W: But I thought we had to be at the restaurant by 7:30 for the surprise party. We’ll never make it there with all this evening traffic.
M: Sure we will. Rush hour is almost over. Anyway, the party starts at 8:00. But I do need help with directions. Can you call the restaurant and ask them where we park our car?
W: OK, I will call them right away.
Text 8
M: Hey Hana, I’ve heard that you lived in London, right? W: Yes, exactly.
M: Well, I’m planning to go to London for an academic conference next month and I’m really looking forward to it. But I’m not really sure what to expect, so can you tell me a little bit, please?
W: Yeah, sure. London is a very interesting place where a lot of cultures are mixed. There are lots of historical buildings, for example, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. There is a very famous museum called the British Museum. M: That’s really good, because I’m really interested in history and I really want to see historical spots there. But is there any other thing I should try in London, for example, is there any good local British food?
W: Well, England isn’t very famous for food, but it is famous because a lot of food from different countries is all gathered. There’s a very good place called the Camden Market and you can go and buy food from all over the world.
M: Good. That sounds really interesting. I’m really looking forward to it. Thank you.
W: You are welcome.
Text 9
M: Are you enjoying the performance so far?
W: Well, you must admit the clothes are beautiful and the set is wonderful, but the acting is a bit boring. What do you think? M: I think you are a bit particular. The actor in the lead role is very professional. I suppose the music could be a bit better, though. W: Do you know anyone in the play?
M: Actually, the woman playing Ophelia is an old classmate of mine. W: Really? Is that why you wanted to come to the play?
M: That’s only a part of it. I absolutely admire the director. I’ve seen quite a few other plays he directed. They are really wonderful.
W: Look! They are weakening the lights. I think we should go back to our seats
for the second half of the play. M: You are right.
Text 10
Some of the greatest success stories of history have followed a word of encouragement or an act of confidence by a loved one or a trusting friend. Had it not been for a confident wife, Sophia, we might not have listed among the great names of literature the name of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
When Nathaniel, a heartbroken man, went home to tell his wife that he was a failure and had been fired from his job in a customhouse, she surprised him with a shout of joy.
“Now,” she said happily, “you can write your book!” “Yes,” replied the man, with little confidence, “and what shall we live on while I am writing it?”
To his amazement, she opened a drawer and pulled out a large amount of money. “Where on earth did you get that?” he said in great surprise. “I have always known you were a man of genius,” she told him. “I knew that someday you would write a masterpiece. So every week, out of the money you gave me for housekeeping, I saved a little bit. So here is enough to last us for one whole year.”
From her trust and confidence came one of the greatest novels of American literature, The Scarlet Letter.
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