Unit 14 Entertaining
14.1 Taking a guest to dinner
(1) Language in use
Read this text. Where do the sentences in the box belong?
A If you arrive at a restaurant before your host, wait at the bar.
B If you’re not sure you can go, call and explain your situation.
C If your host tries to sell you her latest product, suggest you talk next week.
D But you don’t have to agree to attend all of them.
The good (business) guest’s guide
The RSVP rule
It’s the end of the year and your desk is full of invitations to lunches and dinners from advertising agencies, stationery suppliers and other sales people. Which do you reply to? All of them! (1) ________ Invitations to cocktail parties for new product lines go to hundreds of people. So only go if your company is interested in the new product. But if one of your biggest suppliers sends you an invitation to a party celebrating the tenth anniversary of your business relationship, reply immediately (2) ________. Perhaps the company can arrange another time.
How to get there
It’s essential to arrive at business functions at the correct time. (3) _______. Your host will pick up the tab for your drink.
Small talk tips
Your host will try to get to know you better by asking you where you were born, where you went to school, your interests, etc. it may seem like small talk, but now is the chance to find out about the supplier’s background and products --- all good information for future business. (4)_______. But now is a good time to let them know about their service if you are not happy with it.
RSVP: please reply to the invitation
Small talk: social conversation
(2) Reading
Read the text again and tick (√) the correct statements.
( ) 1 Accept all the invitations you receive.
( ) 2 Don’t go to all parties for new product lines.
( ) 3 If a supplier is organizing a special party.
( ) 4 It’s not important to arrive on time for a business function.
( ) 5 Your host will not ask questions about your interests.
( ) 6 Tell your host about her company’s service.
(3) Langue in use
Match the questions to the answers like this:
1 where are you from? a Tennis and golf.
2 What do you do? b Yes, please. An orange juice.
3 Is it your first visit to the USA? c Yes, I am.
4 Are you interested in sport? d I’m in advertising.
5 What sports do you play? e Melbourne,Australia.
6 Can I get you a drink? f Yes, it is.
14.2 Making invitations
(1) Language in use
Read these telephone conversations and complete them with suitable words.
Conversation 1
SAM: Hello, Karen. Sam Ross (1) . How are you?
KAREN: Fine. Nice to hear from you.
SAM: I’d like to (2) you to lunch next week.
KAREN: That’s very (3) of you. When exactly?
SAM: Does Wednesday (4) you?
KAREN: Yes, that’s (5) . What time?
SAM: Is one o’clock all right? At the Holiday Inn?
KAREN: Yes, that’s fine. I’ll look (6) to it. Bye.
SAM: Bye.
Conversation 2
SAM: Hello, Don. It’s Sam Ross. I’m meeting Karen Beck for (7) next week. Would you (8) to join us?
DON: That (9) be nice. When (10) ?
SAM: Wednesday. At one o’clock at the Holiday Inn?
DON: Oh, I’m afraid I can’t (11) Wednesday. I’ve got to go down to the factory then.
SAM: That’s a (12) .
DON: Thank you for asking me, anyway.
SAM: Another time. Bye.
(2) Listening and speaking.
Look at your diary for next week. You will hear people inviting you to do things. Practise making replies like this.
VOICE: Would you like to have lunch on Monday? (beep)
YOU: I’m afraid I can’t make Monday. I’ve got a sales meeting.
Monday
11.00 –15.00 sales meeting
Tuesday
20.00 concert
Wednesday
Thursday
Finish sales report
Friday
12.30 lunch with sales rep.
(2) Writing
Rewrite this litter with the correct punctuation and layout.
mary simmons
bodycare Inc
111 park avenue south
new york ny 10003
july 10 200-
dear mary thank you for your letter of july 4 inviting me to attend the launch of your new range of bodycare products i am pleased to accept and look forward to seeing you on august 7 best regards
janice
14.3 Describing food
(1) Vocabulary
Fruit or vegetable? Write (F) or (V).
1 pepper □ 2 banana □ 3 melon □ 4 mushroom □
5 strawberry□ 6 orange □ 7 carrot □ 8 cherry □
9 beans □ 10 apple □ 11 potato □ 12 avocado □
(2) Listening
Look at the menu. Listen to this conversation in a restaurant. What does the man order?
Starter: __________________________
Main course: __________________________ and ____________________
Dessert: __________________________
Writing
Complete these sentences with your own information about food you know.
____________________is a local speciality.
____________________is very popular here.
____________________is a kind of vegetable.
____________________is (a bit) like ______________.
____________________is / are very hot.
____________________is quite rich.
____________________is quite sweet.
____________________is very spicy.
Reference
14.1
1 1d 2b 3a 4c
2 Tick statements 2, 3 and 6.
1 You should reply to all invitations.
4 You should arrive on time.
5 Your host will try to make small talk, including questions about your interests.
3 2d 3f 4c 5a 6b
14.2
Suggested answers
1 1 speaking 2 invite 3 kind 4 suit 5 fine 6 forward
7 lunch 8 like 9 would 10 exactly 11 make 12 pity
2 1 VOICE 1: Would you like to have lunch on Monday? (beep)
2 VOICE 2: I’m afraid I can’t make Monday. I’ve got a sales meeting.
3 VOICE 3: How about a game of tennis on Monday evening?
4 VOICE 4: Are you doing anything on Tuesday evening? We’re going to an Indian restaurant.
VOICE 5: I’d like to invite you to lunch next week. Does Wednesday suit you?
6 VOICE 6: Would you like to do something on Friday evening?
3
Mary Simmons
Bodycare Inc.
111 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
July 10 200-
Dear Mary
Thank you for your letter of July 4 inviting me to attend the launch of your new range of Bodycare products. I am pleased to accept and look forward to seeing you on August 7.
Best regards
Janice
14.3
1 1V 2F 3F 4V 5F 6F 7V 8F 9V 10F 11V 12F
2 Starter: Aubergine paté
Main course: Fish with Indian spices and rice
Dessert: No dessert, just coffee
Woman: Ah, here’s the menu. Would you like a starter?
Man: Er, yes. What can you recommend?
Woman: Well, I had the avocado soup last time and it was very good. But the roasted pepper salad sounds very interesting. I think I might try that.
Man: I like the sound of aubergine paté, so I think I’ll have that.
Woman: What would you like for your main course?
Man: I love fish, but is the fish with Indian spices very hot?
Woman: No, it’s not too spicy, but it is very delicious!
Man: Well, I’ll have the fish. What are you going to have?
Woman: I like the chicken with mushrooms. It’s quite rich, but it’s very popular. Oh, do you want rice or roast potatoes with your fish?
Man: Rice, please.
…
Man: That was very good. I really enjoyed it.
Woman: Good. Now, how about a dessert? The ice cream sounds good.
Man: Er, I think I’ll just have a coffee, thank you.