45 English Situations of the Social Communication
[Applause]
[Music]
one blockbuster
dialogue 1
Nancy where is new I got two tickets
just now let’s catch a flick sounds nice
is there anything worthwhile Madagascar
to escape Africa that must be a
blockbuster I don’t even know if I’m
black with white stripes or white with
black stripes see that zebra is really
funny in the Madagascar one come on I
can’t wait
dialogue to
Rose have you watched eight below of
course a movie lover as me how do you
find the movie you know I love it so
much
especially those cuddly dogs so have you
planned to buy a sled dog oh that should
be great but I have had a chihuahua
breeding two dogs together is not a big
deal come on I’m already pissed off by
the little he pees everywhere and barks
all day long I have been getting
interested in raising a sled dog
to music fan
dialogue 1
Mike have you heard new hit single of
Black Eyed Peas
not yet did they release a new album
oops what’s wrong hey come on I just
focus on something else recently okay
sorry
but my humps hits the chart of Billboard
top ten this week is that spending all
your money on me and on me you bet
sounds cool have you heard that they may
give gigs somewhere No
dialogue to
what kind of music do you like Lee it’s
hard to say but I prefer folk music what
about hip-hop
oh it’s so difficult for me to
understand the rap sometimes I can’t
either
they always create new slang I think the
lyrics have so many violence and sex
Affairs in it yep you’re right
why don’t they sing something beautiful
like love and friendship
who knows maybe they want to indicate
the changing society sorta aha you got
it
three showbiz
dialogue 1
hey have you heard that Angelina Juliet
is pregnant she just gave birth to a
twin the star says it might be the twin
again again oh my she is on the ball in
pregnancy let’s see
mad packs Z Shiloh Vivian
knocks and the two newcomers plus the
couple they could be a soccer team she
must be on top of the world because she
once said she loves to take challenge
but don’t you think it’s weird to have
so many kids that might be the reason
they keep to be point men do you mean it
is the way to hype who knows
I’ll log too
hey Bill what’s that the latest tape of
Paris Hilton naked in bath once again I
don’t like her but how could we hate her
an American media’s princess she’s just
a babe
a babe do you call an American socialite
heiress television personality
businesswoman actress author singer and
model a babe
she’s franc nice but doesn’t know how to
hide how to protect herself do you mean
she is still wet behind the ears even
she owns so many titles Conda his naked
tape radio the only way she uses to
catch paparazzi’s camera I don’t know
but I know she is a fat cat and she can
do anything she wants
for
football match
dialogue 1
may I join in you
Barcelona is playing Numancia Barcelona
is in excellent trim oh I missed the
first half was there any goal no only
two yellow cards of each team what about
Lionel Messi just at 50th Alves makes a
header to the goal area and Messi scored
on a push he is really a big gun he is
always a threat to the new Montse
defense with his darting runs and pace
Numancia knew what they were doing on
the pitch but Barcelona is lucky to have
good players
dialogue to
here comes Davis and a goal
it’s a dream start for Newcastle what a
way to answer his critics
so soon look Lewis has got a chance to
shoot here oh it’s in it is level one
one and now number eleven Robert a free
header they’ve conceded two goals in
quick succession without reply
that’s a devastating blow for Newcastle
now can they come back from it
five NBA tournament
dialogue 1
I like watching NBA
same here NBA is the highest level
professional basketball league right
although it has been founded about only
sixty years it has become one of the
best commercial operated sports now NBA
has thirty teams about 1,000 players so
cool NBA is the kingdom of money if you
have fantastic skills can bring the
victory to your team and bring the
happiness to your fans then you will be
a super money bag but I think the most
important thing also the most enjoyable
thing is watching the NBA games
dialogue to
you see the game last morning of course
there was nobody that wants to miss this
significant battle it was very important
for the Rockets to entry the playoff
yeah and the Lakers did not want to lose
their leading position so they played a
very intense game for basketball fans
frankly speaking I thought the Lakers
didn’t make every effort to play this
game why do you have this idea
the Lakers superstar Kobe did not attend
this match but others of the Lakers
played a great match did not they that
is right so I was basically satisfied
with the game
shopping mall promotion
log1
hi Nancy where are you going
the shopping mall over the cross what
are you going to buy all the brands are
in sales promotion even 80% off the
price really can I go with you
I haven’t dreamt a fur coat for a long
time it’s the very time to buy you don’t
need to tighten the belt right it costs
an arm and a leg in a non promotion
season but don’t hold your breath it’s
not the first day of the promotion it
doesn’t matter just have a look
dialogue to
look at the catalogue John I think I
want to get this red blouse this is on
sale now don’t you have one like this in
blue yeah but I don’t have a red one do
you need every color in the rainbow yes
I won’t miss that this is this woman how
do you prepare to pay for that I will
use my credit card for that but credit
cards still have to be paid off you are
just like my old grandma once I get a
job I’ll pay them off immediately
seven
fashion trend
dialogue 1
are you doing needlework uh-huh I just
want to make something for my baby
it’s called cross stitch it’s really a
knockout is that difficult it’s quite
easy firstly you can buy a pack of
material and make the needle in X shape
make sure the stitch covers the thread
of four directions it sounds complicated
it’s not my style
sweetie someday you will marry someone
you need to learn this plenty of fish in
the sea why not I find someone who knows
how to do this
dialogue to
said you just came back from India yes I
went there to learn the professional
yoga you know India is the cradle of
yoga sounds great is it really good for
body of course Yoga is a traditional
physical and mental discipline each pose
is a benefit to the relevant part of
your body like bridge pose cat pose why
not run a club in this community and
teach us I still need to kick around
with family don’t worry I can sell your
parents on this idea
eight
traveling
dialogue 1
how about your last trip in Yunnan Jane
and I are planning to go there it was
really a wonderful trip the snow
mountains old towns and warmly
minorities all reminded me of the old
times what do I need to pay attention to
that’s the point try to knock off a half
when you want to buy something
the sellers always like to push those
tourists around something else take some
medicine with you especially on car
sickness oh I nearly forgot it will
little Jack go along with you no he will
be here with his grandma that’s a short
trip and I don’t want to have a third
wheel
dialogue to
what do you plan to do in your vacation
I plan to go abroad where do you plan to
go London
oh that’s interesting you’ll visit the
Big Ben will you of course maybe I can
go when I have enough money it’s not
expensive how much $1,000 it is still a
big sum for me
9x game
dialogue 1
dad could you tell me something about
x-games honey why do you want to know
that I’m preparing for my homework let’s
get the ball rolling there are two big
competitions winter x-games and summer x
games both held in United States how
many games do they have now the current
games include seven categories like
freestyle BMX motocross skateboarding
rallying skiing snowboarding and
snowmobiling what about bungee jumping
it can be a game but not for
professional competition oh okay that’s
enough here are some references for you
keep your behavior
dialogue to
before we climb make sure you have all
necessaries on you Bob tell me what they
are
rope helmet climbing shoes harness and
belay devices well done you have
practiced several times on our indoor
climbing wall but this time the aim is
totally different it’s real rock you
mean that we have no bolts to rely on
right not exactly as this is your first
time climbing on rock we have already
pre placed several bolts what about the
hand holds that depends on your own
experience but make sure if the hand
holds are loose or not will you lead the
route no I’ll hit you with the problem
in gymnasium
dialogue 1
good morning madam what can I do for you
I want to join in your club welcome what
kind of cards do you want to buy we
offer three kinds one year half a year
and one month what about the cost
fifteen hundred eight hundred and two
hundred for each what games can I
practice all kinds of games in our club
like belly dance yoga ballet swimming
and so on
sounds nice let’s jump on it I’m sorry
madam we still need your ID card copy oh
my god I lost it
dialogue to
before we practice who can tell me the
origin of belly dance is that from
Middle East correct
it’s a term for a traditional Arab dance
form in Arabic language it refers to a
dance of country how do we master belly
rolls that’s the core of the dance
before we learn that let’s do some
warming up stand still
put your hands anywhere comfortable
anywhere comfortable don’t butt in
please
suck in your gut and try to push your
belly button back to touch the spine
hold it hold it as long as you can how
do we adjust breath okay
relax and breathe that can help us to
keep our stomach flat repeat this
movement several times a day it comes
easily
eleven
secret of beauty
dialogue 1
Ling I heard that some of Chinese
cuisine are very useful to keep women
pretty of course the Chinese cuisine can
be traced back to some 400 thousand
years ago could you tell me some dishes
that I could try at home which effect do
you want to try effect whitening
slimming zit problem or cup upping I see
whitening why not use papaya and milk
peel of papaya rinse and cut into chunks
boil the water put the papaya chunks
into water stew for 10 minutes and put a
pack of milk after 2 minutes remove and
wait until cool sprinkle the 2 teaspoons
of honey and serve no wonder you are
always in pink
dialogue to
what should i do Lucy
it’s wrong I just saw some flex on my
face how to get rid of them
oh my mom once told me to eat tomatoes
because it contains much vitamin C does
it work a little I usually use juicer to
squeeze tomatoes and add some honey God
how long should I drink I have a date
with Jack tomorrow dear hold your horses
right beauty comes in lovers eyes that’s
it don’t have a cow
12
shopping online
dialogue 1
valentine’s day again Mike
yes have you booked the rose not yet
fifty bucks for just one rose that’s
really a ripoff but you still need to
come on I’ll give you a good gimmick I
bought it online yesterday and asked
them to deliver today does it save bucks
you bet
more than a half because it was still a
common stuff yesterday you are so shrewd
just click the mouse and you can also
kill two birds with one stone
dialogue to
saw a beautiful necklace on ebay give me
the link it’s something like the new
stuff of Swarovski oh my good 300 um
what a bargain
it’s a purchasing agent of Austria
what’s their share
they take 15% of purchasing charges
that’s a good traffic so how many do you
want to buy oh I’d like to but I’m a
little bit strapped for cash
thirteen
a business
dialogue 1
where are you going Zoey I’m going to
book plane tickets nearby hey it’s after
hours oh I forgot it you’re so corny
it’s all ebusiness now why don’t you
book online online I’ll show you
register your information on this web
choose the airline and the date you want
to depart choose the way of payment and
check your information and done that’s
cool almost everything can be done
online I’m no spring chicken and cannot
catch up with you young guys
dialogue to
excuse me boss we got a sticky problem
now go on there is with the products we
booked last week on eBay something wrong
nearly 50 percent are fake commodities
here we go again
I told you not to buy a pig in a poke
many times so how can I do now call mr.
Brown to postpone the delivery date and
give me a report of the detail ask James
to see me such a stupid purchasing
manager relax boss
14 digital products
dialogue 1
darling it’s for you
oh you are so sweet but what’s this it’s
called mp4 player a portable USB TV
dongle a TV I know you have a passion
for an iPod but this one is better
that’s cute from the appearance it’s the
new item that AI Gio launched a month
ago you can use it to watch TV listen to
the radio on mobile devices also plug
the dongle into computer to download
films and novels that sounds great how
many channels can it receive till now it
can only be used in some big cities
covering with HDTV signals may be nearly
10 channels but do we need to pay for
the signal that’s free but I’m not sure
if it’s still free years later
dialogue to
morning grandma Mary and I decide to go
outing and take some pictures wait for a
moment where are you going
the camera for you come on we don’t need
that my cell phone has the same function
cell phone you were kidding
this camera is your Grandpa’s favorite
it’s Pentax oh grandma it’s totally
outdated look I can use my cell phone
surfing sending emails downloading cool
songs and taking photos really how can
you get these pictures out so I can hang
them on the wall use Bluetooth Bluetooth
how about my false tooth
fifteen
phone
aaaghh one
sensing you’re a bit apprehensive I lost
my cellphone on the bus this morning how
careless you are you know glass houses
stones why not buy a new one that one is
outdated
to buy a new one is not a big deal but
what about the hundreds of telephone
numbers why didn’t you write them down
on a notebook before you know people get
their phone loss every day it doesn’t
mean they don’t contact with friends
give me your laptop what are you doing
just try to leave message to my clients
through msn
dialogue to
Julia I’m really well away today what
happens the short message I got this
morning said that I won the lottery let
me have a look our company are doing
lottery and your cell phone number is in
the list congratulations for the first
award a laptop at the price of 15,000
RMB see I told you I’m a lucky dog come
on and you don’t believe that do you
I do but after I called them and asked
how I could get my computer they asked
me to deposit 500 yen to a certain
account as the tax that’s preposterous
most of them just be up to something
really
sixteen dink family
dialogue 1
darling We Need to Talk okay sweetie
what’s wrong
we just got married and I really want to
life just you and me the current life is
just the one you want honey I mean I
don’t want someone be in our way hey I’m
not that kind of guy we vowed in the
wedding ceremony to be faithful no no I
have to rip the band-aid off someone is
is the baby oh the baby
you don’t like baby I thought you liked
our work is too busy and stressful and
we can’t find any more time and energy
to raise a kid that’s right so it’s your
turn to talk with your parents
I’ll log too
hey Mike where are you going to be I’m
gonna camping with my wife
you look so detached uh-huh we don’t
need to take care of baby that will save
us much time you don’t like kids do you
not exactly but we prefer to a freer and
easier life going outing hiking watching
films as we like but what about your
parents
they become older and older and must be
eager to see their grandson wife is ours
and should be decided by us oh it really
sucks
17 children’s education
aaaghh one
Lee have you started prenatal education
not yet I just finished the sonogram and
the doctor said that it could hear my
voice and other sounds now now you can
listen to some soft music like Chopin
Beethoven but I really preferred to the
kind like hip-hop that will make your
baby restless and fretful and talk with
him or tell him some fairy tales when
you feel he flops around you’ve got me
can I just read books that’s okay
but the direct communication is better
I’m not in that mood I got a lot of
articles to translate oh do you think he
will be easy to learn English for I
always do translation maybe
dialogue to
so tired yes so exhausted with my kid
did you bring her back from your parents
home I can’t let her be away from me for
so long time and she needs to go to
school to be a single mom is really
tough you two must be drifted apart
definitely you know grandparents always
doubt on their grandsons and to make
them outrageous calling someone names
and shouting in front of the guests how
come
by the way where is she she is grounded
come on she’s just a little girl
18
generation gap
aaagghhh one
it’s cool isn’t it mom but I don’t think
the color matches you what about the
pink one I’m not a little girl you
always want me to dress in pink or
something but girls or girls not to
mention it’s cute it’s not cute it’s
childish and I want something hot what
do you mean by hot sexy you are just 14
honey Julia got a cool t-shirt yesterday
and I have to knock her socks off
Julia always goes behind her mother’s
back why can’t she
dialogue to
why do you come home so late I went to
Times Square to get Eminem’s signature
who’s Eminem a rapper his music is
really cool a rapper do you think rap
belongs to music absolutely it’s one of
the four elements of hip-hop the real
music is something makes you comfortable
eased and relaxed rap is just like
someone murmuring mom you are slipping
it’s not the year with beetles Eagles
singing California dream or something
it’s 21st century but they are what
people old like me to keep life
interesting
nineteen
in later years
log1
how do you old people in China support
themselves when they become old we can
rely on our children and also endowment
insurances but what if one doesn’t rear
children or have no social insurances
try to save as much money as they can
when they are still young we seldom rely
on our children they have their own life
most of the old cheese bead has for
their rest life that’s forlorn in China
to have it boy is a big issue for every
family boy is considered as family
pillar and takes responsibility to
support their parents what about if one
has no boy but girl some people keep on
giving birth until they have a boy
sometimes it costs a big fine I cannot
understand that but both girls and boys
can be successful people
dialogue to
mom come on let’s go home I don’t want
to go back home I like to stay in this
bead house people in our community are
talking about us as a gossip just
whatever will be will be why don’t you
think of me I’m your son I have
responsibilities to take care of you I
like here and I got many friends sharing
same interests and hobbies we play cards
sing old songs and recall the nostalgic
times anyway you need to go with me you
can’t order me around like I’m a child
you have back-breaking work from sunup
to sundown and it’s time for you to
enjoy a happy life
20 mixed marriages
dialogue 1
look at the twins like Barbie are they
mixed blood yes my husband is French no
wonder is it easier to have twins if one
has a foreign husband or wife I don’t
know
I’m the lucky one tell your husband if
any of his friends is available we can
have a date any of his friends
I mean single and also French okay
a blind date all I dream is to have a
mixed blood baby like yours
dialogue to
Mike are you ready
not yet I feel nervous may have you
remembered what I told you last night
sort of your occupation your age income
if you decide to settle down if you like
to have kids etc that’s too private
we don’t like to talk personal income
and age do you want to marry me yes I do
but come on Mike this is China not your
America okay let me rehearse I’m a sales
manager 31 years old after I get married
Mei is in charge of family income and we
will live in Beijing and try to afford
an apartment and we will have kids soon
Oh Mike you look so sharp today
21
cuddly pets
dialogue 1
have you heard the America’s cutest pet
competition tell me the winners can
receive a 14 karat gold pendant oh
that’s great how can I take part in
digital photos of pets can be uploaded
to the site and then voted upon in order
to determine America’s cutest pet it’s
just for my Jack he adores eating and
chewing slippers so that’s why I come to
tell you immediately Jack deserves to
win
when will the competition run this
weekend so hurry up to get registered
thanks so much
Jack come on let’s move
dialogue to
what about your Bulldog Winston she has
given birth to six puppies really
Winston’s really a great mother such a
purebred in a small town how do you find
the very breeder I published a note on
Yahoo and someone with the conditions
can contact me I heard that the male
bulldog has such short legs and needs
help when mating is the question five
cams short of a six-pack great question
not stupid they must be taken to the vet
for artificial insemination because of
their weak rears what a poor dog
22
price rising
dialogue 1
mic where is your car in my garage
he is in holiday is there anything wrong
do I need to introduce a good repair
plant
something wrong but the oil price the
era of cheap oil is over the
International Energy Agency
warned yesterday as it predicted crude
values would soon rebound to above $100
a barrel my god above $100 a barrel how
can we afford a car I’m going to buy a
bicycle the prediction doesn’t even have
a pl maybe things will look up soon
a log too
where are you going mrs. Li to
supermarket wait for a second I get my
purse
have you ever heard that the price of
cooking oil will be increased it was
just increased two months ago let’s
fight to get our hands on some cheap
cooking oil or it will be sold out later
the government always says the new
policies would be carried out soon but
the price is still hanging on there
who cares even the price of vegetables
and pork is soaring not to mention the
cooking oil is there any way we can
voice our opinion to someone who is in
charge of this just fly low and avoid
radar
23
food security
dialogue 1
hi Kate how are you doing so so I just
took Tom to see the doctor what’s wrong
with him haven’t you heard about the
baby formula issue oh that’s terrible
a lot of babies have developed kidney
stones because of the formula I was so
worried about Tom but anyway he is okay
I read newspaper this morning melamine
was deliberately added to infant formula
to make it appear to have a higher
protein content such a Sunday st. the
manufacturers show their good image like
to provide the best to all the babies
while viewing sordid business we don’t
know god damn it I hope I could raise a
cow
dialogue to
come on let’s go home I’ll make you some
tofu
I don’t want tofu why not that will give
you the much nutrition I want hamburgers
and hot dogs to be strong sorry honey
you better not why not I’m starved to
die the newspaper said they found Sudan
red dye in fried chickens its harm to
people
what is Sudan red dye like my Barbies
red hair kind of dye material for
industry it cannot be used in food
24
food
dialogue 1
Carlos can
second talking with you come and sit
here sweetie I’m going to write a book
review about the dark side of the
all-american meal would you like to tell
me something about your point of view
that’s an interesting topic the book is
written by investigative journalist Eric
Schlosser it examines the local and
global influence of the United States
fast food industry it is said that since
the 1970s there has been a steady
decline in fast food industry exactly a
generation ago three-quarters of the
money is used to buy food in the US was
spent to prepare meals at home that’s
the main point while today about half of
that same money is spent in restaurants
mainly fast food restaurants that’s why
about 2000 new McDonald’s are opening
each year mom says the food there
contains excessive calories and is no
good for people especially for our kids
that’s right but the sit-in ratio is
still higher because it’s quick service
dialogue to
the Western fast food industry moves
rapidly in China but in my opinion fast
food is more suitable to the western
lifestyle that’s a common
misunderstanding don’t you eat
hamburgers or chips every day I do but
not every day in fact according to the
survey nine of the world’s top 10
markets for fast food are in the
asia-pacific region the world’s three
top fast food brands McDonald’s KFC and
Pizza Hut are all from America but two
out of three Americans avoid these kinds
of places the burgers pizza and fried
chicken cannot represent the real
American menu
25 cooking food
dialogue 1
hi Haruko I have something to ask you
I’d like to help this weekend is our
fifth wedding anniversary my wife wants
to try Japanese sushi could you
introduce some Japanese cuisine for me
aha you find the right person there are
various types of sushi sushi served
rolled inside dried and pressed layered
sheets of seaweed or algae called
mikazuchi or rolls sushi made with
toppings laid with hands form clumps of
rice called nigiri sushi topping stuffed
into a small pouch of fried tofu called
Inari sushi and toppings served
scattered over a bowl of sushi rice
called chirashi sushi I am confused
it doesn’t matter after you get to the
entrance of the restaurant you should
pass through a short curtain peel open
from the left before you sit at the
front of the counter you should ask the
customer aside if the seat is available
anything more that’s just the beginning
Japan is the country with courtesy and
traditions give me a break
we’d better change a local restaurant
dialogue to
the most famous dish here is peeking
duck I’d like to try absolutely it is
considered one of the Chinese
traditional dishes in Beijing there are
two notable restaurants Chand Judah and
beyond ye Fung oh I know trend Judah
they have opened the branch in my city
so I want to try if the flavor is the
same any kind of food step once diverted
to other countries would lose its
original flavor because of the different
raw materials and water qualities why
does the meat taste thin crispy duck
spread specially for the dish are
slaughtered after 65 days and seasons
before being roasted in a closed and
hung oven for 24 hours while it is hung
the duck is glazed with a layer of
maltose syrup oh it’s amazing
I saw the chef slicing the meat in front
of the table how many slices do you
think a good chef can make 40 or more
nearly 90 slices
26
health care
dialogue 1
hey Susan how about your trip to China
Lee I encountered several shocking
things what are they
one is that all the soup is served after
the meal Chinese people like to have
soup at the end or during the meal we
think that the soup is beneficial to
digestion but we always have soup before
dinner it is good for your health having
soup before dinner can lubricate the
intestine and stomach then promote
digestion perhaps you are right we
should change our eating order
dialogue to
wrong susan hailey I got cold that’s too
bad
come in and have a seat I will make you
a cup of tea thanks Lee but Mike is
waiting for me at the cinema I can’t
leave him hanging you come down with
cold that requires bed rest and fluids
come in and give him a call that’s not
an official date all right here you are
drink it quickly as it is hot oh what’s
that
something like ginger slice ginger is a
spice and often used for cooking it’s
also consumed whole as a Chinese herbal
medicine to warm your body and what’s
the little red one it’s called Chinese
wolfberry often used for making tea to
against human pathogenic bacteria
twenty-seven
Chinese medical therapy
dialogue 1
li I have something wrong with my
shoulder
sit down lower your neck let me have a
try
are you kidding before I come here
I have learned something about
acupuncture Gua Sha is it hurt a little
bit its effects can be similar to that
of massage and is used often just for
muscle relaxation okay try on me I’d
like to be a hamster how do you work
I got an ox horn made edge and I’m going
to oil your neck skin surface press down
firmly and then move down with each
stroke being about four to six inches
long oh it hurts
let me have a look it turns red this
causes extravasation zuv blood from the
peripheral capillaries and may result in
subcutaneous blemishing which usually
takes two to four days to fade
dialogue to
li have you suffered insomnia before no
I sleep tight every night I just come to
ask if you know how to deal with my bad
sleep problem are you in some trouble
recently perhaps you think so much about
that no everything goes smoothly
I feel hot and sweaty in the evening
feel hot and sweaty
that’s something with your weak kidneys
maybe there is something wrong with your
yin and yang Chinese medicine believes
that these two factors should be
balanced how should I do
there are two herbs for this problem TN
a plant of water lily family and do
Jang
a Chinese native trees bark I will write
an herbal prescription for you and you
go to the Tong dren tongue to get the
herbals okay
twenty-eight to study abroad
dialogue 1
marry have you thought about what you
were going to do after graduation yes I
think I’m going to go abroad to study
more what would you like to study abroad
I’m eager to learn translation I hear
that the computer science is your major
you are right but I am NOT interested in
it at all I’m enthusiastic about English
you mean that you want to change your
profession yes I want to study what I’m
interested in so have you prepared TOEFL
and GRE test I’m preparing them these
days
dialogue to
Sara how about your visa have you passed
it no but I don’t know why tell me what
kind of questions the visa officer asked
just some common questions the
university I applied the major the
tuition resource the job I used to work
and the plan after finishing the course
what’s your answer just tell him the
truth my god I got the reason why you
are denied why you used to be a software
engineer right and the major you will
take is also related so what for the vo
they are too sensitive especially after
9/11 events you have several years of
working experiences on software
engineering and are easy to find a job
in American after finishing the
postgraduate courses I don’t understand
is that the pivot exactly and by the way
you are still single
if you were married the result would be
the opposite I’m wiped out this is the
second time maybe I should marry someone
first
twenty-nine postgraduates fever
dialogue 1
Leo long time no see where have you been
I just quit the job and put my
concentration on the eminent
postgraduate exam at home you are so
great why do you want to be back to the
campus I mean you can take a
postgraduate course after you finish the
work that’s not my style I just can’t
understand a man like you at 35 would
quit the job in current financial slump
actually I have planned to change my job
for a long time since the job market is
so bleak why can’t I go back to campus
and fulfill myself and two years later
when the situation thaw that will be my
balmy spring but how do you support your
family sarah’s job is more stable and
just got the pay rise
dialogue to
Lucy would you like to go to the job
fair with me sorry I have to prepare for
my postgraduate exam and civil servant
recruitment exam you have signed up for
two exams such a crazy girl I’m forced
to it is said that there will be 1
million 40 thousand applicants competing
for 13,000 566 vacancies in civil
servant recruitment exam a chance of 1.3
percent come on give me a break I’m not
packing heat that’s truth every
opportunity is awash with graduates so
do the two exams you take sometime I
think it is just the way to elude the
reality have you ever thought one
question most of students have the same
opinions with you so what will come to
end after you’ve finished the two year
study I don’t know just cross the bridge
when I come to it
30 to be a SOHO
dialogue 1
Susan how eased you are always have much
time to poke around aha
we just got a new renovated system in
our company so you don’t need to be a
regular nine-to-five that’s admirable
the regular nine-to-five means boring
and unfulfilled to me I have no time to
take care of my kids and do housework
how does your boss be so liberal and
open-minded we usually need to sit there
for a whole day to wait if there is
something to be translated might have
half month with nothing to do
that’s waste of time that’s true the
internet is so convenient it’s not
impossible to work at home so that’s
what we talked with our boss and he
finally realized the fact and agreed how
I wish I could have the same work as you
do
dialogue to
Mike what are you up to Susan can we
just talk for SEC no problem
I quit my job yesterday what Mike why
didn’t you discuss with me first you
have two kids
how can you rear them without work I
know what I’m doing I want to start up
my own business to run a clown Express a
clown Express you need to rent a place
and hire several staff members what
about our garage we can redecorate it
and make it like a home office and you
and I we to do the whole business as the
staff and the boss okay I also have a
chance to hitch a ride honey I’m at the
start of an incredible journey and you
are going to be there every step of the
way cheering me on
31 job hunting is too hard
dialogue 1
what happened you look so desperate I
have sent out 50 copies of resume but
got no reply is there anything wrong
with your cell phone number it’s
impossible I double-checked what kind of
company do you want to work for world
top 500 come on you need to be clear
about something
the jobs market being piled with
millions of graduates post graduates and
overseer attorneys is not a paradise
working for top 500 is my dream don’t be
a chooser those HR specialists got
backlog of diversified resumes who will
focus on yours so what should I do
just accept some meaningless jobs every
job has its value working for a couple
of years and then you will have more
chances to hop
dialogue to
Nancy what about your job fair it’s
what happened
found several companies employing the
positions are appropriate to me and I
handed in the resume guess what they
said what you are excellent but I’m
sorry to tell you we just want to employ
someone with doctor degree why I also
want to know a reason the position they
pinned on the wall is just something
like department secretary HR assistant
you can do it they don’t need to find
higher degree or they might pay more who
knows
I almost freaked out
32 individual initiative
dialogue 1
I just came back from job counseling
center is there something you’ve got
they just told me not to be blind or
pessimistic changing pressure into
motivation lowering expectations
enhancing work capabilities and willing
to start from the lowest position may
allow me to catch more work
opportunities start from the lowest
position yes start from the bottom and
work towards the top it sounds like to
start one’s own business well why do we
do something by ourselves you mean to
start our own business come on
better start our own business two or
three years down the road we know
nothing about the society maybe you are
right it will be good for us to come in
on the ground floor
dialogue to
I don’t want to go to job fair anymore
it’s really boring what’s your plan I
plan to start up my own business what
kind of business a store specialized for
t-shirts I know a foreigner opening a
t-shirt store at man Luo goose yang
called plastered ate the guy designs
himself and prints something quite
interesting on like way Ren mean Phu
Gong Bao Zhi ding and so on it’s cool
very traditional Chinese style so I
would like to negotiate with him if he
can appoint me as his agent you are
really something
aha it’s time for me to go for my dance
33 job hopping
dialogue 1
dear have you finished your resignation
yes but I haven’t handed it in yet why
not
I’m afraid my boss will refuse me he
won’t I promise he also spent the same
days but to tell you the truth the boss
I will work with in my new company is
acquainted with the current one do you
think they have made some communication
before I hand in the letter I have no
clue
perhaps not they won’t say hey your
staff will hop to my company that’s
silly
god bless me I’m tired of my current job
dialogue to
why do more people hop from job to job
instead of sticking with one job all
their lives it means new chance and new
challenge just as the old Chinese saying
goes man struggles upwards water flows
downwards that’s right but I’d like to
stick with one job it’s 21st century and
nobody will stick with one job anymore
we like to change and get a higher
payment does every new job mean higher
payment not exactly when graduates come
out for job after finishing their campus
life most of them got the first job
correspondingly once they have been
working for some years and got some
experience they begin job hopping in
order to get more pay therefore job
hopping becomes a fashion but I think
frequent job hopping is not a good thing
to promote ones career yes most of
companies do not like to employ those
changing jobs time and time again
thirty-four
wealth gap
dialogue 1
Susan how about your trip to Western
China I was deeply shocked by the living
quality there what do you mean I mean
the meagerness of daily commodities and
medical care services oh that’s true it
was the first time I saw the trench
latrine kids with naked hips run
everywhere as they saw me I was
immediately surrounded with curious eyes
asking what I held in hands they even
have no idea about cell phone or camera
the gap between the rich and the poor in
western China enlarges rapidly I don’t
understand why people living in such
backward areas don’t find the way to
develop that’s because of the education
graduates are not willing to go there
for teaching due to the poor condition
and low income and parents there have no
enough money to support their children
coming to cities for school education
level decides everything that hits the
point the only thing they can do is to
keep on back-breaking farm work from
sunup to sundown
dialogue to
we besides education what else do you
think can be the reason for wealth gap
child’s number in each family why in the
past people especially rural people like
to have boys they think that boy is the
pillar of a family girl is raised for
others so when a woman give birth to a
baby she was asked to have babies one by
one till the family got a boy oh that’s
weird we like both boys and girls you’re
right
Chinese people hold the total different
concept
so the concept causes that every family
reared at least five to six children how
could they raise so many under such a
poor condition yes children would grow
up and get married and get support from
their parents
you mean the cost for wedding and
dwelling exactly people in the coastal
area are much more open-minded in
children rearing so the gap also
enlarges
thirty-five holiday economy
dialogue 1
Mike I want to sign up in travel agency
for us the national holiday is
approaching oh how time flies which
route I prefer to 5-day Chinese scenic
spots package tour of the Great Wall the
summer palace Terracotta Warriors and
the big goose pagoda 1,600 RMB each that
merits but don’t you think there would
be so many visitors piling into a
hotline Golden Week holiday is surely
the peak season of tourism okay let me
think about it time is limited we must
make our decision before the deadline
the route is among their promotion they
are about to make a fortune of us
dialogue to
Susan come on let’s go shopping today
sorry Sarah I can’t buy more Oh when did
you go why don’t call me together the
following day after the holiday began I
went to Times Square and bought many
items from dresses to shoes I almost
went into bankruptcy what a Shopaholic
you are you cannot blame me sales
promotions ads pins everywhere like
shopping spree women always act on
impulse it’s really difficult to control
I have spent 3 thousands on shopping
within 2 days holiday is really the
vampire you need a chill out for the
next few days
thirty-six
smoked abatements
dialogue 1
dad could you please not smoke at home
Oh Jerry
I have turned on the extractor fan and
the smoke will disappear soon I can’t
bear the smell at all I’m sorry Jerry
but what can I do for you stopping
smoking oh it’s too difficult for me the
most important is smoking is harmful not
only for yourself but for others I know
maybe I should have a try
dialogue to
excuse me madam
yes you don’t mind if I smoke here do
you
in fact yes I do I’m sorry but I think I
can smoke you because it’s not a
non-smoking section am i right
well it’s a non-smoking section indeed
look at the sign on the wall oh I’m so
sorry I didn’t see it not at all but
there may be a smoking section somewhere
else
37
house decoration
dialogue 1
I’d like to have my new house decorated
well how do you want to decorate it as
you know I have no idea about the
decoration what should I do
the decoration company can do everything
for you the only thing you need to do is
to tell the designer your ideas do you
know any good decoration companies no
you can ask your relatives or neighbors
maybe they can give you some advice
thank you
dialogue to
excuse me madam how do you want to
decorate your house I want to paint the
walls of the living room white white
looks clean and bright as to the walls
of the bedrooms I want light yellow okay
I know and the floor what color would
you like I think brown is better all
right anything else I love the open
kitchen and I want to wall lamp in the
kitchen the most important is the
windows must be French windows okay
I’ll call you as soon as I finish the
blueprints
thirty-eight tenants
dialogue 1
I want to find a new place somewhere
near my university do you know any
places well I can ask around to see if
anyone’s got an apartment available
thank you so much it doesn’t matter what
price range are you interested in
somewhere between 800 to 1000 UN
anything you need to have in the place
nothing special a living room a kitchen
and a bedroom that’s enough okay I know
dialogue to
hello could I speak to mrs. Smith please
this is mrs. Smith speaking
who’s that well I saw your housing ad on
the internet I’d like to know if it’s
available now yes
would you mind telling me what the
apartment is like of course not it’s not
big but well fully equipped the
refrigerator is new and the air
conditioner on to the washing machine
are only five months old is there an
elevator there sure it operates 24 hours
a day
the rent is 200 pounds right our
utilities included in the rent so it is
can I come and have a look in the
afternoon
certainly
39
jams
dialogue 1
8:45 now I’m afraid I’ll be late again
what’s up
jams of course I left home a little
earlier than usual in order to avoid the
rush hour but I’m still late why don’t
you try a different route I think it
doesn’t work to be honest it seems that
there are more and more cars on the road
every single day unfortunately what you
said is right maybe we will have no
roads to go in the future
it’s really a pity for drivers
dialogue to
oh I’m sorry I’m late
I have been waiting for you for an hour
what took you so long there’s a terrible
traffic jam and that’s why it took me
two hours to get here perhaps it would
be better if you took public transport
and it would be better for the
environment as well well
when it’s warmer you can ride your
bicycle to work how is it that’s a good
idea I can take exercise by this way
40 AIDS and drugs
dialogue 1
do you know that Dick’s got AIDS I heard
it just now oh dear
really it’s so terrible I think it’s
because he’s been too loose many young
people like him are blind about careless
sex it is said that in just over 20
years 20 million people have died of
AIDS yes they spread very fast and cases
of AIDS are on increase something must
be done to control it in my opinion in
fact the government has been making
efforts to stop them from spreading
dialogue to
look there are so many people over there
what happened well what’s the date today
it’s June 26
I know today is the International
anti-drug day it’s celebrated on June
26th every year it may be for it I guess
I heard each year a theme is established
what’s the theme of this year keep off
drugs and take care of our health
let’s go there and have a look
41 Environmental Protection
dialogue 1
each of us couldn’t survive without
water water pollution is a big problem
in China especially in industrial cities
yeah
one in four citizens has no clean water
to drink the situation is becoming more
and more terrible some chemical
factories are contributing to the high
pollution levels in the water I think
our government should do something to
try to solve the problem they have done
but we can’t just leave it to the
government there are lots of things we
can do to protect the environment too
right if everyone of us is water saving
for example using the washing leftover
to flush the toilet more clean water
will be used by others
dialogue to
drop batteries into the ash bin please
give them to me why do you collect
batteries for fun no don’t you know that
when decomposed batteries will produce
toxic so we can’t toss them how many of
them do you have now
about 50 well could you tell me how you
do with them
just leave them at home of course not
there is a battery recycling location
next to the post office
I’ll take them there on weekend
forty-two
ting things
dialogue 1
hi Susan what are you going to do I’m
going to exchange stamps with some other
collectors well I don’t know that you
have collected stamps may I look at your
stamp album okay here you are wow you
have so many beautiful stamps
how long have you collected them for
about one year and I met lots of new
friends while collecting them so it is I
think it’s a good interest which can
make your life more enjoyable thank you
and I’m able to learn about the world
through collecting stamps
dialogue to
Wow your house is filled up with
antiques you are really a super fan I
think I am
I have spent about half my life
collecting all these items I guess you
have spent lots of money on it right yes
but just for fun I never collect them as
a kind of investment I just have tried
my best to collect antiques as many as
possible I have to say it again
you are really a superfans
forty-three financial crisis
dialogue 1
we are downsizing our workforce and
every one of our department is sensitive
yeah recently corporate downsizing has
been on the rise throughout the world
have you heard that Citigroup yesterday
announced the axing of 17,000 jobs so
many at once yes the cuts account for 5%
of citigroup’s workforce oh why so many
cuts the reason is quite simple in an
effort to halt increasing expenses I
think so whatever they do is to cut cost
all of these are relative to financial
crisis sometimes it is difficult to
determine how to deal with such things
please keep calm nothing serious
dialogue to
the US financial crisis has plunged many
Americans into debt yes you’re right
everyone is crazy about his money and
the dollar is sinking
actually they are crazy about money all
the time yeah but now they are more
serious about that how did you know
financial crisis in America
I read the magazines of America in fact
the situation of America is appeared in
every country’s magazines and newspapers
poor Americans
forty-four stock investments
dialogue 1
you’ve been investing in stock market
for such a long time how do you feel
there are risks in stock market and you
may make money or lose money yeah it is
filled with risks all the time
I bought shares of two stocks one is a
steel stock and the other is a
technology stock what happened then the
steel stock has gone up from 4.5 UN to
13.5 UN per share that was a real great
increase what about the other one it was
down by 2 UN per share
I lost 10,000 UN
dialogue to
Sam would you please help me analyze
this graphic for a stock okay
this graph shows the trend of a stock at
Shanghai Stock Exchange from October
2008 to March 2009 how was it as a whole
there was a major decrease over the
period but after that the stock price
rebound from the middle ten days of
April this year thank you very much I’ll
keep an eye on it good luck
45 buying a house on mortgage loan
dialogue 1
Tony I have heard you decided to buy a
new house is that true yeah but look at
the rising prices how can I afford it
well I think you can get a loan or too
heavy a financial burden and a
psychological pressure you know Oh be
realistic you can’t have your cake and
eat it too I know but it’s still a hard
choice to make
dialogue to
chance to come across an ideal house oh
why don’t you think of buying a
secondhand house I do but those prices
are also unreasonable then what do you
think is a reasonable price I think it
should be between three thousand UN and
seven thousand UN per square meter I
don’t think the housing price is going
higher and higher the government will
take some actions to control it it’s of
no use
actually all home buyers feel worried
about it
maybe the macro control measures need
time to take effect there may be a
bubble in the real-estate market yes it
will burst sooner or later but I fear it
will continue to rise at a greater price