Dialogue 1 “What is Missing?”

Task: read the dialogue, reproduce it a) abridged, b) in the form of a monologue:

P.:  Good evening, sir. I've come to investigate the burglary hat you phoned about. Now can you tell me what you know about it?

A.:  Well, for a start, this isn't my house. I'm just staying here for six months while my parents are working in Japan. So, apart from a few obvious things, like radio, the TV, the stereo, the records and some paintings, I don't really know what else has gone. All the drawers have been emptied. God knows what my parents kept in them, or what they'll say when they know!

P.:  Yes, that will be a bit of a problem for you. Now...

A.:  I mean, it's not as if it was my fault. All the doors were locked, and the windows properly closed. I even left the hall light on to give the impression that someone was in, but I'm sure my father will think I'm responsible.

P.:  You'll just have to break the news to him gently, sir. Now, how exactly did you discover the burglary?

A.:  I went out at 8, as I do every Thursday, to go to my Italian class at the Institute in Roland Street. Afterwards I went to the Black Lion for a drink, and I got back here just after half past 10.

P.:  How can you be sure of the time?

A.:  'Cos I stayed in the pub until closing time, and it's only a two-minute walk from here.

P.:  I see. And what did you find when you got back here?

A.:  All this mess you can see around you. I just walked in through the front door, and I found this. And it's the same upstairs – everything smashed, drawers emptied and thrown about. It's like an earthquake!

P.:  And do you know how the burglars got in?

A.:  Yes, the lock on the kitchen door has been forced.

P.:  And have you spoken to the neighbours? Perhaps they saw or heard something?

A.:  No, I haven't. But Mr. Jones, on that side, is stone deaf and sits glued to the telly all evenings, and the Richards, on the other side, are away.

P.:  Well, how soon could you let us know what exactly has been stolen?

A.:  Well, I'll get in touch with my parents and then call you.

Useful vocabulary: burglary, apart from, to empty, to be one's fault, properly, to give the impression, to break some news to smb, to discover, to be sure of (about) smth, a mess, to force a lock on the door, to be stone deaf, straight away, to contact smb.

E x. 1. Translate into English making use of it in your further retelling:

1. Я пришел расследовать кражу со взломом. 2. Я здесь живу полгода. 3. Я не знаю, что еще унесли. 4. Вам придется обрушить на него эту новость помягче. 5. Я вернулся сюда сразу после половины десятого. 6. Я пробыл там до закрытия. 7. Я вошел через парадный вход. 8. Замок кухонной двери взломан. 9. Мистер Джонс просиживает все вечера, как приклеенный, у телевизора. 10. Буду признателен, если вы свяжетесь с ними.

E x. 2. Retell the dialogue in the form of a monologue using the following verbs:

to greet, to wonder, to reply, to explain, to add, (not) to know, to ask, to suppose, to mean, to advise, to respond, to compare.