Unit 5A

Text 1

W: Did you go to watch the football game yesterday afternoon?

M: No. I seldom watch football games, but I never miss a single table tennis game.  

Text 2

W: Look at the clouds. They're beautiful.

M: Yeah. Well, we'll have a long flight. Let's watch a film to kill time. 

W: Hmm, I'd rather read my book.

Text 3

M: I'm going to the party at Carol's house.

W:You can't be serious! We've got two tests at school tomorrow.  

Text 4

M: Excuse me, I think you're in the wrong position. Professor Carter told us about the seating arrangements on the first day of class, remember?  

W: Oh, right. I forgot. Sorry.

Text 5

W: We're going to the beach! Want to come?

M: Where are your bathing suits? Or, are you just going to have a barbecue without going into the water?

W: Actually, we're going to pick up plastic as part of our volunteer program. That's what all these bags are for! 

Text 6

M: Monica, do you think you read fewer books now because of the Internet?  

W: No. I've been reading a lot recently.

M: So, you don't think that the Internet cuts reading time at all? At least, not for you? 

W: I would have to say no, because I use the Internet for slightly different reasons. I check my email and communicate. But reading a book is something I do to relax. 

M: For me, I think it's the exact opposite. I read almost everything online — magazines, newspapers...but I've completely stopped reading books. 

W: Oh. Technology has really changed how you read.  

Text 7

M: How was your first week in China, Linda?

W: It was great! My local friends took me to a restaurant for dinner last night near my hotel. It was a wonderful Chinese dining experience. 

M: Haven't you had Chinese food before in the United States?

W: Oh, of course I have, but none of them was very authentic.

M: I see. Anyway, so you were familiar with chopsticks already, right?

W: No. It was not until yesterday that I used chopsticks for the first time. And I learned about other traditional dining rules in China. For example, Chinese people share all dishes at the dinner table. 

M: Don't you do that in America?

W: No. Usually everybody gets their own plate of food in America.

M: Interesting. How do you like the sharing style in China, then?  

W: Very warm. I like it. Everybody was making sure that I had enough to eat. 

Text 8

M: So, next year you're going to start your A levels. Which subject are you going to choose?

W: I'm surely going to choose Spanish because it is my favorite subject and then I'm not really sure…I'd like to do art but I don't know if it's very useful for my career. 

M: What do you want to do?

W: A journalist. That has been my dream since my childhood. So, I guess history or psychology or something is probably more useful for my career. 

M: Do you want to go to university?

W: Yeah, but I'm not going to start university straight after I leave high school. I'm planning to have a gap year, you know, a break from studying for a while.

M: And what would you like to do in your gap year? Any ideas? 

W: I want to travel and I'd like to go to Italy. I don't know if it's really practical but that's my dream! 

Text 9

W: Excuse me, sir. Would you mind taking part in a short survey?

M: Sorry. I need to be at the office in 10 minutes. 

W: Please! It won't take long.

M: OK, then.

W: Great. I just want to ask a few questions about physical fitness. How many times a week do you exercise? A. Once or twice; B. Three to four times; C. Six to seven times. 

M: B.

W: And when you do it, do you get out of breath for five minutes, twenty minutes or thirty minutes?

M: Oh, definitely half an hour. It takes that long to run around the park. 

W: Do you also use an exercise bike or lift weights?

M: No, just my daily park jog. 

W: Which of the following products have you bought in the last six months: sports shoes, sports equipment or energy drinks?

M: None of those, although I should change my shoes. I think they are too old. Maybe I will get a new pair soon. 

W: Well, that's the end of the survey. I told you it was short.

M: You did. Thank you.

W: Have a lovely day, sir.

Text 10

M: Do you know Friendship Day? It was in 1935 that Friendship Day first began to be celebrated. The holiday is now observed in some countries on the first Sunday of August every year. On Friendship Day you can say to your friends how much you love them and give your best friends cool greeting cards with useful sayings, beautiful poems, splendid stories, inspiring messages and many more related to friendship. The following are a few facts about Friendship Day. Friendship Day celebrations take place on different dates in different countries in the world. The day has been celebrated in several South American countries for many years, particularly in Paraguay, where Friendship Day was come up with for the first time. On 27 April 2011 the United Nations announced that 30 July was official Friendship Day. However, some countries, including India, celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August. In Oberlin, Ohio, Friendship Day is celebrated on 8 April each year.