conversation for all occasions

297 Pages·2012·0.96 MB·English

CONVERSATION FOR ALL OCCASIONS
NATALIE XUÂN VĂN AÍ CHÂU HOÀNG
YẾN CHÂU VĂN HÙNG HOÀNG
Preface/Lời Mỡ Đầu
This book is a comprehensive English conversation, comprehension, and grammar text
all rolled into one, suitable for students who are able to write decently and would like to work on
English pronunciation and speaking skills. Students can both read and listen to English using the
accompanying CD recording of every written dialogue. After each conversation, there are
exercises for students to test their understanding of what was said in each conversation, as well
as exercises for students to practice using key phrases and using correct grammar. There are a
variety of different conversational topics included in this book that are designed to help prepare
students for different situations they may encounter in daily life where they will interact with
English speaking people, whether it be in school, at work, or even at a doctor’s office. These
conversations will provide students with more exposure to the American culture because they
reflect aspects of the American life. One thing to note is that although abbreviations of words
are commonly used in conversations, this book will not use abbreviations in order to show
students the proper tenses that should be used in sentences. Abbreviations are only used when it
is most necessary to avoid awkwardness in the sentence.
A great deal of thought and effort was put into the production of this book and we are
proud to present it in the hope that it will aid students in their quest to gain proficiency in
English, both written and spoken. From the bottom of our hearts, we wish each and every one of
our readers the best of luck in all their endeavors and remember, practice is key!
Cuốn sách này bao gồm nhiều tiết mục để giúp các bạn có trình độ Anh ngữ khá trau dồi thêm về
cách phát âm, cách đàm thoại và cách dùng văn phạm. Chúng tôi đã viết về nhiều đề tài để giúp
các bạn có thể đàm thoại trong nhiều tình cảnh khác nhau khi giao tiếp với người ngoại quốc|.
Các bạn có thể trà trộn các câu đã học trong cuốn sách này để làm cho cuộc đàm thọai của các
bạn được phong phú hơn.
Khi viết cuốn sách này, chúng tôi đã tránh dùng các lối viết tắt để giúp các bạn hiểu rõ về văn
phạm mặc dù cách viết/nói tắt rất thông dụng trong việc đàm thoai. Chúng tôi chỉ viết tắt nếu cần
đẻ tránh sự vụng về cho câu văn
Chúng tôi mong muốn cuốn sách này sẽ giúp các bạn phát triễn được khả năng Anh ngữ trong
câu viết cũng như lời nói. Chúng tôi chúc các bạn thành công và xin các bạn nhớ rằng chuyên
cần thực tập sẽ mang đến cho các bạn sự thành công.
2
Contents
I) DAILY LIFE
Chapter 1 Talking About The Weather 5
Chapter 2 An Afternoon In The Kitchen 11
Chapter 3 Telephone Conversation 16
Chapter 4 An Afternoon In The Park 21
Chapter 5 Weekend Plans 27
Chapter 6 Winter Break Plans 33
Chapter 7 A Visit To The Doctor’s Office 38
Chapter 8 Going To The Market 44
Chapter 9 I Need Help! 51
Chapter 10 Looking For An Apartment 56
Chapter 11 Formal Converstion 61
II) PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Chapter 12 Looking For A Job 69
Chapter 13 Job Interview 75
Chapter 14 First Day At Work 80
Chapter 15 On The Production Floor 86
Chapter 16 Changing A Customer’s Order 92
Chapter 17 Promotion 97
Chapter 18 Meeting People 102
III) ACADEMIC LIFE
Chapter 19 Applying To College 108
Chapter 20 Giving A Speech 113
Chapter 21 Studying For A Test 118
Chapter 22 Book Conversation 123
Chapter 23 Graduation 128
IV) HOLIDAYS
Chapter 24 Halloween 134
Chapter 25 Thanksgiving 140
Chapter 21 New Year’s Eve 145
3
SECTION I
DAILY LIFE
4
CHAPTER ONE
TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER
Situation: Ann and Mary talk while walking to their next class.
Ann: Oh, it feels so cold this morning.
Mary: It sure is. Early this morning my car’s windshield was covered with frost. I had to spray it
with water before I could head to school.
Ann: Who would have thought it could be this cold in early December, especially in California.
Mary: I know. The temperature was 35 degrees Fahrenheit when I woke up this morning. I was
freezing as soon as I got out of bed. The cold weather just hit me by surprise.
Ann: I cannot remember when it was this cold in early December.
Mary: Brace yourself for the rain this afternoon. Cold and wet, Yuck!
Ann: It is going to rain this afternoon?
Mary: Not only this afternoon, but also the rest of the week.
Ann: Oh, it is going to be miserable. I have a full class schedule today and tomorrow. To walk
from class to class, I will have to juggle my books and my umbrella trying not to get wet.
Mary: You carry too many books. Why don’t you leave some of them in your locker?
Ann: My locker is a long way from my English classes. This is the reason why I carry all my
books with me. Is it going to rain hard or just drizzle?
Mary: The news said that it would start to drizzle around noon, and then it would rain really
hard by three o’clock.
Ann: No hope for better weather this week?
Mary: There is a slim chance of sunshine by Saturday. However, it will be foggy, windy, and
rainy before the sun comes out this weekend.
Ann: I am glad that it rains even though I do not like rainy weather. We have a very dry season
so far this year.
Mary: Yes, I can hardly remember when it rained last time. Well, as long as there is no thunder
or lightning, I can bear it.
Ann: We rarely have thunder or lightning in California.
5
Mary: We are very lucky that California has one of the best weather conditions in America.
When it is hot, it is not humid; when it rains, there is no thunder or lightning, and the cold
weather during the winter season is quite mild compared to the weather of the other states.
Ann: Yes, we are lucky. However, sometimes when I look at the Christmas pictures, I just wish
we had some snow. It looks so pretty when everything is covered by a blanket of pure white
snow.
Mary: Living in southern California all my life, I have never seen snow. I would not mind
playing in the snow once in a while.
Ann: Yes, it would be fun to make a snowman or go skiing.
Mary: We have never seen snow; we have never made a snowman, and we have never gone
skiing. We better do something about this.
Ann: May be we should plan a trip to Aspen, Colorado during winter break. I heard that the
skiing season is fantastic up there.
Mary: I don’t think we can afford a trip to Aspen. It is very expensive up there.
Ann: I am just wishing. I know what I will be doing during winter break. I will be working very
hard to save money for a new car.
Mary: With the cars that we drive, it is better that we live in a place where there is no snow.
Ann: You are right, we are better off with no snow. Ok, I have class right now; see you later in
the library.
Mary: See you later.
EXPRESSIONS
It feels so cold: Lạnh quá
Who would have thought?: Ai mà nghĩ là
Hit me by surprise: Tác động/ảnh hưởng đến tôi một cách bất ngờ
Brace oneself for: Tự chuẩn bị đón nhận một điều gì khó khăn
The rest of the week: Phần còn lại của tuần lễ
Juggle my books and my umbrella: Tung hứng (xoay xở) các sách và cây dù của tôi
Is a long way from: Xa xôi
Drizzle: Mưa lâm râm
There is a slim chance: Có rất ít triễn vọng
Before the sun comes out: Trước khi mặt trời hé
I can bear it: Tôi có thể chụi được