Vocabulary notes

1. knob [nob] – кнопка

2. to give an estimate [`estimeit] – дать оценку

Leisure Time

Mrs. Madigan Goes to the Theatre

Mrs. Madigan is asking the hotel desk-clerk for information about theatres in St. Francis:

Desk Clerk: Good morning, Mrs. Madigan.

Mrs. Madigan: Good morning. I think I’d like to go to the theatre tonight. Is there a

theatre in the city?

Desk Clerk: Would you like a guide?

Mrs. Madigan: No, no. I’ll go by taxi.

Desk Clerk: No, madam. A theatre guide. A list of all the theatres in St. Francis,

with full details of the plays and booking facilities.

Mrs. Madigan: How many theatres are there?

Desk Clerk: Three.

Mrs. Madigan: Hmm. What’s on at the National Theatre? I’ve heard it is the best

one.

Desk Clerk: National Theatre. The “Siege of St. Francis”. It’s a history play,

Mrs. Madigan.

Mrs. Madigan: I’ll go there. I’ll go and get a ticket.

(Later. At the National Theatre box office.)

Mrs. Madigan: One ticket for tonight, please. In the stalls.

Clerk: Which performance?

Mrs. Madigan: Which performance? Tonight!

Clerk: There are two performances nightly. One at six o’clock, the second

at nine o’clock.

Mrs. Madigan: Oh, the nine o’clock. Six o’clock is much too early.

Clerk: Yes, madam.

Mrs. Madigan: One stall for the second performance this evening. But not too far

back. My eyes are becoming rather weak.

Clerk: Yes, madam. Seat A3.

Mrs. Madigan: Is there a good view of the stage from that seat?

Clerk: It’s in the front row, madam.

Mrs. Madigan: Oh, is it? Good.

Clerk: Five crowns please.

Vocabulary notes

1. theatre guide – путеводитель по театрам

2. stalls – партер

Особенности употребления формул вежливости

1. Приветствие / Прощание

Form of address	Answer	Style	Function
How do you do?	the same repeated	Formal	greeting after introduction
How are you?	Fine, thank you. And you?	Neutral	inquiry after somebody’s health
How’re things?	Fine, thanks. What about you?	Informal	greeting
Good day!	(All the best!)	Formal	parting (cold dismissal)

How do you do? употребляется только во время официального знакомства, соответствует рус. здравствуйте и требует повторения в ответной реплике. При помощи нейтральных фраз, выбираемых в зависимости от времени суток, приветствуют малознакомых людей или прощаются с ними. Добрый день возможно как приветствие только в американском варианте; для британцев – это способ вежливо-холодно указать человеку на дверь, давая понять, что разговор окончен.