no, tony. do not sign anything until we know a lot more about them. please get full details about their track record. i want to know who they've worked with before, exactly. can you please send me a full report tomorrow.
不行，托尼。在了解之前我们不能和他们签任何东西。请你了解详细的经营情况。我想知道他们都和谁合作过，详细情况。你明天能不能给我一份详细报告？
t: but i was going to go to the cinema tonight!
可是我今晚打算去看电影。
b: tony, you are not there to go to the cinema!
托尼，你不是去那里看电影的！
t: fine. we also need more brochures.
好的。我们还需要一些宣传册。
b: ok. i'll send some more immediately. i'll start preparing a contract but we need a lot more information.
好的，我会立刻送一些过去的。我会准备起草合同，但我们需要更多了解他们。
（bbc 实习生江巍 英语点津 annabel 编辑）