[Q]: W: No. I lost my textbook on my way back from school. M: Did you stop by any place? W: Yes. I stopped by a post office to buy some stamps. M: Think carefully whether you put your book down. W: Maybe you are right. I will go back and see if it is still there. Thank you. What was said before this conversation?
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[A]: M: You look pale, Linda. Is everything all right?
input: Please answer the following: W: Yes, I am. So are all these people in front of me. M: How long have you been here? W: About 50 minutes. I've hardly moved forward in that time. M: Are you kidding? W: Not at all. There was a couple up ahead of me who got so fed up that they finally gave up and left. They said they'd been here for more than an hour. M: My God. Does anyone know what's causing the delay? W: It could be that there aren't enough people selling tickets this afternoon. Or maybe their computers break down. M: I just hope they don't run out of tickets when I get up there. W: That really would be annoying, wouldn't it? M: I guess I should have come before lunch. Or has it been like this all day? W: Actually it has. In fact, before I came, I tried calling to order my tickets over the phone, just to avoid this long wait, but they don't take phone orders, or checks, or credit cards. It's cash or nothing. And you have to come in person. M: Well, there are two more hours before the ticket office closes. Tickets to a good concert are worth waiting for. So I think i'll just make myself comfortable. What was said before this conversation?
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output: M: Excuse me, are you waiting to buy the concert tickets?
Please answer this: W: Nice to meet you here, Tim. I'm buying some Christmas gifts for those who work with me, but it's really a headache. M: Maybe I could give you some advice. Firstly, you'd better divide them into different groups-who were the people that are your friends as well as your workmates and who are the people you do not know well but you see pretty much daily. W: OK, then what should I do? M: For the friends, you want to get them personal gift. Do they like chocolate? W: This is what I always give, but I know Mary is on a diet. M: Does she like fruit or coffee? Anyway, think of the gift that you know your friend likes. W: Well, I think fruit is helpful to keep fit. What about the rest of them? M: Leave cards in their mailboxes or on their desks. W: Christmas cards? M: Yes, you can afford that. More importantly, it's true of them that you're thinking of them. W: Thank you for your suggestion, Tim. You really have saved me and my money as well. What was said before this conversation?
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Answer: M: Hi, Susan. How are you? I've been wondering when I'd run into you. What are you busy with?
Problem: M: Let me give you a little advice. You know what the topics are, so prepare what you would like to say ahead of time. W: I often do like that, but I'm worried about the responses from other people. M: You have to be realistic. Not everyone is going to agree with you, but people will respect your opinion and they will respect the fact that you have contributed something to the discussion. W: I'm worried that what I say will not make sense. M: We could chat about the topic before class. I could check that what you want to say is logical and it would also give you a chance to practice speaking. W: That's a good idea. What should I do if I have two minds about a topic? M: That's easy. Express possibilities. People will think that you are pretty smart to look at the topic from more than one angle. W: I didn't realize that speaking in class could be so easy. M: The most difficult thing is to predict what other people will say. They will reply to your statements. but you can't be sure how. What was said before this conversation?

A: W: I find it really hard to express myself in class. I have lots of ideas, but they never seem to come out of my mouth.
Problem: Given the question: W: Then it seems that we'll have to meet an hour later at the library. What was said before this conversation?
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The answer is:
M: Professor Smith asked me to go to his office after class. So it's impossible for me to make it to the bar at ten.
Problem: W: Yeah. I'm doing it on ants and how they're able to recognize. What was said before this conversation?

A:
M: Have you started working on your paper?