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Audio Transcripts:

Welcome back to Mike in the Morning, the talk show that gets you

ready for the day! For those of you just joining us, we’re discussing ways

to make small talk. Some people find initiating a conversation difficult or

even awkward, but it can be easy. Remember to listen carefully to what

the other person says and respond accordingly. Here are a few topics

you can bring up: entertainment news, like Lady Gaga’s newest CD;

sports—talk about the current rankings and make predictions about the

next game; or your perspective on the New York Times weekly best

seller. And food is always a winning subject. You can recommend that

new steak house you tried last night. Most importantly, just be yourself. If

you’re relaxed, your conversation will flow more smoothly.

GETTING READY

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Audio Transcripts:

Dialogue 1

Hank: Hey, Buddy. I haven’t seen you for ages. How have you been?

Buddy: Pretty good. I’ve been occupied with work—I’m a reporter now. You know what they say: the news never sleeps.

Hank: Yeah. I bet you look forward to your days off.

Buddy: Definitely. This party is awesome, isn’t it?

Hank: For sure. Have you tried the sushi rolls?

Buddy: Not yet.

Hank: You should. They are the best snacks here.

GETTING READY

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GETTING READY

Audio Transcripts:

Dialogue 2

Melody: What a gorgeous baby!

Woman: Thank you. She’s three weeks old.

Melody: That explains why she is so tiny. What’s her name?

Woman: Emily.

Melody: A pretty name for a pretty baby! Are you two enjoying the sunshine?

Woman: Very much. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?

Melody: Yeah, it is. I hope you and Emily have fun on your walk in the park.

Woman: Thanks. Have a nice day.

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GETTING READY

Audio Transcripts:

Dialogue 3

Trish: Hello?Lisa: Hey, Trish. It’s Lisa.

Trish: Hi, Lisa. What’s new?

Lisa: Well, did you hear the news?

Trish: What news? Fill me in.

Lisa: Rumor has it that Molly and Bryan have split up!

Trish: What? They seemed to be really compatible.

Lisa: I know. But I heard that they had a big argument. Molly caught Bryan cheating on her, so she dumped him.

Trish: Wow. That’s crazy!

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VOCABULARY DRILL

Audio Transcripts:

I love having a cell phone. With a cell phone, I can keep in touch with the

most important people in my life. My best mate Linda is number one on my speed

dial. We hang out constantly, and our friendship goes back a long time. She is a

considerate listener and a shoulder to cry on when I feel depressed. The other

people I’ve set on speed dial are my parents, Aunt Stella, and Grandma Grace.

Although we may not always get along, we are respectful toward each other. I

also often call Chris, my gym partner; we work out together twice a week. His

encouragement keeps me motivated to accomplish my exercise goals. When I

can’t make it to work, I call my supervisor, Tina, and colleague Nathan. Tina is an

understanding manager. Whenever I make a blunder, she provides constructive

criticism on how to remedy the problem instead of scolding me. Occasionally, I

contact Brett and Lisa, who oversee the homeless shelter I volunteer at. I’m truly

blessed to have a faithful family and dependable friends.

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Audio Transcripts:

Roy: Hey, Grandpa and Grandma.

Grandpa: Hi, Roy. Good of you to pay us a visit.

Roy: I wanted to show you something I found in the basement.

Grandma: What . . . oh, our senior yearbook! That brings back a lot of memories.

Grandpa: It sure does. This photo was taken at the County Fair during the pie-eating contest. I know I competed, but I don’t recall how I did.

Roy: You won. It says here you ate eight pies in 28 minutes!

Grandpa: Ah yes. It’s all coming back to me now. My classmate Dave had accumulated several wins over the years, and I was determined to beat him.

Grandma: This was taken during our school’s annual Fall Festival.

Grandpa: That definitely rings a bell. I dressed up as a scarecrow.

Roy: What about this picture?

Grandpa: This was taken during our junior prom. The theme was “Lovers in History,” so I went as Romeo and my date was Juliet.

Roy: What was her name?

Grandpa: Hmm . . . I’m drawing a complete blank.

Grandma: Let me jog your memory: it was me! You crazy old man!

EXPRESSION PRACTICE

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EXPRESSION PRACTICE

Audio Transcripts:

My Prince Charming has to love adventure because I’m addicted to thrills.

I’m totally obsessed with skiing—it’s my favorite pastime. I’m also a fan of

outdoor activities, like camping, canoeing, and mountain biking. Also, he must be

an animal lover, as I’m passionate about fighting animal cruelty. Blockbuster

movies aren’t really my thing, but I enjoy watching foreign films. If he’s crazy

about reading, that’s OK. I browse through guidebooks sometimes, but I don’t

care much for popular fiction. Since I’m bored stiff by guys who don’t talk very

much, he should be a good conversationalist. Shopping isn’t my cup of tea, so

I’m not interested in dating someone who is into fashion. And unlike most other

girls, having a nice car doesn’t do anything for me. I’d rather you pick me up for

a date on a bicycle than in a limo. Everyone should care about the environment!

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EXPRESSION PRACTICE

Audio Transcripts:

Connie: Help me, Maggie. Organizing the seating arrangements for my wedding reception is so difficult!

Maggie: Relax, Connie. How hard can it be?

Connie: Most of Max’s family act like they are only casual acquaintances. His two aunts are quite cold to each other.

Maggie: Well, let’s start with your table first. Will Max’s parents be sitting together?

Connie: No. They’re divorced.

Maggie: Oh. Will Max’s sister Susan be in attendance?

Connie: Of course. They are as thick as thieves.

Maggie: Perfect. Your friend Christina is coming, right?

Connie: Yes, but we had a fight last week, and now she’s not talking to me.

Maggie: I hope you two will reconcile before the wedding. How about Louise?

Connie: She must sit at my table. Everybody knows we’re joined at the hip.

Maggie: OK. Where do you want to seat your Uncle Bob?

Connie: He’s a quiet person, and he keeps most of the family at a distance. I guess I will sit him with the rest of the extended family.

Maggie: What about me?

Connie: We’re buddy-buddy. Of course I want you right by my side.

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GRAMMAR WORKOUT

A. Fill in the Blanks Fill in the correct forms of the verbs. There may be more than one possible answer.

1. A ______ the band _____________

(play) when the fireworks display

starts?

B Yes, but they ____________ (end)

their performance shortly

afterwards.

A We ____________ (need) to get

there early.

2. A Next week, Dad _____________

(mingle) with government officials

at the White House.

B Yeah. He _____________ (stand)

next to the president when the

camera crews show up.

will be mingling / is going to be mingling

Will / Is

will be standing / is going to be standing

be playing / going to be playing

will end

will need

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GRAMMAR WORKOUT

A. Fill in the Blanks Fill in the correct forms of the verbs. There may be more than one possible answer.

3. A Mr. Johnson _____________ (not

take) calls until the afternoon.

B OK. I _____________ (try)

contacting him again at around

3:00 p.m.

4. A ______ Claire still _____________

(prepare) the paperwork when the

clients arrive?

B I don’t think so; I expect that she

_____________ (finish) up ahead

of time.

will not be taking / is not going to be taking

will try / am going to try

be preparing / going to be preparing

Will / Is

will finish

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Hello Joe,

I’m thrilled about my upcoming excursion. On Saturday, I 1. ____________

a rental car to Taitung Forest Park at three. At 7:00 p.m., I 2. ____________

the Amis Harvest Festival—I’ve heard that they 3. ____________ fabulous

aboriginal food there. On Sunday morning, I 4. ____________ Tianhou

Temple. Then guess what? I’m off to Green Island. The flight departs at 2:00

p.m., and I 5. ____________ in the gorgeous Pacific Ocean with my scuba

gear an hour after that. I’ll be back in Taitung in the early evening, and I

6. ____________ the train to Taipei as the sun sets. I 7. ____________ you

some souvenirs after I get home.

Brad

GRAMMAR WORKOUT

B. Complete the Letter Finish the letter with the words provided. Use the future continuous tense.

attend

send

drive

tour

serve

board

dive

will be driving / am going to be driving

will be attending / am going to be attending

will be serving / are going to be serving

will be touring / am going to be touring

will be diving / am going to be diving

will be boarding /am going to be boarding

will be sending / am going to be sending

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Dear Mr. Harris,

An early “Happy Birthday” to you! Below is your schedule for October 14 and 15.

1. At 10:30 a.m., you _______________________________________.

2. If everything goes well, you _______________________________ with the client from Australia after lunch.

3. You __________________________________ to some executives in Chicago at 8:30 p.m.

4. You and some colleagues __________________________________ at the end of the day.

5. The next morning, you __________________________________ for the new Midwest branch.

Kind regards,

Jasmine

GRAMMAR WORKOUT

C. Fill Out the Memo Listen to the audio. Complete the note using the future continuous tense.

will be / are going to be signing a contract

will be / are going to be giving a lecture

will be / are going to be attending a conference downtown

will be / are going to be celebrating your birthday

will be / are going to be hosting a ground-breaking ceremony

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Audio Transcripts:

The first thing I’ll be doing tomorrow when I get to the office is sending e-mails

to clients on the east coast. After that, I’ll be making my way downtown as I have

an important conference at 10:30 a.m. At noon, a potential client from Australia

will be meeting me for lunch, and hopefully we’ll be signing a contract in the early

afternoon. Before our office closes at 5:00, I’ll be taking a taxi to the airport in

order to catch a flight to Chicago. After I land, I’ll be giving a speech to a group of

managers at 8:30 in the evening. When my speech is over, a few colleagues will

be taking me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday! Then the day after tomorrow,

I will be hosting a ground-breaking ceremony for our company’s new Midwest

branch office.

GRAMMAR WORKOUT

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

A. Complete the Sentences Fill in the blanks with words from the article. Use the hints to help you.

1. When visiting Seattle, it’s ___________ to always carry an umbrella, as it often rains there. (recommended)

2. It’s ___________ to talk on a cell phone while watching a movie in a movie theater. (discourteous)

3. The author’s writing style is a sharp contrast to the literary ___________. (standard)

4. The newcomer was ___________ qualified during the interview, but she is actually quite disorganized. (appearing to be a certain way)

5. Zack wanted to avoid living in the ___________ of a newly announced construction site. (closeness)

advisable

disrespectful

norm

seemingly

proximity

p.38

p.39

p.40

p.41

p.42

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Common Cultural Blunder

1. Eva is presenting her business card to a Japanese client with her right hand.

READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Fix the Blunders Write down what the people should be doing based on the article.

Rule of Thumb

1.Eva should present her business card with both hands, as that is the social norm in Japan.

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Fix the Blunders Write down what the people should be doing based on the article.

Common Cultural Blunder

2.Alan has been introduced to a Thai woman. He attempts to kiss her on the

cheek.

Rule of Thumb

2.It is inappropriate for members of the opposite sex to touch in public in Thailand. Instead, Alan should just nod or bow to the woman.

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Fix the Blunders Write down what the people should be doing based on the article.

Common Cultural Blunder

3. Mr. Wang stands right next to his American business partner while talking.

Rule of Thumb

3.Mr. Wang is standing too close. Americans prefer more personal space, so Mr. Wang should step back a little.

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Fix the Blunders Write down what the people should be doing based on the article.

Common Cultural Blunder

4.Pam is vacationing in India. She takes her change from a cashier with her left hand.

Rule of Thumb

4.Pam should not be using her left hand to accept things in India since it is considered unclean. She should use her right hand to accept the money.

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READING ─AFTER YOU READ

B. Fix the Blunders Write down what the people should be doing based on the article.

Common Cultural Blunder

5.Melody is perplexed because the guys she meets in Paris don’t shake her

hand.

Rule of Thumb

5.In France, men commonly kiss the cheeks of women they are acquainted with. If Melody is comfortable with that, she should let the men kiss her on the cheeks.

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1. What should you keep in mind whenmeeting people from another culture?

a. You must always show affection topeople of the opposite sex.

b. You should be cautious so you don’taccidentally offend someone.

c. People treat acquaintances with respect.

d. Visitors will always be familiar withwhat to do.

READING ─AFTER YOU READ

C. Multiple Choice Circle the answers.

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2. What is TRUE about physical distance?

a. Most people don’t mind someoneinvading their personal space.

b. Everyone stands the same distanceapart.

c. The amount needed varies with one’ssocial status.

d. The requirement depends on where thespeaker is from.

READING ─AFTER YOU READ

C. Multiple Choice Circle the answers.

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3. What would be considered rude in Brazil?

a. Standing close to new acquaintances

b. Accepting an item with only one hand

c. Keeping your distance from someonewhile conversing

d. Shaking hands with someone senior toyou

AFTER YOU READ

C. Multiple Choice Circle the answers.