Conversational practice dialogues a. A hardworking mother

Ex. 1. Read the dialogue.

Jim and Karen are relaxing in Jim’s room. They have been telling each other about their lives.

Karen: Did you live with both parents when you were little?

Jim: No, my father died when I was very young, so I grew up in a single-parent family.

Karen: Did your mother work?

Jim: Yes, she worked in an office to support my brother and me.

Karen: It must have been difficult for her.

Jim: It was. After a long day at her job, she came home and cooked our dinner and helped us with our home­work. And taking care of us wasn’t easy.

Karen: Didn’t your mother have anyone to help her with the cooking and cleaning?

Jim: No, she did it all by herself. She must have been tired a lot, but she never neglected us. In fact, she spent almost all her free time with us.

Karen: You didn’t have any grandparents or aunts or uncles who could have helped?

Jim: We had relatives, but they lived in other states, so our mother had to do everything alone.

Ex. 2. Answer the questions.

1. Did Jim grow up in a two-parent or a single-parent family?

2. Did his mother work? What did she have to do?

3. Did Jim's mother have to work hard?

4. Did anyone help her to look after the house and the family?

5. Why didn't Jim's relatives help her?

Ex. 3. Speak about Jim’s life.

Ex. 4. Act out the dialogue.

B. A lovely bride

Ex. 1. Read the dialogue.

Jan and Audrey, who are roommates, are sitting in a church. They are waiting for their friend Margo to be married.

Jan: The music’s starting to play!

Audrey: Yeah, the wedding’s about to begin. It’s hard to believe that Marge’s getting married.

(A few minutes later)

Jan: Doesn’t Margo look beautiful?

Audrey: Yes, she is a lovely bride.

Jan: Have you met the guy she’s marrying?

Audrey: No, I don’t know the groom. But he looks like a nice person.

Jan: Well, we’ll get a chance to meet him in an hour or so.

Audrey: You must be kidding. We won’t have a chance to get acquainted with him at the reception. He’ll be too bu­sy cutting the wedding cake and having his picture taken with Margo.

Jan: Yeah. You’re right about that.

Audrey: I know what we could do, though. Why don’t we take them out for dinner next week when they get back from their honeymoon?

Ex. 2. Answer the questions.

1. Who is getting married?

2. Do Jan and Audrey know the guy she's marrying?

3. Will they have a chance to get acquainted with him at the wedding reception?

4. What are they going to do to get acquainted with him?

Ex. 3. Enlarge upon the dialogue.

C. Mr. Cliff’s family

Ex. 1. Read the dialogue.

A student wants to write an article about Alexander Cliff. She is calling Cliff at home.

Student: Mr. Alexander Cliff, please.

Cliff: This is Alex Cliff.

Student: Mr. Cliff, my name is Silvia Rios. I’m a student at the University of California. Mr. Cliff, I wrote an article about you recently for the school newspaper, but I wasn’t able to include any details about you personally - about your family... or your interests.

Cliff: Yes.

Student: Well, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?

Cliff: I’d be happy to answer your questions, Ms Rios. Go ahead.

Student: Well, sir, ah, let’s see, how many children do you have?

Cliff: I have two daughters. Tricia, my elder daughter, is a doctor. My younger daughter, Lana, is also a stu­dent at the University of California. She’s studying business. Perhaps you know her. She plays the piano in the university orchestra.

Student: No, sir, I don’t think I do, but the university is a big place.

Cliff: I guess it is.

Student: Ah, what does your wife do, Mr. Cliff?

Cliff: My wife works as a volunteer for Readers of Ame­rica. She helps teach adults to read and write.

Student: I understand you are a lawyer.

Cliff: Yes, I’ve been a lawyer for over twenty years.

Student: Do you have any interests or hobbies that you could tell me about?

Cliff: Well, as you know, I write novels — mostly stories about crime and the law. I also play golf and I jog every morning with my wife. And, of course, I read a lot. You have to read a lot in my profession. And I play the piano ... not well ... but I enjoy it.

Student: Well, all that’s very interesting, sir. I’m sure the other students at the university will be interested in kno­wing a little more about you, too.

Cliff: Well, I’m glad I could answer your questions. Good luck with your article.

Student: Thank you very much. And good luck to you too, sir.

Ex. 2. Answer the questions.

1. Why is Silvia calling Mr. Cliff?

2. How many children does Mr. Cliff have?

3. What do they do?

4. What does Mr. Cliff’s wife do?

5. What is Mr. Cliff's job?

6. What are his interests and hobbies?

Ex. 3. Speak about Mr. Cliff and his family.

Ex. 4. Interview one of your groupmates. Make up your own dialogue after the model. Ask him/her about his/her family.