Telephone Calls
A: Hello, thank you for calling Bradford and Sons. This is Tracy speaking, How may I help you?
B: Hello. I would like to speak to your director of human resources, Ms. Jenkins, Please.
A: Just a moment. I'll check to see if she is at her desk. May I tell her who is calling? B: This is Bill Burton from Milford Insurance, I'm calling in regards to our meeting next Tuesday.
A: Thank you, Mr. Burton. Can you please hold for a moment? I’ll check to see if she is available. B: No problem.
A: I'm sorry. Ms. Jenkins is away from her desk. She has already left for lunch. Would you like to leave a message for her?
B: Yes, please have her return my call when she returns to the office. It's best if she can get in touch with me before 3 pm today, she can reach me at my office number, 635-8799.
A: I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that, could you please repeat the number? B: No problem, my office number is 635-8799. Tell her to ask for extension 31. A: I'm sorry, Mr. Burton, just to confirm, your name is spelled B-U-R-T-O-N, is that correct?
B: Yes, and I represent Milford Insurance.
A: I will make sure Ms. Jenkins receives your message and returns your call before 3pm this afternoon. B: Thank you very much.
Memos
A: I have been waiting here in the conference room for ten minutes already, what time is the meeting start? Where is anyone anyway?
B: Didn't you hear about that, our meeting was postponed until Friday. A: Why the meeting was postponed? No one told me anything about it. B: Did you get the memo?
A: What memo? They haven’t any memo this whole week, I check my inbox every day. And I haven’t seen anything.
B: The memo went out 3 days ago. It should have made to your inbox, but maybe lost in all collectors on your desk.
A: You know how things get pilot about my desk when I'm busy. I know sometimes I do many please things, But I always read all the memos go around; they go directly
to my inbox. Are you sure were send to whole office?
B: It should have got around to everybody, they also post a copy of the memo in the break room. Don't you ever look at messages post on the bulletin board?
A: I'm usually too busy to take a bunch of coffee break by the water cooler, Anyway, I'm sure the memo never get to my inbox, I'll have to talk our secretary about it. B. That's right, You will never know what your missing out of it if you don't read the memos.
Placing an Order
A: May I help you?
B: Yes, I would like to place an order for toner cartridges. We have a standing agreement with your company, so we will need the same amount as last time. A: Let me key in your information into my computer. I will pull up our records for you . Do you have an order number? What name is the order listed under ? B: It should be under Leslie Smith. The number is 184796
A: Yes, Mr. Smith. I have an order for three cases of cartridges, it that what you would like to refill? B: Yes.
A: Is there the correct billing address?
B: No, please post the bill to 124 Hildrod Lane, Milton County, 98830.
A: I will send you an invoice in the next few days. Your order should be delivered before the end of the day on Monday. B: Thank you.
The working lunch
A: Excuse me, Don? I hate to bother you, but I need your help on something. Do you have time to brief me on the Martin account today?
B: Oh, that's right. You are supposed to deliver a brief on that account tomorrow. I know there are some things I need to share with you about that. But, gosh, I don't know. . . . Things are really busy for me today, the only time I can manage to squeeze out might be over lunch break. . . .
A: I hate to make you work through your lunch break with how busy you are. . . . B: It's okay. . . . I've already had several days in a row working through lunch. . . . A: How about this. . . . We can make it a working lunch this afternoon, and I'll order some Chinese food for delivery. It'll be my treat. B: You don't have to do that. . . .
A: I insist. I really appreciate you taking time to work with me in. What is your favorite fast food? I'll cater to your taste.
B: Actually I do like Chinese. . . . Let's make it a date for Chop Suey and the Martin account at about 12: 30. Does that sound good? A: Great. I'll bring the food.
Hotel Situations
F: Hello, welcome to Prise star hotel. How may I do for you?
M: Hi, yes, I have a reservation. My secretary called and booked a room a couple of weeks ago, the reservation should be for a double bed, none smoking room. F: And what name of reservation made under? M: It should be under Steve John
F: Mmm, let me see, it seems there is no John listed a room for tonight, is there any other name that you reservation list under？
M: No, here is the confirmation number, would that help?It is 898007, I had the room booked with visa cold card.
F: Ah, yes, here it is, you have a standard double room, non smoking on the 3rd floor, I just need to see the credit card you booked the room with if you don’t mind. M: Sure, here it is. would it be possible to check out and pay the bill in the morning, also, what time is brack served?
F: There is a continent for breakfast from 6: 00am to 10: 00am. Also you can pay your bill in the morning, but we require a 20% depart it of front, but I can just keep a record of your credit on file. Ok, I’ve got you on set up if you could just sign here, and in a show here, here is your room key, anything else I can do for you? M: Yes, could you call me a taxi please?
Friends
A: what kind of qualities do you look for in your friends?
B: I like people who are open and friendly. Those people are usually more active and fun to be with. I like spending time with my friends. We go to bars together or play sports together.
A: I don’t like to make friends with people who aren’t honest. Honesty is very important to me.
B: I think it’s important to most people. The problem is that you can usually only find out if someone is honest by getting to know them. A; you can find out from their friends.
B: if you know any of their friends. You can’t rely on your friends to introduce people to you all the time. You have to go out and make the first move sometimes. I also like funny people.
A: oh, I don’t. they don’t seem to take anything seriously. You never know when they are joking and when they are being serious.
B: sometimes it can be hard to tell, but if you know the person fairly well, you can
usually see from their expression what they are really thinking.
A: it seems that we generally like different kinds of people. How is it that we are such good friends?
B; maybe people don’t like to have friends that are all same. Most people like a little variety in their lives-including a variety of characteristics in their friends.
Party
A: that was a great party. Thanks for saying behind to help me clear up.
B; it certainly was a great party. It’s a pity that a glass and a plate got broken and someone spilled a drink over there.
A: I expected that something might get broken. That doesn’t bother me. That spilled drink won’t leave a stain ,will it?
B: I doubt it, I ‘ll deal with it right away. Luckily it wasn’t a glass of red wine, I’ll just get a bowl of water and a cloth.
A: I’m going to put all the rubbish into this big plastic bag.
B: afterwards, we can do the washing up together. Everything will be finished within an hour. Your friend keith is really funny. I liked his magic tricks. A; yes, he’s very good.. isn’t he? He told some funny stories too.
B: Amanda told some very funny jokes. At the beginning of the party, she was being very serious.
A; I think that she had a litter too much of the punch.
B: what did you put in that punch? It tasted great, but was quite strong. A: that’s my little secret. Did you like the snacks and I prepared?
B: very much. The birthday cake was delicious, wasn’t it? Emily told me that she and karen made it themselves.
A: that cake tasted so good! It disappeared within minutes, so I think everyone liked it a lot. How’s that stain?
B: all cleaned up. Are you ready to start on the washing up:
Renting an apartment
a: we'd like to rent a flat near the university.
b: are you looking for somewhere for two people?
a: yes, we are. obviously, we'd like something as cheap as possible. We’ve heard that there are places for 80 to 100 pounds a month.
b: yes ,there are several place available in that price range near the university. do you have any other requirements?
a: net really, no. we'd preferably like to live in a quiet street. b: how many rooms do you need in the flat?
a: we'll need two bedrooms. the kitchen and dining room can be seperate or combined.
b: ok. i've got a list of place that fit your requirements. let's just go through them. the first on the list costs 80 pounds a month, but it's on a noisy street and it's a little far from the universtiy.
a: how far away is it from the campus?
b: it's about two miles away. that might be a little far to walk. here's one that's about half a mile from the campus. the cost is 100 pounds a month and it's on a small street, just off a main street.
a: that sounds ideal. can we go to have a look at it? we'd like to see it before making a final decision.
b: of course. i'm not very busy at the moment. if you can wait for about 15 or 20 minutes. i can take you there. a: thank you. that would be great.
Shopping
A: do you do a lot of shopping online?
B: not really. I like looking on the internet at what’s available, but I usually prefer to actually see and touch what I’m buying before I pay for it. Sometimes, I’ll look at something in a shop, but later buy it online if it’s cheaper. You don’t like buying things online, do you?
A: yes. I’m a little worried about security. You never who’s trying to find out your codes and passwords. Aren’t you worry about that?
B: not really. I know that it happens, but if you buy from reputable companies with secure websites, you should be ok. Even thought I use online shopping facilities, I don’t think it’s the best way to shop.
A: I’m surprised to hear you say that. I thought you loved anything technological. B: I do. I’m a big fan of using new technology, but I don’t want to sit in front of a computer screen all day. I think people need to get out and interact with other people. A: so, how about coming to the department store with me? I want to see if there are any new summer clothes on sale yet.
B: sure. I’d love to join you. Can we stop by the computer store? I just want to see if they have something.
A: sure. While you’re in the computer store. I will visit the book store opposite. I like to browse through their books if they have anything interesting.
B: ok. I’ve finished online. Let’s go. I’ll just get some money and my credit card. A; thanks for reminding me. I had forgotten to get mine.
Asking for directions
A: ok, I’ve got an up-to-day map. Let’s check the route from here to the airport. B: where are we? Oh, here we are. So we drive to the A120 and turn left. A: no, we turn right. Remember that we are coming from this direction. B: oh yes! Sorry! Then we drive to the M11 motorway. A; how far is that?
B: it’s only seven miles. We turn left to join the motorway and drive south.
A: according to the map, we get off the M11 at the second junction and join the M25. that’s the motorway that goes around the edge of London. B: that’s another 15 miles, so that’s 22 miles total so far.
A: then we drive west on the M25. we must be careful to turn in the right direction!