IS THIS MEETING NECESSARY  这个会议有必要吗？

One morning, Mr. Hayes, the Vice President of the Magic Computer Company, called a managers' meeting for noon. He included Bill, manager of hardware testing; Vernon, the production manager; and Roberta, manager of sales and marketing.
(on the way to the meeting)
Vernon: These meetings are such a waste of time. Mr. Hayes is never organized.
Roberta: I know. I wish he'd give us more notice when scheduling meetings, too.
Vernon: Me, too. Well, I guess we'll have to make the best of it.
Roberta: I just hope it doesn't last too long.
某天早上，神奇计算机公司副总裁海斯先生召开了一个经理会议，订于中午开会。他邀请了硬件测试部经理比尔、生产部经理唯侬、以及行销部经理洛蓓塔。
（在去开会的途中）
唯 侬：这些会议真浪费时间。海斯先生一向没什么组织。
洛蓓塔：就是呀！我也希望他安排会议的时候能早一点通知我们。
唯 侬：我也这么觉得。唉！我想我们也只有善用时间，达到开会的目的。
洛蓓塔：我只希望这个会不要开太久。
【Word Bank】
hardware (n) 计算机硬件
to give someone notice (v phr) 通知某人
make the best of something(v phr) 充份利用　

(in the meeting room)
Mr. Hayes: First, I want to thank you all for doing an excellent job. However, I think we can do better.
Bill: What do you mean?
Mr. Hayes: We need to improve our communication. All managers should know what the other departments are doing. Starting today, we will have a lunch meeting on the first Wednesday of every month. The company will provide lunch.
Roberta: Do you think this is really necessary, Mr. Hayes? I mean, we all have
e-mail. We can communicate that way.
Mr. Hayes: Maybe we can, but we don't. This way, we will be sure to keep one another informed.
（在会议室里）
海斯先生：首先，我要感谢各位在工作上优异的表现。不过，我认为我们可以做得更好。
比 尔：您的意思是？
海斯先生：我们需要加强我们的沟通。每一位经理都应当知道别的部门在做什么。从今天起，每个月的第一个星期三，我们都要举行午餐会议。公司负责供应午餐。
洛蓓塔：海斯先生，您觉得真的有这个必要吗？我的意思是说，我们都有电子邮件信箱。我们可以用计算机沟通。
海斯先生：也许可以，但我们不要这样做。用开会的方法，我们才能确定每个人都被知会到了。
【Word Bank】
provide (v) 预备; 供应
keep someone informed (v phr) 告知某人现状

Vernon: Good idea. The production department doesn't always remember to send memos about production to the sales department. As a result, each of the salespeople comes to me with the same questions. At these meetings, I can give information to Roberta, and she can pass it on.
Mr. Hayes: That's right. You managers can communicate the information to the others in your department. Then everyone knows what's going on.
Vernon: Speaking of knowing what's going on, my son asked me how many people Magic Computers employed. I didn't have an answer.
Mr. Hayes: Let's stick to the subject we're discussing, please.
Roberta: Also, the production department doesn't know how the sales department is doing. Tell me, Vernon, how many computers did we sell last month?
Vernon: Twenty five hundred came off the assembly line.
Roberta: I didn't ask you how many we built. I asked if you knew how many we sold. We sold 2,300.
Mr. Hayes: And now everyone knows that. Bill, what do you think about the meetings?
Bill: They're probably a good idea. I'll admit that I didn't know how many computers we built or sold last month. All I did was oversee the testing of them.
唯 侬：好主意。生产部就常忘记传关于生产的备忘录给行销部。结果是，每个业务员都来问我相同的问题。我可以把这些信息在会议中给洛蓓塔，她可以再传下去。
海斯先生：没错。你们这些经理就可以把得到的信息和你们部门沟通。大家就都了解现况了。
唯 侬：提到了解现况，我儿子问我神奇计算机有多少员工，我居然不知道。
海斯先生：请回到我们在讨论的主题。
洛蓓塔：还有，生产部门也不知道行销部做得如何。告诉我，唯侬，我们上个月卖了几部计算机？
唯 侬：生产在线制造了两千五百部。
洛蓓塔：我不是问妳制造了多少部，我是问妳知不知道卖出了多少部。我们卖出了两千三百部计算机。
海斯先生：现在每个人都知道了。比尔，你对午餐会议的看法如何？
比 尔：应该不错吧。我必须承认我不知道我们上个月制造或卖出多少计算机。我一直都只管监督它们的测试。
【Word Bank】
memo (n) 备忘录；便笺
oversee (v) 督导；监督
pass something on (v phr) 传递某物
stick to the subject (v phr) 固守主题，不离题
assembly line (n phr) 生产线

Mr. Hayes: At our meeting next month, Roberta, I want you to give a fifteen- to twenty-minute report on sales and marketing. Vernon and Bill, you can give concise five- to ten-minute reports on your departments' activities. I'll give an update on the whole company. Then we'll discuss any problems or concerns we have.
Vernon: Afterward we can each tell our departments what we learned. All the employees will feel more a part of Magic Computers if they are better informed.
Roberta: We'll feel more comfortable answering questions if we know more, too.
海斯先生：我们下个月开会的时候，洛蓓塔，我要妳作一个十五到二十分钟关于行销的报告。至于唯侬和比尔，你们则作一个五到十分钟关于你们部门活动的简报。我会给你们一个全公司的最新近况。然后我们再来讨论有问题或困扰的部份。
唯 侬：然后我们可以分别告诉我们部门从会议得知的事。如果员工们对公司情况有更深的认知，他们会更觉得自己是神奇计算机的一份子。
洛蓓塔：我们知道的更多，回答问题时也更轻松。
【Word Bank】
concise (adj) 简明的；概括的
update (n) 最新消息

Mr. Hayes: I know I haven't been the best in the past at organizing meetings. But I really feel this one is important. I'll work hard to make it worthwhile for you. Well, that concludes our business for today. Is there anything else we need to discuss? (everyone shakes their heads) See you next month, then, and keep up the good work. (Mr. Hayes leaves)
Roberta: Wow, that meeting lasted only 40 minutes. I guess Mr. Hayes means what he says about being organized.
Vernon: Such a nice change from his old meetings. I might even begin to look forward to these.
海斯先生：我知道我以前在安排会议上一直没有做得很好。但我真得觉得这个会很重要。我会努力使你们从中得益。 好了，我们今天的会议到此为止。还有别的事要讨论吗？(大家都摇头)那我们就下个月见。继续维持好的表现。（海斯先生离座）
洛蓓塔：哇！这个会只开了四十分钟。我想海斯先生真是像他说的变得有组织了。
唯 侬：和他以前那些会议比，这真是个好转变。我还真有点期望以后那些会议呢！
【Word Bank】
make something worthwhile (v phr) 使某事有价值；有意义 

The origin of article: Studio Classroom

资料来源: 空中英语教室