听力题Anchor: Imagine the U.S. economy blasting forward

听力题A. check an address B. book a table C. make an appointment D. sell something E. place an order F. cancel a meeting G. congratulate someone H. offer a lift

听力题Anchor: Big news today

听力题A cloth B vitamins C medicine D picture E dress F medicine G silk H voice

听力题Interviews conducted by members of the ECE

听力题 Results from Japan''s largest petrochemicals companies for the year to March 31st reflect the crisis facing a sector plagued by sluggish domestic demand, over capacity, plunging prices and the appreciation of the yen. News of the sectors cure trading position follow this weeks decision by Showa Denko to sell its polystyrene business. The company, a marginal manufacturer, sold its 30,000 tonnes a year Kawasaki plant to Asahi Chemical. Japans largest polystyrene manufacturer with capacity of about 333,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to about 25 percent of the market. The move was the latest in a series of alliances and mergers as the troubled industry restructures. Mitsubishi Petrochemical , the country''s biggest plastics group , reported a loss of Y8.39bn ( $ 80m) compared with pre-tax profits last year of Y8.25bn. The group made an operating loss of Y13.8bn, the first since 1982. The poor result came despite cost-cutting measures, lower raw material prices, and Y4bn worth of profits from equity sales. Turnover fell 12.2 percent from Y372bn to Y326bn, as prices and volumes declined. Earnings per share, which reached Y52.5 in 1991, fell to a loss per share of Y9.44. The group, which is scheduled to merge with Mitsubishi Kasei on October 1st, cut its dividend from Y8 per share to Y4. Mitsubishi Kaseis pre-tax profits fell 76.8 percent from Y9.3bn last year to Y2.2bn. The group reported its first operating loss in 40 years at Y467m, and only managed to post positive pre-tax results by selling Y15. 7bn worth of equities. Turnover fell 1.8 percent, the fourth yearly decline, to Y696bn. The dividend was halved to Y3 per share. Mr. Morihisa Takano, managing director, said the newly merged group would generate pre-tax profits of Y10bn on sales of Y855bn during the year to March 1995. He predicted petrochemicals prices would bottom out during the summer. No decision had been made about the dividend, but the new company could pass it during the current year, he Pre-tax profits at Mitsui Petrochemical industries. Japans biggest polyethylene maker, plunged 75 percent from Y9bn to Y2.26bn on sales down 9.3 percent at Y272bn. The company blamed poor demand for the slump which offset the benefits of cost-cutting measures. The dividend is unchanged at Y6 per share. The group forecast pre-tax profits for the current year marginally up at Y3bn on turnover of Y276bn. Shin-Etsu, one of Japans biggest makers of polyvinyl chloride, reported profits down 26.1 percent from Y17.6bn to Y13bn. Sales increased 0.2 percent from Y275bn to Y276bn. Net profits fell 26.6 percent to Y7.08bn, or Y21.85 per share. The group maintained the final dividend at Y3.75, making the full-year pay out Y7.5 per share. Shin-Etsu forecast pre-tax profits for the current year of Y15.5bn on sales of Y277bn. The outlook for the petrochemicals industry remains blank. The imbalance between supply and demand for ethylene, the basic building block of petrochemicals, is about 2.8m tonnes of ethylene and is set to deteriorate further this year. A massive 700, 000-tonne-a-year ethylene complex owned by Maruzen , Mitsui Petrochemical and Sumitomo Chemical comes on stream later this year and Mitsubishi Petrochemical is also commissioning a new 300,000-tonne-a-year plant this year. Results from Japan''s largest petrochemicals companies for the year to March 31st reflect the crisis facing a sector plagued by sluggish domestic demand, over capacity, plunging prices and the appreciation of the yen. News of the sectors cure trading position follow this weeks decision by Showa Denko to sell its polystyrene business. The company, a marginal manufacturer, sold its 30,000 tonnes a year Kawasaki plant to Asahi Chemical. Japans largest polystyrene manufacturer with capacity of about 333,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to about 25 percent of the market. The move was the latest in a series of alliances and mergers as the troubled industry restructures. Mitsubishi Petrochemical , the country''s biggest plastics group , reported a loss of Y8.39bn ( $ 80m) compared with pre-tax profits last year of Y8.25bn. The group made an operating loss of Y13.8bn, the first since 1982. The poor result came despite cost-cutting measures, lower raw material prices, and Y4bn worth of profits from equity sales. Turnover fell 12.2 percent from Y372bn to Y326bn, as prices and volumes declined. Earnings per share, which reached Y52.5 in 1991, fell to a loss per share of Y9.44. The group, which is scheduled to merge with Mitsubishi Kasei on October 1st, cut its dividend from Y8 per share to Y4. Mitsubishi Kaseis pre-tax profits fell 76.8 percent from Y9.3bn last year to Y2.2bn. The group reported its first operating loss in 40 years at Y467m, and only managed to post positive pre-tax results by selling Y15. 7bn worth of equities. Turnover fell 1.8 percent, the fourth yearly decline, to Y696bn. The dividend was halved to Y3 per share. Mr. Morihisa Takano, managing director, said the newly merged group would generate pre-tax profits of Y10bn on sales of Y855bn during the year to March 1995. He predicted petrochemicals prices would bottom out during the summer. No decision had been made about the dividend, but the new company could pass it during the current year, he Pre-tax profits at Mitsui Petrochemical industries. Japans biggest polyethylene maker, plunged 75 percent from Y9bn to Y2.26bn on sales down 9.3 percent at Y272bn. The company blamed poor demand for the slump which offset the benefits of cost-cutting measures. The dividend is unchanged at Y6 per share. The group forecast pre-tax profits for the current year marginally up at Y3bn on turnover of Y276bn. Shin-Etsu, one of Japans biggest makers of polyvinyl chloride, reported profits down 26.1 percent from Y17.6bn to Y13bn. Sales increased 0.2 percent from Y275bn to Y276bn. Net profits fell 26.6 percent to Y7.08bn, or Y21.85 per share. The group maintained the final dividend at Y3.75, making the full-year pay out Y7.5 per share. Shin-Etsu forecast pre-tax profits for the current year of Y15.5bn on sales of Y277bn. The outlook for the petrochemicals industry remains blank. The imbalance between supply and demand for ethylene, the basic building block of petrochemicals, is about 2.8m tonnes of ethylene and is set to deteriorate further this year. A massive 700, 000-tonne-a-year ethylene complex owned by Maruzen , Mitsui Petrochemical and Sumitomo Chemical comes on stream later this year and Mitsubishi Petrochemical is also commissioning a new 300,000-tonne-a-year plant this year.

听力题A. reception B. research and development C. shop floor D. payroll E. human resources F. information technology G. publicity H. canteen

听力题For decades the world''s telephone companies

听力题A. tell information about a delivery B. change the schedule C. give an invitation D. make a complaint E. place an order F. make an announcement G. postpone a session H. inform of the success of a presentation

听力题A. an official B. a marketing researcher C. a health products exporter D. an agent for textiles E. a trader for livestock and poultry F. a clothing maker G. a company''s receptionist H. a board member

听力题 Anchor: The Internet is described by some as a job machine, creating new opportunities for young entrepreneurs. Others say it''s a job killer, eliminating certain labor-intensive occupations. Whatever you believe, there''s no denying that the Internet is an ideal platform for advertising and finding jobs. It''s global, interactive, and growing. German alone has 300 job listing web sites. The market leader, called Jobs & Adverts, registers 700, 000 hits a month. Job-seeking, old style. The sits-vac column in the newspaper. But things are changing, especially in the hi-tech sector. The sits-vac column has moved to the World Wide Web. Digital employment agencies are among the fastest-growing Internet companies. Europe''s number one is Jobs & Adverts, based near Frankfurt. The reason is that the Internet represents the medium for job seekers. The Internet has important advantages vis-a-vis the print media. You can target the job you''re after by entering in specific criteria, and the answers come back straightaway by e-mail. Jobs & Adverts'' websites are packed full. More than 6, 000 employers are advertising some 35, 000 posts. An ad costs up to 600 euros for four weeks. And according to the Kienbaum business consultancy, they''re not just aimed at geeks. Ansgar Kinkel, a business consultant: Jobs from the Internet are interesting for all applicants, because they''re now being advertised for all occupations and at all levels up to CEO. But they''re particularly interesting for those working abroad and wanting to return home, because in their case, it''s often pure chance whether they even see and ad in the print media. Anchor: The Net also makes life easier for personnel managers. Search engines allow them to quickly sift the flood of applicants. This is how it works. The first contract is via e-mail. The contents, preferably clear and concise, are hardly different from those in a classical job application. But there are some pitfalls. What might look like formal errors can lead to a rejection. Roland Metzger, Jobs & Adverts: "We can only advise applicants to send off a thorough, informative application, and not to send attached files which the recipient might not be able to open. In other words, include your c.v. in the message itself." Anchor: Once the firm expresses an interest, the next stage is to e-mail a complete application along with certificates and references. A job applicant: "The firm wants complete documentation, so what do I do about certificates etc.? I have to set about scanning them, bearing in mind the size and quality of the document. And I have to think about what program to use. Will the firm be able to open it at all, or print it out? Can I actually transmit the thing over the net?" Anchor: Applicants can not only look for jobs on the net, they can also discover if their qualifications are currently in demand. A job applicant: "You get feedback. Is my profile any use at all in the labor market? If so, for what company, etc.? What''s my market value in financial terms?" Anchor: Career by mouse-click. Companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Bayer and Mannesman are already fishing for candidates in the Internet. But not everything can be done by computer. Nothing replaces the personal meeting ...... but they''re working on it! Webcam interviews are already at the testing stage. As Internet technology develops and becomes even more interactive, job seekers will be challenged to put their best food forward in a digital world. To see what''s expected of virtual applicants, check out the Jobs and Adverts web site at the address shown on your screen or use a search engine to find listing in your part of the world. Anchor: The Internet is described by some as a job machine, creating new opportunities for young entrepreneurs. Others say it''s a job killer, eliminating certain labor-intensive occupations. Whatever you believe, there''s no denying that the Internet is an ideal platform for advertising and finding jobs. It''s global, interactive, and growing. German alone has 300 job listing web sites. The market leader, called Jobs & Adverts, registers 700, 000 hits a month. Job-seeking, old style. The sits-vac column in the newspaper. But things are changing, especially in the hi-tech sector. The sits-vac column has moved to the World Wide Web. Digital employment agencies are among the fastest-growing Internet companies. Europe''s number one is Jobs & Adverts, based near Frankfurt. The reason is that the Internet represents the medium for job seekers. The Internet has important advantages vis-a-vis the print media. You can target the job you''re after by entering in specific criteria, and the answers come back straightaway by e-mail. Jobs & Adverts'' websites are packed full. More than 6, 000 employers are advertising some 35, 000 posts. An ad costs up to 600 euros for four weeks. And according to the Kienbaum business consultancy, they''re not just aimed at geeks. Ansgar Kinkel, a business consultant: Jobs from the Internet are interesting for all applicants, because they''re now being advertised for all occupations and at all levels up to CEO. But they''re particularly interesting for those working abroad and wanting to return home, because in their case, it''s often pure chance whether they even see and ad in the print media. Anchor: The Net also makes life easier for personnel managers. Search engines allow them to quickly sift the flood of applicants. This is how it works. The first contract is via e-mail. The contents, preferably clear and concise, are hardly different from those in a classical job application. But there are some pitfalls. What might look like formal errors can lead to a rejection. Roland Metzger, Jobs & Adverts: "We can only advise applicants to send off a thorough, informative application, and not to send attached files which the recipient might not be able to open. In other words, include your c.v. in the message itself." Anchor: Once the firm expresses an interest, the next stage is to e-mail a complete application along with certificates and references. A job applicant: "The firm wants complete documentation, so what do I do about certificates etc.? I have to set about scanning them, bearing in mind the size and quality of the document. And I have to think about what program to use. Will the firm be able to open it at all, or print it out? Can I actually transmit the thing over the net?" Anchor: Applicants can not only look for jobs on the net, they can also discover if their qualifications are currently in demand. A job applicant: "You get feedback. Is my profile any use at all in the labor market? If so, for what company, etc.? What''s my market value in financial terms?" Anchor: Career by mouse-click. Companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Bayer and Mannesman are already fishing for candidates in the Internet. But not everything can be done by computer. Nothing replaces the personal meeting ...... but they''re working on it! Webcam interviews are already at the testing stage. As Internet technology develops and becomes even more interactive, job seekers will be challenged to put their best food forward in a digital world. To see what''s expected of virtual applicants, check out the Jobs and Adverts web site at the address shown on your screen or use a search engine to find listing in your part of the world.

听力题A. a dentist B. a customer C. a policeman D. a mechanic E. a salesman F. a plumber G. a doctor H. a manager

听力题Host: Welcome to our program

听力题Host: Welcome to our program

听力题Interviews conducted by members of the ECE

听力题A. training courses B. website designers C. conference venues D. security systems E. promotional packages F. after dinner speakers G. pension schemes H. transportation systems

听力题A. signing an agreement B. reviewing a contract C. discussing new ideas D. implementing plans E. revising the wording of a contract F. canceling an appointment G. clarifying details H. setting up a signing date

听力题Anchor: Big news today

听力题Anchor: Tonight''s news: locating the 100

听力题A. complain about job interference B. design a package of a product C. review a contract D. work on a TV advertisement E. produce a new soap F. present a yearly projection G. present an operation budget H. talk about profits