M: Well, there are essentially domestic stories. We don't cover international stories. We don't cover party politics or economics. We do issues of general social concern to our British audience. They can be anything from the future of the health service to the way the environment is going downhill. W: How do you choose the topic? Do you choose one because it's what the public wants to know about or because it's what you feel the public ought to know about? M: I think it's a mixture of both. Sometimes you have a strong feeling that something is important and you want to see it examined and you want to contribute to a public debate. Sometimes people come to you with things they are worried about and they can be quite small things. They can be a story about corruption in local government, something they cannot quite understand, why it doesn't seem to be working out properly, like they are not having their litter collected properly or the dustbins emptied. W: How do you know that you've got a really successful program? One that is just right for the time? M: I think you get a sense about it after working in it in a number of years. You know which stories are going to get the attention. They are going to be published just the point when the public are concerned about that. What was said before this conversation?
----
Answer: W: You're the editor of Public Eye. What kind of topics does your program cover?
Q: W: Thank you. What was said before this conversation?
A: M: Here is the money. Keep the change.
Question: M: Yes. I'll go back to my hometown. W: To see your grandparents? M: Yes, and also do some farming. W: You mean you know how to farm? M: Yes. I did that every summer during holidays. W: I didn't know that a city boy can do farm work. Can I go there with you? I'd like to learn to do some farming. M: Sure, my grandparents would be very happy to see you. W: Are you sure? M: I'm sure. They are very kind people. What was said before this conversation?
Answer: W: Do you have a plan for your holidays?
[Q]: M: Do they say anything about the experience? What was said before this conversation?
****
[A]: W: Look, it says they want a junior sales manager and it seems like it's a big company. That'll be good for you might have to travel a lot.
input: Please answer the following: W: Oh, I love it. It's so convenient. I can take the bus to work or the subway or a taxi. And there's so much to do. M: I know what you mean. I'd like to live in the city, but living in the suburbs is better for Michelle. Trees, grass. There are a lot of good things about suburban living. W: I grew up in suburbs, remember? So I know. But, as a working woman, I think New York has all the conveniences, including the best tomatoes. M: The truth is, Michelle has lived in suburbs for more than ten years. It is very hard for her to leave her friends. W: I don't think so. Michelle is at the right age. There are lots of things for her here. M: But I'm afraid that she cannot adapt herself to the new environment. W: Don't worry. It is never too late to learn or change. M: OK, I will think about it. What was said before this conversation?
++++++++++
output: M: You like living in New York, don't you?
M: Actually, Laura, I think we laugh because we are glad it didn't happen to us. But of course there is also a kind of humorous satisfaction in seeing somebody self-important making a fool of themselves. W: Yes, and there are a lot of jokes about people who are too fat or physically handicapped, you know, deaf, or short-sighted things like that. After all, it's not really funny to be like that. M: Oh, I think that's because we're embarrassed. We don't know how to cope with the situation. Perhaps we are even a bit frightened we may get like that, so we laugh. M: What about the custard pie routine? W: What do you mean 'custard pie routine'? M: You know, all those old films where someone gets so outraged with his boss, He picks up a custard pie and plasters it all over the other person's face. W: That never makes me laugh much, because you can guess what's going to happen. But a lot of people still find it laughable. It must because of the sort of the thing we'd all love to do once in a while and never quiet have the courage to. M: I had an old aunt who used to throw cups of tea at people when she was particularly irritated. She said it relieved her feelings. W: It must have come a bit expensive. M: Not really. She took care never to throw her best china. What was said before this conversation?
----
Answer:
W: You know I've often wondered why people laugh at the picture of a big belly businessman slipping on a banana skin and falling on his bottom. We are to feel sorry for them.