Conversational practice dialogues a. Describing people

Ex. 1. Read the dialogues.

a) Woman: What do you think of the new French teacher?

Man: Well, she’s kind of strange and she seems to be pretty moody.

b) First man: Everyone says Kathy is hardworking and always very careful in her job.

Second man: Yes, and she’s very enthusiastic about her work, too.

c) First man: Hey! Look at what the teacher said about me on my report: I’m “creative, reliable, and intelligent.”

Second man: Oh, that’s great!

d) Man: Hey, what’s wrong?

Woman: I’m fed up with my brother! He’s so hot-tem­pered. He always gets angry with me.

Man: Really?

Woman: Yeah. He gets upset so easily. I don’t know what the matter with him is.

e) Man: Look what Mary gave me! Isn’t this a nice book?

Woman: Yes. It’s great! That’s Mary, she’s so gene­rous — she always likes to treat people and give presents to her friends.

f) - How do you like your new boss?

- Oh, she’s too serious.

- Really? Why?

- Oh, she never enjoys a joke. She never laughs.

g) - How’s your new secretary?

- Well, he’s OK, but he’s pretty slow. He can't type very fast. And the mistakes...! I have to send everything back at least twice for re­typing.

h) First man: What is Paul’s wife like?

Second man: I can’t stand her. She’s everything I don’t like in a woman. She’s bossy, she’s superior, and she thinks she can do everything better than other people.

i) First man: What does Mike’s sister look like?

Second man: Very plain. Long straight hair, high forehead and prominent cheekbones.

j) Man: What’s George like?

Woman: A bit like you, actually. Same build, same height, and similar colour eyes.

k) First man: What is Mary like?

Second man: She’s quite good-looking. The kind of girl you go for. But she’s a bit too serious for me. You know, politics, literature, human rights and things like that.

l) Paul: Anna, what was your first boyfriend like?

Anna: Goodness! Why do you want to know that?

Paul: I'm just interested.

Anna: Well, he was very good-looking, with dark hair and big, brown eyes. He was very ro­mantic. He was always buying me flowers and presents. Of course, he wasn't as nice as you.

m) Old lady: Help me somebody please! Oh policeman, stop that man!

Policeman: I...

Old lady: He stole my handbag!

Policeman: I think it's too late, madam.

Old lady: But...

Policeman: He’s escaped. Now tell me...

Old lady: Yes...

Policeman: What did he look like?

Old lady: Ah well... He... He was medium height and err... quite well built and he had short dark hair. Oh, I know he looked like that actor man, that David Starr, but he was taller than that.

Ex. 2. Expand the dialogues above.