英文正文

Nina: Let me give you a few scenarios. A, we find out who has been linking us to the local middlemen, and we'll make them say that we were never linked to those factories.

Raymond: And the second scenario?

Nina: We stop our regular ads, and replace them with two new kinds of ads. In one, we say that we never used cheap materials to make our products. In the other, we completely disagree with anyone that isn't using the best materials. And we tell people that we agree if they refuse to buy things from companies that do use second-rate materials.

Jonathan: Good idea. That way, everyone will know we're not just a big company that only cares about profits, not people.

Raymond: Can you run the first option by me again, in more detail? How do we find out where the stories are coming from?

Nina: Let me map it out. Our lawyers go to a paper that has run the story and tell them we'll sue if they don't tell us where they got the info. In the end we'll find out who started the stories.

Raymond: I think that option B is the best alternative. We'll have to do a lot of checking with the first scenario, and we'd just be shooting in the dark. With the second option we can start fixing things now. Nina, by Monday morning I want some good options for both kinds of ads you talked about. We have to nip this in the bud before it hurts us too badly.

句型总结

●　 提出多种方案
1. Let me give you a few scenarios.
2. Let me set out a few options.
3. Let me put forth a few approaches.
4. Let me suggest a couple of different plans.

"scenario"原指‘情节；剧本’，在此乃指‘计划；方案’。这句型用于半正式场合中，语气和缓客观，表示自己对以下的意见充满信心，但一切仍待评估（既非定案，显示有转弯的余地）。

●　 要求提供细节
1. Can you run the first option by me again, in more detail?
2. Can you explain that again, in more detail?
3. Can you go over that again, with a little more detail?
4. Can you map that out again, more thoroughly?

"run (something) by (someone) "是‘对（某人）说明解释（某事’的意思，为美式用语；"run (that) by me again"的语意即是‘将（某事）为我再解释一次’。这句型是要求对方再详加说明方案，其原因并非自己不懂，而是认为对方提供的细节不足，使人难以窥得全貌，所以需要 "in more detail"。

●　 比较方案
1. I think that option B is our best alternative.
2. I think that option B is the best approach.
3. I think that the second option is the better of the two.
4. I think that the second plan is our best course (of action).

"alternative"是‘二者择一；其它可采取的方法’的意思。这句型是说‘Ｂ方案较理想’。句型由于加上"I think"，所以虽然清楚表示自己的意愿，但仍有商讨的余地。不过在表达此句型时，语气千万要坚定、有权威，否则反对者以为你犹疑不决，就可能推翻此议。

●　More 方案比较
通常在会议桌上要确定方案前，与会者皆会比较各方案的优缺点后，选择对公司最有利的一个作为可行的方案。你知道这样的比较方案，有哪些说法吗？

A means better profits. In contrast, B could cause a lot of problems.
A would mean... On the other hand if we do
B it'll cause...
A would give certain benefits, but B is much better from the company's point of view.
A does have some advantages. However, there's no doubt that B is a much better choice.