-- 十打装一纸箱，每箱毛重约25公斤。

-- 纸箱？

-- 是的，瓦楞纸板箱。

-- 你不能用木箱代替吗？

-- 为什么要用木箱呢？

A: I’m afraid the cardboard boxes are not strong enough for such a heavy load.

B: The cartons are comparatively light, and therefore easy to handle. They won’t be stowed away with the heavy cargo. The steve- dores will see to that. Besides, we’ll reinforce the cartons with straps. Silk blouses are not fragile goods. They can stand a lot of jolting.

A: Maybe you are right, but the goods are to be transhipped at Hamburg or London. If the boxes are moved about on an open wharf, the dampness or rain may get into them. This would make the blouses spotted or ruined.

B: No need to worry about that. The cartons lined with plastic sheets are waterproof, and as the boxes are made of cardboard, they will be handled with care.

A: Well, I don’t want to take any chances. Besides, cartons are easy to cut open, and this increases the risk of pilferage.

-- 恐怕纸板箱不够结实，经受不住装这么重的货物。

-- 纸箱比较轻，因而容易搬运。纸箱不会和重物一起堆放，搬运工 人会注意到这一点。此外，我们还用铁皮带加固。丝绸女衫并非 易碎货物，经受得住剧烈地震动。

-- 你也许说得对，但这些货物要在汉堡或伦敦转运。如果纸箱在露 天码头上搬运，潮气和雨水就有可能渗透进去，这就会使女衫弄 得斑斑点点的，或甚至毁掉。

-- 那个没必要担心。纸箱内都衬有塑料布，是防水的，而且由于箱 子是硬纸板的，所以在搬运的时候就会小心处理。

-- 嘿，我可不想去冒险，再说，纸箱容易被割开，这就增加了被偷 盗的风险。

B: Tampering with cartons is easily detected. I should say that this rather discourages pilferage.

A: Maybe so, but I’m afraid that in case of damage or pilferage, the insurance company will refuse compensation on the ground of improper packing, or packing unsuitable for sea voyage.

B: But cartons are quite seaworthy. They are extensively used in our shipments to continental ports. There are never any complaints from our clients, and our insurance company has also approved such packing for W.P.A. and T.P.N.D.

-- 纸箱弄破是容易检查出来的，我说这恰恰可以防止偷盗。

-- 也可能,但在出现损坏或偷盗时,恐怕保险公司会借口包装不当、或 包装不适合于海运为由而拒绝赔偿。

-- 纸箱是很适合海运的。 对于运往(欧洲)大陆港口的货物，我们广 泛采用纸箱，而且从未有客户抱怨过，我们的保险公司承保水渍险 和偷窃及提货不着险时，也同意使用这种包装。

A: If you could guarantee compensation in case the insurance com- pany refuses to honor a claim for faulty packing, we would be quite willing to accept cartons.

B: I’m sorry, but we can’t take on any responsibility that is beyond our functions and powers. We’ll make sure that the packing is seaworthy, but we can’t commit ourselves to being responsible for every kind of mishap.

A: I can understand your position. Perhaps I’m asking too much.

B: We’ll use wooden cases if you insist, but the charge for packing will be considerably higher, and it also slows delivery.

A: Well, I’ll call you immediately for instructions on the matter.

B: Please do. I’ll be waiting for your reply.

-- 万一保险公司以包装不当为由而拒绝接受索赔时，如果你保证赔偿 的话，我们就乐于接受纸箱。

-- 对不起，我们不能承担任何超出我们职权范围的责任。我们可以保 证包装适合海运，但不能对每一种损失都负责。

-- 我能理解你的立场，也许我要求得太多了。

-- 如果你坚持，我们可以使用木箱，但包装费用就要高得多，而且发 运也要延期。

-- 关于这件事，我会马上打电话给你指示。

-- 好的，我等着你的回答。

Words and Expressions

garment [ 5^B:mEnt ] 服装，衣服

polythene [7pCli5Wi:n] 聚乙烯

wrapper [5rApE ] 封套，包装物

catch the eye 引人注目

stevedore [5sti:vidC:] 装卸工，搬运工

strap [strAp] 带，铁皮带

lichee [5li:tFi:] 荔枝

comparatively [kEm5pArEtIvlI] 稍微，有点

Notes

1. be ready for window display 可直接做橱窗陈列

2. wrapping that catches the eye 引人注意的包装

3. We’ll see to it that the blouses appeal to the eye as well as to the price. 我们会注意使这些衬衫看上去美观，价格具有吸引力。

4. an open wharf 露天码头

5. to honor a claim for faulty packing 接受由于包装不当而提出的索赔

6. bring up 提出

a. You may bring up the matter at the meeting for consideration this afternoon. 今天下午你可以把这件事在会议上提出来考虑。

b. This problem will be brought up at the next meeting.

这个问题在下次会议上会被提出来。

7. to stand 经得起，耐得住，忍受

Please see that the packing is seaworthy and stands long sea voyage. 请注意包装必须适合于海运，并经得起长期的海上航行。

8. on the ground(s) of 以……为理由

They would ask for compensation on the grounds of faulty packing.

他们会以包装有瑕疵而要求赔偿。

9. to smooth out 解决；弄平

a. Before going into further discussion, there are one or two things to be smoothed out. 在进一步讨论前，还有一两件事情需要解决。

b. Every time she got up from a seat, she always smoothed out the crease in her dress.

她每次从座位上站起来时，总是把连衣裙上的皱弄平。

A Specimen Letter

Dear Sirs:

We are pleased to inform you that 50 cases of adjustable wrenches you shipped to Lagos on March 18th have arrived in perfect condition. This shows that you have made a great deal of improvement in packing.

As for the pliers to be shipped to us, we would like you to have them packed in boxes of 2 dozens each, 100 boxes to a wooden case. We trust you will give special care to the packing in order to avoid damage in transit.

Kindly let us know if you can meet our requirements.

With our best regards.

释文

先生：

你三月十八日发送的五十箱可调节扳手已完好无损地到达拉各斯，对此我们非常高兴。这表明贵方在包装方面有了很大的改进。

关于即将发给我们的钳子，我们希望每两打装一盒，一百盒装一木箱。我们相信你们会特别注意包装，以免运输途中受损。

是否可按我们的要求包装，请告知。

顺致问候。

Substitution Drills

1 Our staffs in the transportation department are fully

engaged.

committed

friendly

helpful and efficient

包装

包装

我们运输部的全体职员 都很忙。

工作都很认真。

都很友好。

都很乐于助人而且做事效率高。

2 Your sincere advice on the packing is welcome.

comments are

关于包装，欢迎你提出诚恳的建议。

关于包装，你可以提出意见。

3 I had told you that by the beginning of September I would have completed the task. middle

end

我告诉过你到九月 初，我会完成任务。

中旬

末