W: Hi, Jack. I heard that you are back at school now.
M: Yes, Susan. I just started college after taking three years off after high school.
W: Oh, yeah?
M: I am feeling completely out of practice. I don't know how to handle it, because my former classmates are already seniors and they are graduating this year. And I am just a first year student and I feel kind of at disadvantage.
W: Really? Well, I don't know. I can't did the same thing. I started college right after high school, but I went back after a year. Then after two years, I came back to school again. I actually felt like I appreciated my education more, because I was ready for it.
M: That's a good point. I didn't go on to college after high school, because I wasn't ready. I needed a break.
W: Exactly.
M: Did it take you a while to remember how to fill mark papers, and stuff like that?
W: Yeah, and I was an English major, so I had to do a lot of that. But you catch on quickly and you just learn. Are you taking a lot of courses? Because if you overload yourself, you know, right away it can be difficult.
M: I am trying to take it slow and ease back into it.
Text 2
W: So I was just in San Francisco, and....
M: Nice.
W: I know, I love that town, and we went into China Town, which...err, I love China Town in San Francisco.
M: Theirs is the best, you know. Ours is like two blocks here.
W: Absolutely. Yeah, anyhow, Chinese New Year, it changes every year, because it's not a set holiday.
M: Is that right?
W: It's because every year is actually...is based on the different calendars. And I．..I can't speak very specifically on that. But they have an extra month.
M: The Jewish calendar is kind of like that too.
W: Anyhow, back to Chinese New Year, so do you know what year this year is? It's the year of the pig.
M: How many different animals do they have?
W: Twelve, twelve different animals.
M: Oh, yeah?
W: Yeah. It's really interesting. But do you know what year, what animal you are?
M: Err, I don't know why I know, but I was born in the year of the rooster.
W: Oh, yeah? I am an ox.
Text 3
The marathon is an exciting event in any year. Athletes push themselves to extreme limit of their body to complete the over 42 kilometers race. But during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, three runners performed such great act that the race is considered a truly historic event. One of the runners, Abebe Bikila from Ethiopia, was famous for having won the Olympic marathons at the Rome and Tokyo games. He hoped to win a third in Mexico City. Bikila was really strong as he began the marathon, but at the third of the way into the race, he suddenly dropped out. He's been suffering from a pain in his left leg and could run no more. Mamo Wolde, another Ethiopian runner, saw Bikila dropped out, and immediately pulled on the speed, as he was filled in his falling teammate's shoes. Wolde gave Ethiopia its third marathon victory. But the drama of this marathon did not end when Wolde crossed the finishing line. A little more an hour later, word was passed to the remaining audiences that the last winner in the marathon was arriving. Into the stadium came Akhwari of Tanzania. His leg was bloody and bandaged, moving with pain of every step. He pressed on and finally got passed the finishing line. The crowd tears as if the last winner had been the winner.
Text 4
M: Hey, Lucy, I have a question I'd like to ask you.
W: Yes, go ahead.
M: Well, don't laugh. But I met this really nice woman through an online music group. I need some advice. You see, Claudia.
W: OK. So it's Claudia.
M: Yeah, yeah. She invited me to spend two weeks in Germany. She is planning on introducing me to her parents. What should you do when you greet someone for the first time in Germany?
W: Well, it depends upon your relationship with the person, now speaking of your girlfriend Claudia.
M: Hey, I didn't say she was my girlfriend.
W: Oh, OK, OK. Now if you are meeting someone for the first time, like Claudia's parents, you should make sure you arrive on time.
M: OK, so arrive on time. Err, what about common greetings?
W: Well, Germans often shake hands and they use the person's family name unless they are really close friends.
M: OK, what about with Claudia?
W: Err, you can call her Claudia, shake hands, and why don't you take her some flowers?
Text 5
Rain forests are the lungs of the planet, storing large quantities of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of the world's oxygen. Rain forests have their own perfect system for guaranteeing their own survival. The tall trees make a cover of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants and the forest animals from heavy rain, dry heat and strong winds. Amazingly, the trees grow in such a way that their leaves and branches are all close together; never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think that this is a deliberately method to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf?eating insects. To survive in the forest, animals must climb from tree to tree. The ground floor of the forest is not all covered with leaves and bushes, but is where leaves turn into food for the trees and other forest life. They are called rain forest for nothing; rain forest can produce 75% of their own rain, at least 80 inches of rain a year is normal. And in some areas, there may be as much as 430 inches of rain annually. This is real rain. In just two hours, streams can rise 10 to 20 feet.
Text 6
W: Hello?
M: Hello, is that 8821199?
W: It is, Jane speaking.
M: Oh, are you? I mean I'd like to speak to the secretary of the Readers' Club.
W: Yes, speaking.
M: Oh，oh. Hello, my name is Denis. I am interested in joining the Readers' club, and I'd like some more information. Would you mind telling me how much it costs to join?
W: Membership fee, for an adult it's 2 pounds 50, for a year of course.
M: What sort of event do you have? I mean....
W: Well, there is the club evenings for instance, once a month, usually Wednesdays from 8 till about 10.
M: And where do you hold them?
W: The location is usually the Beach Hotel. Do you know it?
M: Yes, I think I do. Do you have any other interests groups? I can't of like the computer thing.
W: There you are then. The clubs go to computer groups that practice every Friday afternoon.
M: What's the procedure? I mean if I decided to join the group, how do I go about it?
W: You can write to the chairman. His name is Hosegood, H－O－S－E and then GOOD.
M: Yes?
W: Initial: P; address: 3 Clayheel's Road, Apple town. (地名)
M: Thank you very much. You've been very helpful.