PRACTICE
Exercise 1. Say which of the responses are the ones to good questions, difficult or unnecessary ones.
1) To be honest, I think that raises a different issue.
2) I'm afraid I don't have that information with me.
3) Sorry, I don't follow you.
4) I think I answered that earlier.
5) Interesting. What do you think?
6) That's a very good question.
7) I'm afraid I don't see the connection.
8) Good point.
9) Well, as I mentioned earlier,..
10) Well, as I said...
11) I'm afraid I'm not in a position to comment on that.
12) I'm glad you asked that.
13) I wish I knew.
14) Can I get back to you on that?
Exercise 2. A railway engineer has just given a presentation to a group of Korean partners on the prospects for the key industrial sectors. Here is the question-and-answer session that followed his presentation. Put the following exchanges in the right order and highlight useful expressions. The first expression is always the first.
Inviting for debates
1) Are there any questions you'd like to ask?
2) Well, obviously the airlines would be one; railways probably another.
3) Could I ask you which industries this is most likely to affect?
4) That's right, we see that as a general trend over the next five years.
5) Yes, I have a question. You spoke about increased deregulation and privatization.
Clarifying a point
1) When you were looking at the railway transport sector, you mentioned Korea.
2) Quite. Did you say there might be some relaxation of the restrictions on imports?
3) Well, considering the way the government talks went, that's good news.
4) Yes, it's difficult not to mention Korea in the context of railway transportation.
5) I did. Korean businessmen are not the political force they were. Restrictions could go.
Asking for additional information
1) While we're on the subject of China, who would you say are the companies to watch?
2) Which is, no doubt, the reason so many Chinese locomotive makers have set up factories there.
3) Good question. Certainly not the transport companies and the locomotive manufacturers.
4) Well, the fact is, their capacity's being severely cut as pressure mounts from Europe.
5) Computer companies, I can understand, but why not the car companies?
Going back to an earlier point
1) Going back to what you were saying about the Chinese locomotive components industry...
2) Yes, and from Western countries like German and Britain too.
3) Ah yes, I thought someone might pick me up on that.
4) I see. So it looks as though a lot of Chinese components firms could go under.
5) You suggested it was in decline. Competition from Eastern Europe, I suppose?
