Section four

Ex. 12. Dinner-table Talk

— Good evening. I'm so glad you were able to come.... Dinner's ready. Let's go into the dining-room. Mrs. Thompson, will you sit here on my left, and you, Mr. Thompson, there.... How long have you been in London?

— Oh, only a few days, since last Monday, to be exact, and I'm sorry to say we have to return tomorrow week.

— Is this your first visit?

— It's my wife's first visit, but I've been here several times before. I have to come over at least once a year on business, and I feel quite at home in London.

— And what do you think of London, Mrs. Thompson?

— Er — I beg your pardon, I didn't quite catch what you said.

— I was asking what you thought of London.

— Oh, I think it's a wonderful place. There always seems to be something interesting to do.

— And how do you like our weather?

— Well, it's rather changeable, isn't it?

— Yes, it is, but on the whole it's not so bad, once you get used to it. Will you have some more chicken?

— No, thank you.

— What about you, Mr. Thompson?

— Yes, please, just a little. It's delicious.

— I'm so glad you like it... and now what sweet will you have, Mrs. Thompson? There's apple tart and cream, or chocolate trifle.

— Er — trifle for me, please.

— And you Mr. Thompson?

— Trifle for me, too, please.

Insufficient Local Knowledge

Ex. 16.

A Londoner who was going to the West of England for a holiday, arrived by train at a town, and found that it was pouring. He called a porter to carry his bags to a taxi. On the way out of the s ation, partly to make conversation and partly to get a local opinion on prospects of weather for his holiday, he asked the porter:

"How long has it been raining like this?"

"I don't know sir, I've only been here for fifteen years," was the reply.

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