LESSON EIGHT:HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SHIPPING AND DELIVERY?--怎样询问装运和交货？


CONTENTS

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS 常用语

II. SAMPLE 范文

III. TIPS 掌握写作要领

IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS 精通常用词组和句型

V. BOOK REVIEW 好书共享

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
常用语

1. How to ask for a quotation from delivery services?

Would you please quote for collecting and delivering the following consignments from Budapest to Berlin?

We would like to send from Shanghai to Hong Kong 1000 kilos of crockery within the next fortnight. Could you quote charges for shipment and insurance?

We need to ship a consignment of office furniture to New York at the beginning of April. Could you let us know your freight rates for crated consignments?

2. How to request forwarding agents to handle the shipment?

Could you pick up a consignment of 50 Decol television sets and make the necessary arrangaments to ship them to ... [name and address]?

Could you handle all the shipping formalities and insurance?

We would appreciate it if you could treat the shipment as urgent.

3. How to ask for an early reply?

I would appreciate a prompt reply, as delivery must be made before the end of this month.

A prompt reply would be appreciated.

We look forward to your prompt reply.



II. SAMPLE
范文


Dear _________:

We intend to ship a consignment of 200 sewing machines to Hong Kong at the beginning of May. The consignment consists of 20 wooden crates. The weight of each crate is XXX kilos and measures XX x XX x XX cm.

Could you inform us which vessels are available to reach Hong Kong before May 10 and let us know your freight rates?

Sincerely,



__________



III. TIPS
掌握写作要领

1. State your purpose at the very beginning of your letter.
2. Give all the necessary details about the goods you want to be shipped, and time and destination.
3. If you have questions to ask, make them as specific as possible.
4. If you want an early reply, make it clear at the end of your letter.



IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS
精通常用词组和句型

1. Click on the word or phrase that fits the sentence:

  1. 1) We will inform our customers ____ the arrival of the shipment ourselves.
    (A) (none)
    (B) on
    (C) of
    (D) in

  2. 2) We need your cooperation to ensure that the following orders are shipped ____ scheduled.
    (A) as
    (B) like
    (C) when
    (D) but

  3. 3) We can quote $100 for delivering your consignment from Hong Kong to Singapore, ____ insurance.
    (A) include
    (B) included
    (C) having included
    (D) including

  4. 4) Before ____ the receipt, please check that the consignment is complete and undamaged.
    (A) signed
    (B) signing
    (C) sign
    (D) you signed



2. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below (1):

sending, handling, collecting, paying, including

Lawson & Clay Forwarding Agents arranges export shipments for many exporters in this country. Their services include (1) the consignment, arranging shipment, packing, and (2) all documentation, (3) making out the bill of lading, obtaining insurance, (4) invoices and (5) the shipping company for their clients. The firm is able to get competitive rates for shipping consignments.


3. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below (2):

contains, required, offers, weighs, delivered, measures

Each box (1) 50 kilos and (2) 0.5 cubic meters.

The delivery company (3) overnight or two-day service for small packages.

We will call you on the day your shipment is (4) .

If your shipment (5) commodities to be purchased or sold, three copies of a Commercial Invoice are (6) .


4. Fill in the blanks with words from the list below (3):

via, in as little as, otherwise, other than, at the risk of, in a matter of

(1) This express delivery service will rush your shipment to most destinations days.

(2) Packages will be delivered door to door in most major metro areas four hours.

(3) International shipments containing items documents require three copies of a Commercial Invoice.

(4) We do not provide a protactive service for the transportation of perishable commodities. Such commodities will be accepted for transportation solely the shipper for damage caused by exposure to heat or cold.

(5) Upon request, the shipping company will provide proof fo delivery facsimile transmission.

(6) Unless indicated on the shipping record provided to UPS, shipping charges will be billed to the shipper.


5. In each of the following cases arrange the groups of words so that they form a sentence. Add capitalization and punctuation if necessary.

  1. "if there are", "we will call you", "in the delivery schedule", "any changes"

  2. "without additional charge", "which cannot be delivered", "will be promptly returned to the shipper", "packages"

  3. "to charge the shipper", "we reserve the right", "improperly packed materials",
    "for all costs", "resulting from"

  4. "weighing more than 150 pounds", "the delivery company", "or exceeding a total of 130 inches",
    "will not accept any package", "in length and girth combined"

 


V. BOOK REVIEW 好书共享

Longman Language Activator: the World's First Production Dictionary
朗文英语联想活用辞典

Many of us find it hard to write a letter, a report, or a story in English. We often have to spend a long time searching for the right English words that will effectively convey our ideas and feelings. An ordinary dictionary doesn't help much because we don't know which word to look for. Fortunately, we can now get a lot of help from a new type of dictionary: the Longman Language Activator.

The most important thing about using this dictionary is that you've got to change your attitude: you must turn yourself from a "passive" user into an "active" user.

For example, you want to write an essay describing a picture in which everything is "beautiful": a man, a woman, a child, a park. Unfortunately, you only know the word "beautiful." How can you write a good essay if you use the same word again and again to describe different things? The Activator will help you.

First of all, you look at the "Access Map" for BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING. Guided by this map, you examine "Words for describing a beautiful woman," "Words for describing a good-looking man," "Words for describing a beautiful child," "Words for describing a beautiful area or place," etc.

If the woman is not only good-looking but also "refined," you may choose the word "elegant" for her. If the man looks very impressive, you may choose the word "striking." You can also choose "cute" or "lovely" for the little child, and "picturesque" or some other words for the background.

You use the Activator when you have a lot of things to tell but don't know how to do it. The dictionary will help you become a better writer or speaker.