初级商务英语Unit17.docVIP

Unit 17 Project timing Prepositions of time 1. Listening Listen to the telephone conversation about the timing of a construction project. As you listen, complete the key for the project planner below. 请见附图17-1 Listening task A: I’m phoning about the timing for the Vienna project. B: Right, we’ve got a starting date for that haven’t we? A: Yes, we begin a pilot study on 5 November. B: Right, how long is that expected to last? A: We should finish the study in three weeks. B: Good, then what’s the next stage? A: Well, we’ve got a meeting with the contractor scheduled for 1 December. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll sign the contract then. And work can commence at the beginning of January. B: So what’s the first stage? A: Well, excavation will begin in January and is due to finish by the middle of February. Now, after that we could have a problem. B: What’s that? A: You remember we’ve sub-contracted the German firm to do the foundations. They promised to start in the middle of February. They are now saying they can’t. B: Right, I’ll get on to them. When are they due to finish the foundations? A: In the contract, it says by 28 February. B: I see, and then? A: Construction work should begin on 5 March. We’re on a pretty tight schedule. All the work has to be done in March and April. B: OK. I see the problem. I’ll phone you back in the afternoon at about three. Bye. A: Goodbye. 2. Presentation Notice how the following prepositions are used to refer to time: 请见附图17-2 Notice also these expressions which are used when talking about timing: ???????????????????????is due to The project ﹛ is expected to ﹜start on… ???????????????????????is scheduled to 3. Controlled practice Complete these sentences with an appropriate preposition of time. 1. The work is due to begin ____________ the end of April. 2. We are hoping to meet the engineer _______ the weekend. 3. We expect to sign the contract sometime _______ June. 4. We arrived ____