Practical Conversation — 第一冊

🔊Why does it keep doing that?

🔊So your computer keeps freezing?

🔊Sounds like your computer has a mind of its own.

🔊I think you need to invest in some anti-virus software.

🔊Maybe, but what choice do you have?

🔊Wouldn’t it be easier just to buy the software?

🔊Suit yourself.

🔊Sure. (She begins clapping.)

🔊Okay. Okay. What do you want help with?

🔊Yeah, right! I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole. But I do happen to have a backscratcher in my backpack. (She hands him the backscratcher.) Here you go.

🔊You owe me one. Remember the old saying: You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

🔊You’d better not forget, if you know what’s good for you.Questions: What is the backscratcher made from? Why is Eric looking for help? Does Coco want to scratch his itch for him? Why not?

🔊Can I have some?

🔊That’s because you’re a pig and always take too much.

🔊(Starts to cry.) You are so mean. I am your little sister and you should take care of 5me.

🔊You are the best sister ever.

🔊I will. Don’t worry.

🔊I went to my parent’s house for a BBQ.

🔊It was great. My mother prepared a lot of different foods for us to eat.

🔊Yes, she is, but she only prepared the food. My father actually did the cooking on the BBQ as he always does. He thinks he is the best.

🔊Yeah. I think everyone’s dad thinks that they are the best BBQ-er.

🔊Me, too. Every time I come here, my mouth starts to water as soon as I walk through the door. So, what do you need to get?

🔊I think the bread is over by the pastries. They find the area where the bread is.

🔊What is this long one?

🔊I think I’ve had it before, but I don’t really like garlic that much. What are these ones that look like a bull’s horns?

🔊Look here! You can even get hamburger and hot dog buns here. They are quite hard to find in Taiwan. Maybe I should pick up a dozen hot dog buns and we can have a wiener roast at the beach this weekend.

🔊Is that all you need?

🔊Alright. We can pay and go home.

🔊I knew you couldn’t resist buying something sweet.

🔊Yes, it’s your birthday.

🔊I saw it on Facebook.

🔊Yes, it sent me an announcement to remind me of your birthday.

🔊It can do a lot of things.

🔊You can join discussion or interest groups.

🔊There is a group for almost everything imaginable. I even saw a group for people who like bacon.

🔊Yes, I just joined the Up with People group. Now I can stay connected with some new friends that I met this fall.

🔊Probably. You can search the groups using key words. So if you type in “explore Taiwan” or “travel Taiwan” you will more than likely get a lot of hits.

🔊There will be a lot of forums on related topics. Maybe people would share their stories about traveling Taiwan. There might be some recommended places to see. Also, you can expect to see a lot of pictures.

🔊Sure, you can even upload short video clips.

🔊Yeah, as are groups for political and social discussions. You can join a group just to show support for a cause too.

🔊Maybe I’ll come over and show you how to search for groups.

🔊Ok. Talk to you after school.

🔊Hello, cutie. What’s new?

🔊Oh, I just bought a new computer game called World of Warcraft.

🔊That’s too bad.

🔊Sure, but there’s one problem. I can’t get the game to work.

🔊Yes, several times.

🔊Of course, I have almost 250 free gigabytes.

🔊I think so. I just updated my computer last week.

🔊Oh no! Does that mean I have to buy a new computer?

🔊I hope you’re right. I can’t afford to buy an entire new system, but I do have enough money for a new graphics card.

🔊Ok. Let’s go.

🔊Yes, and it is nice and cool up here, too. George hears something.

🔊Did you hear that?

🔊It sounds like bird? They both look up at the tree, but they don’t see any birds there. Then the sound starts again. It’s a high-pitched buzzing noise.

🔊Do you hear it now?

🔊What do you think it is?

🔊Yeah. That’s probably it and that is why we didn’t see it. They usually stop chirping when something is near. They continue hiking up the winding path towards the top of the mountain. Then George sees something moving in the undergrowth.

🔊Don’t move! I think I saw a snake. Helen stops deadin her tracks.

🔊Over there, by that rotting log. As they watch the spot where George supposedly saw the snake, a tiny creature crawls on top of the log to bask in the sunlight. Helen laughs.

🔊Well I only saw the end of its tail and it looked like a snake to me. They decide to sit down on a big rock next to the path and watch the little lizard bathe in the sun. All of a suddenthey hear a shriek and the cute little lizard disappears.

🔊That was a Common Kestrel. It is a small falcon that likes to feed on all kinds of little creatures.

🔊They even eat venomous snakes, if you can believe it.

🔊Sounds good to me. I’ll race you back to the bottom. Before George even finishes his sentence, Helen is off like a shot.

🔊Wait for me!!!

🔊Probably, the red blazer and yellow tie he wore yesterday.

🔊Do you want to make a bet?

🔊Ok. You’re on.

🔊How about, if I win, you have to do my homework for a week?

🔊Ok. How about if you win, I’ll buy you dinner at MOS Burger.

🔊YES! Red blazer, yellow tie! I win. You can pay up by finishing last night’s homework.

🔊Really? Where did you hear that?

🔊How would she know?

🔊Well Alice doesn’t know what she is talking about. What other rumors is she saying about me?

🔊WHAT!? I didn’t say anything about asking her to the dance. She gossips too much. Doesn’t she have anything better to do than spread lies about me?

🔊She should just mind her own business.

🔊All I said was that she was cute. That’s it!

🔊Umm. Uh!

🔊Because I don’t want anybody to know.

🔊I feel so embarrassed. I am going to die now. Just put me out of my misery.

🔊It does make me feel better knowing that I am not the only one with a crush.

🔊Thanks for sharing that.