Mastering Everyday English Conversations

Situation 1: Two friends are talking about embarrassing situations.

Thomas: Last year I went to a concert and while I was dancing, my cellphone fell on the floor causing a lot of noise.

Paul: I bet you were really embarrassed. a) I was listening to the performers

Situation 2: Patricia asks Laura about something that happened last night.

Patricia: What were you doing when I called you last night?

Laura: What do you think? Sleeping! What else? b) I called you

Situation 3: Helen is telling her boyfriend about her cooking class.

Helen: Yesterday’s class was awful. I was helping the chef and I burnt myself.

Oscar: How did it happen? a) How did it happen

Situation 4: Mary is telling her mother about her new job.

Mary: My boss is always attending video conferences. He thinks video conferencing is less expensive than business trips. d) less expensive than

Situation 5: Sandra is trying to talk to her sister, but it’s kind of difficult.

Sandra’s sister: Hello?

Sandra: Hello, finally! It’s hard to get ahold of you. c). It’s hard to get ahold of you

Situation 6: The front desk agent at Marriott Hotel is answering the phone.

Front desk: Good morning, Marriott Hotel. How can I help you?

Harold: Oh, I’m sorry. You were saying? a) You were saying?

Situation 7: Two friends are talking about their plans for the future.

Andrew: What are you going to do when you get your degree?

Kate: I guess I’ll go backpacking for some time. a) I’ll go backpacking for some time.

Situation 8: Robert and Ted are talking about their summer vacation.

Robert: If this semester finishes by the end of December, I’m going to have everything ready to go to the beach in January.

Ted: Lucky you! I’ll probably stay home all summer. a) finishes

Situation 9: Jonathan and Karen are planning what to do this weekend.

Jonathan: What are we going to do this weekend?

Karen: Let’s visit my parents. They are having a barbecue this Saturday. Could you help me?

Jonathan: All right. I might make the salads. c) might make the salads.

Situation 10: Tina’s boss is asking her to prepare a trip for the company.

Boss: I need you to organize the trip for the whole company.

Tina: What things should you consider first?

Boss: You have to think about the necessary food and entertainment within our present budget. b) What things should you consider first?

Situation 11: Heidi is going on a trip with some colleagues.

Samantha: Don’t forget to take your ID card, Heidi.

Heidi: I know! What else do I need?

Samantha: Why don’t you check the weather conditions to choose the right clothes? c) Why don’t you check the weather conditions

Situation 12: It’s a baby shower. Eddie wants to identify her friends’ baby presents.

Eddie: Whose package is this?

Sarah: It’s Alicia’s. b) Whose package is this?

Situation 13: Cindy is giving some instructions to her new housekeeper.

Cindy: I don’t want any mess in my house. Remember this. I always put my books on that shelf.

Housekeeper: What about these CDs?

Cindy: They’re my daughters’, Mary and Susan. I always keep hers in her closet. a) hers in her closet

Situation 14: Doctor Mark Stevens is asking Martha to do something for him.

Mark: Nurse, would you mind getting Mr. Gordon’s radiographies, please?

Martha: Of course not. I’ll go get them right away. a) would you mind getting

Situation 15: Henry and John are talking during a job meeting.

Henry: Who’s the new manager?

John: I think he’s the one wearing a white shirt and blue tie. b) the one wearing a white shirt and blue tie

Situation 16: Mathew and James are talking about their friend Tim.

Mathew: Did you see Tim today? He looks so different with those… What do you call them?

Tim: In front of his teeth? Oh, you mean braces.

Mathew: Yes, that’s right! b) you mean braces.