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train_2100
#Person1#: How came you were absent from class yesterday morning, Henry? #Person2#: I'm sorry, Madam. My cousin was coming home from England, and I had to go to the airport with my father to meet him. #Person1#: Better ask for permission next time.
Henry explains why he's absent from class to #Person1#.
absent from class
train_2101
#Person1#: Hello, Milton Hotel Reservations. How may I assist you? #Person2#: Hi, I'm calling to make some changes to an existing reservation. #Person1#: Certainly. Do you have the reservation number? #Person2#: Sure, it's 219. #Person1#: That's a reservation for Sally Menkel. Is that right? #Person2#: Yes, that's righ...
Sally calls Milton Hotel to make changes to an existing reservation. She asks to change the check-in date and check-out date and prefers a room on an upper floor with a view.
hotel service
train_2102
#Person1#: Do you collect cola cans, Steve? #Person2#: No. Why do you ask? #Person1#: You have so many empty cans here. #Person2#: Well, my mum wants me to keep all the cans, so that we can sell them after a while. #Person1#: Aha, you are going to make a millionaire of yourself sooner or later with all those cans. #Per...
Steve keeps all the cans, so they can pay less to the dustman for dealing with rubbish. Steven tells #Person1# what is reused in China and the government's measures on avoiding waste.
reuse materials
train_2103
#Person1#: Hello? Um, can I get some help over here? #Person2#: Sure thing. What'll it be? #Person1#: A menu, please. #Person2#: We don't serve food - just the beers you see on the wall. #Person1#: All right. What about that one? It's German, right? #Person2#: Yeah, it is. Is that what you'd like? #Person1#: Sure, that...
#Person2# is very friendly when #Person1# asks for the beer. But when #Person1# says #Person1# left the wallet and asks beer for free, #Person2# becomes not so nice.
be nice
train_2104
#Person1#: I feel terrible. I really need to relax. Do you know any good ways to fight stress? #Person2#: Yeah, in fact, I read in a health magazine that you should drink two cups of lemon tea every day to fight stress. #Person1#: Lemon tea? #Person2#: That's right. Lemon tea makes you feel more relaxed. And also, you ...
#Person2# tells #Person1# drinking lemon tea and eating low-stress food are good ways to fight stress.
fight stress
train_2105
#Person1#: I love slim girls, don't you? #Person2#: Not particularly. I like fat girls. #Person1#: And I like a girl with good skin, do you? #Person2#: I can't say I do. What I like a girl with good manners. #Person1#: Well, yes. But surely you like a girl with a nice figure. #Person2#: Yes. But I like a girl with...
#Person1# likes a girl with a nice figure, while #Person2# likes a girl with a nice personality. Henry doesn't like girls.
girls
train_2106
#Person1#: You won't believe who's been elected to do overtime on the Baker account! Me! I've already logged in 20 hours of overtime! #Person2#: Wow! Why so much? I thought they were getting you an assistant. #Person1#: They were supposed to, but so far nobody's turned up, and I'm left on my own to do the work. This ...
#Person1#'s been elected to do overtime without an assistant. #Person2# suggests #Person1# ask for some time off.
do overtime
train_2107
#Person1#: I'm reading an interesting report on Mars. #Person2#: Oh, what does it say? Does it say water could still exist under the surface of Mars? #Person1#: Absolutely! It says there is water on Mars buried beneath the surface. It's just a matter of how deep it is. #Person2#: Then could the soil on Mars somehow ...
#Person1# tells #Person2# that there is water on Mars buried beneath the surface. The soil would need quite a bit of fertilizer to grow anything. One of the most exciting things about Mars is that there could have been life on it. #Person1# is skeptical about the assumption that Mars may be inhabitable by humans since ...
Mars
train_2108
#Person1#: Well, I finished my last final today. #Person2#: The end of all the hard work for my master's. what a nice feeling to get my degree! #Person1#: Do you want to attend the convocation? #Person2#: Certainly. After years of hard work, I wouldn't miss it. By the way, where can I find cap and gown? #Person1#: ...
Mary will attend the convocation and have a cap and gown made. #Person1# helps take some photos for Mary and asks Lisa to take a picture for them.
attend the convocation
train_2109
#Person1#: Hey, Tyler. Long time no see. #Person2#: Sylvia, I haven't seen you here at the gym for ages. #Person1#: Yeah, I've just been too busy to work out. #Person2#: How's school going? #Person1#: Everything is OK, except for an 8:00 o'clock math class I have. #Person2#: 8:00 o'clock math class. A friend of mine is...
Sylvia's been too busy and has problems with an 8:00 math class. But Tyler's friend likes it.
discuss a class
train_2110
#Person1#: Jeff, what's your favorite Mexican holiday? #Person2#: Definitely the Day of the Dead. #Person1#: What is that? It sounds a little scary. #Person2#: It's not really scary for us Mexicans. Actually, that day we celebrate, well, not celebrate, but remember our family members who are already dead. #Person1#: OK...
Jeff tells #Person1# The Day of the Dead is his favorite Mexican holiday on which they remember their family members who are already dead.
favorite Mexican holiday
train_2111
#Person1#: Well, that's great that you have happy experiences of teaching in Indonesia and following up on what you just mentioned. What would you recommend for students who do not live in an English speaking country? I don't know about perfecting but they want at least to be able to communicate decently. How can they ...
#Person1# asks #Person2# how to learn English for those who don't live in an English speaking country. #Person2# thinks it's really hard and #Person2# tries to learn Dutch by turning on the TV and reading. #Person2# thinks there's no substitute for trying to speak and use the language in a relaxed atmosphere.
learn a language
train_2112
#Person1#: Friday, finally. Honey, let's do something fun this weekend. #Person2#: I don't know. What do you have in mind? #Person1#: We can go to the lake and have a swim. #Person2#: I think it's going to be hot that day and I might get a sunburn. How about the library? #Person1#: The library is boring. Then how about...
#Person1# suggests swimming, or going mountain biking, or going fishing this weekend. But #Person2# refuses and suggests staying home and playing board games. #Person1# wants to try something fun.
do something fun
train_2113
#Person1#: Are you going out Ann? But supper will be ready in a minute. #Person2#: I'm going to Mary's house for dinner this evening. I told you so this morning daddy. #Person1#: Sorry, I forgot about it. So you were going to her birthday party? #Person2#: Yes, and Jenny and Laura will be there, too. We were all good f...
Ann will go to Mary's house to attend her birthday party. Ann tells #Person1# Mary works as a photographer.
go to Mary's
train_2114
#Person1#: What kind of cuisine do you have? #Person2#: We have Sichuan food, Hangzhou food and Beijing Food. Which do you like best? #Person1#: Hangzhou food. #Person2#: OK. How about Dongpo meat? #Person1#: All right. I'll take it. #Person2#: Do you like to use chopsticks #Person1#: Yes, I like using chopsticks. #Per...
#Person1# orders Hangzhou food, Dongpo meat, and beef soup. #Person1# likes using chopsticks and asks #Person2# to serve dishes first and then soup.
Hangzhou food
train_2115
#Person1#: We are looking for a bilingual secretary. Do you think you are proficient in both written and spoken English? #Person2#: I think my English is fairly good. As you can see from my CV, I graduated from university with a B. A. degree in English. I studied the English language and English literature systematical...
#Person2# thinks #Person2# is proficient in English and has competent typing and shorthand skills.
bilingual secretary
train_2116
#Person1#: I ' m glad you could find time to meet with me, Mr. Johnson. I can ' t think of a nicer environment for our meeting today, the ambiance here is lovely! #Person2#: No problem, if possible I always combine business with pleasure. Now, let ' s hear more about these chocolates you ' re offering. #Person1#: Well,...
#Person1# thinks Mr. Johnson's brand exemplifies similar traits as Grangers, and serving these chocolates would add to the reputation for providing first-class dining to his restaurant. #Person1# tells that the factory is located in Scotland and invites Mr. Johnson to taste the chocolate. Mr. Johnson is satisfied with ...
business talk
train_2117
#Person1#: Hide me, Yi-jun! The kids all think I'm the real Easter bunny! #Person2#: Aw, that's sweet! I knew your costume would be a success. #Person1#: It's a success all right. The kids keep trying to catch me. #Person2#: Yeah, I saw that. I thought you were playing a game with them. #Person1#: Some game! You try be...
#Person1# asks Yi-jin to hide #Person1# because ten kids are trying to catch #Person1#.
play with kids
train_2118
#Person1#: Can I help you find something? #Person2#: I would like to buy a new fridge. #Person1#: Is there one in particular that you like? #Person2#: I was looking at this Kenmore refrigerator. #Person1#: Ah yes, that is a great refrigerator. #Person2#: What's so great about it? #Person1#: It's both affordable and it ...
#Person2# is looking at Kenmore refrigerator, and #Person1# tells that it's affordable and has many appliances. #Person2# will take it.
refrigerator
train_2119
#Person1#: Dora, are you interested in going to the museum with me tomorrow? I read the newspaper this morning. I know there is an art exhibition in Taipei Modern Art Museum. #Person2#: Sure. I am free tomorrow. It sounds interesting to me. Can we buy the ticket online? #Person1#: I don't think so. I think we had bette...
#Person1# invites Dora to go to the museum. Dora agrees, and #Person1# thinks they had better go there earlier to buy the ticket. They decide to buy the ticket first before having breakfast. Then they look at the museum map and visit the museum.
visit the museum
train_2120
#Person1#: So, you friend's getting married on Saturday. What have you bought her as a wedding gift. I find is so hard to choose the right gift. #Person2#: My friend and her fiance had a really good idea. They have cut out pictures from catalogues and pasted them in a notebook. The picture are of things they want. Peop...
#Person2# tells #Person1# #Person2#'s friend and her fiance thought of a good idea to prevent people from buying the same gift. #Person2# says that most of the things that the couple wants are household appliance and #Person2# bought a sewing machine for them.
wedding gift
train_2121
#Person1#: what's up? #Person2#: not much. I'm just trying to hook up to the internet. I'm having a few problems though. #Person1#: what's wrong? #Person2#: I've got all the cords plugged in, but it appears that I'm offline. #Person1#: Are you using dial-up or broadband? #Person2#: actually, I've got a wireless connect...
#Person2# is trying to hook up to the internet, but it appears that #Person2# is offline. #Person1# advises #Person2# to turn on the airport. #Person1# tells #Person2# #Person2# can register instant messaging for free and block the people who #Person2# doesn't want to talk to.
hook up to the internet
train_2122
#Person1#: Would you like to go skiing with me? I heard the new ski area is great. They have safe tracks, especially for the beginners and provide free training. I think it suits you best. #Person2#: Sounds not bad! You know, the only thing I worried about is the safety. I'm not an active exerciser and my muscle may be...
#Person1# invites #Person2# to go skiing at the new ski area, but #Person2# worries about safety. #Person1# suggests taking the three-day-long training camp.
go skiing
train_2123
#Person1#: Do you like flowers? #Person2#: Of course, I like. #Person1#: What's your favorite flower? #Person2#: Forsythia. It's also called winter jasmine which is the symbol of the spring's arrival. #Person1#: Spring is a lively season. #Person2#: Yes. How about you? #Person1#: I admire plum blossoms very much. It se...
#Person2#'s favorite flower is Forsythia, the symbol of the spring's arrival, while #Person2# admires plum blossoms for its bravery.
favourite flowers
train_2124
#Person1#: Did you have a part-time job when you were still in school? #Person2#: No. I was way too busy studying all the time. How about you? #Person1#: Yeah. I worked about 20 hours a week in a pizza restaurant. #Person2#: What was that like? #Person1#: It was always very busy there. #Person2#: What did you do? #Pers...
When in school, #Person2# didn't have a part-time job, while #Person1# worked in a pizza restaurant.
part-time job
train_2125
#Person1#: Have you heard of the Love Bug? #Person2#: Do you mean the'I love you'virus that attacks computers through e-mail? #Person1#: Yes. It is one of the most harmful computer viruses in the world. People say it will break out again om Valentines'Day this year. #Person2#: This is terrible. Why do hackers play such...
#Person1# and #Person2# are discussing the Love Bug, and #Person1# explains why hackers play the trick.
Love Bug
train_2126
#Person1#: Want to meet for lunch this Saturday? #Person2#: Sorry, I can't. I am busy. #Person1#: What are you doing? #Person2#: I always do volunteer work on the first Saturday of every month. #Person1#: What kind of volunteer work? #Person2#: I help out at the children's hospital. I help plan activities. #Person1#: O...
#Person1# invites #Person2# to lunch, but #Person2# has to do volunteer work this Saturday.
volunteer work
train_2127
#Person1#: Do you surf online regularly, Joe? #Person2#: Of course. I stay online for four hours at least every day. #Person1#: Are you crazy? What are you doing four hours online? #Person2#: Millions of things. I surf the Net, check my e-mail, and most importantly, I chat with my friends. #Person1#: Online chat? Aren'...
Joe tells #Person1# Joe stays online for at least four hours every day, mostly chatting with friends.
surf online
train_2128
#Person1#: Lots of elderly people want peace and quiet in their old age, but young people want an unconstrained life. #Person2#: It would be good for both if they lived separately. My parents want to live apart from us. #Person1#: What if old people are in poor health and need to be looked after? #Person2#: Young peopl...
#Person2# thinks elderly people and young people live separately would be good, but young people need to live with their parents if needed.
live with elderly people
train_2129
#Person1#: Do you want to hear a funny joke? #Person2#: OK. Are you sure it's funny, though? #Person1#: Well, you'll see. #Person2#: OK. #Person1#: OK, an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman were going on a trip across the desert, and they could only take one thing with them. #Person2#: I see. #Person1#: So they me...
#Person1# tells #Person2# a joke that three men were crossing the desert and they could only take one thing. The Englishman brought some water; the Scotsman brought a map, and the Irishman brought a car door to open when hot.
joke
train_2130
#Person1#: I think that show biz stars have a really easy life. They have lots of money, so they can buy almost anything they want. They're famous, so everyone loves them. #Person2#: I think they must have horrible lives. All the paparazzi take photos of them wherever they go and whatever they do. They must get sick of...
#Person1# thinks the show biz stars have a really easy life, while #Person2# thinks their lives must be horrible. #Person1# thinks those stars love their jobs and want publicity for themselves, but #Person2# thinks they only want publicity for their films. #Person2# sympathizes with them but #Person1# disagrees.
show biz stars
train_2131
#Person1#: Can you suggest a few exercise to help me get fit and stretch my muscles a little? #Person2#: Sure. If you want to stretch your legs, a good exercise is to lift your knee in front of your body, like this. It's a very simple exercise, but very effective. #Person1#: I need to excise my arms too. How can I do t...
#Person2# recommends #Person1# to do push-ups and use weights to help #Person1# get fit and stretch #Person1#'s muscles. Then #Person2# tells that keeping #Person1#'s body straight is the most important and recommends #Person1# to lie on #Person1#'s back to exercise for chest muscles.
exercise
train_2132
#Person1#: You look upset. What's wrong? #Person2#: Nothing. It's just one of those days. Everyone at the office is sick and I'm getting blamed for work not being done. #Person1#: Maybe you need a vacation or something, or maybe a bonus. #Person2#: I'm sick of doing other people's job and getting blamed for not doing i...
#Person2# looks upset because #Person2#'s getting blamed for work not being done, and #Person1# suggests talking to the boss.
office talk
train_2133
#Person1#: Excuse me, Ma'am. I would like to mail this package door to door via airmail to London. It is a very important package and has to be sent within 3 days. #Person2#: No problem. But, the postage is much higher than the regular package. #Person1#: That's fine with me. I am willing to pay for it as long as you c...
#Person1# wants to mail an important package door to door via airmail to London within three days. #Person2# charges #Person1# 500 dollars and #Person1# asks for the receipt to trace the package.
mail
train_2134
#Person1#: Welcome to China, Mr. White. #Person2#: How do you do, Ms. Chi? #Person1#: Welcome to this corporation, Mr. White. Won't you please sit down? #Person2#: Thank you. #Person1#: Our representative in your country faxed a letter that you showed an interest in some of our products on display at the Oct. Exhibitio...
Mr. White brought a list of the quantities of Ms. Chi's products that they'd like to import for the second half of this year. Then Ms. Chi gives him the catalog and price list and says they normally export CFR. They'll meet tomorrow morning for more specific details.
business talk
train_2135
#Person1#: Welcome, sir, what can I do for you? #Person2#: I want to buy some records. #Person1#: Whose record do you want? #Person2#: Are there the records of Michael Jackson? #Person1#: His records have been sold out. The new copies will be available next week. #Person2#: Oh. it's too late. Maybe I should go to other...
#Person2# wants to buy Michael Jackson's records, but #Person1#'s store has sold out.
buy the records
train_2136
#Person1#: It doesn't look very nice outside today. #Person2#: You're right. I think it's going to rain later. #Person1#: In the middle of the summer, it shouldn't be raining. #Person2#: That wouldn't seem right. #Person1#: Considering that it's over ninety degrees outside, that would be weird. #Person2#: Exactly, it w...
#Person1# and #Person2# discuss whether it is going to rain later. They both wish the weather would cool off.
weather
train_2137
#Person1#: Room service. What can I do for you? #Person2#: I find the sheet in my room is so stained. Would you please help us change it for a clean one? #Person1#: I am sorry. sir. Someone will there in a moment. #Person2#: All right. Please be quick about it. #Person1#: Yes, sir. I assure you it would never happen ag...
#Person2# asks #Person1# to change the stained sheet for a clean one.
room service
train_2138
#Person1#: Good morning, sir. Can I help you? #Person2#: Good day. I'm looking for a one-bedroom apartment today. #Person1#: Certainly. How much rent did you want to pay? #Person2#: Well, I didn't want to pay more than $ 900 a month. #Person1#: $ 900 a month? We don't often have apartment as inexpensive as that. We hav...
#Person2# wants to rent a one-bedroom apartment for no more than $900 a month. #Person1# recommends one with many rules for the tenant. #Person2# thinks it's a prison and refuses it.
house renting
train_2139
#Person1#: What can I do to help you? #Person2#: I have some extra help with my project. What would you prefer to help me with, typing or xeroxing? #Person1#: I could do some typing for you. #Person2#: That is very kind of you to offer to do that. Can you start with the pages on the table? #Person1#: Sure I will get to...
#Person1# helps #Person2# do some typing in #Person2#'s project. Then #Person2# invites #Person1# to join them on an interesting project, and #Person1# will think about it.
project
train_2140
#Person1#: It's a beautiful day here in New Zealand at the Men's Volleyball world championship. My name is Rick Fields and I'm joined by the man with the plan, Bob Copeland. #Person2#: Thank you, Rick. We'Ve got a very exciting encounter ahead of us today as two powerhouse teams, Brazil and China, face off against each...
Rick Fields and #Person2# are interpreting the Men's Volleyball world championship. #Person2# first introduces the teams in today's competitive match and they describe what the team member does at the game. They will be back after a break.
Men's Volleyball world championship
train_2141
#Person1#: Hello, Mr. Smith, Wang Peng speaks. #Person2#: Hello! Mr. Wang. this is Smith. #Person1#: I'm calling to thank you for the wonderful dinner I had yesterday. #Person2#: It's a pleasure. #Person1#: I'll come back to China tonight. I hope to see you again sometime. #Person2#: I hope so. #Person1#: I appreciate ...
Wang Peng calls Mr. Smith to thank him for the wonderful dinner yesterday and his help during Wang Peng's stay.
phone call
train_2142
#Person1#: Do you get up early every morning? #Person2#: About 6 in the morning. I like to walk to the office. #Person1#: Good habit. How long does it take? #Person2#: About 20 minutes. Do you live alone? #Person1#: No, my little sister lives with me. #Person2#: How old is she? #Person1#: About 12. She is a good girl. ...
#Person2# gets up at 6 and takes a 20-minute walk to the office.
daily talk
train_2143
#Person1#: Shall I phone and tell your secretary you're not coming today? #Person2#: Yes, please, dear. Tell her I've got a cold and a headache, but I hope to be back in a day or two. You'd better say I'm staying in bed. #Person1#: But you're not in bed! Do you want me to tell a lie? #Person2#: Oh, it's only a very lit...
#Person2# asks #Person1# to tell #Person2#'s secretary that #Person2# is not coming because of sickness. #Person1# advises #Person2# to put the cigarette out and put #Person2#'s nose over the water.
ask for leave
train_2144
#Person1#: You're not looking very cheerful. What's the matter with you? #Person2#: Oh, nothing special. I'm just thinking a lot. #Person1#: About the job? #Person2#: About everything, about catching the same train every morning, sitting in the same office all day, watching the same television programs.... #Person1#: Y...
#Person2# thinks there is no variety in their lives when compared with their grandfathers'. #Person1# advises #Person2# to have a holiday.
daily talk
train_2145
#Person1#: They say you've got a job in the New York City. #Person2#: Yeah, we say it the United Nations. #Person1#: How fascinating! It can meet people from all over the world. #Person2#: Yeah, but just one problem. I'll have to leave my friends behind.
#Person2# got a job in the U.S.. #Person1# thinks it's fascinating.
job
train_2146
#Person1#: Operator, can I help you? #Person2#: Yes. I'd like to make a collect call. My number is 7683384. #Person1#: And the number you're dialing? #Person2#: That's 7638558. Oh, no, I'm sorry, I forgot it's just changed. It's now 7643388. #Person1#: Please hold the line, caller.
#Person2# asks the operator to make a collect call.
collect call
train_2147
#Person1#: It's seven o'clock already, dear. #Person2#: Yes, I know. I decided to work during the evening rush hour. #Person1#: And so your dinner's cold. Why do you work so hard? #Person2#: I just start, and then I can't stop. #Person1#: You can stop any time. You don't need to keep on working at all. #Person2#: And t...
#Person1# tells #Person2# that #Person2# doesn't need to keep on working and they could move to Florida. #Person2# asks what about their children, grandchildren, and friends if they move.
move to Florida
train_2148
#Person1#: Don't be mad at me. I'm only five minutes late. #Person2#: This is the last time I'm waiting for you. I mean it. #Person1#: You know, I always have a good excuse. I promise you: you'll never have to wait for me again. #Person2#: I hope so. Come on, let's go get our tickets now. Oh, by the way, you have got y...
#Person1# 's late again, and then #Person2# finds #Person2# left wallet at home.
wait for someone
train_2149
#Person1#: What do you think of this dress? Do you think it suits me? #Person2#: Sure. Why don't you try it on? The fitting room is over there. #Person1#: It's just the right size-a perfect fit! Have you seen anything you like? #Person2#: I'm thinking about buying this sweater. I know it's june now, but it will be p...
#Person1# and #Person2# are trying the clothes on. #Person1# thinks the sweater is too big for #Person2#. #Person2# thinks that's the fashion. They both buy the sweaters but in different colors, and #Person2# buy jeans and a scarf.
shopping
train_2150
#Person1#: It's my wife's birthday. I need to buy some flowers for her. #Person2#: Most women love red roses for their birthday. #Person1#: How much will the roses be? #Person2#: You can get a dozen for only $20. #Person1#: Now, that's a price that I like. #Person2#: You're in luck today because the roses are on s...
#Person1# buys a dozen roses from #Person2# as his wife's birthday gift, and it costs him only $20.
birthday gift
train_2151
#Person1#: Do you believe in god? #Person2#: Not at all. I'm an agnostic. Do you? #Person1#: I'm not sure. Why don't you believe there is a god? #Person2#: I think everything has a scientific explanation rather than a theological one. #Person1#: I basically believe in science over theology. I mean, I believe in evo...
#Person2# doesn't believe in god because #Person2# thinks everything has a scientific explanation. #Person1# and #Person2# agree that some people don't act following their religious beliefs.
religion
train_2152
#Person1#: What do you think are the main causes of war today? #Person2#: I'd say the main reason is poverty. Countries and their people get frustrated because they have so little. If their neighbors have some resources, they try to steal them by military force. #Person1#: It seems that a lot of wars nowadays are rea...
#Person2# thinks poverty causes war today and #Person1# mentions most of the wars are civil wars. #Person2# thinks it's hard to end the war. #Person1# believes that sharing the resources and cutting off financial support are good ways.
war
train_2153
#Person1#: Is there a lot of crime in your city? #Person2#: There's some, but I don't think it's a big problem. A lot of it is petty crime, burglary and car theft. There's very little major crime. #Person1#: It's the same in my city. We also have a lot of drug addicts. A lot of the crime is committed by drug addicts ...
#Person2# and #Person1# talk about the crime in their cities. #Person1#'s city has serious drug problems but #Person2#'s doesn't. #Person2# thinks that spreading wealth evenly can reduce crime.
crime
train_2154
#Person1#: What are the seasons like in your city? #Person2#: Summers are hot and usually lasts a long time. Winters are short, but cold, wet, and windy. I love the summers in my city, but I hate the wintertime. #Person1#: Does it ever rain in summer? #Person2#: We usually get a big thunderstorm every two weeks, but...
#Person2# tells #Person1# that #Person2#'s city has a long summer with a big thunderstorm every two weeks and a short but cold winter. The weather is very changeable in spring in #Person2#'s city. #Person1# lives in the southern hemisphere, so the climate is opposite to #Person2#.
climate
train_2155
#Person1#: Hi Peter, what are you doing? #Person2#: I am reading some papers about stock. #Person1#: Ah, Great! I happen to want to ask you something about it! #Person2#: Yes, sure. What it is? #Person1#: When it comes to select a fund, many people will always read 'Past performance is not an indication of future resul...
#Person1# wants to reach the minimum risk and achieve maximum returns, but Peter says if #Person1# refuses to take risk, #Person1# can't have better returns.
returns and risks
train_2156
#Person1#: Pam, where is the closest ATM? #Person2#: Do you see that yellow building over there? #Person1#: Yes. #Person2#: It's right next to it on the right. #Person1#: Do you know if there's a convenience store around here? #Person2#: I don't think there's one around here, the closest one is on third street. But tha...
Pam tells #Person1# locations of the closest ATM and convenience stores. Then Pam recommends #Person1# to take a cab to the twenty-second street.
ask for directions
train_2157
#Person1#: They told me Steven is a very special boy, and he seldom plays with the children. What do you think of him? #Person2#: Oh, yes. He is a very special boy in many ways. He doesn't have the normal abilities for the boys of his age. It's very difficult for him to read and write in my class. For example, many 8 y...
#Person2# tells #Person1# Steven doesn't have the normal abilities for the boys of his age, but he has a gift for drawing. Steven can draw the buildings perfectly just looking at them for a few minutes.
a gifted boy
train_2158
#Person1#: Where are you from, Corey? #Person2#: I'm from Canada. I'v just moved here. #Person1#: Canada! Are you good at winter sports then? #Person2#: Yeah! I love winter sports very much, such as skiing and snowboarding. I also like ice diving. #Person1#: Wow, that sounds quite exciting! #Person2#: Yeah, I've been d...
Corey tells #Person1# he loves winter sports and he has been doing ice diving for 7 years. #Person2# used to like swimming but now loves the theater. They both like chatting with friends.
hobbies
train_2159
#Person1#: It is Jane's birthday tomorrow. #Person2#: Are you sure? I think it should be the day after tomorrow. #Person1#: Well, let me see. Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. It is the day after tomorrow. Shall we buy her a present? #Person2#: Yes, of course. Shall we give her some flowers? #Person1#: Flowers are lovely. B...
#Person2# reminds #Person1# of the date of Jane's birthday and they decide to give Jane a record as her birthday gift.
birthday gift
train_2160
#Person1#: Daddy, are you going to the park with us this weekend? #Person2#: Honey, I have a lot of work to do. #Person1#: So you can't go with us, right? #Person2#: No. #Person1#: Daddy, you always arrange your schedule so tight on weekdays. You should have a rest on weekends. #Person2#: What park do you want to go to...
#Person1# persuades Daddy into going to the park with Mom, Daniel and #Person1#. Daddy finally agrees and they decide to go to the Olympic Park.
going to park
train_2161
#Person1#: Sally, you look so corporate! What interview do you have today? #Person2#: Amalgamated Trading Company. It's Swiss. Don't you think working at a foreign company would be glamorous? #Person1#: Yeah, I guess so. I've never actually heard of this one, but... #Person2#: Well, it's small, but it's a young, dynami...
Sally tells #Person2# that she is preparing for an interview in a small but rapidly-growing company. Both of them haven't found a job.
job seeking
train_2162
#Person1#: Do you work well under pressure? #Person2#: Working under pressure is exciting and challenging. I don ' t mind working under pressure. I work well under that circumstance. People can, I can. #Person1#: Do you have any particular conditions that you would like the company to take into consideration? #Person2#...
#Person2# asks whether #Person1# can work under pressure and when to start the work.
job interview
train_2163
#Person1#: I'd like to buy a bottle of Centrum, a dozen tooth brushes, some baby's wipes, and a small bottle of aspirin. #Person2#: Centrum? We have bottles of thirty and one hundred tablets. Which kind do you want? #Person1#: Give me one bottle of one hundred tablets. #Person2#: And what kind of toothbrushes would you...
#Person1# buys a bottle of Centrum, a dozen toothbrushes, a small bottle of aspirin, baby's wipes and some vitamins with #Person2#'s suggestion.
buying something
train_2164
#Person1#: Excuse me! What time is it? My watch stopped. #Person2#: Let me see. It's 9 #Person1#: Is your watch right? #Person2#: I think so. I set it by the radio this morning. #Person1#: By the way, can you tell me what the date it is today, and what day it is, please? #Person2#: Well, it's the 10th and on the Tuesda...
Since #Person1#'s watch stopped, #Person1# tells #Person2# the time, the date and the day.
time and date
train_2165
#Person1#: How can we develop a new brand image with no direction whatsoever? #Person2#: With the fifty forwards he sent out today, maybe we'll inadvertently get inspired. #Person1#: I guess this is a good excuse to surf the Net on someone else's dime. #Person2#: Who'd have thought Bean would be this kind of e-mail fan...
#Person2# tells #Person1# emails can be used to develop a new brand image.
inspring idea
train_2166
#Person1#: If we give you the job, what's the most important thing you except to get? #Person2#: Well, I just want to enjoy what I'm doing. it's the most important thing to me. #Person1#: Just this? #Person2#: Yes, because I think being interesting thing is the best teacher. Or have more opportunities to have career gr...
#Person1# interviews #Person2# and asks about #Person2#'s plan for the future career if #Person2# gets the job.
job interview
train_2167
#Person1#: Honey, we are all out of wine and cheese. Do you mind running to the deli and picking up a few things? #Person2#: Can't it wait? I'm watching the game right now! #Person1#: Your friends and family are coming over tonight and we still need to get a lot of things. #Person2#: Fine! What do you need? #Person1#: ...
#Person1# asks #Person2# to buy a lot of things as the friends and family are coming over tonight. But #Person2# thinks it'll be costly.
buying somenthing
train_2168
#Person1#: The fried shrimp is crunchy! But my mom will never cook shrimp this way. She always says that fried food is not healthy. #Person2#: How does she cook the shrimp? #Person1#: She often cooks it in a large pan of boiling water. #Person2#: I don't like that. I like fried food, fried potatoes, fried chicken, frie...
#Person1# likes fried food and #Person2# invites #Person1# to cook some fried food by themselves, but #Person1# is afraid that mom will become angry about it.
fired food
train_2169
#Person1#: Are you travelling in America? #Person2#: No, I am on business. I will spend half a month for the business. #Person1#: What do you do? #Person2#: I am currently working in a foreign company as a salesman. #Person1#: I know all the tricks of the trade. It is quite tiring and difficult to be promoted. #Person2...
#Person1# and #Person2# ask each other's occupation. #Person1# is a salesman in a foreign company and #Person2# is a reporter at a TV station.
occupation
train_2170
#Person1#: Dan, Dan, dude. You have to come over to my house right now! #Person2#: Is everything OK? #Person1#: Just get over here! #Person2#: Come in! Quickly! #Person1#: So, since when is your house a bank? #Person2#: What do you mean? #Person1#: I mean, what's up with the locks and iron bars on your windows. #Person...
#Person1# asks Dan to be careful and tells Dan he is being watched. But Dan thinks #Person1# is acting paranoid.
paranoid
train_2171
#Person1#: Mr. : There are two things that you'll need to know. #Person2#: What are they? #Person1#: Mr. : The school has three lunch periods, and the kids are divided into three groups to go to lunch. #Person2#: Wow! #Person1#: Mr. : Furthermore, when you are dismissed in the afternoon, you will be divided into two wa...
#Person2# tells #Person1# two things #Person1# needs to know. One is three lunch periods and the other is two waves.
school rules
train_2172
#Person1#: Hello? #Person2#: Hi, Kathy. Have you had lunch? #Person1#: Not yet. And I'm really hungry now. #Person2#: I'm starving, too. There is a new Chinese restaurant close by. Do you want to go there for lunch? #Person1#: Why not? #Person2#: It's my treat this time. #Person1#: Thanks. I could eat a cow.
Kathy and #Person2# are hungry. They're going to a Chinese restaurant.
lunch invitation
train_2173
#Person1#: Do you offer a course in business management? #Person2#: Yes, we do. #Person1#: How many nights a week is it? #Person2#: It's 3 nights a week, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. #Person1#: And how long does the course last? #Person2#: It lasts for 9 months. #Person1#: When does it start? #Person2#: The next begin...
#Person1# asks #Person2# the details of a course in business management and wants to enroll it. #Person2# asks #Person1# to fill out the form right now.
course enrollment
train_2174
#Person1#: Mom, did you feel the earthquake this afternoon? #Person2#: Oh, that scared me. #Person1#: The breaking news just reported some houses were destroyed by the earthquake. #Person2#: Oh, dear! How ruthless! #Person1#: Do you think we can donate some clothes and food for the victims? #Person2#: Why not? That's a...
#Person1# and Mom decide to donate clothes and food to victims from the earthquake.
earthquake
train_2175
#Person1#: Were you born in the U. S. , Melissa? #Person2#: No, I wasn't. I came here in 1992. #Person1#: How old were you? #Person2#: I was seventeen. #Person1#: So, did you go to college right away? #Person2#: No, because my English wasn't very good. I studied English for two years first. #Person1#: Wow, your English...
#Person1# asks Melissa's age and praises Melissa for her fluent English.
fluent English
train_2176
#Person1#: It's going to strike 12 o'clock. Let's get the firecrackers ready, Rose. #Person2#: Aren't firecrackers forbidden in the city? #Person1#: Well yes, but they are not allowed only in downtown areas. It's OK here. It would be difficult to ban customs that have thousands of years of tradition. The habit does bri...
#Person1# invites #Person2# to get firecrackers ready for the coming new year. #Person2# tells #Person1# the other ways to celebrate New Year, including eating sweet rice cakes, making New Year calls on families and relatives, and traveling overseas.
New Year celebration
train_2177
#Person1#: Hi. You enjoying the party? #Person2#: Yes, actually. I don't really know anyone, but it's a nice place. Are you having a good time? #Person1#: Yes. The drinks are very good! I'm Paul, by the way. #Person2#: Hello Paul. I'm Jane. So what do you do? #Person1#: I'm in finance. You? #Person2#: Really? Me, too. ...
Jane and Paul meet each other for the first time at the party and they talk about their occupations.
first time meeting
train_2178
#Person1#: My boss wore a real stupid tie to work today. Can you guess why? #Person2#: He isn't a man of good taste for clothes, is he? #Person1#: He is, but I didn't mean that. His daughter bought him a tie as a Father's Day gift, and he was very happy to wear it and show it off to us in the office. #Person2#: It must...
#Person1# talks with #Person2# about the boss's stupid tie which was sent by the boss's daughter.
tie
train_2179
#Person1#: Is there any ticket for New York left? I want to go coach. #Person2#: SW113 leaves at 13:25. Would you want one? #Person1#: Yes. What's the fare? #Person2#: $ 88 for a single ticket. #Person1#: Well, I thought it was $ 83. #Person2#: Yes. From October lst we have to charge every passenger $ 5 for the airport...
#Person1# pays #Person2# $88 to buy a ticket to New York.
coach ticket
train_2180
#Person1#: Can you make the tea, Sam? #Person2#: Yes, of course I can, Penny. Is there any water in this kettle? #Person1#: Yes, there is. #Person2#: Where's the tea? #Person1#: It's over there, behind the teapot. Can't you see it? #Person2#: I can see the teapot, but I can't see the tea. #Person1#: There it is! It's i...
Penny asks Tom to make the tea. Tom asks where the tea and cups are.
make the tea
train_2181
#Person1#: Excuse me, professor. I need to go home now. #Person2#: Is everything OK? #Person1#: I just feel funny. #Person2#: What exactly seems to be the matter? #Person1#: I have a terrible headache. #Person2#: Do you think that you should go to the Student Health Center? #Person1#: I already have some medicine at ho...
#Person1# asks for leave because of a terrible headache and the professor approves.
ask for leave
train_2182
#Person1#: How about the repair fee? #Person2#: It's for free, because your computers are still in the period of guarantee--two years. #Person1#: Great! When can your technicians come to our factory? #Person2#: They are working in another factory to provide maintenance right now. Let me call them and see whether they h...
#Person2# will arrange staff to repair for free because #Person1#'s computers are still in the period of guarantee. Then #Person1# tells #Person2# the address of #Person1#'s factory.
after-sales service
train_2183
#Person1#: hello! How are you. #Person2#: not too well! I'm just to the doctor. I haven't been feeling too well. . over the last few days. #Person1#: what have you got? A cough? A cold? #Person2#: that's the funny thing. I don't what's wrong with me. I just feel exhausted. #Person1#: perhaps you'Ve been working too har...
#Person2# feels exhausted and loses appetite. #Person1# cares about #Person2# and hopes #Person2# to become better soon.
under the weather
train_2184
#Person1#: I would like to exchange Chinese money into German currency please. #Person2#: Certainly. How much will you be exchanging today? #Person1#: How about 50, 000 RIB. Would that be a problem? #Person2#: That's a hefty amount. But that should have no problem at all. You should be aware that there is a ten-percent...
#Person2# helps Mr. Lee exchange Chinese currency into German currency. Mr. Lee pays a small transaction charge for this service.
currency exchange
train_2185
#Person1#: Have you begun cleaning up that room of yours? #Person2#: I haven't started yet, but I will. #Person1#: What time are you going to clean it up? #Person2#: I'm planning on cleaning it up a little later. #Person1#: I told you to clean it up earlier. #Person2#: I know. I am still going to clean it up. #Person1#...
#Person1# urges #Person2# to clean up the room as soon as possible.
room clean-up
train_2186
#Person1#: Harry, let's play some ping-pong today. #Person2#: I'd love to play a set or two, but my right arm hurts. I've decided to stop playing ping-pong until it feels better. #Person1#: Well, how about going skating? #Person2#: I'd like to, but my knee hurts, too. #Person1#: Harry, stop making excuses! You're just ...
#Person1# invites Harry to play ping-pong or go skating but Harry is lazy and makes excuses.
make excuses
train_2187
#Person1#: Is it true that you don't swim at all now? #Person2#: I'm afraid so. I'm too old. #Person1#: But you are only 20. #Person2#: That's too old for a swimmer. If I swam in an international competition now, I wouldn't win. So I'd rather not swim at all. #Person1#: But don't you enjoy swimming? #Person2#: I used t...
#Person2# tells #Person1# that she doesn't swim now because of age and hard training. She thinks swimming is a wonderful memory for her.
swimming
train_2188
#Person1#: Well, Sally. Why do you look unhappy? #Person2#: Oh, Hill, I have just had a quarrel with Mr. Smith. #Person1#: What on earth was it about? #Person2#: Well, I have made three bad mistakes so far this week, so he got very angry with me. #Person1#: But I don't understand. You are usually very careful and never...
Sally quarreled with Mr. Smith because she had made bad mistakes. Sally tells Hill it was because she had bad sleep caused by her neighbor. Hill suggests her write a letter to her new neighbor.
noisy neighbour
train_2189
#Person1#: Here comes the Sunday newspaper again. #Person2#: Can I have the sports section? #Person1#: Sure, here you are. #Person2#: Let me check if there's anything exciting next week? #Person1#: You mean football matches, do you? #Person2#: Yes. Here it is! There will be a great football match on Monday at the City ...
#Person2# checks the football match in the newspaper but is afraid of the match cancellation because of the rain. #Person1# suggests #Person2# check the weather on the Internet.
football match
train_2190
#Person1#: This week's program Up Your Street takes you to Harrogate, a small town in Yorkshire. Harrogate became a fashionable resort during Victorian times, when people came to take a bath in the mineral waters. Today, few people come to visit the town for its mineral waters. Instead, Harrogate has become a popular t...
#Person1# introduces a small town Harrogate. People come for its mineral waters in the past and now this town becomes a place for people to retire to. Then #Person1# invites Tom to introduce a large area of open parkland called the Stray in Harrogate.
introduction of Harrogate
train_2191
#Person1#: Hi, this is Stephanie. I can't answer the phone right now. I'm away, but feel free to call, leave a message, or text. Alright. Bye. #Person2#: Uh, hello, uh yeah. Hi, Stephanie, or Steffi. Uh, I can't do this? Oh yeah. Uh. Yes, Stephanie, my name is Ronald, but my friends call me Ron. My parents call me, wel...
Ronald, the manager of an exotic pet shop, leaves a message when Stephanie cannot answer the phone. He introduces himself, including his birthplace, age, graduation school, vocation, hobbies, favorite foods, family members.
phone message
train_2192
#Person1#: Tell me, Peter, what makes Harrods so famous? #Person2#: Well, it's the biggest department store in the UK. And its food hall and the Egyptian hall are very famous. People come to Harrods just to see them. #Person1#: What is special about the food hall? #Person2#: It sells many different kinds of food. For e...
Peter explains to #Person1# the reasons why the food hall and the Egyptian hall are famous. #Person1# also asks Peter about Harrods' electricity, customer flow and sales daily.
Harrods store
train_2193
#Person1#: Hello! 6896443. #Person2#: Hello! Is that Lucy? #Person1#: Speaking! #Person2#: Hi! This is Tom! Can I speak to Lily? #Person1#: Sorry. She isn't in at the moment. Can I take a message? #Person2#: Could you please tell her not to wait for me this evening? We planned to go to a party together, but something i...
Tom asks Lucy to tell Lily that he has to leave because of some important things and will be back soon. He also wants a reply call and leaves his number.
convey information
train_2194
#Person1#: Excuse me, waiter? Waiter! #Person2#: Yes, sir? What can I do for you? #Person1#: I've been sitting here for the past twenty minutes and no one has offered me a glass of water, brought any bread to the table and our appetizers haven't been served yet! You know, in this kind of establishment, I'd expect muc...
#Person1# complains about the service and the waiting time before the food arrives. After #Person2# serves the dishes, #Person1# complains about the taste of food and #Person2# helps to recook the food. #Person3# comforts #Person1#.
food recook
train_2195
#Person1#: Alright, tell me what you think. #Person2#: Don't you think it's a bit bright? #Person1#: Yeah, maybe you're right. How about this outfit? #Person2#: This dress looks lovely on you, but it's not very practical, is it? #Person1#: No, I don't have any plans to go to a formal dance any time soon, but I love...
#Person2# tries on many kinds of different clothes and #Person1# gives comments on the clothes. #Person2# regrets missing the sales discount.
try on clothes
train_2196
#Person1#: You have a lovely house, Jack. #Person2#: Thank you. But a number of things have been going wrong lately. #Person1#: That's too bad. What problems are you having. #Person2#: Oh, the whole house needs re-painting for starters. The carpet in the living room is worn out, and I'd like to put in new wall-to-wa...
Things in Jack's house have been going wrong lately and Jack wants to hire an interior decorator. Alice gives him some suggestions for home decoration.
house decoration
train_2197
#Person1#: I'll be away for a moment. #Person2#: Yes? Anything I can do for you? #Person1#: Look! I'v been watching that man down in the street. He keeps peeping into the shop. Keep your eyes skinned for that guy, will you? #Person2#: Ok.
#Person1# warns #Person2# to keep eyes skinned for the guy peeping into the shop.
vigilance
train_2198
#Person1#: I would love to be famous and have thousands of adoring fans. #Person2#: Really? I'm not sure that I would like all the attention. There have been numerous cases of paparazzi interfering with star's private live in recent years. #Person1#: I love being photographed! If I were famous, I'd do interviews for ...
#Person1# would love to be famous because #Person1# loves being photographed and doing interviews and could do children's charity work then. But #Person2# isn't sure whether to do that because a famous person has to pay attention to gossip and words. #Person2# will support #Person1#, but #Person1# wants #Person2# to wr...
being famous
train_2199
#Person1#: Hey, Sarah. This year I'm going to the rock festival for all three days. #Person2#: Oh, lucky you, Leo. Are you going with your cousin again? #Person1#: Not this year. My brother has promised at take me there now. My sister is too busy with her college work. #Person2#: How will you get there? #Person1#: We w...
Leo tells Sarah he will take special buses to the rock festival with his brother. He invites Sarah to go together and Sarah says maybe she will.
rock festival