[Q]: W: I'm offto the gym. I've got to stay in shape, you know. M: I know more women who exercise than men. What's the main reason you do that? For your health, or to look good? W: To be honest, for both. With women, good looks are always a very important consideration. M: I see. W: How about you? Do you get any regular exercise? M: I do a lot of walking for exercise and enjoyment-sometimes ten to twenty kilometers at a time-but I never go to the gym like you do. W: Well, walking is a good exercise. How about sports? M: Not since my school days. I used to love playing baseball, but it's impossible to get enough people together for a game now. Mostly I just watch sports on TV W: I play tennis fairly regularly with my friends and sometimes go swimming and cycling by myself. M: Oh, I forgot about that. I go cycling sometimes too. And I often go swimming on vacation, but only recreational swimming. W: Why don't you join me at the gym sometime? M: Well, maybe someday, but I'm pretty lazy about things like that. What was said before this conversation?
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[A]: M: Hi, Laura. Where are you heading with that big bag?
input: Please answer the following: W: Not too much milk and no sugar, please. What was said before this conversation?
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output: M: How do you like your tea, with milk or sugar?
Please answer this: 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?
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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.
Problem: W: Oh. Mike! Oh, my goodness! I haven't seen you for ages. M: Nice to see you after all these years. What've you been doing? W: Well, I've tried many things after we left school. Now I'm working for a large oil company, er ... in charge of sales mainly. I travel a lot. M: Oh, that's great. You must really enjoy that. W: Oh, I do. Yeh, yeh, it's lovely. It's quite tiring though. But what about you, Mike? What do you do? M: I'm working in a law firm. Practicing business law, you know. W: Oh, that's interesting. M: And I'm happy doing what I do. W: Good. M: It's great to see you. We must get together some time. W: Yes, we should. Look, give me your address and phone number. Em... I got my book here. OK, and then I'll give you a ring and we can fix something up. What was said before this conversation?

A: M: Hello, it is Carol, isn't it?
Problem: Given the question: M: Not too bad. What was said before this conversation?
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The answer is:
F: What was the party like last night, Jim?
Problem: W: Nothing to read, but we have to see a movie and write a short comment about it. What was said before this conversation?

A:
M: Did the professor give an assignment for Monday?