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Joanna Mehlo and her son Tommy Mehlo just moved to Phoenix from San
Francisco. Joanna wrote a letter to her parents in San Francisco. Here is the
letter:
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Steve's restaurant is a crowded place at lunch time. Joanna and the other workers are always busy cooking and serving food to the customers. Today Oscar, the policeman, is there for lunch. Oscar: I am really hungry today. What is the special? Isn't it enchiladas with beans and rice? Joanna: We are out of enchiladas, but the tamales are very good. Oscar: I'm not hungry for tamales today. Are the beans good? Joanna: The beans are excellent. Are you hungry for tacos? The machaca tacos are very tasty today. Oscar: Okay. I'll have the tacos with an order of beans. Joanna: Aren't you thirsty? Oscar: Oh yes. I'll have a large iced tea.
Hilda is at work. She is a nurse in Dr. Morgan's office. The doctor isn't in yet, but several patients are in the waiting room. They aren't happy. Patient #1: I am very sick. When is the doctor due to come back from lunch? Patient #2: You're not as sick as I am. I have been running a fever for days. Patient #3: Oh, stop complaining. I have a terrible headache. We are all sick and we all need to see the doctor. Just then the doctor arrives.
David is at school today. He and his classmate George are in the library. They have an English assignment to do. They have to interview each other for their English class. Here is their interview. David: Where are you from? Aren't you French? George: No. I'm not from France. I'm from Belgium, but I speak French. David: My family is originally from Mexico, but we are citizens of the United States now. George: It is certainly interesting to meet people who are from different countries.
(Hilda is at the gas station. She calls her husband Alfred on the phone.) Hilda: Hi, Alfred. I am at the gas station. Alfred: Really? Why? Hilda: The car is not working. Alfred: What is wrong? Hilda: I don't know. Alfred: Is the mechanic there? Hilda: Yes. Here he is. Mechanic: Hello. Alfred: Hi. My name is Alfred. I am Hilda's husband. Mechanic: Hi. My name is George. I am the mechanic here. Alfred: What is wrong with the car? Mechanic: We aren't sure. Alfred: Is it the radiator? Mechanic: No, it isn't. Alfred: Is it the battery? Mechanic: No, the battery is OK. We're going to check the motor.Alfred: OK. Where are you located? Mechanic: We are on the corner of 42nd Avenue and Thomas. Alfred: Tell my wife I will be there in ten minutes. Mechanic: OK. See you soon. Alfred: Good-bye.
Alfred Marin is looking for a new job. Right now he has a job at Jones Manufacturing Company. He doesn't like it because he works nights. Hilda, his wife, wants him to be home at night. She has a day job, and they don't see each other very often. Here is a conversation between them: Hilda: I wish that you would find a new job. Alfred: You're right. It is not good for us to see so little of each other. Will you help me look through the want ads this morning? Hilda: Yes. It is a good idea to start looking right away.
Today there is a birthday party for Joanna. She is having a potluck, and all of her friends are bringing something to eat. Joanna is very excited to see them. Jan makes a salad, and she places it in the refrigerator. Joanna asks her, "Did you bake a cake for me?" "No," answers Jan. Next, Craig brings dip and chips, and he puts them on the living room table. Joanna asks him, "Did you bake me a cake?" "No," answers Craig. Finally, Michael arrives with a beautiful birthday cake. "We all bought it. It is from us," her friends shout. Joanna blows out the candles and says, "Oh, thank you so much. I am so happy. Now it feels like my birthday!"
Oscar goes to the drugstore to buy some medicine for his wife Norma. He called the drugstore one hour ago to get the prescription filled. Clerk: Can I help you? Oscar: Yes. I want to pick up the medicine for my wife. Is her prescription ready? She needs it right now. Clerk: What is her name? Oscar: Norma Marin, M-A-R-I-N. She will be angry with me if it isn't ready. Clerk: Oh! I know you and your wife. My husband and I met you at a Pop Warner football game last month. Oscar: That's right! I enjoyed talking to him at the game. Clerk: I'll tell him that I saw you. Here are your wife's tablets. You can pay for them here. (Oscar gives her a ten-dollar bill, and she gives him too much change.) Clerk: Here is your change. Oscar: Oops! You gave me an extra dollar. Clerk: Oh! Thank you for telling me. I hope your wife gets well soon. Oscar: Thank you. I'll tell her when I get home. Clerk: Thank you for buying your medicine from us! Have a nice day. Oscar: Bye-bye!
Hilda and her classmate Frank are at the library at Glendale Community College. Hilda: I hope the library has a couple of good Chinese cookbooks. My husband loves Chinese food, so I want to surprise him with a wonderful Chinese dinner for his birthday. Frank: That will be nice. What I need is an automotive repair book. I have to replace the water pump on my car and I don't know how. (Frank sees a librarian) Frank: I think we should ask her for help. Hilda: Could you please help us? We don't know where the cookbooks and the automotive repair books are. Librarian: Of course. They're over there. The cookbooks are in the first stack by the wall, and the automotive books are right behind the first stack. When you find the books you want, bring them to me. (Frank and Hilda find the books and take them back to the librarian.) Librarian: I see you found what you need. May I see your library cards? Frank: Sure. Librarian: All right. Here are your books. Hilda: Thank you very much!
Alfred: The traffic in Phoenix is terrible! I am tired of fighting it when I drive to work. Hilda: I agree. The bus is always late, but I will have to ride it to work until my car is fixed. Will you take me to work tomorrow? Alfred: I can take you to work tomorrow if we leave early. I have to pick Fred up too. I will pick him up a little bit later. Hilda: The mechanic called this afternoon and told me the radiator in my car needed to be fixed. He said it could be fixed by Thursday. He also said my car needed two new tires. He could get them for us at a discount. I told him that I needed to talk to you first. Alfred: Your car is costing us a lot of money! Let's call Oscar and Norma and tell them we will buy their old car. They can give it to us next week. Hilda: We can't. I already called Norma and told her we don't want it. She told Oscar to sell it to someone else. I saw some new cars advertised at Al's Car Lot. Let's go look at them tonight.
My name is Tabrina Wolde. I work at First State Bank. The bank opens at nine in the morning. Mr. Grayson is the president and runs the whole bank. He supervises three vice presidents: Miss Polson, Mr. Gomez, and Mr. Wang. They each supervise other managers at the bank. Silvia Prieto is my boss. She manages all the workers in the New Accounts Department.
My name is Hilda. My husband's name is Alfred. Every day I cook dinner and clean the house. Every day Alfred cooks breakfast and cleans the yard. I like vegetables, and Alfred likes meat. We usually fix lunch together. When we fix lunch together, Alfred washes the tomatoes and lettuce and I cut them. Then Alfred fries the onions and hamburgers. After that, I put the hamburgers on the buns and add the tomatoes. When Alfred eats his hamburger, he always says, "It is delicious!"
Alfred Marin works at Motorwell Company. His insurance plan requires him to get a medical checkup every year. Alfred worries about his blood pressure. He knows that he weighs too much and eats too much salt. He also smokes. He knows that he must change his habits. Every year Alfred visits Dr. Johnson. He goes to the outpatient clinic. The doctor does several tests. The tests show if Alfred is healthy. Dr. Johnson comes into Alfred's room. He carries some instruments with him. He takes Alfred's blood pressure and watches the numbers. He says that the numbers are too high. Then he hurries away. Alfred goes home and tells Hilda. She worries also. He waits for the doctor's diagnosis of his case.
Tommy is a student at Pinewood Elementary School. He catches the bus one block from his house. He meets his friend before school and they talk together before school starts. When they get to the classroom, their teacher, Mrs. Miller, greets them and asks them to take a seat. The students work hard and learn quickly. Their teacher helps them with extra assignments. At 11:30 they have lunch. In the afternoon they study geography, and at 3:00 P.M. they go home.
Joanna has a very busy schedule every Saturday. First she gets up early and washes her car. Then she stops at the dry cleaners because it opens early. She drops off her cleaning, and then she picks up her sister. They go grocery shopping at the new store. After they go home and put the groceries away, they often drive to areas of interest around the Valley of the Sun. Sometimes, they visit the zoo. Often, they go to the Botanical Gardens, where Joanna's sister is a member. She receives ten free passes a year, so it costs them nothing to get in. They enjoy looking at the desert plants and flowers as they walk around. Joanna sometimes carries her camera and takes pictures of the different plants and flowers.
David's classmate Rita Lee is looking for a job. She is talking to the manager of a clothing store. Rita: Do you have any jobs available? Manager: Yes, we do. What do you want to do? Rita: Does the women's department have any openings? Manager: Yes, it does. Do you have any sales experience? Rita: Yes, I do. I've worked for three years in a small clothing store. Do you need references? Manager: Yes, we do need references. Rita: Does your store provide benefits for part-time employees? Manager: No, it doesn't. We don't have health insurance for part-time employees. Do you plan to work part-time? Rita: Yes. I am also going to school.
In the snack bar of the student union, David and Rita are ordering lunch. They talk to the cook at the grill. David: Do you have regular hamburgers today? Cook: No, we don't. We only have the quarter pounders left. David: I don't want such a big burger. I'll have a fish sandwich. Rita: But I do. I'll have a quarter pounder. Does it come with onions? Cook: Yes, it does. Do you also want lettuce and tomatoes on your sandwich? Rita: Yes, I do, but he doesn't like tomatoes. Cook (to David): Do you just want lettuce? David: No, I don't. Do you have mayonnaise? Cook: Yes, we do. Do you both want mayonnaise? David and Rita: Yes, we do, but we don't want very much. Thank you.
Oscar is a policeman. One of the many duties of his job is to help injured people at the scene of an accident. Today he is talking to a driver who has been in an automobile accident. Oscar: Where do you have pain? Driver: My head doesn't hurt, but my neck does. Oscar: The paramedics will be here soon. Do you have any other pains? Driver: No, I don't, but my seatbelt doesn't unfasten. Oscar: Do your passengers need to go to the hospital? Driver: My wife doesn't have any injuries, but my son does. He scratched his arm. He doesn't want to go to the hospital. Oscar: The paramedics don't want to force anyone to go to the hospital, but they need to make sure everything is okay. Does your family have any medical insurance? Driver: Yes, we do.
Tommy and Joey are going to make a solar cooker for a science project. They are talking about the project and the supplies they will need for the project. Tommy: What do we need for this project? Joey: I don't think it's very hard to make a solar oven. We just need to cover a box with aluminum foil. Does your mom have some? Tommy: Yes, I'm sure she does. But we don't have a big box. Do your parents have any boxes in the garage? Joey: Yes, they do. My dad brings home a lot of boxes from work. We also need colored paper and markers. Do you have colored paper and markers? Tommy: I don't have any markers, but I have a new box of crayons. My mom doesn't have any colored paper, but she has some big sheets of posterboard that we can use. Joey: That's enough to get started. We don't need any more supplies. Tommy: Well, making the oven is easy, but we have to write a report and illustrate it. Joey: Don't you think we should talk to the teacher? We need information on solar cooking. I don't know where to find it, but I'm sure the teacher does.
Hilda and Alfred want to buy a new car. They are at Honest John's Sales. They are looking at many cars. Salesman: Hi, can I help you? Alfred: Yes. We want to buy a new car. We like Nissans. Do you have any to show us? Salesman: Of course. Here is a four-door Nissan Sentra. Hilda: This is nice. Do Nissans get good gas mileage? Salesman: This one gets 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon on the freeway.Alfred: Does it cost less than $8,000? Salesman: I'm sorry. It costs $13,769. Hilda: That's too much. We do not have that much money. Do you have a Nissan for $8,000? Salesman: We have some used Nissans for that price or for less. Here is a 1985 two-door hatchback.
Alfred is thinking about changing jobs and working for the Smith Company headquarters in Phoenix. Yesterday, Alfred went to the Smith Company headquarters in Phoenix. The secretary gave him an application form to fill out. The form looked like this. What is your first name? What is your last name? What is your gender? Where do you live? When were you born? What is your social security number? These are some of the information questions Alfred Marin has to answer in order to fill out a job application. Alfred filled out the form and turned it in to the secretary.
Joanna and Tommy are grocery shopping. Joanna: Where is my shopping list? Oh, here it is. What do you want for dinner tonight? Tommy: Let's have spaghetti. Joanna: That sounds really good. Why don't you go to the bakery and pick up some French bread? I'll get the spaghetti and sauce. Tommy: How many loaves should I buy? Joanna: Buy two. I love French bread and I know you do too. Tommy: When can we eat? I am starved. Joanna: It will only take about half an hour to prepare the spaghetti and sauce. What type of salad should we have? Tommy: Green salad is fine. By the way, where is the breakfast food aisle? We need cereal.
Alfred is talking to Hilda about his visit to the doctor. Hilda: What did the doctor say about your stomach problems? Alfred: He said that I should try these new pills for two weeks. He thinks I have an ulcer. Hilda: Oh dear. How many pills should you take each day? Alfred: I'm supposed to take three pills a day. Hilda: When do you take them? Before or after meals? Alfred: After meals. Where should I keep the medicine so that I remember to take it? Hilda: Why don't you put it on the kitchen counter? That way you'll see it from the kitchen table when we are eating. Alfred: That's a good idea. Hilda: When do you have to go back to see the doctor? Alfred: He wants to see me next Wednesday.
Tommy is talking to his mother Joanna about a school bake sale. Tommy: Next week we are having a bake sale to raise money to buy new computers. What can I bring to sell? Joanna: Why don't we bake some cookies? Who's in charge of the sale? Tommy: My teacher, Miss Martin. She wants to know if you can help at the sale. Joanna: Yes, I can help. How many cookies should we bake? Tommy: Let's bake 5 dozen. When can we bake them? Joanna: We can start today and put some in the freezer. When is the sale? Tommy: It's next Wednesday. Joanna: At what time? Tommy: It's at lunch time in the cafeteria. Joanna: Where do I go to help with the sale? Tommy: Miss Martin said to come to her room, 224, at 11:30. She will show you where the cafeteria is.
Tabrina has been taking the bus to work. She wants to start a carpool with her co-workers. Now she is talking to Charlie and Sheila. Tabrina: Who wants to start a carpool with me? Sheila: I do. Charlie: I do, too. Where do you live? Tabrina: I live near Northern and the freeway. How many times a week can you drive? Sheila: I can drive two days a week. What type of car do you have, Tabrina? Tabrina: I have a four-door car. I can drive two days a week too. Charlie: When can we start the carpool? Sheila: Why don't we start next Monday? What is your address Tabrina? Tabrina: 4433 West Northern. Where do you think we should meet? Charlie: Let's meet in the parking lot across the street from the store on 43rd Avenue and Northern.
Joanna Mehlo works at Steve's Restaurant. She must fill in a time card every week. Her name and employee number go on the lines at the top of the card. The week that Joanna is working is shown on the time card. There is a place on the time card to record the time she comes in to work and leaves work each day. She also puts the card in the clock before her lunch break and after her break. This is called punching in and punching out. At the end of the week, she must sign her name on the bottom line and record the total number of hours she worked during the week. Her supervisor will check the time card and approve it so Joanna can be paid.
Tommy is in a grocery store. He sees many different fruits on the shelves. The watermelons are under the grapes. The oranges and the bananas are above the grapes. The grapes are between the oranges and the watermelons. The bananas are next to the oranges. Tommy picks an orange, pays the cashier, and walks out of the store.
Hello! My name is Hilda Marin. I am a receptionist. This is Doctor Johnson's office. It is very comfortable. I know where everything is.The door is on the left. The desk is on the right. The wastebasket is in front of the desk. I am behind the desk. The telephone is on the desk. The desk is under the telephone.
In English class, David sits in the second row next to Sue. His desk is behind Dora's. He sits in front of Mary. John sits across the aisle from Dora. Both John and Dora sit in the first row.David puts his bag on the floor against his desk. His book and notebook are on the desk. His notebook is under the book. The pencil is next to the notebook. His feet are under the desk.
Hilda lives at 1416 South 42nd Avenue. First Hilda needs to return books to the library. The library is on 40th Avenue. Then she needs to go to the drugstore across the street from the library to pick up a prescription.After that, she needs to go to the laundromat which is next to the drugstore. When she finishes her laundry, she will meet a friend at the Mexican restaurant between the laundromat and her house. After lunch she needs to stop at the grocery store in front of her house.
Tabrina Wolde works at First State Bank. She rides a bus to work. She takes the number 100 bus which she catches at 7:00 a.m. The bank opens at 9:00 a.m., but she has to arrive an hour before the bank opens.She is an employee in the New Accounts Department. The people in her department get along very well. They have a good boss, Silvia Prieto.
Apple pie is a very popular dessert in the United States. When we describe something that is considered typically American, we say "it is as American as apple pie." You may have heard such phrases as "The Fourth of July is as American as apple pie," "Football is as American as apple pie," and "A hamburger is as American as apple pie." It is very easy to make an apple pie. First, you need six apples. Peel the apples and cut the apples into small pieces. In a bowl, add a cup of sugar, two tablespoons of flour, and a tablespoon of cinnamon. Add the apples, and then mix all the ingredients together. Make a crust and line a pie plate with the crust. Fill the pie pan with the apple mixture. Cover the pie with a top crust. The apple pie should be cooked in an oven for an hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve with a slice of cheese or a scoop of ice cream on top.
Tommy falls and hurts an arm. His mother, Joanna, takes him to the doctor. Nurse: What happened, Tommy? Tommy: I was hiking in the Superstition Mountains with a friend and I slipped on a rock. Joanna: I gave him an aspirin, but his arm still hurts a lot. Nurse: Aspirins don't help very much if the pain is really bad. Do you have an appointment with Dr. Henkins or Dr. Roberts? Joanna: It's with Dr. Roberts. Nurse: Okay, the doctor is with a patient right now. He'll see you in a few minutes. Joanna: Thank you. Tommy: Mom, doctors are always busy, aren't they? Joanna: Yes, Tommy. The doctors in this office are certainly busy. Look at the chairs in this office. Not one is empty!
Hilda is talking on the phone to her friend Martha. They are talking about studying English. Hilda: Are you taking an English class next semester? Martha: I don't know. Are the classes at Glendale Community College very hard? Hilda: Well, I have to study a lot for the grammar class, but I am learning how to write in English. Martha: I think I want to take a conversation class. Is the conversation class easy? Hilda: I don't think English classes are very easy, but the conversation class at Glendale is fun. We talk about clothes, restaurants, and people. The students in my conversation class are very friendly, and the teacher is nice. Martha: I think that I will enroll for the conversation class. I might take a grammar class, too.
Joanna Mehlo and her son Tommy are excited because they have just won $5,000 in the Arizona Lottery! Now they have the money to travel around the United States this summer. Joanna and Tommy will first take a bus to California. The bus will go to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In Los Angeles they will see a baseball game, an art exhibit, an umbrella factory and an old movie studio. In San Diego they will visit the zoo, the beach, and the harbor. They will take a boat cruise to an island. They will also visit an airplane museum. Then Joanna and Tommy will take a train to New York. The train will go through New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. When they get to New York, they will stay at the Plaza Hotel and take a taxi to the Empire State Building and a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. The travel agent in Phoenix made all the reservations for the trips. The travel agent also told Joanna that in New York the subways are fast and the taxi drivers drive crazily.
Alfred Marin, an electrical engineer at Motorwell, writes a note to his supervisor, John Franklin. June 10 3:30 PM (end of shift) Dear John, This shift made 200 parts for the equipment you need to send out. Seventeen pieces are not good enough. Most of the work was good. One hundred eighty-three of the 200 parts were good. Now the next shift can put together the 70 boards we need for our customers. My advice is to have the employees work overtime for the next 2 days. Time is money. We must get the work out soon. Alfred
Hilda and Alfred are making a shopping list to go to the store. Alfred: We need to buy some fruit because I am on a diet. I want apples, cherries, and a pineapple. Hilda: We are also out of coffee and milk. Alfred: Remember we need potatoes and a tomato too. Let's also buy sugar and eggs. I want to make a cake. Hilda: You want a cake? You're on a diet! Alfred: Well, maybe I'll start tomorrow.
Alfred didn't feel well. He went to Dr. Smith's office. While he was waiting to see the doctor, he sat in a comfortable chair and read several magazines. Finally, the nurse called him into the examining room. There she took his temperature and blood pressure. A few minutes later, Dr. Smith came in. After he examined Alfred, he said, "I can't find anything wrong except your blood pressure, which is slightly high. Have you been under stress lately?" Alfred answered, "I've been working a lot of extra hours lately." The doctor said, "My advice to you is to take a few days off work. You'll begin to feel better if you get some rest, exercise every day, drink plenty of water, and take this medicine that I am prescribing for you. I want to see you again in two weeks after you've had some time to get better." "Thank you, doctor," said Alfred.
Frank and Hilda are discussing the English classes at their community college. Frank: Our grammar teacher certainly gives a lot of homework. Hilda: Yes. Sometimes I feel a lot of pressure to get my assignments finished on time. Frank: I spent three hours writing the sentences that she assigned yesterday. That's a lot of time to spend on work for one class. Hilda: I'm afraid I won't have time to finish reading the pages in the next chapter. Frank: I can give you some help if you want more information about the chapter.
David is going to take three trips this summer. He has saved some money and has received a lot of information from a travel agency. He will take a boat to Mexico and stay a few days. Then, he will take an airplane to New York and stay three weeks. Next, he will take a train to Chicago and stay a month. He doesn't want to drive his old car because it uses too much gas and oil. He will only take two suitcases because he doesn't want to carry much baggage.
David is looking for a full-time job for the summer. He is interviewing for a job at Kay Mart in the electronics department. He wants to continue to work there part-time when school starts again in the fall. This is part of the interview David had with the store manager, Ms. Johansen.Ms. Johansen: Hello. You are applying for the job in the electronics department, I see. David: Yes, I am. Ms. Johansen: Please tell me about your past work experience. David: Well, for the past year I worked at the Audio-Video Warehouse. Ms. Johansen: What did you do there? David: I checked out tapes to customers. I sold VCRs, TVs, stereos, cassette players and other electronic products. I priced products. I talked to customers about the best product for them to buy.Ms. Johansen: Did you work the cash register? David: Yes, I did. Ms. Johansen: Did you take inventory? David: No, I didn't. Ms. Johansen: What else did you do? David: I answered questions and told customers how to use the products. Ms. Johansen: Great! You have a lot of experience in this area.
Oscar and Norma went to dinner at Steve's Mexican Restaurant last night. After they entered the restaurant and sat down, a waitress took their order. They ordered chimichangas. Then their waitress, Joanna, asked them if they would like something to drink while they waited for their food. She recommended the margaritas. Joanna brought their drinks. Norma tasted hers and said, "This is delicious. What do you think, Oscar?" Oscar replied, "This is the best margarita I have ever had." After a delicious dinner, Oscar and Norma tipped the waitress generously.
Hilda likes her job as a medical secretary. Right now, she is telling Alfred about her busy day. Alfred: You look tired, dear. Hilda: I had a busy day. We saw 46 patients today! Alfred: Wow! I thought my day was busy. Hilda: The telephone rang every five minutes. I spoke to one patient four times in one hour. Alfred: Why? Hilda: He fell and hit his head, so he called to make an appointment. Then he called again because he forgot where he wrote the time for his appointment. He called the third time and said his head hurt and he felt dizzy. Alfred: Why did he call the fourth time --- to say that he took two aspirins and didn't need to see the doctor? Hilda: No. He called the fourth time to say that he slept for 30 minutes, felt a lot better, and didn't need to see the doctor!
Hilda Marin studies English at Glendale Community College. Last Tuesday she forgot to turn in her homework. Her teacher told her to write a letter explaining why she forgot her homework. Here is the letter she wrote.Dear Teacher, Last Tuesday I had a terrible day. I woke up early and did my homework. I read Chapter Three in the grammar book. Then I put my homework and my grammar book on the kitchen table and left for work. I had to work until 6:15. So I drove very fast to get to school. Before I knew it, a police car was pulling me over. The police woman gave me a ticket. I got to school at 7:00. Then I remembered that my grammar book, my homework, and my notebook were at home. I felt terrible. I thought: "Class began 30 minutes ago so I had better not go home." This is why I was late and why I forgot my homework. I'm very sorry but I had a terrible day. I hope you understand. Thank you, Hilda Marin
Tabrina and her husband Tim planned a trip to the Grand Canyon. They spent the first night of their trip in Flagstaff. That evening they ate dinner at a local steak house. They enjoyed the meal, but Tabrina was tired, so they went back to their motel. They slept until 8:00 A.M. the next morning. After they got up, they had a quick breakfast and drove to the Grand Canyon. "This view is magnificent," exclaimed Tim. "Would you like to fly over it?" asked Tabrina. "I certainly would," replied Tim. They made reservations with a helicopter company that gave tours. That afternoon, they flew over the canyon and were amazed by its beauty.
"Fire!" someone shouted in the kitchen of Steve's Restaurant. Joanna Mehlo ran into the kitchen to help. "Can you use the fire extinguisher?" asked the chef. "Yes, I can," said Joanna. "We must put it out quickly, or it might get bigger and someone could get hurt." "I should spray this pan first. There! Now the fire can't spread to the other food." "All the waiters and waitresses must leave the kitchen now, so the kitchen helpers can clean up. It may take them a while."
Joe: Let's go eat lunch. I can drive today because I have my car. David: Great! I should be back around 1:00 though. The boss said I must attend the sales meeting at 1:30. Joe: Okay. I can get you back on time. (David and Joe enter the restaurant and sit down at a table.) David: Joe, you should try the hamburgers. They're delicious. Joe: Are they very filling or should I order French fries too? David: Are you kidding? I can eat the hamburger, French fries, and a salad. I may even order the apple pie for dessert. Joe: May I borrow a dollar and then I can order an ice cream sundae? David: Sure. I hope the food comes soon because I must be on time for the meeting.
Hi! I'm Joanna Mehlo. My son, Tommy, is sick today. He can't go to school. He should stay in bed. I must write a note to his teacher. Here is the note I'm going to send to Tommy's teacher. Dear Miss Bradley: Tommy can't come to school today. He is sick, and he must go to the doctor. He should rest today, but he will return to school soon. Sincerely, Joanna
Joanna Mehlo received a note from Tommy's teacher, Mrs. Bradley. Tommy is behind in his work at school. Here is the note:Dear Mrs. Mehlo, Tommy must make up the assignments that he missed while he was absent. He should see me after school on Friday so that we may go over what he should make up. He might need to do some extra work at home. Could you also come in on Friday so that we can discuss what you can do to help him review? His missing assignments may be turned in anytime next week. He should have everything completed by next Friday. Sincerely, Mary Bradley
David has an old Corvette. Every year he must register his car to get new stickers for his license plates. To be registered, the car must pass the emissions test at the Emission Control Center. David has car insurance for his car, but this year he cannot register the car because it has not passed the emissions test. He must repair the car. He should take it to a mechanic to repair it. He should get a tune up. However, David knows a little about cars. He may give the car a tune up himself. David works on his car all day Saturday. He gives it a tune up. On Monday he takes the car to the Emission Control Center for the second test. The car does not pass the test again! Now he must take it to a mechanic. He cannot fix it himself. He calls a mechanic. He will take the car to the mechanic tomorrow.
David is on the telephone with the Personnel Office. He wants to apply for a job. Secretary: Hello. Personnel Office. David: Hello. I want to apply for a job as a cashier. Secretary: You should pick up an application at this office. Then fill it out and turn it in here. We will keep it and call you up if we have a vacancy. David: OK. I'll come by to pick it up this afternoon. Thanks. Goodbye. Secretary: Goodbye.
Even though Joanna works in a restaurant, she likes to cook in her spare time. Today she and Tommy are baking a cake. Joanna: Tommy, would you please measure two cups of flour out for me? Tommy: How far do I fill up this big cup? Joanna: Fill it up to the top. It's two cups exactly. Level the flour off by pulling a knife across the top. Now measure out one cup of sugar. Be sure to measure it out carefully. Tommy: Oops, I spilled some, Mom. Joanna: That's O.K. We can clean it up.
Alfred's stomach has been bothering him for several days. Hilda has been urging him to go to the doctor. Hilda: You can't put it off any longer. Call up the doctor's office and make an appointment right away. He should check you over as soon as possible. Alfred: You're right. It may be nothing more than indigestion, but to be safe, I'll have him check me over. Hilda: Well, I'm glad you finally figured it out. You can't ignore the pain. Why don't you call him up right now?
David is filling out an application for financial aid at the community college. The application has a lot of questions on it, and David is having a hard time understanding some of them. He notices that the form doesn't make everything clear. For example, it is not clear which box is for "male" and which is for "female". He has checked the box for "female" instead of "male". David: Oh my goodness. I have made a mistake. Receptionist: Don't worry, just cross it out. David: That doesn't look very neat. I'm going to throw this form away. May I please have another one?
Hilda is very upset because her car's engine blew up. The mechanic forgot to put water in the radiator after he repaired it. She is talking to the mechanic, and she is very angry. Hilda: You made a serious mistake. Mechanic: Don't worry, ma'am. The work is under warranty. We'll repair it for you. Hilda: Will you do everything over? Mechanic: Yes, and we'll put in a new engine. We will also give you a rental car for three days. Hilda: Good. I must have a car to get to work. Make sure you check the car over very carefully before you give it back to me.
Oscar has an exciting job with the police department. He works long hours. As a police officer, he wears a dark blue uniform. Three days ago he was called to investigate a mysterious car theft. A beautiful Vietnamese woman reported that her new red Italian sports car had been stolen by a tall thin man wearing baggy blue pants and a shabby orange sweater. When Oscar arrived at the scene of the crime, he saw that she lived on a shady narrow street. He interviewed the angry young woman in her small old house.
Tabrina Wolde and Tim went to eat lunch at the new fast food restaurant across the street from the busy international bank where they work. As they sat down in a bright yellow booth, they looked at the long menu. Here is their hurried conversation about ordering a quick lunch.Tim: I'm starving. I'll have two quarter-pound cheeseburgers and a large order of those spicy French fries. To drink, I'll have a medium chocolate milkshake. Tabrina: I'm not a big eater. I'll have small curly fries, a fresh green side salad, and a medium-sized diet drink.Tabrina and Tim went to the counter to order their lunch from the hard-working young cashier. The cashier assured them that their order would be ready in five minutes.
Hilda and Alfred visit a young Mexican friend in the hospital. Hilda: Hi Cecilia! Cecilia: Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Marin. I'm glad to see you. Alfred: We brought you three beautiful red roses. Cecilia: Oh, thank you so much. Hilda: We asked a polite young lady at the big round desk for your room number. Alfred: She gave us a lovely little map of the hospital.Cecilia: Did it take you a long time to find my room? Alfred: No. A nice tall nurse showed us where to find the fast new elevators. Hilda: Cecilia, what happened to your long brown hair? Cecilia: My sister cut it, so I won't have to worry about it while I'm in the hospital. I'll be here three long weeks. Hilda: Three weeks?Cecilia: Yes, but I take these small orange tablets for the pain. Hilda: How do you like the food here? Cecilia: It's good. Yesterday I had a bowl of delicious Chinese noodles for supper. This morning I ate two pieces of tasty French toast. Alfred: Well, it sounds like you still have a very healthy appetite.
David and Mary are talking after class. David: I'm taking an English class next semester. Mary: Which one? David: The advanced grammar class. Mary: Me too. What book do we need? David: I forget the name of the book, but it's the small square gray book. Mary: How much does it cost? David: I don't remember, but I'm sure it's an expensive book.Mary: Where can I buy it? David: At the bookstore. Mary: Where's that? David: I don't remember the name of the building it's in, but it's next to the big pink building with three circular windows. The clerk at the bookstore will help you find the book. Mary: What's the clerk's name? David: I don't remember, but he's the handsome Swedish man.Mary: I'm so confused. Why do you always forget names? I bet you forgot my name! David: That's silly! I never forget a name. Your name is .... uh .... Milly. Mary: Oh! You're impossible! My name is Mary!
Oscar and Norma are talking about their vacation. Norma: Listen to this, Oscar! This purple travel brochure says that we can spend four wonderful nights at the new Hawaiian luxury hotel. It also says that we can walk through a big green garden. For dinner we can eat huge long shrimp while we look out at the ocean and swim in the square Polynesian pool. Oscar: That sounds great! But listen to what my big blue travel brochure says. We can spend seven romantic days on a little old sailboat. We can sail the calm ocean and look for great white sharks! We can cook our three meals on a tiny old stove.Norma: No way! I prefer what my purple brochure says. I don't want to go on an ugly little old sailboat. I don't want to look for large white sharks on my first Hawaiian vacation.
Smith's human resources office often has job openings. They usually need workers with office skills. Yesterday, David contacted Smith's office about job openings. David talked briefly on the telephone to the secretary in Smith's human resources office about a job. She told him that there were four jobs available, so he immediately went down and politely requested an application.The clerk told him to fill out the form carefully and completely. He filled out the form neatly and turned it in. The clerk smiled pleasantly and told David to come back early the next day for an interview. That night he stayed up late talking excitedly to a friend about the job. He eagerly awaited the interview.
David is getting up early today because he and his friends are going to a picnic. Since he always cooks well he is preparing the food for the picnic today. First he boils some eggs slowly. He usually makes egg salad sandwiches. He often packs fruit and cheese too. He gathers everything needed for the picnic and walks to his car quickly. He starts the car and watches the speed limit carefully. David never drives fast or carelessly. David arrives late and his friends greet him happily.
Norma and Ellen are friends. Norma recommends her dentist to Ellen. Ellen: I need to see a dentist immediately. Do you know one? Norma: Yes. I'll gladly recommend Dr. Flores. He's from Mexico, but he speaks English fluently. Ellen: I seldom go to a dentist, but this toothache is terrible. Norma: Maybe you can see Dr. Flores after work. He opens early and closes late. He works hard. Ellen: I will never eat candy again. This toothache is terrible. Norma: Call him soon, so you can make an appointment for this afternoon. Ellen: What's the dentist's number? Please speak loudly and clearly. I can't hear well when I have a toothache. Norma: His number is 291-5219. His office is downtown, so drive carefully. There is a lot of traffic after work.
Dear Grandma, I hope that you are doing well. I really miss you. In your last letter you asked me about my English classes. Let me tell you that I am learning English quickly. Of course I study hard and I always do my homework. I get up early and study before I go to work. Don't worry though, I don't stay up late and I always get plenty of sleep. I still think that people here speak too fast but my teacher says that I listen too slowly. She told us to watch TV to practice listening. I watch the news every night and listen carefully. Now I often understand everything that the newscaster says. It's wonderful! Last week I took an exam in my class, and I got the highest grade. When I saw my paper, I just sat at my desk and smiled proudly. I want to learn English perfectly. Then I can begin studying for my career. Please write soon. Lovingly, David
Dear Mom and Dad, Our plane flight went smoothly. The pilot often talked politely to the passengers as the plane flew quickly to California. When the plane arrived in Los Angeles, everyone left the plane rapidly and went to claim their luggage. We wanted the luggage to arrive quickly so we could leave immediately for our hotel. However, our luggage arrived slowly so we had to wait. After we got our luggage, we took a long taxi ride on the freeway.The taxi driver told us that the traffic usually moves quickly. He also said that California drivers always drive fast. I never want to live in Los Angeles. I always want to stay in Arizona. When we arrived at our hotel, we called room service immediately because we only had a snack on the plane. The bellboy brought our dinner fast. We ate all our dinner quickly and only watched one television show. We each took a shower quickly, and now we are going to bed. Tonight we will rest well, and tomorrow we will get up early. We will write again tomorrow. Love, Oscar and Norma
Joanna Mehlo is a waitress at the restaurant. Mary is her co-worker. They are talking during the work break. Joanna: What a busy day! I think I carried twenty dishes of the lunch special to customers today. I have been running from table to table all day. Mary: I know. We used almost all the plates, glasses, and knives we have. I hurried so much to take care of that table of ladies. They were the wives of some of our regular customers. Joanna: They preferred to have separate checks, didn't they? Mary: Yes, but I stopped doing that because it takes too much time. I gave them one check. Let's get back to work. The boss worries if we're late.
Tommy is tired of studying. He pushes his books aside and goes to a movie. His favorite actor is starring in this movie. He orders a big popcorn and chocolate candies wrapped in red paper. He watches a movie about a war hero who is permitted to return to his country. All the ladies in the audience are crying. Tommy is beginning to feel sad too. After the movie, Tommy returns home and makes a sandwich for himself. He first washes some tomatoes and lettuce and starts cutting them. Then he fries a hamburger. He puts the vegetables and hamburger on a bun and enjoys it with a big soda. Now, he is beginning to study again. He takes a book from the shelf and starts to read it.
Alfred: I see two secretaries and five engineers from Motorwell. Hilda: Really? Alfred: Yeah. One of the secretaries also has two classes every evening. Hilda: Wow! She's busy! Alfred: That's not all. She says she studies two hours when she goes home. Hilda: Ha! When does she watch television? Alfred: She says she stopped watching television because she doesn't have time. On Saturdays she bakes. She makes six loaves of bread. Hilda: She's a busy lady. Alfred: On Sunday afternoon, she works in her garden. She grows tomatoes, radishes, and cucumbers. Hilda: She never rests. I'm beginning to think she's crazy.
Joanna Mehlo studies English at Paradise Valley Community College. This semester she is enrolled in two classes. There are 18 students in her first class. Her second class is bigger. It has 22 students. Every day before class she arrives early. She goes to the cafeteria and studies for her classes. Sometimes she watches the different people and tries to understand what they are saying in English. Sometimes she sits with friends from her classes, and they talk about their families, husbands, and wives. Today she is sitting in the cafeteria and talking to her classmate Rita about Rita's dinner party. Joanna: Have you planned the menu for the dinner yet? Rita: No. I'm still planning it. I think I'll serve potatoes and ham. I still don't know what to serve for dessert. Do you have any suggestions. Joanna: Do you like pie? I think apple pie would be fine. Rita: That sounds great. But I don't know what to do about the music. We don't have a radio. Joanna: I have two radios. You can borrow one of mine. Rita: Thank you very much. Now I have everything set. Joanna: Oh no! Look what time it is. We'd better hurry. Class is already beginning.
Oscar is a policeman and he works long hours. In the morning, Oscar kisses Norma good morning and wishes he could stay home from work today. Oscar is beginning to hate all the cars, planes, and buses in the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. Every day he walks five blocks to the bus stop and carries his lunch. He catches the bus and studies his police reports. He tries not to listen to the loud voices of the ladies and their babies. Some passengers have radios; some are holding grocery bags filled with tomatoes, potatoes, and loaves of bread. Oscar rides the bus past three churches. One church has tall bushes and piles of leaves all around. A plane buzzes over the bus and flies toward the airport. Every morning Norma rides to work with two friends who are also wives of policemen. This morning, Norma begged her friend to stop for breakfast. They stopped at the coffee shop and tipped the waitress three dollars for permitting them to have free cups of coffee. After work, they shopped at the mall.
When Joanna finishes her night class in accounting, she is going to apply for a bookkeeping job at a discount store. She hopes she will get the job because then she won't have to work the night shift at the restaurant anymore. She'll finish the class in two weeks, and then her instructor will write her a letter of recommendation also. She won't be able to apply for the job until she completes the course, but she will pick up the application Monday. If she gets the job, she won't have to wait to buy the new car she needs. Wednesday she will look for a new outfit to wear to the interview. Her friends are going to give her a big party if she gets the job. Her son Tommy will be very happy if she gets the job because then he will ask to borrow the car when he is old enough to drive.
David is going to give a dinner party this Friday and he will invite several of his college friends over for a barbecue. Gina, a friend in his English class will help him. David will buy the chicken and corn rolls. Gina will bring the ingredients for potato salad and they both will make the salad the day of the party. They won't serve alcoholic beverages because several of David's friends are not twenty-one years old yet. They will serve ice cream and cake for dessert.
Alfred Marin broke his right leg rollerblading this afternoon. His wife Hilda is taking him to the emergency room. Hilda: When are you going to grow up? You're too old to go rollerblading. Now you'll have to miss several days of work, and I'll have to drive you around until you get that cast off. Alfred: No, I won't have to miss work. The doctor will give me a walking cast. He will tell me I can go to work, but I know he will advise me not to go rollerblading for a while. Dr. Johnson enters the emergency room. He will take some x-rays of Alfred's leg and then he will discuss the accident with Hilda and Alfred. Doctor: Well, you won't rollerblade for a while. You're lucky it was a clean break. Alfred: Doctor, will you put the cast on here or will I need to go to another office? Doctor: I'll put the cast on here. You won't have to leave this room until you are ready to go home. Hilda: How long will the cast stay on? Doctor: Alfred will wear it for about six weeks. I will give him some pain medication so he won't be in pain. Alfred: Well, I guess I won't be taking any dancing lessons for a while.
Oscar, a policeman, is going to visit Sunset Elementary School next Tuesday to talk to some of the students. He won't have time to talk to all the students, but he'll talk to a 4th grade class. He'll warn the students about the dangers of drugs and gangs. He will show them what dangerous drugs look like and he will tell them to never take drugs. Oscar's police dog Butch will go with him. Butch will demonstrate to the students how he searches for drugs. The students won't go to recess that day because Oscar and his dog can only come during the recess period. After Oscar leaves, the teacher will ask the students to write a thank you note to him.
Tim and Tabrina are going to take a train trip to New York this summer. They will order their tickets in advance so that they will get a discount. Tabrina will ask for two weeks vacation from work, and Tim will request three weeks because he will visit his mother in Buffalo. Tabrina will have to return early, but she is happy that they will travel one way together. Tabrina: We won't have time to visit all the places we have put down on this list. Tim: I know. But we will have time to go to the theater and the Museum of Modern Art. I won't be happy unless I see Central Park too. Tabrina: Will we eat out every night or will we have picnics sometimes? Tim: We won't be able to eat in expensive restaurants all the time because our money will run out if we do. Tabrina: Why don't we go to a travel agent who will help us plan our sightseeing and lodging. We will tell the agent to order our tickets at the same time. Tim: Sounds great. I know we will really enjoy ourselves.
Joanna is feeling very excited because she has just found out that she will be working in the bookkeeping department of a large discount store. She is celebrating her new job with her friend Linda, who used to work with her at Steve's Mexican Restaurant. They're eating lunch at a new Italian Restaurant, Gino's, where Linda is working now as the manager. Joanna: I can't believe that I won't be serving tables any more. I'll be learning many new skills at my new job. I'm really glad I took some classes at the community college. I was getting tired of doing the same old job every day. Linda: I'm sure you aren't going to miss working the evening shift either. Let's face it. You really weren't advancing in your old job. Joanna: That's true. I'm so glad to hear that you are enjoying your work here. At least you have a variety of responsibilities; you aren't just serving tables.Linda: Yes. This is a great job. How is Tommy reacting to your new job? Joanna: He's delighted. Now that I have my evenings free, Tommy and I are planning to take a computer class together at his school. He's becoming very interested in working with computers. Since computers are so important in most jobs these days, I'm glad that he's learning these skills while he is young.
Linda: Marco, you're doing a terrific job with the pasta dishes. Last night a couple was praising the seasonings in the pasta primavera. They were really enjoying their meal. Marco: I'm glad they liked it. This week, I'm using some fresh basil from a new supplier. I think it has more flavor. Linda: Will you be getting more herbs from this supplier?Marco: I hope so. This supplier has several growers who were planting their herbs outside, but now they're growing them in a greenhouse. That will assure us of a steady source of good quality herbs. I'm also receiving a good supply of fresh vegetables from the same supplier.Linda: The fine herbs and vegetables you're using in the specialty dishes help to keep the quality of our food consistent. That is certainly showing in the number of new customers we're seeing come in to eat. We're soon going to have to hire an assistant for you. Marco: That would be terrific. I sure need the kitchen help.
Alfred is talking to the doctor about his broken leg. Doctor: How are you feeling? Alfred: Pretty well. I think my leg is healing quite fast. I have very little pain, and I have only been in the cast for four weeks. I do have a problem though. I was walking across the parking lot yesterday, and my cast got wet in the rain.Doctor: Let me take a look. Hmm. It looks like I'll be replacing your cast. It won't last another four weeks. I hope you're going to be more careful. You had a badly broken leg. You'll be working with a physical therapist for several months once you get out of the cast. You're lucky that you're not experiencing a lot of pain. Alfred: I'm going to be very careful with the new cast. When do you want to see me again?Doctor: As long as you're not having much pain, I won't need to see you for four weeks. Then we should be able to get rid of that cast for good. Alfred: That's a relief. It certainly does itch.
Rita and David are discussing the classes they will take spring semester. David: I'm really looking forward to my guitar class this semester. Rita: Are you planning to take any other classes? David: No. I'm taking the guitar class for personal enjoyment. What will you be studying this semester? Rita: I'm registering for another accounting class and chemistry. Once I get my lab science out of the way I'll be transferring to the state university.David: I really don't have time to take an academic course this semester, so you'll be going to the university before I do. I'll miss seeing you. Rita: Don't worry. I'm sure we'll be getting together for lunch occasionally. David: That would be great.
Joanna Mehlo is making reservations to fly to California with Tommy. She will be visiting her parents for a week. She is asking the travel agent to find the best price he can for two tickets.Travel Agent: If you are planning to stay there for eight days or more, I can get you a better price. Joanna: We are going to stay for only a week. I am working at a new job and only have a week's vacation. Travel Agent: Okay. I'll see what I can do. Right now, I'm looking at a special rate if you fly at night. The airline was offering this special fare last week and it looks like they're going to continue it for another week.Joanna: What time will that flight be leaving here? Travel Agent: It will be departing from the airport about 1:00 a.m. I know that's an inconvenient hour, but you will be saving fifty dollars per person. Joanna: I was hoping to get an afternoon flight, but I am going to take this special fare because of the savings. Travel Agent: I'm making your reservations right now. Joanna: Thank you.
Tabrina has had a lot of work at the bank lately. In fact, Mr. Grayson, her boss, has recently promoted her to the position of supervisor in the New Accounts department. Before this new promotion, Tabrina had not been promoted since she started her job. Because of her new position, she and Tim, who will be her new assistant, have signed up for a management seminar. They have also decided to take a computer course at a local community college because the bank has recently upgraded its computer system. They haven't started taking the course yet, but they have paid their fees and have bought their books. By the time they finish this course, they will have learned a lot of important computer information that will help them in their jobs.
Tim and Tabrina have decided to celebrate their recent promotions at work by going out for a dinner at an elegant restaurant. The hostess had originally put them at a table near the kitchen, but they didn't like the table. Now, the hostess has given them a table by a window overlooking the city and its mountains. Tabrina: I can't remember when I've felt so hungry. I haven't eaten prime rib in a long time. I think I'll order that. Tim: I haven't chosen my main course yet, but I know I want the crab cocktail for an appetizer. Tabrina: I have heard that they serve an excellent chicken marsala here. Tim: I've had a craving for a big steak. I have dreamed about a juicy porterhouse steak for two days. Tabrina: That sounds good. We can decide whether we want dessert after we have finished our main course. By the time this meal is over, I will have gained five pounds.
Tim and Tabrina have recently joined the fitness center at the college where they also have enrolled for a management seminar. Tim's doctor has told him that he needs to lower his cholesterol through exercise, and Tabrina has wanted to firm up her thighs. Tim: Have you seen all the new equipment? Have you worked out on the stairmaster yet? Tabrina: No, I haven't used that machine yet, but I have tried the treadmill. Tim: If the doctor hadn't told me to get more exercise, I would never have come over here. I'm hoping that by my next checkup I will have lowered my cholesterol at least fifteen points. Tabrina: I'm sure you will have reached your goal by your next check up. I have read many articles in the health magazines that say good health and long life are directly connected.
Tim and Tabrina have recently started to attend their management class at the community college. The instructor, Martha Winston, has taught the course several times before, and she has also written several articles in management journals. So far the instructor has given several group assignments. Tim: It has been a while since I've taken a college class. Things certainly have changed. Before we started, I had thought we would just sit and listen to a teacher. If I had known how much time this would take, I wouldn't have signed up for the fitness center too. Tabrina: You've barely begun to exercise. You can't quit now. Besides, we've already paid our fees and we can't get a refund. Tim: You're right. By the time we finish the semester, we will have become healthier and smarter.
Tabrina has bought a new sporty Toyota which she has driven to work for the past two weeks. Before buying this car, she had never owned one. She has always ridden the bus to work. Since she has owned the car, she has parked in the far corner of the bank lot so that her new Toyota won't get dented. So far, she has taken most of her coworkers for a ride. She's so proud of her car that she has washed it and she has waxed it three times. Her boss, Mr. Grayson, has teased her every day about her car. He has said that she has spent almost as much time taking care of her car as she has doing her bank job.
Hilda and Alfred are looking at the want ads in the Sunday paper. Hilda is looking for a better job that is closer to home. She would also like to work more hours. Right now she is working 20 hours a week as a receptionist in an insurance office. Alfred: Here's a job on 51st Avenue. That wouldn't be as far away as the office where you are now. Hilda: Yes. That's nearer home. What are the requirements? Alfred: It says, "Fastest growing real estate office on the west side. Looking for receptionist 30 hours per week. Call Monday morning." Hilda: That sounds like the best possibility we've seen. I'll call as soon as the office opens. The earlier I call the better chance I will have to get an interview. Alfred: I'm sure you'll be the most qualified applicant for the job. And, of course, I think you'll be the smartest.
Oscar and Norma Marin are at a family picnic at a large nature park. Alfred and Hilda are also there. Hilda: Norma, I hope you brought your potato salad. It's the most delicious I have ever tasted. Norma: It's a good recipe, but it's not as good as your tuna salad. Guys, we'll be ready to eat as soon as Uncle Sylvester and Aunt Emma arrive. They always are later than everyone else. Oscar: Yes, but they always bring the biggest and best desserts. Alfred, has your leg healed up yet? Alfred: Yes, it's much better. I can even go over there and kick the soccer ball around with the youngsters. I'll race you over there. I'll bet I can still run faster than you can.
Uncle Sylvester and Aunt Emma finally arrive at the Marin family picnic at a large nature park. They are late because Uncle Sylvester is on crutches. He is recovering from knee surgery. All the family members are eager to know how he is doing. Alfred: You're moving better on your crutches than I did after I broke my leg. Sylvester: It's not hard. Even though I'm a lot older than you, the doctor said I'm one of the most active patients he's seen. He is surprised that I'm recovering as quickly as I am. Norma: Are you taking any pain medication? Sylvester: The pain was worse than I expected, so they had to give me stronger painkillers than I wanted to take. But I'm taking less medication every day. Alfred: Well, we're certainly glad to see you healing faster than anyone expected.
Alfred is telling his wife Hilda about a new class that he is taking where he works. Alfred: I really needed this class to keep up with the latest technology. We've been learning how to use the Internet. The course is taking more time than I expected, and the assignments are more complicated than I thought they would be. The hardest assignment so far has been finding and printing out a copy of the president's daily schedule. Hilda: That's why you've been coming home later than usual. Alfred: Yes, I've had more assignments due lately, but I do as much work as most of the other students. In fact, I've done as many assignments as almost everybody else, and have done more than some people. The class is certainly more interesting than I expected it to be. More people will be using the Internet every year. Hilda: It certainly seems like the most effective way for people to communicate worldwide.
Emma Marin is convincing her husband Sylvester that they should take a cruise for their fortieth anniversary. Emma: It will be the best vacation we've had for years. It will be more fun for me than going fishing. Sylvester: There's no greater sport than fishing. But this is a special occasion. We've been married longer than anybody else in the family. A cruise is the most perfect way I can think of to celebrate. Emma: I've already talked to a travel agent. The Princesa Cruise to Baja California is cheaper than a cruise to the Caribbean. Sylvester: Yes, but the Baja trip is shorter and doesn't make as many stops as the Caribbean cruise. Emma: Also, there are more activities on the Caribbean cruise ship and the staterooms are larger and more luxurious. Sylvester: I've also heard that the food is more varied on the Caribbean cruise. Emma: I'll call for reservations tomorrow. It's the most wonderful anniversary trip I can imagine. Jamaica here we come!
Norma went through a training program at her new job as a receptionist for a large real estate company. She enjoyed meeting new people and became familiar with using the computerized switchboard. She also learned to use the word processor and the spread sheet program. Her boss promised to give her a raise if she kept improving her computer skills. Norma is looking forward to receiving her raise, and she is planning to buy a new car with the extra money. She is tired of driving around in her old car.
David is going shopping for groceries for a party he has decided to give this weekend. He has asked his friend Rita to go with him. He intends to serve Mexican food but he is worried about spending too much money. David: I can't afford to buy too much meat for the tacos. Rita: Have you considered making cheese enchiladas? David: That's a good idea. What do you recommend having with the enchiladas? Rita: Let's plan on making a big green salad and refried beans. I also suggest buying some cake mixes. I don't mind baking them tonight. David: Thank you for offering to help me with the party. As you can see, I'm not accustomed to planning parties. Rita: I'm glad to help out and I'm really looking forward to coming to your party.
Sylvester Marin is recovering from knee surgery and is looking forward to playing golf soon. He is going to ask the doctor when he can start playing again. Sylvester: Doctor, I've been dreaming about playing golf for three weeks now. I dislike doing my knee exercises and I'm tired of wearing this knee brace. Doctor: I promise to take it off today if your knee is strong enough. I want you to continue the knee exercises and I also want you to keep on taking the medication I prescribed. I've decided to let you play a round of golf but I recommend riding in a golf cart for the next month.Sylvester: Playing golf is my passion so I can't afford to ignore your advice. Doctor: You need to keep active, so I suggest resuming normal activities little by little.
Joanna Mehlo is planning to take a weight training course at the local community college. She can't afford to enroll in two classes but she wants to work out so she can stay in shape. She is worried about gaining weight and is looking forward to using all the new equipment in the weight room. The instructor promises to show the students how they can tone their bodies. Joanna regrets not starting to work out sooner, but she intends to complete the class. Staying in shape is important to Joanna, so taking the class will allow her to exercise on a regular basis.
Tommy Mehlo is planning to attend summer camp in Maine. Joanna is worried about his going so far away but Tommy is looking forward to going. Tommy and his mom are trying to decide how he should get there. Tommy: I love to ride on trains, but I refuse to ride the bus. Joanna: I think I can afford to pay for a plane ticket, but if you prefer to take the train, I recommend making reservations as soon as possible. I want to get the best possible rate. Tommy: That would be great! I've always dreamed about taking a long train trip. I hope you won't worry about my traveling alone. I'm interested in seeing a lot of different sights on the way. Joanna: I won't pretend not to worry about your traveling alone. Sooner or later I must get accustomed to your growing up. I'm sure you will enjoy taking the train and attending summer camp.
As soon as Oscar arrived at home last Tuesday, he proudly announced to his wife Norma that he had been promoted to detective on the police force. While Norma fixed dinner, he explained how he had gotten the promotion. Oscar: Because I captured that convenience store robber last month, the captain recommended me for this promotion. I didn't know anything about it until I got back from lunch today. When I got back to my desk, I found the letter of promotion attached to a big balloon that said congratulations. Oscar: Although the promotion won't go into effect until next month, I'll be going through training. It will also mean an increase in pay so that we will be able to put more money aside for your new car. Norma: I'm really happy about this news. You've certainly earned it.
Norma Marin is throwing a party because she and Oscar want to celebrate his recent promotion to police detective. She is talking to her sister-in-law Hilda about what to serve, who to invite, and when to have the party. Hilda: By the time that you finish your guest list, you'll have at least thirty or forty people. Hot dishes will be hard to serve to so many people, whereas sandwiches and sliced meats and cheeses would be easy to serve. Norma: Even though it would be cheaper to cook the meats myself, it would be more convenient to order trays from the delicatessen. Hilda: That's true. When you order them, go to Smithway's. Since you'll be ordering more than $100 dollars worth of food, they'll give you a 10 per cent discount. Norma: Thanks, Hilda. You've been a great help.
Joanna sprained her left ankle as she was walking to her weight training class. By the time she got to the doctor, it was badly swollen. The doctor was upset because she had exercised in her class after she injured herself. Doctor: You should have put ice on your ankle and elevated it immediately so that it wouldn't swell. Joanna: It really didn't hurt that much after I injured it. Doctor: Even though it didn't hurt, you should have stayed off of it for 24 hours. Although it may not be very painful, it should be x-rayed so that we can see how seriously it is injured. Although it's probably only a severe sprain, you will need to use crutches for at least a week until the swelling goes down. Joanna: Does that mean I can't go to exercise class? Doctor: Yes. Come see me before you return to class and don't walk or stand on it without crutches until I say that you can.
After Tabrina bought her new car, Tim suggested that she take an auto maintenance class. Since then, she has been looking for one at a convenient time and place. Tim: As soon as I received my community college class schedule, I checked the times of their auto classes. There's one on Wednesday night. While you're taking your automotive class, I can take a physics class and finish up the science requirement for my AA degree. We could drive to school together. Tabrina: Since we'll have to go to class directly from work, we can eat together after class. Tim: That's a good idea. By the time you finish your class, you should be able to change your oil without calling me to help you. Even though I don't mind helping you, you should be able to do it yourself.
While Tabrina and Tim were driving to the mountains, Tabrina's new car suddenly broke down on the highway. After she pulled to the shoulder of the road, Tim got out and looked under the hood. When he opened the hood, he noticed that the fan belt had broken. While they were standing by the car, a highway patrol officer stopped. Officer: Do you need some assistance? Tim: Even though I know what's wrong, I can't fix it without going to an automotive store. Can you take us into the next town so that we can buy a new fan belt? Officer: It's right down the road. I'll call ahead so that the part will be waiting for you when you arrive. Tabrina: We didn't know what we were going to do until you stopped, officer. Thank you so much.
David is telling his friend Rita about the promotion that he has recently gotten at the discount store where he works. David: I'm really excited about my new job which will offer some new challenges and responsibilities. The man whom I am replacing has been transferred to Dallas where he will be working as a regional manager. The new department where I will be working has just received a new networked computer system. Rita: That's wonderful. Wasn't it just last summer when your boss gave you a big raise? You are really climbing the corporate ladder quickly. David: The new office that I will be using has a large window which faces out to the park. Each day when I get bored, I can look out the window and watch the people who are walking or jogging through the park.
Linda: The people who are sitting at Table 10 want to give their compliments to the chef who cooked such a magnificent dinner. Do you have a few minutes when you can come out and talk to them? Gino: Sure. I'll be right out as soon as I finish the order that is in the oven. Linda: O.K. During the time when they are waiting, I'll serve them a free drink. Gino comes out of the kitchen and talks to the customers, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, who are visiting from Canada. Mr. Kennedy: Gino, the lasagna which I ate tonight was the best that I have ever eaten! Mrs. Kennedy: The Italian restaurant where we eat at home never serves food as good as this.
Tim: I don't like the new health insurance company whose plan we have to use starting next month. Tabrina: The plan which we had last year let us pick our own doctor. The office where my previous doctor worked was only five minutes from my house. Now I don't even know who to pick for my new doctor.Tim: I agree it's a problem. The doctor whom I went to on the previous plan was my doctor for over four years. Last Thursday, when I last saw him, he told me I had done a good job keeping my weight down. I'll really miss going to him. Tabrina: The doctor that I had on the other plan really cared about my health. I hope the doctor that I pick on the new plan will be as dedicated.
David met Frieda in a Math class that he was taking at the local community college where he is taking night classes. During the first night of class, when the students introduced themselves to the other class members, David made a special effort to meet her because he thought she was one of the cutest girls whom he had ever seen. Now David and Frieda are dating steadily. The restaurant where they had their first date is still their favorite restaurant. On Saturdays, when they study in the library, they always take a break for lunch at the college cafeteria. After they study, they go to the fitness center that is located on the west side of the campus. Frieda, whose mother is taking an English as a Second Language course, spends two hours on Sundays helping her mother with her English homework. David is proud that Frieda is his girlfriend.
Tabrina: Tim, I'm so excited because the bank is sending me on a trip to San Francisco, where my brother lives. I still don't know the date when I'm going to leave, but I know we will be flying on Southwest. My supervisor, who is arranging the trip, doesn't have all the details arranged. Tim: That's great news! Do you know the place where you will be staying?Tabrina: I'll be staying at the Hyatt that is down by Fisherman's Wharf. My brother, whose office is across the street from the Hyatt, promised to take me to dinner down by the Wharf. The restaurant that he will take me to is famous for its seafood menu. Tim: Let me know the date when you will be leaving. I'll be happy to take you to the airport. Tabrina: Thanks, Tim. I'd like that.
Tim: Our supervisor says that all bank employees must learn how to send E-mail messages to other employees. Tabrina: I wonder if I will be able to learn how to send E-mail. Tim: Sure you can. You'll find out that it is really very easy. I have been on the Internet for several months on my home computer. I'm amazed at how easy it is to use. Tabrina: Maybe you're right. I hope that the bank will offer a training session soon. I really want to learn how I can communicate through E-mail. Tim: I'm sure they will tell us when the first training session starts. I wonder where the session will be held.
Joanna: A recent newspaper article said that teenage boys eat too much junk food. I wonder if you are eating properly at school. Tommy: Oh, Mom! Don't worry. I always have at least one vegetable for lunch at school. Joanna: Yes, I know that your favorite vegetable is French fries. I wonder how many orders of fries you eat with your greasy hamburgers.Tommy: Mom, I'm changing my eating habits starting today. My friend Paul told me where I could go to buy veggie burgers and baked potatoes. The coach says that I've put on too much weight, I think I'll check this new restaurant out. If I watch my diet, I wonder when my weight will start to drop. Joanna: My doctor recommended that I reduce my fat intake too. Maybe we could try this new restaurant tonight.
Joanna: I think that I'm a little overweight this year. My mother asked if I'd gained weight when I saw her last week. Doctor: The charts show that you are only about five pounds overweight for your height. What you weigh is not as important as whether you are exercising regularly.Joanna: Doctor, could you tell me how I could get started on a good exercise program? Doctor: I suggest that you walk at least half an hour every day. You will be surprised at how you lose weight with a regular walking program. Joanna: Great! I'm going to do what you suggest.
Tommy Mehlo wants to be in the school play this year. He asked his mom if he could try out and she said that he could. Tommy: Mom, I don't know whether to try out for the lead in the play or for a smaller part. Joanna: You will have to decide what you really want to do. You need to find out how many times a week you will be practicing. By the way, do you know where the play takes place?Tommy: Yes, it takes place in a small town in Iowa. Our teacher told us how the playwright wrote the play in just three weeks. She also asked if we had participated in other plays before. I said that this would be my first play. Joanna: I hope that you get a part. But don't be disappointed if you don't. Remember that you can also help with scenery, lighting, and props.
Norma is telling her sister-in-law Hilda that she had an awful experience when her old car broke down. I just don't know when I've been so upset. First of all, I didn't know whether I should call Oscar or have my car towed immediately to the garage. Finally I decided to have it towed. At the garage, the mechanic told me that the transmission needed to be replaced. He also recommended where I could take it to get it fixed. I asked him if he could tow it to the transmission place and he said that he could. However, he didn't know if the car was worth repairing. He asked me why I wanted to repair such an old car. I told him that I would have to talk to my husband about it. When I got home, I told Oscar that it was time for us to get a new car.