Text 1

W: I'm having trouble making ends meet. Looks like I have to make another phone call to my parents and hit them up again.

M: I don't think it would be a problem if you cut down on all the snacks you buy.

Text 2

M: Can we get the printers before Thursday?

W: Well, if it is less than 15 kilometers, we can deliver them on Wednesday. But if it is further away, it will be on Friday. Where is your office?

M: Just around the corner.

Text 3

M: Why are you in such a hurry, Rose?

W: My computer isn't working properly. I'm looking for Jerry to help me fix it.

M: Don't bark up the wrong tree. I am a master of computers. I used to work at a computer repair center. Don't you remember?

W: That's perfect!

Text 4

W: Wow, what happened?! You have huge bags under your eyes.

M: Oh, I couldn't sleep with my apartment's thin walls. The couple next door were at each other's throats all night, and the stupid wall isn't soundproof at all.

Text 5

M: Oh, Rose. I was awkward in yesterday's performance.

W: Why? You have prepared it for a long time.

M: Yeah, but I got cold feet before the speech.

W: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Text 6

W: I'm not a fan of hitting the movie theater.

M: Why? The viewing experience is so much better.

W: Going to the movies is such a hassle these days. For instance, traffic to the downtown is bound to be a nightmare, which will make it a long trip to get to the movies.

M: And?

W: The worst is the children running up and down, people chatting endlessly and so on. So I'd rather wait to see the films shown on TV.

M: You might see them later.

W: Yes, but it's more comfortable at home.

M: Well, I can't stand spoilers, so I prefer seeing films in the cinema right after their release.

Text 7

W: Hello. How can I assist you?

M: Hi, I'm thinking about a short trip to Tokyo and noticed a sale package on your website.

W: Absolutely, sir. It's a new promotion package we have just released — priced down from $900 to $500.

M: Sounds fantastic. So what's included in the package?

W: It covers a round-trip flight to Tokyo.

M: And accommodation too?

W: Yes, three nights in a four-star hotel.

M: Excellent. What about sightseeing tours?

W: Sightseeing fees aren't included, but we can recommend a local guide if needed. Of course, you have to pay for their services separately.

M: I see. How about the visa? Are visa application fees included?

W: Yes, they are. But you have to provide proof of your citizenship and identification.

Text 8

M: I don't understand why we need new furniture. We'll just need to bring our own stuff over.

W: But it would be nice to have pieces that match. None of our dining chairs are in the same style as the dining table your cousin Sarah gave us as a wedding present.

M: That's true. But at least we won't have to shop for bedroom furniture. We're lucky that your parents gave us some hand-me-down things.

W: Yeah, there is just the living room left.

M: But we already have a couch and a love seat.

W: But we still need a coffee table, at least two table lamps and a floor lamp. After this store, we have six more to check out before we're done.

M: What? You've got to be kidding me. I have planned to join our friend John for a barbecue in his backyard.

W: Come on, honey. If you don't speed it up, how are you gonna make it before the barbecue starts?

M: Okay, fine.

Text 9

W: Excuse me, I'm here to inquire about your summer-school courses.

M: All right. We focus on various sports programs like cycling, swimming and fencing.

W: I'm particularly interested in your swimming program. I'm a PE teacher and just got a new job, plus I've won an international competition before. Maybe it's not required, but I really want to enhance my coaching techniques.

M: Great. We offer courses to students at the intermediate level and above. Most of our instructors have reached international level.

W: Yeah. Do you have a horse-riding course? My new school is horse-riding-mad, and I've never sat on a horse before. I'm a total beginner.

M: Oh, you've come to the right place. Our horse-riding course is designed for beginners, and many middle school students from the area have signed up. Anything else?

W: I also have to teach girls rhythmic gymnastics. So...

M: We do run a rhythmic gymnastics course, but I recommend taking a dance class first. It's called educational dance and it helps you become more aware of your body and interpret music. It's crucial if you want to teach rhythmic gymnastics.

W: I guess I should try that. By the way, What's the enrollment deadline for all these courses?

M: Well, it's April 26. And we've just extended it by two weeks.

Text 10

M: I love books and I love bookstores too, but I don't always have the time to explore them. That's why I turn to the Internet to find rare books I seek. I'm Charles Bourne, reporting for the Internet news. Today's report is on Dan's book exchange. Book lovers flock to this Canadian website, and they do so with great reason. It links to more than 6,540 bookstores in North America, listing up to 21 million rare copies, used books and out-of-print volumes. This guy sells up to as many as 8,000 books a day. You can usually buy a book from the site or deal directly with the bookstores. Your time is precious. Spend it reading your book instead of hunting for it. To link directly to this Canadian site, visit the Internet news, and the Internet news is a service of the George Washington University in Washington, DC. It's an international center of higher learning, providing educational opportunities to meet today's global challenges. This is Charles Bourne for CBC.