Customer: I’d like to mail this package to Brazil. How much will it be, please?

Clerk:       Do you want to send it first class or parcel post?

Customer: How much is first class and how long does it take?

Clerk:       It’s a light package. (he weighs the package.) First class would cost $3.96. Since it’s going to a large city. I would guess that it will take about four or five days to arrive.

Customer: And parcel post?

Clerk:       Sending it parcel post would be cheaper, but it wouldn’t arrive for about three weeks. The rate for parcel post is $2.05.

Customer: Oh, I want it to arrive earlier than that. I’ll send it first class. Also, I’d like to insure it for $25.00.

Clerk:       (He fills out a form.) What’s in the package? I need to know in order to complete this form.

Customer: A pair of small glass earrings. They’re a gift for my sister who’s living in Rio. I packed them well, so I’m sure they won’t break, but I want to insure them just in case.

Clerk:       Do you want the package registered too? That way you would know that your sister received them. She would have to sign for the package, and then we would send you a receipt showing that your gift had been delivered.

Customer: No, I’m sure she’ll let me know as soon as they arrive. Are there any other forms I need to fill out because it’s going to a foreign country?

Clerk:       Yes, one more. It’s a customs declaration of which you declare what item or items are in the package and their value.

Customer: I understand that your rates have gone up on all postal items. Is that true?

Clerk:       Yes, unfortunately, it is. The rates never seem to go down, do they? Here is a copy of all our new rates. It lists the old rate next to the new, so you can see how much it has gone up. Notice, however, that the rate for sending a postcard has remained the same.

Customer: I think I read something about the size of postcards and envelopes. Would you explain that to me, please?

Clerk:       We used to accept postcards and envelopes of all sizes, but now that we are using automatic sorting and postmarking machines, we have to limit the size. You can still send a letter in a large envelope, but it can’t be any smaller than three and a half inches by five inches. Incidentally, you forgot to put a return address on this package. It’s not a post office regulation, but we strongly recommend that all cards, letters, and packages have a legible return address.

Customer: I’ll do it right now. I don’t remember my zip code. Can you tell by looking at this address what it is?

Clerk:       (He types the address into a small desk-top computer terminal.) Here it is: your zip code is 22031. You should make a note of it.

Customer: I will. Before I leave, I want to by some first-class stamps. Do you sell them in little packets?

Clerk:      Yes. This one has twenty first-class stamps. Let’s see. The package, the insurance, and the stamps, your total bill is $9.12.

Customer: One more question, I expect to be out of town next week. Can you hold my mail for me here? I could come by to pick it up when I get back.

Clerk:       Yes, we do that. You’d have to fill out one of these forms. You might also consider asking a neighbor to pick up your mail for you. It would be easier on you and on the letter carrier who sorts all the mail on your route.

Customer: Thanks. I’ll think it over and let you know.

Comprehension and conversation practice

1.            Where does this dialogue take place? What people take part in the dialogue?

2.            What does the customer want to do?

3.            What did the customer decide about sending the package? About the insurance? About the return receipt registry?

4.            What is the post office regulation regarding the size of cards and envelopes?

5.            What is a zip code? Why does the post office urge that everyone uses zip codes?

6.            What is the difference between first-class and parcel post? What is second-class mail? Third-class mail?

7.            Why did the customer have to fill out a customs declaration?

8.            How much does it cost to send a first-class letter? A postcard?

9.            Why is it always advisable to put a return address on a letter or package?

10.       What should a person do in order to have mail forwarded to a new address?

11.       What happens when a letter carrier tries to deliver a registered letter or package, but there is no one at home?

12.       How often is mail delivered? What are the normal hours that a post office is open?

13.       How does a postal clerk determine how much to charge for a package being mailed?

14.       What are more post office regulations regarding the wrapping of packages?

15.       How long does it take, approximately, for a letter to go from your home to new York? To California? To Beijing?

顾客：我要寄这个包裹到巴西。请问要多少费用？

邮局工作人员：您是要按信件那样寄呢，还是要按包裹来寄？

顾客：按邮件来寄要多贵？什么时候可以寄到呢？

邮局工作人员：这个包裹很轻。（他掂了一下分量）按信件来寄是$3.96。因为这是寄到一个大城市，我想大约四五天就可以寄到了。

顾客：那如果按包裹来寄呢？

邮局工作人员：按包裹来寄，那就便宜一些，但是大约要三个礼拜才会到。包裹的邮费是$2.05。

顾客： 哦，我要这个包裹早一点到。那我就按信件来寄吧。我还要$25.00的保险。

邮局工作人员：（他填了一份表格）包裹里是什么东西？填这个表要写上包裹里的内容。

顾客：一对耳环。这是给我在里约热内卢姐姐的礼物。我把耳环包得很好，应该不会弄坏的，但是预防万一。

邮局工作人员：你要这个包裹挂号吗？如果挂号的话你就可以知道你姐姐收到了。因为她在收这个包裹的时候要签字，我们就会寄一个回条给你，这样你就知道你的包裹已经送到了。

顾客：不需要了，我知道她一收到就会告诉我的。是不是还有其他的表格需要我填的么？这是寄到国外的。

邮局工作人员：是的，还有一张。这是海关的申报表，你需要申命包裹里有什么东西、价格多少。

顾客：我觉得你们所有的邮资都涨价了，对吗？

邮局工作人员：抱歉，确实是这样。邮资从来就没有减过价，对吗？这是一张新旧价目的对照表，你就可以看到涨了多少。但是，你可注意到寄明信片还是一样的价格。

顾客：我记得我看到关于明信片和信封大小的问题。是不是可以请你解释一下？

邮局工作人员：你本来寄任何尺寸的明信片和信封，但是我们现在使用自动捡信的和自动盖邮戳的机器，所以我们对这些的尺寸有了限制。你还是可以寄任何大的信封，但是不能小于三又二分之一英寸乘五英寸。顺便说一下，你忘记在这个包裹上写你的回邮地址了。虽然这不是邮局规定要写，但是我们极力建议所有的明信片、信件、和包裹都写上回邮地址。

顾客：我现在马上就写。我不记得我的邮政编码了。是不是可以从我的地址告诉我，我的邮政编码是多少？

邮局工作人员：（他在他工作台上的电脑输入我的地址）你的邮政编码是22031，记一下吧。

顾客：我会的。我还要一下寄信的邮票。你们是不是有一小包的邮票卖？

邮局工作人员：当然。一小包邮票一共二十张。让我算一下，寄这包裹，加保险，再有邮票，总共是$9.12。

顾客：还有一共问题，我会在下个礼拜出城。是不是可以把寄给我的邮件存放在邮局？这样的话，当我回来的时候我可以来取。

邮局工作人员：当然，我们有这样的服务。你需要填这些表格。你也可以请你的邻居为你收邮件。这样就更简单了，因为你的邮递员在你的那条路上都把邮件地址整理好的。

顾客： 好的，让我想想再说。想想！

理解和对话练习

1. 这个对话是发生在哪里？有谁在这个对话里？

2. 这个顾客要干什么？

3. 这个顾客决定对这个包裹怎么处理？保险、回条是不是要？

4.  邮局对明信片和信封有什么规定？

5.  邮政编码是什么？为什么邮局强调要使用邮政编码？

6.  寄信件和寄包裹有什么区别？什么是寄慢件？什么是海运？

7.  为什么这个顾客要填写报税单？

8.  寄一封信和就一张明信片要多少邮资？

9.  在信件上和包裹上填回邮地址有什么好处？

10. 要把邮件转寄到另外一个地址，人们应该怎么做？

11. 当邮递员把一份挂号邮件送去的时候，收件人不在，那怎么办？

12.  邮资是多少？邮局的营业时间是什么？

13.  在邮局里，他们是寄一个包裹要多少邮资？

14.  对如何包包裹，邮件有什么规定？

15.  从你家寄一封信到纽约要多少时间？寄到加州呢？寄到北京呢？