Text 1

 

W: Isn’t our appointment at 8: 30?

 

M: Yes, it is. But I’m afraid I will have to be 15 minutes late.

 

Text 2

 

W: I have a question. You say that many people have several learning styles. Is that good?

 

M: I think it’s unavoidable. We don’t just learn in one way. In fact, we learn in many ways.

 

W: Yes, but that’s not really what I was asking.

 

Text 3

 

M: Are you the manager?

 

W: Yes, sir. What can I do for you?

 

M: I bought this shirt yesterday, and there’s something wrong with it. It hasn’t got any buttons.

 

Text 4

 

W: Prices are really going up. I had to pay 800 dollars for my wedding dress yesterday, but my sister paid only 400 dollars for hers when she got married last year.

 

M: I know what you mean. My suit cost me 500 dollars.

 

Text 5

 

W: Do you have all your meals in the dining room?

 

M: No, just lunch.

 

W: How’s the food?

 

M: Not so bad. But I don’t think the northern-style cooking agrees with me.

 

Text 6

 

W: Hello, Jimmy. Have you got your work done for today?

 

M: No, but maybe the teacher won’t ask for it.

 

W: No such luck. The last time he forgot to collect our homework was the day he got the flu. He is better now and won’t forget again.

 

M: In that case, I’ll have to stay until the night to finish it.

 

W: I think so.

 

Text 7

 

M: Ah, Jenny, could I just have a quick word with you?

 

W: Er, yes. No problem I hope.

 

M: Well, actually there is. I’ve just had a complaint from a customer. He said you were rude to him on the phone.

 

W: What? Me? Who said that?

 

M: Well, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear it was Mr. Butler.

 

W: Oh, him. He’s always really horrible.

 

M: Yes, I know how hard it is to deal with him.

 

W: And now he’s complaining about me! I’ve always done my best to help him.

 

M: I know. Look, next time he rings, just put him straight through to me.

 

Text 8

 

M: Guess what, Tina! The University of Auckland in New Zealand has offered me a scholarship.

 

W: Great! When are you going?

 

M: That’s just it. I may not go. What would you do if your boyfriend asked you not to go?

 

W: Well, I would invite him to come with me.

 

M: I’ve tried that. She said she wouldn’t go. And she might break up with me.

 

W: That’s ridiculous! If I were you, I would warn her not to try and control me. I missed a big opportunity once.

 

M: What happened?

 

W: I was offered a job in Thailand, but my husband disliked the idea so we didn’t go. I should have taken the job. I’ve always regretted my decision. In my situation, what would you have done?

 

M: Oh, I would have accepted the offer.

 

W: Well, there’s the answer to your problem. Accept your scholarship.

 

Text 9

 

M: So, Jane, where are we meeting these friends of yours tonight?

 

W: Oh, I didn’t tell you? We’re going to see a movie.

 

M: Yeah? What movie?

 

W: I’m not sure. I know it’s one of those action movies.

 

M: Oh, no. Can’t we see a romantic movie? Action movies are too violent and stupid.

 

W: I know, but my friends really want to see this one.

 

M: OK, then what about dinner? Should we take them out for some Chinese food?

 

W: I prefer Mexican. I’m not too good with chopsticks.

 

M: All right. I wouldn’t want you to spill food in front of your old friends.

 

W: They’re not just my old friends. You know one of them. Tina.

 

M: Yeah, we live in the same town and we went to the same school.

 

W: She’s beautiful and funny. I like her very much.

 

M: Yes, she is a nice girl. Are we taking the bus?

 

W: No, the subway is faster. Did I tell you we had to be there in 30 minutes?

 

Text 10

 

Two businessmen were invited to dinner at the home of a college professor. One of the men had not had much education and was worried that he might make a fool of himself, but his friend said, "Don’t worry. Just do what I do, and don’t talk about anything you don’t really understand."

 

The first man managed to get through the dinner successfully, but by the end of the evening he had had a lot to drink, and he began to get careless.

 

A guest asked him whether he liked Shakespeare, and he answered confidently, "It’s very pleasant, but I prefer Coca-Cola." There was an uncomfortable silence in the room, and soon people began to leave.

 

When the two friends were out of the house, the second man said to his friend, "You certainly made a fool of yourself by making that silly remark about Coca-Cola."

 

"What do you mean?" asked the other man. "What was wrong with it?"

 

"Everyone knows that Shakespeare isn’t a drink," his friend replied. "It’s a kind of cheese."