01
M: I was looking for you. Did you get my text message?
W: I didn’t know you messaged me. Oh, no! My phone isn’t here.
M: Do you know where it is?
W: (I must have left it at home.) 02
W: Michelle and I are going to have sushi. Do you want to come?
M: Well... no. You go on without me.
W: But you said that you wanted to have lunch with me today.
M: (Yes, but I don’t like sushi.) 03
W: Hello. We’ve called this meeting today to tell you about one of our products—our new Smart Notebook PC. We appreciate the great effort that went into creating this new model.
Unfortunately, customer reviews have shown us that there is a hardware problem with many of the computers. So we are going to announce a recall of this model. Stores and customers will be asked to return them to us in exchange for one of our other models. When handling this, please be sure to apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused.
04
W: Bert, I heard you laughing. What’s so funny?
M: Well, I’m watching a comedy program. But actually, I’m trying to laugh.
W: What do you mean “trying to laugh”?
M: They say that laughter is the best medicine.
W: Yeah, that’s a famous expression. But has it been scientifically proven?
M: I read about an interesting experiment yesterday. It supports the positive effects of laughter on health.
W: Oh, really? Tell me about it.
M: Some comedians performed for a group of patients with diabetes. Then, a second group of patients had to listen to a boring college lecture.
W: What was the result? I guess the group who listened to the lecture stayed the same.
M: Right. But the health of the group who listened to the comedians improved!
05
W: I didn’t expect it to be this quiet in the evening.
M: Yeah, there are always more people at lunchtime.
W: What about on weekends?
M: It’s usually busy all day.
W: Then we can make more money in tips. How long have you been working here?
M: Two years. I should tell you a bit about the restaurant.
W: That would be great.
M: There are 20 tables, and we each serve half. And the main chef is a very famous cook.
W: Oh, that’s why this place has been shown on TV so many times.
M: Yes, and we also have a lot of regular customers because of him.
W: Thanks for the information.
06
W: Look! The entrance to the dinosaur expo is over there!
M: Cool! I can’t wait to see all the interesting dinosaurs.
W: I can’t wait either. The entrance with two huge dinosaurs facing each other is amazing.
M: Yes, and the dinosaur on the right has a smaller dinosaur on its back.
W: The plants on the other dinosaur, on the left, are interesting.
M: I agree. And look—that boy is trying to feed his ice cream to the dinosaur.
W: Haha. How funny!
M: Let’s go inside now. Where do we buy the tickets?
W: There’s a ticket office in front of the dinosaur on the left.
M: Wait here. I’ll go buy them.
07
M: Honey, can you get me a glass of water?
W: Actually, I’m busy. I’m cleaning the floor.
M: Okay, never mind.
W: You’ve been watching TV for the past two hours while I’ve done the laundry and cleaned the windows.
M: I know, but it’s my day off.
W: I work, too. And I’d like to relax, too. How many times have I asked you to clean the bathroom?
M: I know, I know.
W: Please do it while I make dinner.
M: Okay. Anything else you want me to do?
W: Let’s think about what else you can do while having dinner.
M: All right.
08
M: Honey, let’s hurry. Otherwise we will be late for Pamela’s party.
W: Oh, but I have to stop by the bank to get a new debit card.
M: Do you have to do that now?
W: Yes. I lost my old debit card, and it is very inconvenient.
M: You should have done it sooner.
W: I know. But I had lots of work to do this week, so I’ve been busy.
M: Well, I’m ready to leave, so I’ll go buy a birthday present for Pamela now.
W: That would be great. I’ll finish doing my makeup in 10 minutes and then go to the bank.
M: Okay, but please hurry.
W: Don’t worry. It won’t take long.
09
W: Honey, do you want to keep getting that economics magazine for another year?
M: Yes, I do.
W: I have to pay for my fashion magazine subscription now. I can pay for yours, too.
M: Thanks! That would be great.
W: How much is it per year?
M: Normally, it’s $4 per issue. But if you pay for a whole year, you save a dollar on every issue.
W: So you get 12 magazines at $3 each?
M: Yes. What about your fashion magazine? Does it also come out monthly?
W: Yes, and it is $5 per issue. But I’m ordering a six-month subscription.
M: Then you won’t get a discount, will you?
W: No, but I don’t mind.
10
M: What are you reading, Sue?
W: It’s a book called Hector and the Search for Happiness.
M: I’ve heard of it before. Was it published about ten years ago?
W: Yes. Actually it was published in 2004.
M: I forgot the name of the author.
W: His name is Francois Lelord, who is an author and psychiatrist.
M: Oh, right. By the way, what’s the book about?
W: It is about a psychiatrist who goes on a journey to find the true meaning of happiness.
M: That sounds interesting. What is your favorite part so far?
W: I like the part when Hector realizes that you shouldn’t compare yourself to others.
M: That seems like good advice.
11
M: New York taxis are bright yellow. To catch one, stand at the edge of the sidewalk and wave your arm. Available cabs will have their “taxi” light on. If the “off duty” light is lit, the driver is going home. After getting in the cab, make sure the driver turns the meter on. When it’s time to pay, try to use smaller bills to ensure that the driver has enough change. You should also be prepared to pay a small extra charge for suitcases. It’s also common to tip the driver 15 to 20 percent of the total fare.
12
W: We should plan our trip to Paris and Frankfurt.
M: When do we arrive in Paris?
W: We’ll be arriving at midnight on the 10th. Let’s have a look at the train schedule.
M: We could leave Paris on Thursday the 13th. That would give us two full days in Paris.
W: I don’t want to stay in Paris that long.
M: Okay, we can leave on Tuesday or Wednesday, then.
W: Okay, but I don’t want to leave at 7:00 in the morning.
M: I agree.
W: I don’t want to take the night train either. We’ll arrive too late.
M: Okay, then there’s only one option left. We will get to Frankfurt in time for dinner.
W: Good. And we can visit Versailles before we leave.
M: Oh, great. I’d love that.
13
W: What’s wrong, sweetie? You look so sad.
M: I like a girl in my class, Allie, but she never even looks at me.
W: Have you tried talking to her?
M: Well, I’m too nervous. She’s so pretty and popular. She’ll never like me.
W: You don’t know that! Your dad didn’t think that I would ever like him.
M: So, what did he do?
W: One day, he found the courage to tell me that he liked me. Then he asked me out on a date.
M: And that worked?
W: Of course. We ended up getting married, didn’t we?
M: Right. Maybe that is what I need to do.
W: Yes. People need to be brave to get what they want.
M: (I have to stop being shy and talk to her.) 14
M: I’m so tired of taking the subway to work. I have to change lines three times, and it takes an hour and a half to get home.
W: I know. It’s too bad there’s not a direct line.
M: I think I should buy a car. I could get to work in half the time.
W: But cars are expensive, you know.
M: We have some money saved up.
W: But it’s not just the price of the car. Don’t you know how much it costs to own a car?
M: I know. You have to put gas in it.
W: And you have to buy insurance.
M: That’s true, but I would have more time to spend with you and the kids.
W: (Right. Some things are more important than money.) 15
W: Roseanne is from Spain, and she has been in Korea for two years studying taekwondo. At
first, it was difficult for her to learn new customs, but now she loves Korean culture. Recently, she started taking Korean lessons. In her class, she met Maria, a woman from Australia. Maria moved to Korea three months ago, so she has been struggling with cultural differences. She tells Roseanne that it’s not easy to live in a new country. This makes Roseanne think about her past experiences. In this situation, what would Roseanne most likely say to Maria?
Roseanne: (You’ll get used to Korean customs soon.) 16-17
M: In some parts of the world, earthquakes occur frequently. They are not common here, but we should still be prepared. Most of us already know that during an earthquake, we should seek a safe location and cover our heads. But what should we do when the earthquake ends? First, check for serious damage, such as large cracks in the walls. If you see any, leave the building immediately and do not go back inside until it has been checked. You should also put on a pair of shoes to avoid cutting your feet on broken glass. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight, food and drinking water. Also, you should have a portable radio for updated emergency information.
Smaller earthquakes often follow larger ones, so it’s best to be outdoors and away from any damaged buildings that could collapse.