Dialogue 1: Smartphone Addiction
M: I took a vacation last night.
W: What are you talking about? Where did you take your vacation?
M: I didn't go anywhere. I just spent an evening without my smartphone.
W: How was it?
M: It was great. I got a real magazine and read it with no interruption (中断,干扰). It was very peaceful.
W: Yes, I haven't done that in a long time.
Exercise:
1. If someone is interrupted, they have to stop what they are doing.
2.— What hasn't she done in a long time?
— She hasn't spent time without her smartphone.
M: You know what? I'm beginning to hate smartphones.
W: Really? But you can't live without one, right?
M: Yes, that's the problem. These things are changing the way people live.
Exercise:
1.— What is changing the way people live?
—Smartphones are changing the way people live.
2.—What can't people live without?
—People can't live without smartphones.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. I took a vacation last night.
2. What are you talking about?
3. It was very peaceful.
4. I just spent an evening without my smartphone.
5. She hasn't spent time without her smartphone.
W: Yes, I just saw a documentary (纪录片) about that. A husband was complaining to his wife that she was spending too much time on her smartphone.
M: What happened? Did they get a divorce (离婚)?
W: You guessed it. In the end, they got a divorce.
Exercise:
1.— What happened to the couple?
— In the end, they got a divorce.
2. What was the wife spending too much time doing?
playing on her smartphone
M: It's a bit ironic (讽刺的), don't you think? Smartphones were supposed to bring people together, but they are pulling people apart.
W: Yes, you are right.
M: Hey, just a minute. I've got a message on my smartphone, and it can't wait.
Exercise:
— What do they think ironic about smartphones?
— Instead of bringing people together, they are pulling them apart.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Yes, I just saw a documentary about that.
2. She was spending too much time on her smartphone.
3. Smartphones were supposed to bring people together, but they are pulling people apart.
4. I got a real magazine and read it with no interruption.
Dialogue 2: Rude Boss
(B: Boss E: Employee)
B: Hey, wake up and get back to work. What's wrong with you?
E: I'm on my break sir, and I have a bad headache.
B: Well, we're not paying you to sleep. If you're going to sleep, sleep someplace else.
E: Yes, sir. Sorry, it won't happen again.
B: You had better not.
Exercise:
— How does the manager treat the employee?
— in a threatening manner
E: Just a minute. Don't talk to me like that.
B: What did you say?
E: You hurt me. You don't have to treat people like that.
B: Well, if you don't like it, I suggest you leave.
E: OK, I will. I've had enough of you. I'll get a job somewhere else.
Exercise:
— How does the employee feel?
— angry
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. What's wrong with you?
2. Well, we're not paying you to sleep.
3. The employee treats the manager respectfully.
4. I'm on my break sir, and I have a bad headache.
5. You don't have to treat people like that.
