At the Library
Librarian: Good morning. Can I help you find something?
Sasha: Yes. I’m interested in reading about famous Americans.
Librarian: Is there anyone in particular you are interested in reading about?
Sasha: Well, I wish I knew more about the outstanding people who have
played a role in shaping American life and culture.
Librarian: There are many people that have influenced life in America.
Sasha: I wish I could read about all of these people. But I have only a few
hours. If you were me and you had only a few hours, who would
you read about?
Librarian: If I were you, I would read about some of our writers and artists,
such as Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, because they portray life
in America through their work. I also suggest that you read about
some of the American inventors, because their inventions, such as
the car, airplane, and the telephone, have changed our lives
significantly.
Sasha: That sounds like a great place to start.
The Driving Lesson
Miss Green: Good afternoon. My name is Miss Green and I’m your driving
instructor. Is this first lesson?
Simon: It is my first lesson at this driving school.
Miss Green: Oh, you’ve been to another one?
Simon: Yes. The Greenwich school of driving. But I stopped going there.
Miss Green: Why? Weren’t the lessons good enough?
Simon: They were good but my instructor left.
Miss Green: Really? Well, let’s see what you can do. I want you to drive down
this road and turn left at the end.
Simon: Yes, all right.
Miss Green: You drive very well! I’m sure you’ll pass your test. All my pupils
pass their test. Oh, look out! That lorry!
Simon: You said turn left at the end.
Miss Green: When you want to turn a corner, slow down and look first. You
nearly hit that lorry. Please, be careful. Now, turn right at the
traffic lights… Right, not left!
Simon: Sorry, it was too late. I’ve turned left now.
Miss Green: Didn’t you see the No Entry sign? This is a one-way street.
Simon: Why are those drivers shouting?
Miss Green: Because you’re driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Stop the car, please, and turn it round.
Instructor’s Notes
Ted’s instructor: Hello, Ted. I’m glad I saw you before lectures. Did you know
about the change in the examination timetable?
Ted: Change?
Ted’s instructor: Yes. The last day of examinations for your group will be
January 23rd not January 21st.
Ted: Is that definite? We were told they’d be on January 22nd.
Ted’s instructor: There can be no changes now. It’s definitely January 23rd.
Ted: That’s great. I’m going to London on holiday on January 24th.
Ted’s instructor: Have you finished your assignment yet?
Ted: I’m nearly there. I think I’ll give it to you on Tuesday.
Ted’s instructor: That’s good. I can’t let you have another extension.
Ted: I was really grateful for the extra time you gave me. That was a
really big assignment.
Ted’s instructor: Well, I’ll expect it next week. Now, would you like to hear the
details of the schedule?
Ted: Oh, yes, please.
Ted’s instructor: You’ll have four examinations. General mechanics is in the
morning of January 8th, Physics is on the afternoon of January
13th, mathematics is in the morning of January 18th, and
information technology in the afternoon of January 23rd.
Two Professors
Professor Brown: Hello, glad to meet you, Professor Smith, haven’t seen you for
ages, since I left the University.
Professor Smith: How do you do, Professor Brown? I haven’t expected to see you
here. Are you interested in superconductivity problems? By the
way, how are you making your living? I haven’t heard anything
about your work lately. I spent the last two years in Geneva as a
member of a special UN committee.
Professor Brown: I am with Bell Telephone Company. It is a global leader in
electrical engineering. And I deal with new technologies.
Professor Smith: Oh, your work is so important nowadays. Mankind needs energy
for producing light, heat and transportation. This is the basis of
our civilization.
Professor Brown: Sure, that’s so.
Interview with an Expert
Correspondent: Professor, how much impact does weather have on people’s
health and moods?
Professor: We know that weather has an effect on certain diseases such as
arthritis and heart disorders. Weather is also associated with
emotional problems and disturbed behaviour. It is not by itself a
direct cause of mental illness, but it can create an added stress on
people on top of marital, job and other problems.
Correspondent: What kinds of weather have the greatest effect?
Professor: Temperature is the most important factor. Heat is clearly linked to
mood disturbances. We find that heat is an important factor in the
increase of emotional problems.
Correspondent: How much effect does humidity have on individuals?
Professor: Rainy weather leads to gloominess and depression.
Correspondent: And sunshine?
Professor: It’s not too surprising that sunshine, especially in the North, is
associated with positive mood states, especially during winter
months. What’s more interesting is the finding that people are
more likely to help others and behave in a prosocial way.
Vocabulary notes
1. outstanding [aut`stændiη] – знаменитый, известный
2. significantly [sig`nifikәntli] – значительно
3. superconductivity [su:pəkondək`tivәti] – физиол. сверхпроводимость
4. arthritis [a:`θraitis] – артрит
5. behaviour [bi`heiviә] – поведение
6. humidity [hju`miditi] – влажность
