Unit 1B

Text 1

M: What's the date today? May 6th? 

W: No, that was yesterday. I hope you didn't forget everything. It's Grandpa's birthday tomorrow. 

Text 2

W: I won first prize in the National Writing Contest and I got this camera as an award! 

M: It's a good camera! You can take it when you travel. 

Text 3

W: The forecast says we'll have a severe winter. Are you prepared? 

M: Yes. I've bought two very warm coats.They cost me an arm and a leg.

Text 4

M: Thank you for coming to Kelly's conference. I appreciate it.

W: Of course, I wouldn't miss it. I always want to hear how Kelly is doing in classes. 

M: Well, she is just such a joy to teach. 

Text 5

W: How do you feel today after cutting all that wood?

M: My shoulder aches. I think I did too much yesterday. 

W: Take it easy today. Watch some movies and I'll cook a nice meal for you.

M: Thanks a lot. You are very considerate.

Text 6

W: Hello, are you going to Amsterdam, too?

M: Actually, I'm going to Paris first, and then to Berlin. It's not for a holiday. I have business conferences to attend in the two cities. 

W: May I ask where you're from?

M: I am from Madrid, Spain.

W: It's the capital city of Spain, isn't it? My dad has been there many times, but for me, only once, about four years ago. It is a nice city.

M: I am happy you like it. By the way, are you from Japan?

W: No, I am from the country close to Japan. Do you know giant pandas? 

M: Oh, I see.

Text 7

W: Mike, did you notice the slow service tonight? It's unusually crowded.

M: Yeah. Our orders took forever to arrive, and they got mine wrong. 

W: Same here. And the waitstaff seem super busy. I saw a few tables complaining about their orders too. I think we should talk to the manager before leaving.

M: Definitely.This level of service isn't acceptable for such a reputable restaurant. 

W: Maybe they can improve service for future diners. And it could help them understand what went wrong tonight.

M: Good idea. I'll ask for the manager once we finish our meal. 

W: It's important to address these issues constructively rather than just leaving without saying anything.

M: Absolutely, Amanda.

Text 8

W: Thanks for lending me the tent, Sam. 

M: No problem, Tara. I was worried it'd be too small. 

W: It was a little tight but we managed. We'll have to get a big one next time. Anyway, it was a great camping trip!

M: Are you going again soon?

W: No, we're practicing our rock climbing for a little while to get into shape. 

M: It's great for building strength! Shelly and I do it at the climbing center just out of town. It's fun solving the puzzle of how to get up, and exciting too! 

W: True! My gym has a practice wall but we'd like to do it in the wild one day!

M: I have a guide I can recommend. He'll take you to the best climbing spot and it has all the equipment too!

W: Great! Do you want to practice together?

M: Sure, I'm going with Shelly at 6 pm tonight.

W: Excellent. I'll meet you at the center then! 

Text 9

M: Hello, Clark's Cycle Hire. How can I help you?

W: Oh, hello. I saw your ad in the local paper, and I'm wondering what kinds of bikes you have and what your prices are like.

M: Well, we hire out three types of bikes: electric, touring and mountain bikes. Are you likely to be riding off-road?

W: No, I'll probably be sticking to roads, so a touring bike would be the best. 

M: Right. Well, the rate will be ￡50 for a week, or ￡14 per day. 

W: Oh, I will pay for a week as it's a lot cheaper. Is there anything else I'd have to pay? 

M: Well, for another ￡5 we can supply lightweight bags. There's no charge for things like a pump, or for a lock. It's a good strong one. Just make sure you don't lose the key! 

W: I don't need bags. So, if I do hire one, how do I pay? By cheque, or would it have to be cash? 

M: Neither, I'm afraid. We only accept credit card bookings. 

W: I've got a Visa card in my name. Would that be OK? 

M: Sure.

Text 10

W: Hello, everyone. Welcome to my reading club. Here you can share your favorite books and talk with like-minded people. Today I am going to talk about Jane Eyre, which I've read three times. First, let's get to know the author, Charlotte Brontë. She was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters whose novels are classics in English literature. And Jane Eyre is her best-known work. The novel is a first-person narrative from the perspective of the title character Jane. It has several distinct stages. The first stage is about Jane's childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she lives with her aunt and cousins, who treat her badly. The second stage is about her education at Lowood School, where she gains friends and role models. The third stage is about the period when she works as a tutor at Thornfield Hall. The last two stages are about her time in the Moor House. As the plot develops, we can witness Jane's growth and we are getting attracted by her amazing character. So, let's take a closer look at the charms of Jane.