Conversation 1  

Jack: Hi Xinyi. I heard about the flood in your town. Is everything OK?

Xinyi: Yes, we’re all right. Thanks. Our neighbour warned us about it in time.

Jack: What a kind neighbour! What were you doing at the time?

Xinyi: Oh, my family were having dinner when she called. We didn’t notice that the water was rising!

Jack: You’re lucky!

Conversation 2 

Jiaming: Hi Kate. Are you OK? That was a big earthquake!

Kate: Yeah! It scared me. I was doing my homework when the building shook all of a sudden. What were you doing when it started, Jiaming?

Jiaming: Oh, I was doing some chores while my mother was preparing lunch. The earthquake took us by surprise too.

Kate: Well, I’m glad we’re all fine. Thanks for calling!

Conversation 3 

Susan: Wasn’t the snowstorm last weekend terrible, Liu Yun?

Liu Yun: Yes, it really was!

Susan: What were you doing while it was snowing?

Liu Yun: Not much. I was travelling on the train then. The ride took five hours longer!

Susan: Oh no ... I heard many people couldn’t get home. They had to stay in hotels for the night.