隔天I we they 星期一英语课材料

2021年1月13日发(作者：虞安吉)
I, we, they
1 A medium-sized Swedish high-technology corporation was
approached by a compatriot, a businessman with good contacts in Saudi
Arabia. The company sent one of their engineers – let
me call him Johannesson – to Riyadh, where he was introduced to a
small Saudi engineering firm, run by two brothers in their mid-thirties,
both with British university degrees. Johannesson was to assist in a
development project on behalf of the Saudi government. However, after
six visits over a period of two years, nothing seemed to happen.
Johannesson's meetings with the Saudi brothers were always held in the
presence of the Swedish businessman who had established the first
contact. This annoyed Johannesson and his superiors, because they were
not at all sure that this businessman did not have contacts with their
competitors as well – but the Saudis wanted the intermediary to be
there. Discussions often dwelt on issues having little to do with the
business – like Shakespeare, of whom both brothers were fans.
2 Just when Johannesson's superiors started to doubt the wisdom
of the corporation's investment in these expensive trips, a telex arrived
from Riyadh inviting him back for an urgent visit. A contract worth
several millions of dollars was ready to be signed. From one day to the
next, the Saudis' attitude changed: The presence of the
businessman- intermediary was no longer necessary, and for the first
time Johannesson saw the Saudis smile, and even make jokes.
3 So far, so good; but the story goes on. The remarkable order
contributed to Johannesson being promoted to a management
position in a different division. Thus, he was no longer in charge of the
Saudi account. A successor was nominated, another engineer with
considerable international experience, whom Johannesson personally
introduced to the Saudi brothers. A few weeks later a telex arrived from
Riyadh in which the Saudis threatened to cancel the contract over a
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