Theodore M. Drange

Companies can use their presence on the Web to access the growing number of websites of interest. There are different ways in which businesses can benefit from its functions:

* Businesses use e-mail to deal with customers, to make and respond to enquiries quickly and to communicate with employees.

* A corporate website may be used for publicity, for selling or for sharing information.

* E-commerce or “online trading” has proved to be very successful for some companies. One of the advantages of this form of trading is that users can come to the website 24 hours a day.

* Marketing on the Web can be achieved by setting up a website and making it attractive to visitors.

* The Internet is a powerful tool for gathering data. Companies can use it to look up other companies and

their products, access financial information, find market information, foreign exchange rates and so on.

* Using computer networks to transmit audio and video data between two or more people in different locations (video-conferences) is a time-saving method of communication.

* Many companies place their recruitment needs on their own websites or on the websites of recruitment agencies.

Large corporations place their annual reports on their websites in order to provide a service to their shareholders.

1 How can companies use their presence on the Web? 2 What do businesses use the e-mail for? 3 What may a corporate website be used for? 4 What is one of the advantages of the E-commerce? 5 How can marketing be achieved on the Web? 6 What can companies use the Internet for? 7 What is a time-saving method of communication? 8 How can companies use the Web for recruitment purposes? 9 Why do large corporations place their annual reports on their websites?

1 Match words that have a similar meaning:

2 Choose the correct word from the box to complete the gaps. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian

1 Recently there has been considerable expansion of ... businesses which provide integrated media services through networks such as the Internet. 2 … has become a major online service; it reduces company costs. 3 The product has sold well considering it was not given much advance…. 4 Our ... is used for delivering stock and bond information. 5 … represents 30 per cent of our total business. 6 The firm tried to avoid adverse ... about its faulty products. 7 ... on the Web can be achieved by setting up a website and making it attractive to visitors. 8 A database of employees is maintained on your .... 9 He is the owner of a new ... service, specialising in providing a variety of foodstuffs which can be ordered on the Internet. 10 Cybercash could provide an important stimulus to ... sales.

3 Fill in the missing prepositions: (with (2), of (2), to, on, for (3), in (3), into, through, as)

Financial services companies are rushing to provide teenagers ... easier ways ... spending their savings online.

Teenagers are just the sort ... people an Internet retailer wants to sell ..., and the things they want to buy – games, CDs and clothing – are easily sold ... the Web.

But paying online is a tricky business ... consumers who are too young to own credit cards.

... most cases, parents pay ... these purchases ... credit cards, an arrangement that is often unsatisfactory ... them and their children.

One way to help them convert notes and coins ... cybercash is ... prepaid cards such ... Internet Cash ... the US and Smart cards ... the UK.

GRAMMAR: Reported Questions, Requests, Orders –

When you report a question, you use the same word order as in the statement. You make the same tense and other changes as you do for reported statements:

• Wh- and How questions: "Where isthe secretary?" He asked Tom where the secretarywas.

• Yes / No questions: "Areyoupreparing your presentation, Jack?" - She asked if / whether Jackwaspreparing his presentation.

• Requests: "Wouldyoupass me the report please, Tom?” – She asked Tom if hewouldpass her the report. – She asked Tom to pass her the report.

• Orders: "Come back to work!"- Manager told us to come back to work.

Ex.1. Rewrite these sentences, changing the direct speech to reported speech:

1 "What has happened to Jane? Has anyone seen her today?" the boss asked.

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2 "Did you buy some more new computers?" she wanted to know.

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3 "Why do the prices go up so often?" she wondered.

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4 "Have you got a work permit?" the immigration officer wanted to know.

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5 "Are you interested in advertising?" asked Susan.

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6 "Why do you want to join our company?" she asked me.

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7 "Are you leaving today or tomorrow morning?" asked his secretary.

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8 "Don't speak to him like this!" she warned me.

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9 "Always read the contract before you sign it," he advised his client.

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10 "Contact our representatives immediately!" Department Manager told them.

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11 "Please don't make rushed decisions," she begged him.

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12 "Don't wait till tomorrow," said the advertisement.

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13 "Could you explain this for me once more, please?" I asked the agent.

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14 "Can I have the weekend off?" she asked her boss.

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15 "Would you mind paying cash?" said the salesgirl when he took out his cheque-book.

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16 "Why don't you trust her?" he wondered.

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Ex.2. Rewrite these sentences, changing the reported speech to direct speech:

1 She said that her corporation had become bankrupt and its stock was of no value anymore. 2 I asked her if she'd like to take my pen but she thanked me. 3 He wanted to know if I was going to calculate the indirect costs. 4 My employer hoped I wouldn’t be offended if he told me that I would do better in some other kind of job. 5 He asked me how long it had taken me to complete the job. 6 I wondered whether he had bought a guidebook to London. 7 He asked what we were discussing. 8 I wondered if they would solve that problem at the meeting. 9 He asked the manager to accept his resignation. 10 She asked me when I would be in Kyiv. 11 The court ordered the company to pay all their debts before 1 October. 12 He wanted to know when the new training program would be presented. 13 She wondered where we had held the conference the previous year. 14 Helen asked Tom if he had got a car. 15 He promised her that if she attended the conference the following week, she would hear his new theory about classification of the costs. 16 He couldn't understand how I managed on my salary.

Before doing business abroad it is important to understand the social and business culture of a country in which you are going to operate. The following are just a few of do's and don'ts for business people visiting a foreign country:

* In the USA, it is polite to look people in the eye, to offer your hand, and to smile;

* In France people shake hands much more than Americans or most Europeans; if you fail to shake hands, you may be considered rude;

* In Japan and Korea bowing, rather than shaking hands, is usual behaviour;

* In Turkey, your coat should be buttoned when you are with superiors;

* Never discuss business over dinner in France;

* Don't pass documents with the left hand in Saudi Arabia;

* Don't expect written contracts in most Moslem countries;

* Don't expect the contract with South Korean businessmen to spell out all the details. Written contracts are typically documents that change as conditions do;

* In Japan it's very important to get everyone's opinion. Patience is a prime factor in their culture. They also avoid saying "no" directly;

* Offer gifts in Japan. The Japanese enjoy giving and receiving beautifully presented gifts;

* Do not bring liquor to an Arab house. For many Arabs, alcohol is forbidden by religious law;

* In China expensive presents are not acceptable and cause great embarrassment. Give a collective gift from your company to theirs;

* In British restaurants a tip is included in the bill. In some Mediterranean countries, such as Greece and Spain, the customer is expected to pay a little extra for satisfactory service;

* Don't criticize royalty in Great Britain;

* In Arab countries, don't admire an object openly. The owner may feel obligated to give it to you.

Thus, if you are aware of the customs of the country you are visiting, you will not cause offence or be offended.

1 What should a businessman know before starting business abroad? 2 In which country is it not recommended to discuss business over dinner? 3 In what countries will you never make written contracts? 4 Where do they change written contracts as conditions do? 5 What is considered polite in the USA? 6 What behaviour is usual in Japan and Korea? 7 In which country do they avoid saying "no" directly? 8 You shouldn't bring liquor to an Arab house. Why? 9 What gifts are not acceptable in China? 10 Should you not criticize royalty in Great Britain? 11 In which country should you shake lands? 12 Is the custom of giving tips still common in many countries? 13. When do you tip and how much?

1 Match words that have a similar meaning:

2 Match the words and phrases in the box with the correct definition:

1) formal rules for polite behaviour in a society; 2) something done in a society because of tradition; 3) money given to somebody for doing something; 4) rules for behaviour; 5) a person who is higher in rank or importance; 6) an agreement, usually written and signed by those making it; 7) something given freely to another, a present; 8) a king or queen and family; 9) showing bad manners, impolite.

3 Choose the correct word from the box to complete the gaps. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian

1 I left the waiter a generous.... 2 It takes time to learn the ... for business people visiting a foreign country. 3 My boss gave me a watch as a birthday.... 4 I gave the cab driver a $ 5... . 5 My ... in the company have requested that I cut costs. 6 He does not understand the technological process; you will have ... it for him. 7 Wearing a shirt without a tie is ... dress for dinner here. 8 It is British ... to drink tea at four o'clock each afternoon. 9 She was ... that we didn't accept her invitation to dinner. 10 The basic service costs $ 100 plus 20 percent for the.... 11 This hotel is more ... than I expected. 12 A salesperson must... market prices. 13 It wasn't very ... to leave without saying thank you. 14 It was ... to walk away while that customer was talking to you.

4 Fill in the missing prepositions: (for, in (2), without, on (2), at, through, of (2), from)

A guide to doing export business in Japan

· Be prepared ... important cultural and language difficulties. This, may seem obvious but some businessmen try to get by ... Japan ... hiring a good interpreter who can also explain Japanese traditions and customs.

· Trade ... personal contact ... a senior level. This is more important that trading ... price.

· Patience pays dividends. It may take several visits before an order comes....

· Quote ... local currency.

· Emphasise your product's country ... origin.

· Offer gifts. However, it is not the value ... the gift, but the fact it is a present... you that counts.

5 Put these statements about customs and culture into the correct order. Translate the sentences:

1) clock / bad / a / is / symbol / of / a / luck. (China)

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2) directly / "no" / avoid / they / saying. (Japan)

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3) never / business / must / you / discuss / dinner / over. (France)

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4) luckiest / is / the / number /eight. (China)

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5) responsibility / managers / to / expected / are / full / take. (Saudi Arabia)

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6) always / taught / have / not / been / business / do / to / anyone / but / with / friends / they. (Mexico)

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7) business / do / they / quickly / as / possible / as. (Britain)

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8) you / if / shake / fail / hands / to / may / considered / be / rude / you. (France)

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9) take / they / queues / seriously / very / never / and / jump / line / in. (Britain)

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10) make / people / clear / a / distinction / personal / between / business / and / relationships. (Germany)

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11) titles / required / job / are / generally / talking / to / when / colleagues / business. (Mexico)

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GRAMMAR: First Conditional –

We use the first conditional:

• to talk about a likely situation and its probable result in the future.

If the weather keeps warm, we'll go to the river.

• to give advice, threats and to make promises.

If I have time, I'll help you with the report. –

Ex.1. Finish these sentences using the first conditional:

Ex.2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form:

1 If you ……… (see) Marie, tell her I have a message for her. 2 If he ……… (refuse) to help, I'll have to manage without him. 3 What will we do if he ……… (not meet) us? 4 If I ……… (get) a work permit, I'll stay for another three weeks. 5 If you ……… (help) us, the job will only take an hour. 6 If I find his passport, I ……… (phone) him at once. 7If you leave your car unlocked, someone ……… (steal) it. 8 Unless she ……… (sell) more, she won't get much commission. 9 If I lend you $ 100, when you ……… (repay) me? 10 If we ……… (make) share issues this month, we'll raise our finance. 11 If you manage to get cheap loans, the firm ……… (stay) in business. 12 If we ……… (need) extra capital, we'll apply at the bank for a loan. 13 If you ……… (be) in difficulties with money, I'll help you by all means.

Theodore M. Drange

[This article was originally published in Philo 1998 (2), pp. 49-60.]

Atheological arguments (arguments for the nonexistence of God) can be divided into two main groups. One group consists of arguments which aim to show an incompatibility between two of God's properties. Let us call those "incompatible-properties arguments." The other group consists of arguments which aim to show an incompatibility between God's existence and the nature of the world. They may be called "God-vs.-world arguments." A prime example of one of those would be the Evidential Argument from Evil. This paper will only survey arguments in the first group. Arguments in the second group are discussed elsewhere.[1]

To generate incompatible-properties arguments, it would be most helpful to have a list of divine attributes. I suggest the following. God is:

This is certainly not a complete list, for there are other properties that have been ascribed to God. For example, the list excludes omnipotence. Furthermore, I am not claiming here that there is any one person who has ascribed all of these properties to God. I would say, though, that each of the properties has been ascribed to God by someone or other.

It would be of interest to consider whether there are pairs of properties from the given list which are incompatible with each other. For each such pair, it would be possible to construct an incompatible-properties argument for God's nonexistence. The present essay aims to study that issue in the style of a survey. It will not go into the relevant philosophical issues in any great depth. Nor will it consider the further matter of whether anyone has actually claimed the existence of a being which possesses any of the incompatible pairs. It is assumed in the background, however, that there are indeed such people. Let us proceed, then, to consider various possible incompatible-properties arguments.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1311