Problem: Read the below conversation. W: Hello, Ultimate Computers. May I help you? M: Yes, this is Jack Kordell from Hunter's Office Supplies. May I speak to Elaine Strong, please? W: I'm sorry, but she's not in right now. She should be here later in the afternoon, maybe about 4:30. May I take a message? M: Yes. Ms. Strong sent me your newest line of laptop computers with a description of other software products, but there wasn't any information about after sales service. W: Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like me to fax that to you? M: Yes. Could you try sending that information around 3:30? That should give me time to look over the material before I call Ms. Strong, say, around 5:00. W: Sure. Could I have your name, telephone number, and fax number, please? M: Yes. Jack Kordell and the phone number is 560 1287. And the fax number is 560 1288. W: All right. I'll be sure to send you the fax this afternoon. What would the listener say?

A: M: Okay, bye.

Problem: Read the below conversation. W: We are going to put on a performance. M: Really? When? W: On May 4. We have been preparing for it for two months. M: Where are you going to put it on? In your school? W: No. At the People's Theatre. M: If I remember correctly, you put it on at the Youth Square last year. W: Yeah. But it is under repair now. M: But why are you doing that? To collect money for repairing the Youth Square? W: No. We want to collect money and send it to Project Hope. M: That sounds like a good idea. Good luck to you. What would the listener say?

A: W: Thanks a lot.

Problem: Read the below conversation. M: You must be pretty excited about your trip to Europe, Dorothy. When are you leaving? W: In just two weeks, and I am excited. I've been looking forward to this training program for a long time. But there are still a few things I need to do before I go. M: Like what? W: Like renewing my passport and figuring out what to do with my apartment while I'm gone. M: You are not going to give it up, are you? W: No way! I'll never find another apartment like it around here. But I don't like the idea of paying three months for an empty apartment, either. So, I'm looking for someone to take it while I'm away. M: Um, let me think. Oh, I know just a person. An old colleague of mine, Jim Thomas. He is coming here to do some research this summer, from June to August. W: Well, that's exactly when I'll be away! M: Tell you what: I'll be calling Jim late this week anyway, so I'll mention it to him. What would the listener say?

A: W: Well, thanks, Bill.

Problem: Read the below conversation. W: Now, could you tell me where the idea for the business first came from? M: Well, the original shop was opened by a retired printer by the name of Gruby. Mr Gruby being left-handed himself, thought of the idea to try to promote a few products for left-handers. W: And how did he then go about actually setting up the business? M: Well, he looked for any left-handed products that might already be on the market which were very few. And then contacted the manufactures with the idea of having products produced for him, mainly in the scissors range to start with. W: Right. So you do commission some part of your stock. M: Yes, very much so. About 75 percent of our stock is specially made for us. W: And the rest of it? M: Hmm, the rest of it now, some 25, 30 years after Mr. Gruby's initial efforts, there are more left-handed product actually on the market. Manufactures are now beginning to see that there is a market for left-handed products. W: And what's the range of your stock? M: The range consists of a variety of scissors from children scissors to scissors for tailors, hairdressers etc. We also have a large range of kitchen ware. W: What's the competition like? Do you have quite a lot of competition? What would the listener say?

A:
M: There are other people in the business now in specialists, but only as mail-order outlets. But we have a shop here in central London plus a mail-order outlet. And we are without any doubt the largest supplier of the left-handed items.