Gong: Speaking of your order No. 151, Mr. Brown, I’m afraid we can’t ship the whole lot at one time.

Brown: Why? Is there anything the matter with my order?

Gong: As far as your order is concerned, everything is all right. Only it’s difficult for us to get all these 50, 000 yards of cloth prepared within such a short time.

Brown: What do your propose doing then? You’re not going to advise us to drop the order, are you？

Gong：Not in the least, But I have to propose partial shipment be allowed.

Brown: But our costomers are in urgent need of these goods. So it will be better to ship them all at once.

Gong: Mr. Brown, maybe you are not clear about my point yet. It is in your own interests that we put forth such a proposal. If partial shipment is allowed, instead of waiting for the whole lot to get ready, we can ship whatever is ready to fill the urgent need of your end-users.

Brown: Oh, I see. In that case, I agree to partial shipment. But we do hope you can make a direct shipment.

Gong: We’ll do what we can. In case there is no direct steamer, will you consider allowing transshipment?

Brown: I’m afraid not. You know, Mr. Gong, transshipment takes much more time. What’s more, there are risks of damage to the goods during transshipment. I hope you will avoid using transshipment if possible and try some other way.

Gong: Then let’s solve the problem this way and see if you can be satisfied. I’ll contact the shipping company again and ask them to make delivery half a month in advance. This will ensure the consignment to reach your port in time for your customers’ requirement.

Brown: That’s marvelous! Make delivery half a month in advance, and I’ll agree to your suggestion.

                                 NEW WORDS

lot              (貨物)批量               instead             代替，頂替

concern          關心                    whatever            無論什么

limited          有限的                   fill                 填滿，滿足（需求）

drop            掉下，丟下               end-user             用戶

partial           部分的                   tramssipment         轉船

irgent           急迫的                   risk                 風險

once            一次                     damage              損壞

forth            向前                     avoid                避免

proposal         建議                     solve                解決

maybe          可能                      marvelous           奇異的，極好的

whatever        無論什么                  suggestion           建議

at one time                      一次

Is there anything the matter?        關于……有什么麻煩嗎？

As far as… is concerned           就……而言

Not in the least                   決不

in need of                       需要

all at once                       同時，一下子

in your own interests              為了你自己的利益 

put forth                        提出

instead of                       替代

in case                          如果，萬一

I’m afraid not                    我怕不行

In advance                       提前

In time for                       及時趕上……