Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №16/2005

BUSINESS ENGLISH

Prices, Prices, Prices

1. Match the words from the left with those from the right and compose the sentences of your own using the given combinations:

1. at a price of...

2. to set prices

3. to freeze prices

4. to pay an exorbitant price for smth

5. skyrocket

6. to mark up the prices

7. fall

8. to keep prices down

9. to be a price leader

10. to get a high price

11. to quote a price

12. bargain price

13. stiff prices

14. to bring down the price

15. fair price

a. повышать цены

b. продаваться по высокой цене

c. резкое падение цен

d. диктовать цены

e. договорная цена

f. жёсткие цены

g. назначать цену

h. понижать/снижать цены

i. установить цены

j. замораживать цены

k. не допускать роста цен

l. приемлемая, справедливая цена

m. по цене...

n. резкий рост цен

o. заплатить за что-л. очень высокую цену

2. Organize these words in two columns:

to roll back, to mark up, to slash, to bring, to cut, to hike, to mark down, to raise, to reduce, to bring down, to undercut, to increase, to lower

Слова, означающие ПОНИЖЕНИE ЦЕН

Слова, означающие ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ЦЕН

3. What kind of prices can you name? Match the English and the Russian equivalents:

1. buying price

2. outrageous price

3. retail price

4. fixed price

5. reasonable price

6. bargain price

7. wholesale price

8. market price

9. asked price

10. reduced price

11. sliding price

12. going price

13. fair price

14. discount price

15. upset price

a. рыночная цена

b. цена со скидкой, цена ниже номинала

c. договорная цена

d. запрашиваемая цена, цена продавца

e. самая низкая цена

f. очень высокая, чрезмерная цена

g. скользящая цена

h. действующая цена, действительная цена

i. приемлемая, справедливая цена

j. розничная цена

k. оптовая цена

l. твердая цена

m. сниженная/пониженная цена

n. покупная цена

o. умеренная цена, доступная цена

4. Now imagine you live in some imaginary country of Moonyland, and comment on the economic situation there. Match the economic statements with their explanations.

1. There are 20 million in Moonyland who want to work. One million do not have jobs.

2. Some industries are privately owned and some are state-owned.

3. Last year the size of economy was $100 billion. This year it is $101 billion.

4. Prices are much higher this year than last year.

5. Banking, insurance and tourism, etc. are important to the country’s economy.

6. But the production of cars, machine tools, white goods, etc. is still the most important part of the economy.

7. At the moment, the economic situation is bad. There is a danger that the economy will shrink, not grow this year.

8. Most working people have to pay about a third of their income to the government.

9. Today you can buy 10 Moons for one US dollar. Last year it was the same.

10. Two million workers are members of labour organization.

a. The exchange rate is stable.

b. The standard rate of income tax is 30%.

c. The manufacturing sector is larger than the service sector.

d. The unemployment rate is 5%.

e. People are afraid of a recession.

f. The growth rate is 1%.

g. The economy has a large service sector.

h. Trade union membership is about 10% of the whole workforce.

i. Moonyland has a mixed economy.

j. The rate of inflation is high.

5. Find 20 words connected with pricing and prices in this Magic Square.

6. Match the statements from the left with the responses on the right. Then compose business dialogs of your own.

1. How can you explain the fall in prices?

2. Can you give me a discount?

3. Can I leave a message?

4. I must buy insurance for my car.

5. You paid an exorbitant price for this ring!

6. At the moment the economy is not stable.

7. Did you get my message?

8. Their prices are set.

9. What about the asked price?

10. How high is the unemployment rate?

a. I know, but I liked it so much.

b. Yes, but I didn’t have time to reply.

c. You are right, moreover the prices have skyrocketed.

d. It’s on the same level with the previous year.

e. Right, and they aren’t going to make any concessions.

f. I’m afraid, not. The prices are fixed.

g. It coincides with the market price.

h. We didn’t have enough customers.

i. Sure, but this company charges an outrageous price for it.

j. Yes, I’ll pass it on as soon as I see him.

Keys:

1. 1. m; 2. i; 3. j; 4. o; 5. n; 6. a; 7. c; 8. k; 9. d; 10. b; 11. g; 12. e; 13. f; 14. h; 15. l

2. to bring down, cut, lower, mark down, reduce, roll back, slash, undercut prices – понижать/снижать цены; to hike, increase, mark up, raise prices – повышать цены

3. 1. n; 2. f; 3. j; 4. l; 5. o; 6. c; 7. k; 8. a; 9. d; 10. m; 11. g; 12. h; 13. i; 14. b; 15. е

4. 1. d; 2. i; 3. f, 4. j; 5. g; 6. c; 7. e; 8. b; 9. a; 10. h

5. economy, income, pay, exchange, tax, workforce, billion, fall, dollar, stable, inflation, bargain, goods, pound, skyrocket, fair, price, insurance, ruble, pence

6. 1. h; 2. f; 3. j; 4. i; 5. a; 6. c; 7. b; 8. e; 9. g; 10. d

Compiled by Alyona Pavlova