B: Yeah. I'm really tired of dealing with landlords. So what have you been doing lately? A: Well, I just got back from a vacation in Italy. B: Italy? Whereabouts in Italy?
A: Mostly in the north, around Milan. I have a cousin up there. B: I see. Did you have a good time?
A: Yeah. It was great. In fact, I just got engaged to a guy I met there. B: You're kidding! Well, that must have been some vacation!
Unit 13 A terrific book, but a terrible movie! A: Do you want to see a movie tonight? B: Hmm. Mayge. What's playing?
A: How about the new Steven Spielberg film? I hear it's really exciting. B: Who's Steven Spielberg?
A: You know. He directed Jaws, E. T., and JurassicPark.
B: Oh, JurassicPark was boring. The book by Michael Crichton was fascinating, but the movie was terrible!
A: Well, I'm interested in that new Johnny Depp movie. It's a romance. It's been playing for about a month.
B: Now that sounds good. I've never seen him in a romance, and I think he's a wonderful actor!
A: You never saw Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon? That's got to be one of my favorite movies of all time!
B: Actually, I did see that. It was OK.
A: Well, I'll call the theater and find out what time this new movie starts. [Dials number] Hello. Could you tell me what time the new Johnny Depp movie is playing tonight? [Pause as Lynn listens] Oh, really? Oh, OK. Thanks. [Hang up] You guys won't believe this. The new Johnny Depp movie just finished playing last night! B: Oh, no!
A: Yeah. And guess what's playing now? B: What?
A: Benny and Joon!
B: Well, so much for our going to the movies tonight. What else could we do? A: I have no idea. B: What?
A: The new skating rink opens tonight. Let's go ice-skating! B: Ice-skating? That sounds like fun! A: Let's do it!
A: What did you think of the new Stephen King book?
B: Oh, I couldn't stop reading it once I got started. I stayed up till four o'clock in the morning to finish it!
A: And wasn't the ending great?
B: Yeah, it really was! Such a surprise! And the whole story moved along so fast, too!
A: How did you like the movie?
B: Well, I walked out after half an hour. A: You did?
B: Yeah, it was so dull that I started falling asleep! And I've never seen such bad acting from Jim Carrey!
A: Oh, really? He's usually pretty good.
B: Well, not in that movie. I wish he'd choose better roles.
A: What did you think of that documentary about Australia?
B: Oh, I learned so much! I didn't know they had so many different kinds of animals there. And the photography!
A: Yeah, it was something, wasn't it?
B: Uh-huh, it was pretty amazing. It made me want to go there and see it for myself sometime.
A: Have you read that book that just came out about UFOs?
B: Yeah, what a waste of time! Just the same silly stuff about visitors to Earth from other planets.
A: Uh-huh. It said absolutely nothing new.
B: You know, I'm sick of hearing those stories about little green creatures. If they're real, how come no one can ever take a picture of them?
A: This John Grisham novel looks interesting.
B: Oh, it is. It's about a guy who joins a corrupt law firm and then can't leave. Luckily he has a brave wife who helps him out of the mess. A: Hmm. Maybe I'll read it.
B: Well, the movie is even better.
A: Oh, is that the movie that stars Tom Cruise? B: Yeah. Why don't we rent the video? A: You don't mind seeing it again?
B: Not at all. You rent the video, and I'll bring the popcorn.
A: [Music] Welcome to A Night at the Movies! I'm Pauline Kahn? B: And I'm Colin Hale. Good evening!
A: Tonight we're going to review the new James Bond film. Well, I really liked this new James Bond actor very, very much! B: Mm-hmm.
A: He's the best actor they've ever had in the role-warm, human, even funny. A totally believable character.
B: I have to agree, a prefect double-oh-seven type. Pauline, what did you think of the story? A: It was a standard story for a Bond movie?uh, the usual beautiful women, the usual evil villain-nothing new.
B: Well, I'm surprised. I have to say that I thought the story was unusually good. The race car scenes were exciting, and the surprise ending was great. A: Well, I can't agree with you there!
B: Well, what did you think about the photography?
A: I was not very impressed at all by the photography. Everything looked fake, not real. I can't believe it was actually filmed in Africa where the story took place.
B: I can't believe you! I haven't seen such good photography in a long time, especially in the action scenes.
A: Now that brings up another weakness in the film: the special effects. Again, it's just the same old stuff? the car that flies, the pen that's really a gun. You get tired of that kind of thing.
B: I'd hardly think you and I saw the same movie, Pauline. I have to say that the special effects were the best ever in a Bond film. For example, the scene where A: Excuse me, Colin. We're going to have to break for a commercial. B: You're right, Pauline. We'll be right back with our ratings. [Music]
A: [Music] So, Colin, how do you rate the new James Bond movie that we've reviewed this week?
B: Well, Pauline, I'd have to say that I'm proud to give this movie my highest rating?four stars?and I would like to encourage everyone to go and see this movie soon! How about you, Pauline? You did like the new actor who plays James Bond.
A: That part's true, Colin; however, I have to give the movie only two stars?a rating of “fair.”
B: Hmm. Well, that's all from us tonight. See you next week. [Music]
Unit 14 So that's what it means!
A: Have you met Raj, the student from India? B: No, I haven't.
A: Well, he seems really nice, but there's one thing I noticed. He moves his head from side to side when you talk to him. You know, like this. B: Maybe it means he doesn't understand you. A: No, I don't think so.
B: Or it could mean he doesn't agree with you.
C: Actually, people from India sometimes move their heads from side to side when they agree with what you're saying.
A: Oh, so that's what is means!
A: So how are things at school, Raj? B: Oh, pretty good, actually.
A: Do you find it easy to communicate with people?
B: Most of the time-though there are some things I find a bit unusual-for example, the way that people end a conversation. You know, they'll say things like, “Hey, let's get together soon.” At first, I thought that they were inviting me to do something, but then I realized it's
just a way of saying good-bye. It's not really an invitation at all. It takes a bit of getting used to.
A: You know, these highways are really great, but the road signs are pretty confusing. B: Hmm. What do these lines on the road mean? A: They must mean you aren't allowed to pass here.
B: No. I don't think so. I'm going to pass this car in front of us. It's going too slow. Now, I wonder what that sign up ahead means.
A: It may mean you've got to take a left in this lane.
B: Or maybe it means you can turn left if you want to. I think I'll just go straight.
A: Um, have you noticed that police car behind us? B: Oh, yeah.
A: [Police siren] Oh, no! I'd better pull over. B: May I see your driver's license, please?
A: Sure, of course. Did I do something wrong, Officer?
B: Well, for one thing, you went over a double yellow line back there to pass a car. A: Oh.
B: A double yellow line means” no passing.” You can only pass when there's a broken yellow line on your side. A: Oh.
B: And another thing! You were in the left-turn-only lane, but you didn't turn! You went straight through the intersection instead. A: Oh, I guess I did, Officer,? but?
B: Yes, you did! Don't you know that if there's a sign with an arrow pointing to the left, you have to turn left when you're in that lane? A: Oh, yeah, you're right-
B: Of course, I'm right! My goodness! How did you ever pass your driving test and get a license?
A: Gosh, I'm sorry, Officer.
This one means you aren't allowed to hitchhike. You would see this on a freeway-where cars aren't allowed to stop-or where it's dangerous to walk.
This means you're allowed to use a camera to take photos if you want to. You might see this one in a museum or an art gallery.
You would see this one at an airport or immigration checkpoint. I guess it means you have to go through customs and may have to open your bags for customs inspection.
This one means that the tap water isn't safe to drink. I guess you would see this one in a campsite, where they have water for washing or for cars but which isn't clean enough to drink. You might also see it in a hotel in some countries, where the tap water can't be drunk.