Unit 3A

Text 1

W: I need to find a good place to read. I thought the library would be quiet, but it is noisier here than a cafe.  

M: Try the computer room. There are some comfortable chairs, and no one talks because they're working on projects.

Text 2

W: OK, I have already booked my flights and my hotel. Now I need to arrange a train ticket. Can I borrow your computer, Dad?  

M: It is in my bedroom. Please save my work before using it.

Text 3

M: Oh no, I keep cutting bits out of my speech but it's still a minute longer.  

W: One minute won't make much difference, will it?

M: Yes. There's a strict rule that all speeches must be no more than three minutes.  

Text 4

W: We have a lot of housework to do. Do the dishes, sweep the floor, clean the windows...

M: Yeah, there are also a lot of dirty clothes. I want to finish this job first.  

Text 5

W: Can I ask why you have come to Sevilla?

M: Actually, I'm on a research trip. I'm looking for somewhere to hold our next European Conference.  

W: So what does it include?

M: Well, visiting different hotels and exhibition centers that could host big events.

Text 6

M: Tomorrow is April 22nd.

W: Is it a special day for you?

M: It's Earth Day. It's a special day for everyone to think about how to help protect the earth's environment.  

W: So, what are you going to do? Plant a tree?  

M: I bought a bus pass, so I can go to work by bus instead of driving my car.  

W: Great! Where did you get a bus pass?

M: In the transportation office.

W: Oh, I think I will ride my bike to work as usual.  

Text 7

W: Christopher, I heard you went to a wedding in India last week. How was it?

M: It was quite different from the weddings I had been to in the US. After the wedding, the food was displayed in a buffet style. And after I got my food, I found there was no spoon or fork.

W: What about chopsticks?

M: There were no chopsticks, either. When I looked around, I found the others eating using their hands. So I followed their example.  

W: I heard people in that country eat that way. So how did you like the food?

M: Well, I didn't get my hopes up before eating it. But I just couldn't stop eating after I tried some. I finished all the food I had got.  

W: That sounds wonderful! I want to try Indian food.

Text 8

W: What are you doing on the Internet, John?You are smiling. Are you seeing a film?

M: No. You know New Year is coming. I am choosing some lovely cards for my friends.  

W: You mean you won't buy cards from the supermarkets?

M: Mom, it's a new way to express your friendship and love.

W: But it seems that you only want to save money.

M: I admit that they are cheaper than cards bought from supermarkets. But I think we can save a lot of paper if we all do so. 

W: Sounds reasonable. I mainly send instant messages using my cell phone or write letters.

M: Cards on the Internet can be matched with lovely pictures and music.

W: Wonderful!Let me choose one for your grandma first. 

Text 9

M: Wow, I haven't seen these albums for two decades. I thought my parents had thrown all these out already. 

W: I'm not surprised. They're covered in dust. Look, this one was taken when you were a kid. That's over 30 years ago.

M: Oh! This is my kindergarten class! See if you can find me in the picture.

W: That shouldn't be too hard. Oh! I found you. You're the one sitting next to the kid with the red and blue shirt. Your hair was so long that it covered your ears!

M: How did you find me so fast?

W: I can tell by the funny smile you had on your face. It's the same one you had in our wedding photo. Hand me the one from your high school days. 

M: Here.

W: Oh, no! Your leg was injured. What happened? Was that from the car accident you told me about?

M: That was two years earlier. The one in the picture was from a fall I had while skiing. 

W: Poor baby. We should take more pictures, you know. We hardly have any of us.

M: Yeah, you are right.

Text 10

M: Hello,everybody! This is the first day of class,so we are going to give some introductions.First of all,my name is Colin Weaver. You can call me Professor Weaver. This is my helper Liz,who will grade your papers. Now,let's preview what this class is about.It's about science in ancient Greece and Rome. I know you think that science is something created in modern times,but people have been studying things like that for a very long time. Much of what we know now is based on what the ancient Greeks and Romans found out ages ago. This includes electricity and even some knowledge about stars. One ancient Greek calculated the size of the earth very correctly. And yes,many Greeks believed the earth was round. A huge amount of math we use today was worked out by people like Archimedes — a smart man. You will learn more about ancient Greece and Rome in this class. All right...any questions,please? OK.That student over there...