Lesson Fourteen
Section One:
Tapescript.
Dialogue 1:
I want to fly to Geneva on or about the first.
I’ll just see what there is.
I want to go economy, and I’d prefer the morning.
Lufthansa Flight LH 203 leaves at 0920.
What time do I have to be there?
The coach leaves for the airport at 0815.
Dialogue 2:
You must have some more chicken.
No, thanks. I’m supposed to be slimming.
Can’t I tempt you?
Well, maybe I could manage a very small piece.
Dialogue 3:
I expect you could do with a cup of tea, couldn’t you?
I’d rather have a cup of coffee, if you don’t mind.
Milk and sugar?
A milky one without sugar, please.
Dialogue 4:
What would you like to drink?
A black coffee for me, please.
How about something to eat?
Yes, I’d love a portion of that strawberry tart.
Right. I’ll see if I can catch the waitress’s eye.
Dialogue 5:
Can I take your order, sir?
Yes. I’d like to try the steak, please.
And to follow?
Ice-cream, please.
Dialogue 6:
Can I help you, madam?
Is there a bank at this hotel?
Yes, madam, the International Bank has an office on the ground floor of the hotel.
Is it open yet?
Yes, madam, the bank is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.
Thank you.
Dialogue 7:
Can I still get breakfast in the brasserie?
Yes, sir, if you hurry you can just make it—breakfast is served until 10.30.
Dialogue 8:
How soon do I have to leave my room?
Normally it’s by 12 noon on the day of your departure.
Well, you see, my plane doesn’t go till half past five tomorrow afternoon.
I see. Which room is it, madam?
Room 577—the name is Browning. You may keep the room till 3 p.m. if you wish.
Oh, that’s nice. Thank you very much.
Section Two:
Tapescript.
Telephone Conversations:
Conversation 1:
Mrs. Henderson has just answered the telephone. Frank wasn’t in so she had to take a message for him. Listen to the conversation and look at the message she wrote.
Julie: 789 6443. Who’s calling, please?
Paul: Paul Clark here. Can I speak to Mr. Henderson, please?
Julie: Sorry, he’s out at the moment. Can I take a message?
Paul: Yes, please. Could you tell him that his car will be ready by 6 p.m. on Thursday?
Julie: Yes, of course. I’ll do that. What’s your number, in case he wants to ring you?
Paul: 2748 double 53.
Julie: (repeating) 2... 7...4, 8... double 5...3. Thank you. Goodbye.
Conversation 2:
Male: 268 7435. Who’s calling?
Female: This is Helen Adams. Could I speak to my husband?
Male: Sorry, Mr. Adams is out. Can I take a message?
Female: Could you tell him that my mother is arriving on Thursday? At about 1 p.m.
Male: Right, Mrs. Adams. I’ll do that. Where are, in case he wants to ring you?
Female: I’m not at home. The number here is 773 3298.
Male: (repeating the number) 773 3298. Thank you. Goodbye.
Conversation 3:
Female: 575 4661. Who’s calling, please?
Male: This is Mr. Jones from the Daily Star. I’d like to talk to Mr. Henderson.
Female: Sorry, I’m afraid he isn’t in. Can I take a message?
Male: Yes... Please tell him that the advertisement will definitely be in Friday’s paper. That’s Friday, the 13th of this month.
Female: Certainly, Mr. Jones. What’s the phone number, in case he has forgotten.
Male: My number? (astounded) The number of the Daily Star? Everyone knows it. (chanting) 123 4567.
Female: (laughing and repeating) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7. Thank you, Mr. Jones.
Shopping.
Shopkeeper: Yes, Mrs. Davies? What could we do for you today?
Mrs. Davies: I want to order some foods.
Shopkeeper: Well, I thought that might be the reason you came here, Mrs. Davies. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Mrs. Davies: But I want rather a lot, so you’ll have to deliver it.
Shopkeeper: That’s perfectly all right. You just order whatever you like and we’ll send it straight round to your house this afternoon.
Mrs. Davies: Right. Well, first of all I want two boxes of baked beans.
Shopkeeper: You mean two tins?
Mrs. Davies: No, I mean two boxes. Two boxes of tins of baked beans.
Shopkeeper: But each box contains forty-eight tins. Are you really sure you want so many? I mean, it would take a long time to eat so many.
Mrs. Davies: Who said anything about eating them? I’m saving them.
Shopkeeper: Saving them?
Mrs. Davies: Yes, for the war.
Shopkeeper: War? Are we going to have a war?
Mrs. Davies: You never know. I’m not taking any chances. I read the papers. You’re not going to catch me stuck in the house without a thing to eat. So put down two boxes of baked beans, will you? And three boxes of rice, five boxes of spaghetti and you’d better send me a hundred tins of tomato sauce to go with it. Have you got that?
Shopkeeper: Yes, two boxes of baked beans, three boxes of rice, five boxes of spaghetti and a hundred tins of tomato sauce. But I’m not sure we have all these things in stock. I mean not that amount.
Mrs. Davies: How soon can you get them, then?
Shopkeeper: Well, within the next few days. I don’t suppose you’ll be needing them before then, will you?
Mrs. Davies: You never can tell. It’s touch and go. I was watching the nice man on the television last night. You know, the one with the nice teeth. Lovely smile he’s got. And he said, ‘Well, you never can tell.’ And that set me thinking, you see. Anyway, you just deliver them as soon as you can. I shan’t be going out again after today. Now ... now what else? Ah yes, tea and sugar. I’d better have a couple of boxes of each of those. No...no make if four of sugar. I’ve got a sweet tooth.
Shopkeeper: So two boxes of tea and four boxes of sugar. Anything else? It doesn’t sound a very interesting diet. How about half a dozen boxes of tinned fish?
Mrs. Davies: Fish? No, can’t stand fish. Oh, but that reminds me, eight boxes of cat food.
Shopkeeper: Cat food?
Mrs. Davies: Yes. Not for me. You don’t think I’m going to sit there on my own, do you?
Section Three:
Spot Dictation.
Spot Dictation 1:
A (sailor) once went into (a pub) in a very dark street in (Liverpool). He got (very drunk) there and staggered out (around 11 p.m.). Around (midnight), one of his friends found him (on his hands and knees) in the gutter. “What are you doing (there)?” he inquired. “I’m looking for (my wallet). I think I lost it in that dark street (down there),” he said. “Well, if you lost it (in that street), why are you looking for it (here)?” the friend (demanded). The sailor thought for a moment. “Because (the light) is better here,” he answered.
Spot Dictation 2:
A famous (85)-year-old (millionaire) once gave a lecture at (an American university). “I’m going to tell you how to live (a long, healthy life) and how to get (very rich at the same time),” he announced. “The (secret) is very (simple).” “All you have to do is (avoid bad habits) like (drinking) and (smoking). But you have to (get up early) every morning, (work) at least (10 hours) a day and (save every) penny, as well,” he said. A young man in (the audience) stood up. “My father did (all those things) and yet he died (a very poor man) at the age of only (39). How do you (explain that)?” he asked. The millionaire thought (for a moment). “It’s very simple. He didn’t (do them) for (long enough),” he answered.