Text 1

M: Have you ever thought about looking into Environmental Science?

W: No, I never really thought about it before. Is it worthwhile?

M: Quite! It's the fastest growing subject on this campus.

Text 2

M: Hello, I'm calling to make sure that you can come for the appointment at 8:45 tomorrow.

W: Oh no! I have a last-minute meeting at that time. Can I reschedule it for later that day?

M: Uh...How about three in the afternoon?

W: That's fine.

Text 3

W: Did you get a chance to finish reading the book for this week's book club?

M: This is too much for me. And I think they forget that we have jobs and other responsibilities.

Text 4

M: I'd like the chicken with mushrooms.

W: Sorry, but we're all out of mushrooms. Can I recommend steamed vegetables instead?

M: As long as you leave out the carrot.

Text 5

W: Bob, your wife was telling me that you have to wake up at first light.

M: That's right. I have to check on my patients before I'm scheduled for surgery, and then go to the consulting room by mid-morning.

Text 6

M: Hi. I heard your Certificate in Management requires three courses. Can I just take the leadership course? I'm not interested in the certificate.

W: Yes, but it's worth it to get the certificate. Have you seen our online reviews? Most people are very satisfied.

M: Not yet, but I have a friend who got the certificate through your program. It's really helped her in her career.

W: Well, here, you can take a look at the course brochure.

Text 7

M: I just found out at the meeting that the manager of human resources will quit next week. And the company will hold a party for him. They say that Yuko will take over the position the week after that.

W: Yuko? She has been helping with hiring for the past five years, so it makes sense that she would get the position.

M: I agree. But it means we will need to hire someone for Yuko's current position.

W: Oh, do they have anyone in mind for the position?

M: No, but they have decided to look outside the company for it. So, if you know anyone who might be interested, you should have them come and have an interview.

Text 8

W: Have you seen the photos Jenny posted of her new flat?

M: Yes. She's been looking for the right place for ages. Do you know where it is?

W: No. But you can see a park through one of the windows. It might be on South Street, near Victoria Gardens. It can't be the place she was looking at in the center.

M: You're right. And it looks much bigger than ours. I especially like the kitchen. It's spacious and well-equipped.

W: Well, what I like most is the way she furnished it. That's a great style, mixing the old and the new.

M: I think her brother might have helped with that — he's a designer.

W: Do you think she'll have a house-warming party?

M: I guess she will. I'd love to see it.

Text 9

M: Hi, Lisa! Your fitness journey on social media is impressive. What inspired you to start sharing workout routines online?

W: At first, I just wanted to track my own progress. Posting daily runs and strength training helped me stay consistent. Surprisingly, friends and strangers began cheering me on. Last month, a college student messaged me saying my home workouts helped her balance her studies and health.

M: I notice you focus on home workouts. What's the most beginner-friendly exercise you'd suggest?

W: Fast walking or body-weight exercises. They require no equipment and build foundational strength safely. For example, wall push-ups are great for building arm muscles.

M: Sounds practical! Any new goals for the coming year?

W: I plan to start a fitness studio, encouraging more people to fall in love with exercise. My friend was struggling with yoga last year and she's training for a marathon this autumn. She mentioned the inspiration she got from me was really helpful to her.

M: What's your top tip for someone starting their fitness journey?

W: Start with realistic targets — even 15 minutes daily matters. Small steps lead to big changes!

Text 10

W: I'm Rachel from the University of Chicago. I've been attracted by happiness most of my life. When I was a small girl, I noticed that though many adults were wealthy and educated, they were unhappy and this sometimes led them to behave in strange ways. Therefore, I wanted to understand what happiness was and how to achieve it. Then I decided to study psychology. At university, I tried to discover what made people happy. I started by studying creative people like artists because they devoted their lives to doing what they wanted to, rather than things that brought them money. Later I invented a study method. Ordinary people were asked to keep an electronic machine for a week, which gave out a sound eight times a day. Every time it did so, they wrote down where they were, what they were doing, how they felt and how much they were concentrating. I found that as with creative people, ordinary people are happiest when concentrating hard. So the most obvious cause of happiness is concentration.I have spent my life in studying happiness, and my belief that I have found the key to its secret has increased my happiness greatly.