on_a_roll

1. Participants: Alice, Mary, Jennifer, a famous movie star, and his agent

Alice, Mary, and Jennifer are sitting in a small restaurant when a well-known movie star comes in to sit quietly and drink a cup of coffee.

Alice: Well, what are you going to order?

Mary: I don't know. Maybe I'll just have a cup of tea. I'm pretty broke this month. Jennifer: Me, too. I think I'll just have some coffee.

Alice: Boy. This has turned out to be a boring evening. Nothing exciting ever happens in this town.

Mary: Who's that guy with the dark glasses on who just sat down in the corner over there? He looks familiar.

Jennifer: Wait a minute! That's Tom Hanks! Alice: You're kidding.

Jennifer: No, I know it's Tom Hanks! I just saw him in a movie two days ago.

Mary: I think you're right. It is Tom Hanks. Who's got the courage to go over and talk to him?

Alice: Not me. No way. You go, Jennifer. You're the one who recognized him. Finish the dialogue.

2.Participants: Two famous movie stars

They have all of the material things they could ever want, but they can't think of anything exciting to do.

Star 1: I don't know what to do this summer. My life is so boring.

Star 2: I know what you mean. I think I've been everywhere in the world either on location or on vacation.

Star 1: Why don't you go to that lovely house you have in the south of France, the one your fifth husband gave to you as a wedding present?

Star 2: We were just there two years ago.

Star 1: There's always your Manhattan penthouse.

Star 2: It's too hot in New York in the summer, and I don't really like the servants at the penthouse.

Star 1: You could always come with us. We're going to do something very different this summer.

Star 2: Oh! What is it?

Finish the dialogue.

At the Movies

Listening Comprehension Cloze Passage

Listen to the tape of the following passage or to your teacher. Fill in the missing words as you hear them.

22

in 1939 like Wuthering Heights, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Goodbye, Mr.

23

Final Project

1.Talk about the differences between watching something on television and watching something in a movie theater. Which is better? Why?

2.Discuss the different kinds of entertainment you enjoy doing with other people. Do you like to go to movies, concerts, sports, dances, picnics, and parties? Do you usually need money to enjoy yourself? What things do you like to do? Are the things that you like to do expensive?

3.There are some things we enjoy doing with others, and some things we like to do by ourselves. Think specifically of something that you like to do by yourself. Pretend that you have a lot of money and a lot of time, but that you have to be alone. Where are you? What are you doing?

General Warm-Up Questions

Read the following questions before you begin. They will help you to focus on the topic covered in this chapter.

Some people feel more comfortable when they go out with a group of people than they do when they are just with one person. Do you feel more comfortable when you go out with three or four people than when you go out with just one person? Where did you go on your first date? Have most of the dates you have had been arranged by friends or members of your family? A formal date is usually planned in advance and sometimes includes dinner, a concert or a dance. You often get dressed up for a formal date. Is formal dating more fun than informal dating? At what age should boys begin to date? Is the age the same for girls? ,

Prelistening/Reading Study Questions

Read the following questions before you listen to or read the dialogue. Take a few moments to think about them. They will help you understand the dialogue when you begin.

Fred says that he feels strange. Why does he feel strange? Where did he meet the blonde woman he talks about? Has Sharon gone out on inexpensive dates? If so, where has she gone? What does Sharon tell Fred not to forget? Where is he going on his big date? Why does Sharon think it's a good idea for women to ask men out on dates?

Vocabulary

TO BE GOING ON: to be happening; occurring

WEIRD: strange, unusual, unexplainable, disturbing

TO HANDLE (SOMETHING OR SOMEONE): to take care of, to deal with, to resolve

IT'D: it would (This is common in fast, casual speech. When you are writing, it should be written as it would.)

TO HAVE GOOD EARS: to be a good listener

A PAIN: something you do not want to do; a problem you don't want to face

TO PARTY: common noun that has recently gained acceptance as a verb; it is conjugated as a regular verb

TO GET CARRIED AWAY: to become involved in what you are doing (often so much that you forget other things)

SHOOT: go ahead; say what you want to say; used in conversation to mean "ask me" or "tell me"

D'YOU: do you (This is common in fast, casual speech. When you are writing, it should be written as do you.)

FOXY: physically attractive; sexy ^

TO GET UP THE COURAGE: to become brave enough to do something that is difficult

TO REJECT: to push someone or something away; to refuse

TO BE ALL SETTLED: to arrange something; to take care of something so it is no longer a problem

"TO CHICKEN OUT: to decide not to do something because you are afraid of doing it

~TO COME ON TOO STRONG: to present yourself in a forceful way, to push yourself on someone

WHAT'D: what did (This is common in fast, casual speech. When you are writing, it should be written as what did.)

A SHOCK: a surprise, something unexpected (can be good or bad)

DYNAMITE: something very good, great

TO BE LIBERATED: to be aware of your rights as a person

~~TO GO BROKE: to spend or use all of your money

-TO GO DUTCH: each person pays for his or her share of the bill

TO BE RIDICULOUS: to be foolish; to be silly

TO DEAL WITH (SOMETHING OR SOMEONE): to take care of, to handle, to resolve

TO BE GRATEFUL: to be full of thanks; to appreciate someone or something

TAKE IT EASY: relax; calm down; don't worry

FRED'S DATE

Sharon: What's going on, Fred? You look weird today.

Fred: I don't know . . . it's really strange. Something happened the other night that I don't know how to handle.

Sharon: Well maybe it'd help to talk about it. I've got good ears.

Fred: OK. Remember that potluck at John's house where you made that great fruit salad? Sharon: How could I forget. That's the night I didn't get home until two, and then I had to

study until four-thirty. What a pain. I like to go out, but sometimes it's just not worth it when I've got a lot of studying to do and I have to work hard to catch up for all the time I've lost partying.

Fred: I thought you just said you had good ears. Do you want to hear what happened to me or not?

Sharon: Sure. I'm sorry. I just got carried away for a minute. Shoot. I won't interrupt. I promise.

Fred: Well. D'you remember that foxy blonde who was sitting next to Jeff most of the evening?

Sharon: Yeah, I think so. The tall one with green eyes?

Fred: That's the one. It took me more than an hour to get up the courage to go over and talk to her. I tried to think of some way to ask for her phone number, but I chickened out. I was afraid she'd think I was coming on too strong if I just said, "Say, I'd like to call you up sometime."

Sharon: I know. It can be very hard . . . especially when it's someone you really like. We're all afraid of rejection.

Fred: Well. Anyhow, listen to this. Last night she called and asked me out on a date. Isn't that a surprise?

Sharon: No kidding! Really?

Fred: Of course, really. Would I lie?

Sharon: Well? Tell me, tell me, what'd you say?

Fred: After I got over the initial shock, I said yes, of course. Sharon: So? Then it's all settled. What are you worried about?

Fred: The problem is that I don't know what to do now. I've never been asked out on a date before. Isn't it unusual for a woman to ask a man out on a date?

Sharon: Not anymore. I think it's a dynamite idea. Think of all the years I wasted sitting next to the phone waiting to be asked out. If I had been more liberated, I think I would have asked guys out all the time.

Fred: Yeah, sure. You would have gone broke, too. It can be very expensive to take someone out.

Sharon: Aw, come on. Some of the best dates I've had have been very inexpensive. I've gone on picnics, for walks on the beach, to the zoo, to potlucks, poetry readings, and to play baseball, just to name a few. I think it's a lot more fun to think of things to do without spending money. You just have to be a little more creative. If she's asked you out, you shouldn't have to worry about paying anyway.

Fred: You're kidding? Really? Sharon: Of course, really. Would I lie?

Fred: You mean she'll pay for the date?

Sharon: It'd probably be a good idea to talk about it before you got out and be sure you're prepared to pay for your half just in case she wants to go Dutch.

Fred: What do you mean, talk about it? How can I say, "Hey there, are you paying for me tonight?"

Sharon: No, don't be ridiculous.

Fred: I'm not being ridiculous. How do I deal with it? Do I just wait and then fight with her over the bill when it comes?

Sharon: I think that I'd offer to pay, just as if you were out with anyone else. Then, if she says something like, "I asked you out. I am paying the bill," just say thank you and be grateful. You can say something like, "Great. I'll pay the next time."

Fred: I don't think I will ever understand the new liberated woman.

Sharon: Hey, times are changing. You've got to take it easy, my friend. Oh, I almost forgot. Remember, we're all going to meet at the park to play baseball on Saturday afternoon. It should be a good game. By the way, where are you going on this big, fancy date, anyway?

Fred: To play baseball at the park on Saturday afternoon. Sharon: No kidding? Really?

Fred: Would I lie?

Postlistening/Reading Questions

Answer in complete sentences.

1.. Why does Fred feel strange?

2.Where did he meet the blonde woman?

3.Why didn't Fred ask for her phone number?

4.Where has Sharon gone on inexpensive dates?

5.What does Sharon tell Fred not to forget?

6.Where is Fred going on his big date?

7.Does Sharon think that it is a good idea for women to ask men out on dates? Why? Why not?

Vocabulary Building Sentences

First, underline the word or expression from the vocabulary list in the prelistening/reading section. Then write a new sentence, using the same word or expression. Follow the model.

MODEL: What's going on? I thought you'd be here an hour ago.

Their refationship's been going on for a long time.

1.I always feel weird after an exam.

2.I can't handle any more problems today. Everything's gone wrong.

3.Janet spent a lot of money last week. Did she get carried away?

4.I want to hear about your trip. Shoot. I'm listening.

5.My brother got up the courage to apply to UCLA.

6.I wanted to go skiing, but I chickened out. I was afraid that I'd break a leg.

7.David and I went Dutch for lunch, so it wasn't too expensive.

8.It's all settled. Andy's having the party at his house.

9.Do you think I've been coming on too strong lately?

10.I'm saving my money. I don't want to go broke this month.

Fred's Date