Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy: Cardiovascular diseases are known to affect people of all ages, especially the elderly. Do you work out recommendations for the people of this group?
The Director: Yes, we study the causes and focus the attention on heart disease prevention.
Ambassador of Nigeria: From what we see here it’s obvious that your Government considers people’s health a matter of state importance. Do you share your rich experience in this field with the less developed countries?
The Director: Yes, we do. Apart from the theoretical aspect of research and the results of the experiments which are open to any state, we helped in equipment of hospitals in some countries.
Ambassador of Ecuador: Namely?
The Director: In Ethiopia, Angola, India, to mention only a few.
Ambassador of Madagascar: I think that the Cardiological Centre is a spectacular example of the great attention your Government is paying to public health.
First Secretary of the US Embassy: Somebody asked at the beginning of our visit whether you, sir, welcome us here as your guests or patients. I for one don’t mind if I ever have a heart attack to be admitted to your Centre as a patient.
The Director: I am sure you won’t have it.
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria: Allow me, sir, on behalf of the diplomatic corps and on my own behalf to express genuine satisfaction with the results of our visit to the Centre. We wish the staff of the Centre further success for the benefit of mankind. Thank you.
The Director: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. The pleasure is ours.
Good-bye.
The guests: Good-bye.
WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS YOU MAY NEED:money is raised деньги собраны
voluntary work добровольный труд
cardiovascular diseases сердечно-сосудистые заболевания
disease prevention предупреждение болезней
to share rich (positive) experience делиться богатым (положительным) опытом
a spectacular example зд. наглядный пример
genuine satisfaction искреннее удовлетворение
Interpretation dialogue. Working in pairs, read the following conversations:
Two young diplomats, Soviet and American, both members of their respective delegations to the General Assembly of the United Nations, meet in the lobby of the U.N. Secretariat in New York. Among other questions, they talk about the foreign services of their countries and prominent Soviet and American diplomats.
Mr Briggs: So you’ve crossed the Atlantic to come to New York again, Mr Artov.
Mr Artov: Yes, I have. Among other things separating us is the Atlantic Ocean. You’re lucky, Briggs. It takes you only two hours to get to New York, whereas I have to fly here for more than fifteen hours.
Mr Briggs: You can afford it once a year. I wish I could travel to Moscow at my government’s expense.
Mr Artov: Who heads the American delegation at this G.A.?
Mr Briggs: This time it is a lady, an old friend of the President.
Mr Artov: Democrat or Republican?
Mr Briggs: Republican, of course. She is a professional diplomat. Do you have women-diplomat in your foreign service?
Mr Artov: Yes, we have. A woman-diplomat once headed our UN mission to the Geneva headquarters.
Mr Briggs: Are there any women-ambassadors?
Mr Artov: Not now. Prior and during the war Mrs Alexandra Kollontay was our ambassador in Sweden.
Mr Briggs: This is very interesting. Tell me about her.
Mr Artov: Mrs Kollontay was the first woman to become an accredited diplomat to a foreign country.
Mr Briggs: I guess she was a contemporary of Lenin?
Mr Artov: Yes, she was. Kollontay was an active revolutionary in tzarist Russia.
Mr Briggs: Did she take part in any international conferences?
Mr Artov: She conducted the Soviet-Finnish armistice in 1944.
Mr Briggs: We, in the States, too, have a couple of ladies occupying high posts in the State Department. I’m afraid they are not so prominent as Mrs Kollontay.
Mr Artov: If I am not mistaken, Mrs Lewis was US ambassador in Italy. Where is she now?
Mr Briggs: She has retired already.
Mr Artov: Since when?
Mr Briggs: Oh, years ago. The American permanent delegation to the UN is headed by a lady now.
Mr Artov: Mrs K.?
Mr Briggs: Yes, do you know her?
Mr Artov: Not personally. She seems to be very active, doesn’t she?
Mr Briggs: I think the State Department makes her that active. She is a well-educated person, though. She is an official who tries to do her best to carry out orders she gets from above.
Mr Artov: I should think so. One of the American newspapers called her “a militant lady”.
Mr Briggs: Our press writes a lot about her. The other day I read an article in the “Readers’ Digest” where she is considered to be “undiplomatic ambassador of the USA”.
Mr Artov: Not very complimentary. A diplomat should be diplomatic, at least to justify the name.
Mr Briggs: The break is over, let’s go to the Assembly Hall.
Mr Artov: Off we go, Briggs.
EXERCISESI. Hold a class discussion on the diplomatic aspect of the activity of the United Nations.
II. State the arguments (if any) for and against the employment of women as professional diplomats.
III. Summarize the conversation of the two diplomats in a talks of 5-minutes duration.
B. INVITATIONS
Operator: Foreign Office. Good morning. Can I help you?
Mr Orlov: I’d like to speak to Mr James Marsh, please. I think it’s extension forty-seven.
Operator: Who’s calling, please?
Mr Orlov: Mr Orlov.
Operator: Will you hold the line, please?
Mr Orlov: Yes, thank you.
Operator: You are through now, Mr Orlov.
Mr Marsh: Marsh speaking.
Mr Orlov: Good morning, Mr Marsh. Orlov calling.
Mr Marsh: Good morning. How have you been?
Mr Orlov: Very well, thank you. And I hope you are well too.
Mr Marsh: Yes, I’m fine, thank you.
Mr Orlov: I’m calling to invite you and your wife to the reception to be held on the occasion of our great national holiday, the 62nd Anniversary of the Great October Revolution. It will take place on November 7, at 6 p.m.
Mr Marsh: Thank you very much. I’m delighted to accept your invitation.
Mr Orlov: Good. I’ll get the invitation card in the mail late this afternoon then. I’m looking forward to seeing you. Good-bye.
Mr Marsh: Bye-bye, Mr Orlov.
2. Extending an Invitation to LunchMr Serov: This is Mr Serov speaking.
Mr Weston: Good afternoon, Mr Serov. This is Weston.
Mr Serov: Hello, Mr Weston. What a surprise! I didn’t expect you to be back in London so soon.
Mr Weston: This time I’m here only on a short visit and I’d like very much to meet you. Could you join me for lunch, say, tomorrow?
Mr Serov: Thanks for your kind invitation but I’m afraid I’m booked up for tomorrow. Could you suggest an alternative date?
Mr Weston: Just a second. I’ll look at my schedule. Can we make it Friday, then?
Mr Serov: Yes, that’d be splendid.
Mr Weston: I’ll be in touch with you and let you know the place and time.
Mr Serov: Thank you for the invitation. Good-bye.
Mr Weston: See you on Friday.
3. Invitation to a Motor ShowSecretary: Hello.
Mr Stock: Good morning. I’d like to speak to Mr Baturin.