(Cindy and Lambert are students majoring in Business English. They are going to learn contract which they don’t have much idea about. They are together previewing the relevant chapter in the classroom)

场景：学校课室     人物：Cindy、Lambert

Cindy: Hi, Lambert. 

Lambert: Hi, Cindy

Cindy: You know we are going to learn business contract next week.

Lambert: Yes. It should be a quite useful part . Have you got any idea what a contract is?

Cindy: Well, according to the book, a contract is an agreement between the seller and buyer who completely agrees to the terms and conditions of an offer, order or a counter-offer. It has legal binding on both parties.

Lambert: Yes. There are various forms of contract.

Cindy: What are they?

Lambert: They can be a contract, an agreement, confirmation, memo, an order etc.

Cindy: Then, is contract the most formal one among them? 

Lambert: That’s right. A contract usually has four parts. Do you find what they are in the book?

Cindy: Yes, they are title, preamble, body and witness clause. The most important part is the body part.

Lambert: That’s right. It usually consists of definition clause, basic conditions and general terms and conditions.

Cindy: Well, it says here that in drafting a contract, you should stipulate as clearly as possible the basic conditions such as the quantity and the description of the goods, the price, terms of payment, the kind of packing, the marking, the time of delivery, and the port of destination.

Lambert: Yeah! both those items, general terms and conditions such as penalty, arbitration, force majeure should also be clearly stated.

Cindy: And Look at this page, preamble part includes number of the contract, date and place for signing the contract, parties, etc.

Lambert: Then what does the book say about witness clause?

Cindy: En, witness clause...It includes language validity, copies, witness, annexation, signature, seal, etc..

Lambert: I see. By the way, who is responsible for drafting a contract?

Cindy: A contract can be worked out either by the seller or the buyer.

Lambert: No difference?

Cindy: Yes, if it is the seller who works it out, it is called a sales contract, otherwise, it is called a purchases contract. Sometimes we can come cross the word confirmation, what does it mean?

Lambert: Well, confirmation is short form contract. A short form contract for import is called purchase confirmation. And a short form contract for export is sales confirmation.

Cindy: Thank you, I got it. Now I have a rather clear idea of it.

Lambert: Me too. Shall we stop to have a cup of tea?

Cindy: A great idea!