Part C     Additional Listening

A Conversation      Are You Calling About the Party?     

Listen to the conversation and answer the following questions.

1.       Why does Simon make this call?

He calls because he can’t attend Laura’s party.

2.       Who will come to see Simon?

Some of his friends are coming from Scotland to see him.

3.       After going to the opera, what will Simon do?

He will take his friends out to dinner.

4.       What does Laura say that Simon can do later?

She says that Simon can drop in later with his friends.

Movie Time

View a video clip. After viewing it, choose the right answer to each of the following questions.

Word Bank

orphanage      n. 孤儿院

fidget          v. 坐立不安，狂躁

to whom it may concern. （商务信件的称呼语，意为“致相关负责人”）

in conjunction with   与…同心协力

accountant        n. 会计

ground beef        已绞好的碎牛肉

Tupperware       特百惠 （美国一塑料制品品牌）

Script

Doctor: Aren't you supposed to be playing Santa down at the orphanage?

Walter: I can't go through with that.

Doctor: Why not?

Walter: Watch this. Ho, ho.

Doctor: Let's talk.

Doctor: Walter, when I saw you last week. You were so excited about playing Santa for those kids at the orphanage. What happened?

Walter: Doc, the kids are gonna hate me.

Doctor: Now, why should they hate you?

Walter: Same reason everybody hates me. I make people uncomfortable. Look at you. You're fidgeting.

Doctor: I'm not fidgeting. Okay, now, Walter, what's the one thing in your life that bothers you the most?

Walter: Those little subscription cards that fall out of magazines.

Doctor: Walter.

Walter: Being alone.

Doctor: Yes. And don't you think those kids at the orphanage are lonely, too?

Walter: Yeah, but I don't know how to talk to kids, Doc.

Doctor: Well, relax. Just be yourself. You'll know what to say.

Walter: Well, I've been kicking around a few things.

Doctor: Good. Imagine you've just come into the orphanage ... and you're surrounded by all those happy little faces ... and what do you say?

Walter: "To whom it may concern ..." it has come to my attention that tomorrow is Christmas.  "Consequently, I bring items in conjunction with ..."

Doctor: Walter, I wonder if, as an accountant, you might have a tendency to be ...

Walter: I know, I know. Too formal.

Doctor: Walter, I don't know that that much talk is expected of Santa. I might just go with something more traditional. You know, like, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Boy, do I have gifts for you!"

Walter: You have obviously worked with children.

Doctor: Come on, Walter. You'll be fine.

Walter: Oh, Doc, I don't even know if I brought the right gifts.

Doctor: You can't go wrong with kids. They love gifts. See what you got here. Ground beef?

Walter: Go ahead. Say it. I should've bought pork.

Doctor: Well, that's a close call, Walter. Come on. What else have you got? Tupperware.

Walter: Sure, I thought it goes with the beef. You know, they'll use it to mix up some Swedish meatballs or ... The gifts are wrong. Doc, I wanna give these kids something that's gonna make them happy ... but I don't know what to bring.

Doctor: Walter, I'm gonna throw out something kind of crazy now. Toys.

Walter: Toys?

Doctor: Toys.

Walter: Doc, that is so crazy, that just might work.

Doctor: Here.

Questions

1. When did the story probably happen?

a. On Christmas.

b. On the Children’s Day.

c. On New Year’s Day.

d. On a child’s birthday.

2. What might be the man’s job (the man who was talking to Walter)?
a. The head of orphanage.

b. An accountant.

c. A psychologist.

d. A toy salesman.

3. Why did Walter feel upset?
a. He was not welcomed by the kids in orphanage.
b. He was not satisfied with the Christmas gifts he received.
c. He often brought troubles to people around him.
d. He wasted money on buying things unnecessary.

4. What kind of person do you think Walter was?
a. He didn’t like staying with children at parties.
b. He preferred to be alone on Christmas parties.

c. He was not good at communicating with children.
d. He liked to play Santa Clause.

5. What might Walter do after talking with the man?
a. He might buy more gifts for the children.
b. He might return home.
c. He might bring beef and cups to the orphanage.

d. He might give children toys they liked.

Script

Are You Calling About the Party?

Laura:   Hello. This is Laura David speaking.

Simon:   Oh, hello, Laura. This is Simon here, Simon Williams.

Laura:   Oh, Simon. How nice to hear from you. Are you calling about the party? You did get the invitation, didn’t you?

Simon:   Yes, thanks, I did. That’s just it, I’m afraid. You see, I’m already tied up that evening.

Laura:    Oh, really? That’s a pity.

Simon:   Yes. I’m afraid it’s been planned for ages. You see, some friends of mine are coming from Scotland to see me. I haven’t seen them for a long time, and you know … well … I managed to get some tickets for the opera, and I promised to take them out to dinner afterwards. I can’t get out of it, unfortunately. I wish I could.

Laura:    Oh, what a shame! We were looking forward to seeing you. Still, if you drop in later with your friends, we’d love to see you.

Simon:   Thanks. Well, I’ll certainly try, but I don’t think there’s much chance. Actually I’ve sent you an e-mail to say that I can’t come.

Laura:    Oh, have you? That’s very kind, thanks. Well, keep in touch, Simon.

Simon:   I will. Regards to James. And I hope the party goes well. Bye!

Laura:    Thanks. Bye.

Part  D                            

Test Your Listening        

Short Conversations

Listen to the short conversations and choose the right answers to the questions you hear.

1.  a. Mary.  

b. Joe.

c. John.

d. Ann,

2.  a. He doesn’t want to go to the wedding party.

b. He’s rather strange.

c. He never keeps his promise.

d. He has changed his mind.

3.  a. He has got another party to attend.

b. He’s not interested in parties.

c. He won’t be available on New Year’s Day.

d. He has something else to do that evening. 

4.  a. He’s not interested in parties at all.

b. He doesn’t have many friends.

c. He had a good time at Paul’s birthday party.

d. He did not care for the people at Paul’s birthday party.

5.  a. He doesn’t enjoy himself at parties.

b. He likes going to parties.

c. He is too shy to speak to strangers.

d. He doesn’t know how to get along with others.

Script

1. W:      Hi, John. You know Ann has invited me to her house for Joe’s birthday?

M:       Yes, I know. But, Mary, you haven’t forgotten my dinner party next weekend, have you?

Q:       Who has a birthday party?

2. W:      Robert wants to know if he can go with us to Paul’s wedding party.

M:       That’s strange. This morning he said he wanted to go by himself.

Q:       What do we learn about Robert?

3. W:   David is planning a party on New Year’s Eve. Have you got the invitation?

M:  Yes, I have. But you see I’m already tied up that evening.

Q:   What does the man mean?

4. W:      Did you enjoy yourself at Paul’s birthday party?

M:   Oh, it was fun to meet so many friends though normally I don’t care much for parties.

Q:       What do you know about the man?

5. W:      Do you like going to parties?

M:       I guess parties are great fun but very often I don’t know what to say to strangers.

Q:       What can you learn from the man’s reply?