W: Randy? Randy Betford? Oh, my goodness, you look exactly the same! Even your hair is the same... curls everywhere! M: Well, you look... a lot different... But I mean that in a good way. W: Well, I got tired of that blond hair, so I decided to become a redhead, and I've never looked back! I also lost a lot of weight, and I'm really trying hard to keep it off. I don't wanna look like I did in high school ever again! M: So, do you live here? What do you do? W: I'm a lawyer in Brookfield, the next town over. I just come out here on weekends to do my shopping. What about you? M: I sell insurance, but I'm actually working in Springfield. We're looking to open a new office here in Ovington, so that's why I'm out here. W: Do you like your job? M: Well, I guess I make a nice living, but it's really boring work. I wish I could just change careers. W: I agree. I actually have the opposite problem. I work for an environmental law firm, so the work is exciting, and I feel like I'm really making a difference. The only problem is that the pay is quite low, so I'm basically living hand to mouth every month. M: That sounds like a fair trade, though. I'd switch places with you in a second. Say, would you like to have dinner with me tonight? I know a great seafood place. W: That would be fantastic! What was said before this conversation?
Ans: M: Mary Lou Westin. It's been a hundred years! I haven't seen you since we were in high school.

W: Alice. She said you were going to take them back to the library. M: Oh, that's right. She did ask me to take some magazines back for her. I completely forgot. What was said before this conversation?
Ans: M: Who put this pile of magazines in my office?

M: Yes, I was wanting to stay somewhere for a few days. W: Well, there are some good hotels. Carlton House is near the main square in the city center, but you might also be interested in the Royal Hotel-that's out in the countryside, about ten kilometers away, very peaceful. Then there's the Rainbow Hotel-it is not in the center, but it's out on the airport road. M: Mmm, that might be a bit far out actually. Now the one you mentioned, in the city center. Can you tell me a bit about it? W: Well, it used to be a large private house. It's a five-star hotel. M: Does it have a swimming pool? W: No. The Royal Hotel has an outdoor pool, but the only hotel with an indoor pool is the Rainbow Hotel. M: I see. Well, I think I'll probably go for the city center hotel. What was said before this conversation?
Ans: W: Can I help you?

M: Me, too. How are you going these days? W: I'm OK. What are you doing in the library? M: Oh, recently I'm curious about British English and American English. So I just come here to get some information. They are really about the same, aren't they? W: I don't think so. It seems to me that some of the spellings are different. M: Such as? W: Words like theater and center end in "re" in England instead of "er" like we spell them. M: Can you think of any more examples? W: The word "color" is another case in point. In fact, many words which end in "or" in American English are spelled "our" in British English. M: I'm still not convinced. I mean, if someone comes here from England, we can all understand what he's saying. The spelling doesn't really matter that much. W: We're not just talking about spelling. There are differences in pronunciation and meaning too. I remember seeing an English movie where the actors kept calling their apartment a flat. Half of the movie was over before I realized what they were talking about. M: So there are slight differences in spelling and some vocabulary. W: And in pronunciation, too. You aren't going to tell me that you sound like James Simpson. M: James Simpson isn't English. He's Scottish. W: Okay. Anyway, the pronunciation is different. M: So British English and American English are different in many ways, right? W: Yes, sure. M: But it's not so different that it prevents us from understanding each other. W: That's exactly what I mean. M: Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard. What was said before this conversation?
Ans: W: Hello, glad to see you here!