听力原文:M: Hello.
W: Hello, John. This is Florence Richardson. I'm sorry to phone you at this hour, but I'm experiencing a sticky issue and I can't think of anyone to get advice from besides you.
M: What's up?
W: Well, I moved to my present apartment a couple of months ago and now I'm thinking to defer my studies and planning to return to my parents' place next month. Today, I gave notice to my landlord but he said he's unable to give my deposit back since I have to stay a minimum of six months.
M: Are you giving him a-month-in-advance notice to move?
W: Yes, that's exactly what I did today. In the tenancy agreement that's the timeframe. requested to notify the landlord.
M: Yes, that's the usual practice. Well, in the tenancy agreement, did it state that there's a minimum of six months stay or the deposit would be forfeited?
W: Not that I could remember. Besides, I have never heard of such a clause in the contract.
M: Well, I have never heard of it either. It could be the landlord is trying to intimidate you. Perhaps you should pull your contract out and have a word with him.
W: Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking of. But he said he spent time and money on advertisement to get a tenant and it wouldn't be fair on him if I just stayed for two months.
M: Well, that's not the Point, Florence. It doesn't matter how much he spent on advertisement, but the fact is he shouldn't force a tenant to stay if he or she doesn't want to. Besides, if the contract does not state the timeframe, then he shouldn't impose it himself.
W: You are right, John. You just confirmed my reasoning.
M: Look, Florence, I'll go with you to see the landlord tomorrow and if he still insists on not giving your deposit back, we'll go to the small claims court to get your money back.
W: Thanks, John. I really appreciate that.
(20)
A. She can't find a new place to live.
B. The landlord wants her to move out after only g months.
C. She thinks she will lose her deposit money.
D. The contract states she must stay for 6 months so she can't move.
Public relations is management function that creates, develops, and carries out policies and programs to influence public opinion or public reaction about an idea, a product, or an organization. The field of public relations has become an important part of the economic, social and political pattern of life in many nations. That field includes advertising, promotional activities, and press contact. Public relations also exists at the same time in business with marketing and merchandising to create the climate in which all selling functions occur.
Public relations activities in the modern world help institutions to cope successfully with many problems, to build prestige for an individual or a group, to promote products, and to win elections. The majority of public relations workers are staff employees working within a corporate or institutional framework. Others operate in public relations counseling firms.
In industry, public relations personnel keep management informed of changes in the opinions of various publics(that is, the groups of people whose support is needed): employees, stockholders(股东),customers, suppliers, dealers, the community, and the government. These professionals counsel management as to the impact of any action or lack of action on the behavior. f the target audiences. Once an organizational decision has been made, the public relations person has the task of communicating this information to the public using methods that promote understanding, and desired behavior. For example, a hospital merger, an industrial plant closing, or the introduction of a new product all require public relations planning and skill.
Public relations activities are a major part of the political affairs in many nations. Politicians seeking office, government agencies seeking acceptance and cooperation, officials seeking support for their policies, and foreign governments seeking aid and allies abroad all make extensive use of counseling services provided by public relations specialists.
Public relations also play an important role in the entertainment industry. The theater, motion pictures, sports, restaurants, and individuals all use public relations services to increase their business or add to their image. Other public relations clients are educational, social service and charitable institutions, trade unions, religious groups, and professional societies.
The successful public relations practitioner(从业者) is a specialist in communication arts and persuasion. Specialized skills are required to handle public opinion research, media relations, direct mail activities, institutional advertising, publications, film and video production, and special events. Public relations services are so far virtually unused in many developing nations, but they are likely to be a future government concern.
In Paragraph One, the author mainly tells us ______.
A. the methods of public relations
B. the activities of public relations
C. the functions of public relations
D. the definition of public relations