, кто умный =) Exercise 99
Here is a conversation between an administrative manager and a
communications engineer. Transform it into indirect speech. Use
past tenses. Make all the necessary changes.
Administrative manager (Ad. M.):
- So you think we should change the system?
Communications engineer (C. Eng.):
- Yes, I do. We're having a lot of problems with the existing
configuration.
Ad. M.: So, what do you suggest?
C. Eng.: Well, at the moment we're using a modem linked up direct to
our microcomputer and the telephone line. Very simple, in
theory we send files from our computer direct to our clients’
computers using a software package called ‘Communicate’.
Ad. M.: OK ... Well, sounds fine. What's the problem?
C. Eng.: Well, the weak link is the line. As you know a lot of our clients
are overseas and we are having problems with the lines. The
files are being transmitted but they are not arriving in the same
form. The data are being corrupted.
Ad. M.: What does that mean?
C. Eng.: Well, say we send a 10 page contract to a client in France.
We make the connection, start transmitting and then there's a
fault on the line and they receive the contract with some
parts missing, or parts they can't understand
Ad. M.: That sounds bad.
C. Eng.: Even more serious is that it's costing us a lot of money in call
charges. Call charges on international lines are high and each
time we send a report or contract - let's say 10 pages long - it
takes up to'S minutes to transmit - longer if we have problems
with the line.
Ad. M.: Yes, that is serious. So what do you suggest?
C. Eng.: Well, I think we should use an electronic mailbox.
Ad. M.: How does that work?
C. Eng.: Very simply really. We subscribe to a service called
DIALCOM. We send our files to a central computer. The files
are stored there and our clients can get the file out when they
want. We use. our existing equipment and so we only have to
pay for the subscription and the call charges.
Ad. M.: How expensive is it?
C. Eng.: It's cheaper, but more important - the system uses a data
network, not the normal telephone lines; so transmission is faster
and more reliable - there's less chance of the data being
corrupted.
Ad. M.: Alright, I think we should go ahead.
The first of September was Friday.
Friday...the best day of the week! The day when everybody begins to think about coming weekend. And that was the first day of the new school year. Fantastic! A good beginning makes a good ending.
The weather was fairly good. It was rather warm, the sun was shining brightly but there were some clouds in the sky.
Olga got up early as she wanted to see her friends very much and came to school at 7.45. But she wasn't the first one to come. Some of her classmates were already waiting for the others in the school yard.
She met all her friends there. They spoke about their summer holidays. Everyone was glad to come back to school and meet friends. Then they went to the classrooms. Their teachers were also in a very good mood as the pupils were eager to learn something new and behaved very well.
They had four classes. After the classes Olga and her friends went to the nearest cinema.
It didn't matter what film was on, they just didn't want to go home and wanted to spend time together.
But still the film was interesting and they liked the film. After the film they went to a cafe and had some ice-cream.
Everybody liked the day and hoped that the coming school year would be as pleasant as the first day of it!
The first day of September was Friday. The worst day for celebration of "Yearly 8-Mounth Suffering". Olga didn't want to wake up, she wanted to convince herself that day was 1st of June and It was just a horror dream, but mom confirmed her fears.
Weather on 1st of September was promised to be pretty good. For worst day in year. Olga came to school at 7:45, and was surprised a bit. All her friends were there too. They spoke about time-wasting on holidays. About playing games all night long or sofa-laying all day. They all wanted to backup time, but it wasn't real. As always.
After crying, screaming and crying again children went to classes. Those, who remained, of course. That day they had already have four lessons. It's 160 minutes. 9600 seconds... Sorry, It's so painful to remember...
When all is ended, classes, I mean, Olga with friends went to film called "Каникулы". Sad film. They liked it, as they would like a word about food in Leningrad in 1942.
-Based on a true story.