easy
CONVERSATION
#1 types of mysteries
A: Hi, Tommy. What are you reading?
B:It's a mystery novel --- The Clock Strikes at Midnight.
A: Is it any good?
B: It's all right, ...
A: Then maybe I'll read it when you're done.
B: Maybe not. I was going to say it's good, but I don't think you'd like it.
A: Why not? I like mystery novels.
B: I know , but in this one, a young child is missing. I know you don't like to read about kidnappings, or murder, or ...
A: You're right. It doesn't sound like my kind of book.
HINT
novel /nɑ'vəl/ young /jʌ'ŋ/ kidnapping /kídnæ̀piŋ
#2 Invasive Species
A: Look at this, Henry.
B: Eeeew ...What is it?
A: I'm not sure. It's some kind of insect, but I've never seen one like it.
B: Maybe it came here on a ship ---in a box of food.
A: Right! The ship had probably been to another country to pick up ...carrots!
B: Sure. And after that, the ship came here.
A: And now our country will be invaded by the terrible Carrot Beetles!
B: Not if we do something about it first.
A: Hold on, Henry. We can't kill it if we don't even know what it is.
B: You're right.
HINT
eeew /i:u/ invaded /invéidid/ kidnapping /kídnæ̀piŋ
hold on /hóuldən/
#3 New Place
A: How's it going, Ryan? Are you getting used to your new home?
B: I'm all right. It's a very big city, though, so it takes forever to get anyplace.
A: Really? What about the new subway system? Isn't it fast?
B: The trains are fast, but they're so crowded that sometimes you have to wait for the next one. I can take buses, of course, but they make a lot of stops.
A: I see what you mean.
B: Fortunately, I love my new job, and it's right downtown.
A: That's nice! You can walk around on your lunch hour.
B: That's exactly what I've been doing! I've been looking for good restaurants.
A: That's great! You know I like trying new restaurants.
B: That's right. When you visit me, I'll know where to take you to eat.
HINT
fortunately /fɔ'ːrtʃənətli/ downtown /dáuntáun/
exactly /igzǽktli/
#4 meerkats
A: Do you ever wish you were an animal?
B: Sure. Sometimes I wish I were a bird so I could fly.
A: I wish I were a meerkat.
B: A meerkat? What's that?
A: It's an African animal. It survives by living in groups and cooperating.
B: I see what you mean. They're a very social animal.
A: Right, and if I were a meerkat, I wouldn't have to carry these boxes by myself. I could get some help from you!
B: Oh, sorry. Can I give you a hand with those?
HINT
meerkat /míərkæt/ animal /ǽnəməl/ African /ǽfrikən/
survive /sərváiv/ cooperate /kouɑ'pərèit/
social /sóuʃəl/
#5 Hero or Zero?
A: So, listen to this. I'm planning to buy two tickets for the zoo - for Isabel and me.
B: Isabel, your new girlfriend?
A: Yeah. And I'll rent a bear costume. Here's a picture of it. I can see you're fascinated, Tony.
B: Yeah...and frightened! Please don't say you want me to wear it.
A: No, it's for me. I'm planning to wear it outside Isabel's office. So after work, she 'll find a bear waiting for her, with an invitation to the zoo. Well? What do you think?
B:She won't like it. Her coworkers will be there, so it's going to be really embarrassing for her. I don't think she'll be amused at all. And this costume is awful! It's going to scare her.
A: But I ...
B: And why did you choose the zoo? I mean, she's not a kid. It'll be a disappointing date.
A: You're so annoying, Tony. Where's your sense of fun? OK, so maybe she'll be a little shocked at first, but I think she'll laugh. I'll be a hero!
CONVERSATION Ⅱ
- business -
#1 How to start the conversation
CASE 1
A : Keepin' busy?
B : Yeah -- we're under the gun trying to finish up the third-quarter audit.
A : I thought you might be. Our department has been working overtime every day too, promoting our new product.
CASE 2
A : Hi. I'm Lynn Yoshida. And you are ...?
B : Frank Wilson, with ABC Publishing. Pleasure to meet you.
A : The pleasure is mine. So, what brings you here today?
CASE 3
A : That's a nice shirt you're wearing.
B : Oh, thank you. I got it just recently.
A : Where did you find it?
B : I picked it up at a little store downtown.
#2 How to make a reaction
CASE 1
A : I went to see a movie with my daughter the other day.
B : Oh, you did? What did you see?
A : A new horror movie. It was pretty good.
B : You've got to be kidding! You like horror movies?
CASE 2
A : I was supposed to meet that new client the other day, but half an hour after the agreed time, he still hadn't shown up.
B : Oh, really? And then?
A : I called him several times until he finally picked up.
B: What had happened?
A: He said he had been stuck in traffic.
B: Fair enough.
CASE 3
A : I stayed up way too late answering emails last night.
B : I've been there. It's often hard to switch off.
A : Too often ---and the next day, I'm a mess.
B : I know how you feel.
CASE 4
A : My daughter has her university entrance exam next week, so I'm a little anxious.
B : I'm sure she'll do great.
A : Thank you. She's been studying so hard.
B : All that effort is bound to pay off.
CASE 5
A :The rise in the cost of paper has really hurt publishers.
B :That's so true. And paper costs are expected to continue to climb this year.
A :Right ---so books will undoubtedly get even more expensive.
B: Definitely. Book sales become extremely slow.
CASE 6
A : It was quite a struggle, but we managed to meeting the deadline.
B : That's amazing. If it had been our company, we might not have been able to pull that off.
A : I don't know about that.