Unit 7

The word we live in (13)

Andy: Excuse me. Would you like to make a contribution to Greener World? Carla: Sure. What are you working on right now?

A: Well, we’re developing educational programs for schools. We want to show children how the oceans are being polluted by industrial waste. And we want to tell them about how fish supplies have been depleted through overfishing.

C: I think what you’re doing is terrific. I wish I could do more to help.

A: So, have you ever thought about becoming a member of Greener World? C: No, but tell me a little more about it. (14)

Andy: You know, there’s a factory outside town that’s pumping chemicals into the river. Carla: How can they do that? Isn’t that against the law? A: Yes, it is. But a lot of companies ignore those laws. C: That’s terrible! What can Greener World do?

A: Well, on thing to do about it is to talk to the management. C: What if that doesn’t work?

A: Well, then another way to stop them is to get a TV station to run a story on it.

C: Yes! Companies hate bad publicity. By the way, what’s the name of this company? A: It’s called Apex Industries.

C: Oh no! My uncle is one of their top executives!

Unit 8

Learning to learn (15)

Paula: Do you want to take a class with me at the community college? Jason: Maybe. What are they offering?

P: Well, here’s the course catalog. Take a look.

J: Hmm. They’ve got a lot of language classes – Chinese, German, Japanese. Would you rather learn an Asian language or a European one?

P: Um, actually, I think I’d rather take an art class. They have one on landscape photography and another on making videos.

J: That sounds OK. But I think I’d prefer studying video to learning about photography. P: OH, wait. It says here that you need to provide your own video equipment. J: Oh, I’d rather not spend a lot of money. Let’s see what else they’re offering. (16)

W: So, how’s your French class going?

J: Not bad, but I’m finding the pronunciation difficult.

W: Well, it takes a while to get it right. You could improve your accent by listening to tapes.

J: That’s a good idea. But how do you learn new vocabulary? I always seem to forget new words. W: I learn new words by writing them on pieces of paper and sticking them on my bedroom wall. I look at them every night before I go to sleep. J: Maybe I should try something like that!

Unit 9

Self-improvement (17)

Ken: you know, I’ve always wanted to have my fortune told. Lisa: Really? Do you know where you can get it done?

K: I’m not sure. But maybe there are some fortunetellers listed in the phone book. Let’s take a look.

L: Hmm. Here’s one. You could have your palm read by Madame Zara for $70. K: That’s really expensive.

L: What about this one? You can get your fortune told over the phone for only $3.75a minute. K: That’s reasonable. Come on. Try it with me! (18)

James: This has got to stop! Another Friday night without a date! What can I do?

Mike: What about looking through the personal ads in the newspaper? That’s how I met Stephanie. J: Actually, I’ve tried that. But the people you meet are always different from what you expect. M: Well, why don’t you join a dating service? A friend of mine met his wife that way. J: That’s not a bad idea.

M: Also, it might be a good idea to check out singles’ night at the bookstore. J: Yeah. If I don’t find a date, at least I might find a good book!

Unit 10

The past and the future (19)

Emma: Look. Here’s a quiz on events of the twentieth century. Steve: Oh, let me give it a try. I’m good at history.

E: All right. First question: When did World War I begin? S: I think it began in 1917.

E: OK. And how long has the United Nations been in existence?

S: Uh, since Kennedy became president in 1961.

E: Hmm. Next question: How long was the Berlin Wall up?

S: Well, they built it right after World War II, and it came down in 1989, so it was up for 44 years. Uh, how am I doing so far?

E: Not very well. None of your answers is correct! (20)

Kathy: Have you heard about the new computer they’re coming out with? It’ll be able to recognize any voice command, so you won’t ever need to use the keyboard.

John: Yeah, and soon everyone will be using computers that fit into the palm of your hand. K: Within 20 years, I bet all our news and information will be coming through computers. J: By then, maybe even newspapers will have disappeared!

K: Wow! Computers are going to take over our lives one of these days. J: Yeah! Isn’t great!

Unit 11

Life’s little lessons (21)

Alan: So what were you like as a kid?

Carol: When I was a kid, I was kind of rebellious. A: You? Really? What was the turning point? C: When I graduated from high school. A: What do you mean?

C: Until you graduate, you don’t understand that life is just Beginning. After I finished high school, I realized that I still had a lot to learn.

A: I know what you mean. I was really immature when I was a kid. C: What changed?

A: I think I became more mature after I got my first job. Once you have a job, you learn to be more independent.

C: That’s true. Where did you work? A: In my father’s bank. (22)

Peter: I’m thinking of going back to school to get another degree. It’s so hard to find a job with a degree in literature.

Kay: Yeah, I know what you mean.

P: I should have studied something more practical. If I’d been more sensible, I would have majored in economics.

K: Why did you major in literature?

P: I don’t know! I should have listened to my mother. She wanted me to major in business. K: Oh? What does she do?

P: Mom? She’s a literature professor.

Unit 12

The right stuff (23)

Kelly: I hear you’re going to open your own restaurant. Joe: Yeah, I’ve always wanted my own place. K: But isn’t it a little risky?

J: Sure, but in order to succeed in business, you need to take a few risks – calculated risks, of course. That’s what they taught me in business school, anyway!

K: So what do you have to do in order for a restaurant to succeed in this town? I mean, don’t you need some sort of gimmick?

J: Well, I’ve come up with a concept that I think will work very well. (24)

Alice: What’s your favorite club, Eric?

Eric: The Downtown Club. They have great music, and one nice thing is that it’s never crowded. A: That’s funny. There’s always a long wait outside my favorite club. And I like it because it’s absolutely packed most nights.

E: Why do you think it’s so popular?

A: Well, it just opened a couple of months ago, everything is brand new and modern, and there are lots of “hip” people who go there. It’s called The Casablanca.

E: Oh, right. It’s the newest “in” place. I hear the reason people go there is just to be seen. A: Exactly! Do you want to go some night? E: I thought you’d never ask!

Unite 13

That’s a possibility (25)

Jackie: You asked Beth to be here around seven o’clock, didn’t you? Bill: Yes. What time is it now?

Jackie: It’s nearly a quarter to eight. I wonder what happened.

Bill: Hmm. She might have forgotten the time. Why don’t I call and see if she’s on her way? A few minutes later

Bill: I got her answering machine, so I guess she must have left already.

Jackie: I hope she didn’t have a problem on the road. Her car could have broken down or