Section B Conversation
conversation 1
M: Mrs. Hampton, we’ve got trouble in the press room this morning.
W: Oh, dear. What it about?
M: One of the press operators arrived one hour and half late.
W: But that’s a straightforward affair. He will simply lose part of his pay. That’s why we have a clock-in system.
M: But the point is the man was clocked in at eight o’clock. We have John standing by the time clock and he swears he saw nothing irregular.
W: Is John reliable?
M: Yes, he is. That’s why we chose him for the job.
W: Have you spoken to the man who is late?
M: Not yet. I thought I’d have a word with you first. He is a difficult man and I think there has been some trouble on the shop floor. I’ve got a feeling that a trade union representative is behind this. The manager told me that Jack Green’s been very active around the shop the last few days.
W: Well. What do you want me to do?
M: I was wondering if you’d see Smith, the man who was late, because you are so much better at handling things like this.
W: Oh, all right. I will see him. I must say I agree with you about there being bad feelings in the works. I’ve have the idea for sometime that Jack Green’s been busy stirring things up in connection with the latest wage claim. He’s always tried to make trouble. Well, I will get the manager to send Smith up here.
Q8. What will happen to the press operator who is late for work according to the woman?
Q9. What does the man say about John who stands by the time clock?
Q10. Why does the man suggest the woman see the worker who was late?
Q11. What does the woman say about Jack Green?


conversation 2
W: Our topic today is about something that foreigners nearly always say when they visit Britain. It’s why are the British so cold and they are talking about the British personality, the famous British reserve. It means that we aren’t very friendly; we aren’t very open.
M: So do you think it is true?
W: it is a difficult one. So many people who visit Britain say it’s difficult to make friends with British people. They say we are cold, reserved and unfriendly.
M: I think it’s true. Look at Americans or Australians. They speak the same language, but they are much more open. And you see it when you travel, people, I mean strangers speak to you on the street or on the train. British people seldom speak on the train or the bus not in London anyway.
W: Not in London. That’s it. Capital cities are full of tourists and are never friendly. People are different in other parts of the country.
M: Not completely. I met a woman once, an Italian. She has been working in Manchester for 2 years and no one, not one of the colleagues had ever invited her to their home. They were friendly to her at work but nothing else. She can’t believe it. She said that it would never happen in Italy.
W: You know what they says. An Englishman’s home is his castle. It is really difficult to get inside.
M: Yeah it’s about being private. You go home to your house and your garden and you close the door. It’s your place.
W: That’s why the British don’t like flats. They prefer to living in the houses.
M: That’s true.
Q12 What do foreigners generally think of British people according to the woman?
Q13 What may British people typically do on train according to the man?
Q14 What does the man say about the Italian woman working in Manchester?
Q15 Why do British people prefer houses to flats?