Text 1

 

W: What do you do in your spare time?

 

M: My hobbies consist of golfing, reading novels, and watching movies.

 

W: I wish golfing weren’t so expensive. I would play golf almost every day if I could afford it.

 

Text 2

 

M: I tried to reach Ben last night, but I didn’t get through. The line was busy all the time. Maybe he ought to get another line.

 

W: That’s a bit strange. You may ask him in person today.

 

Text 3

 

M: How can we save more money?

 

W: We could eat at home more often.

 

M: That sounds good and practical.

 

Text 4

 

M: I want to find some books on the American Civil War.

 

W: Well, you may check the list of books on the second shelf. All the books available on the American Civil War are listed there.

 

Text 5

 

W:I really want to go to China for vacation, but I can’t find a cheap plane ticket.

 

M: Wow, you really live in the Stone Age, Mom. Go to yahoo.com and click on "Travel" and "Tickets". There’ll be about a billion sites to look at.

 

Text 6

 

W: I am upset. Somebody told my boss I have a part-time job.

 

M: And he doesn’t like that?

 

W: No, he doesn’t. He thinks that I am too tired to work.

 

M: I am sorry. I have to admit I told him.

 

W: You told him? Why?

 

M: It can’t be helped. He asked me about it, and you know I’m not a man who tells lies.

 

Text 7

 

W: Allen, is the tiger skin in your house real?

 

M: Yeah, that’s real. My granny says it’s the skin of a Siberian tiger. My great-grandfather was a hunter and he hunted it. I really wish he hadn’t. The Siberian tigers are endangered animals now.

 

W: Well, it’s not your fault. I’m sure you don’t like to hurt animals.

 

M: No, I don’t. I love animals.

 

W: Why do you still keep that skin in your house?

 

M: My parents think it’s a treasure from their family.

 

Text 8

 

W: Wow, your apartment is in a mess, Eric. Are those all your clothes on the sofa?

 

M: Yes. Actually most of them are dirty. I haven’t done any washing for a while. I usually wait until I can do it at my parents’ house.

 

W: My sister and I usually go to the laundry down the street. Why don’t you go there?

 

M: I know I should, but that place isn’t very convenient. You have to wait for a long time.

 

W: Yes, I know. I have to do it every week. Anyway, are you ready to go?

 

M: No, I’m not ready yet. I still have to brush my teeth and wash my face. Can you wait for a few minutes?

 

W: OK, but please hurry. I think the restaurant is closing soon.

 

Text 9

 

W: I’m going shopping. Do you want to come?

 

M: I must say that I feel quite surprised. You went shopping just yesterday.

 

W: I did, but an old friend called me last night and invited me to his birthday party to be held this coming Sunday evening. I need to buy a gift for him.

 

M: I see. What are you going to get him?

 

W: I really have no idea what he likes. I haven’t seen him for a long time. What do you think?

 

M: Maybe a cake?

 

W: Well, that’s a good idea, but I think I should probably get him something else, like something he can wear.

 

M: How about a sweater? I saw a really nice one in the shopping center the other day. Maybe we can go there and take a look.

 

W: OK, what store was it in?

 

M: It was at Macy’s. I think they’re having a sale this weekend.

 

W: Oh, that’s a really nice store. I like the clothes there.

 

Text 10

 

Nowadays young people in the UK hardly ever go to music shops. In fact, independent music shops have almost completely disappeared in Britain. Don’t think that British youngsters are no longer interested in music. Music is still an important part of life for most British people. In a recent survey young people had to imagine what they would miss if they lived on a desert island and 90 percent of those who took part chose music first.

 

The main difference between attitudes to music now and in the past is that lots of young people would laugh at the idea of paying for music nowadays. They say, "Music is free, and you can get it from the Internet." So illegal downloading of music is widespread according to the survey, saying that an average teenager has 800 illegally downloaded songs on his or her MP3 player. Another study has shown that many teenagers listen to music saved on their computer, which contains as many as over 8,000 songs.