This is the first in a two-part intermediate Business English Podcast lesson on opening and managing meetings. In this episode, we’ll look at how to open a meeting. In the second part we’ll look at language you can use to manage the discussion.
这是有关开始会议和引导会议两节商务播客中的第一节。在这节中，我们来看下如何开始会议。在第二节看中，来看下如何引导会议。

The listening takes place in the Singapore offices of Daneline, an international shipping company. Martin, the GM, is chairing a meeting with Sandra, David and Sam to discuss a budget shortfall. Shortfall means their budget has fallen short of expectations. In other words, they don’t have enough money, so they need to make some cuts. To chair a meeting is to lead the meeting. We can say that Martin is the chairperson. So in these two episodes on opening and managing meetings, you’ll be learning language for chairing meetings.
对话发生在一家新加坡国际船运公司Daneline，总经理Martin正主持会议，和Sandra, David 和Sam讨论预算不足的事。预算不足也就是预算少于估计的数。换句话，他们没有足够的钱，少于他们需要减少花费。主持会议也就是引导会议。Martin是主角，在这两节涉及开始会议和引导会议的课节中，你会学到用来主持会议的语言。

Listening Quiz:
1) What is the amount of the budget shortfall?
2) Why doesn’t Sandra have a copy of the agenda?
3) How many possible cuts are under discussion?
4) What is the first item on the agenda?