Question: Please answer this: M: Not too good.  W: Well, the term exam is always more difficult. Work harder, and you'll certainly do better next time.  M: I've worked hard enough, I think, but unluckily, I have never done well in the exam.  W: Well, it's no use worrying about the exam now. Let's talk about the football game tonight. It's much more interesting.  M: Is there a football game on TV tonight?  W: Yes it's between the Chinese team and the Japanese team.  M: ... Er I'd rather watch some other programmes.  W: Why? You're so interested in football.  M: The Chinese team has always played badly in the important match, just as I have done in the important exam.  What was said before this conversation?
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Answer: W: Hello, John. How was your French exam yesterday?
Problem: Mark: Uh. Yeah, but maybe not for long.  Susan: So, how can we help you today?  Mark: Okay. Uh, my wife is really into gardening, and about five years ago, she received a beautiful climbing rose bush ... I think an Agatha Christie [That's a nice one.] from her mother who has passed away. Anyway, the rose plant seems to be on its last leg.  Susan: Really? Nomally, that rose is really quite hardy [I know.], and it's very disease-resistant, too. [I know.]  Mark: Yeah. Well, this situation ISN'T normal. You see about a week ago, I was doing some yard work, and I was using some weed killer [UH-oh.], yeah, to try to get rid of some terrible weeds and ...  Susan: Did you spray the roses?  Mark: Uh, well, not exactly. I set the spray container down near the roses while I was trimming a bush, and the container must have gotten knocked over, and the weed killer soaked into the ground near the roses.  Susan: How much weed killer are you talking about?  Mark: Uh, about six or seven quarts (about six liters or 1.6 gallons), I think. [Oh, that's a lot.] You know, I mean when you put ...  Susan: And the roses? What do they look like now?  Mark: Oh, Dead, real dead. Dead as a doornail dead, but my wife hasn't seen them yet.  Susan: Really? What have you done? Blindfolded her?  Mark: Well, I've kept her away from that side of the house where the roses are, but she is bound to see them at some point.  Susan: Yeah, yeah. You've got a problem.  Mark: I mean, is there anything I can do to revive them?  Susan: Not unless you're a magician.  Mark: Well, can you recommend a quick-growing variety that can take its place?  Susan: Marc. I'm sorry. You've made a mistake ... A big mistake.  Mark: ... except that my wife warned me this could happen ... Oh, man.  Susan: Oh, shoot. Listen. You made a blunder. A big mistake. A really big mistake. But unless your wife goes on vacation for a couple of years, you're not going to be able to replace the roses that fast.  Mark: So, any recommendation? I mean, what do I do?  Susan: You need to talk...  What was said before this conversation?

A: Susan: Hi. Welcome back to Susan's Gardening Show. I'm Susan, and we're ready to take our next caller. We have Mark from Seattle. Are you still there, Mark?
Problem: Given the question: W: No, I never. But ...  M: Wow! You coat's got very dirty! Did you fall?  W: Yes, I had a terrible experience on the underground train. Listen to this! A man came up to me and pulled out a knife. He pointed it right at me!  M: Oh, no! Are you all right? Did he hurt you?  W: No, he didn't hurt me, but he took my handbag.  M: Then what happened? What did you do?  W: I caught hold of his knife, and he pushed me to the floor.  M: Oh, no! Why did you catch hold of his knife? That's dangerous.  W: I don't know. I didn't think.  M: What did the other passengers do? Did they help you?  W: Yes, they did. Two men ran after the robber and held him.  M: Did the police come?  W: Yeah. The conductor called a policeman, and he took the robber to the police station.  M: Wow! What a story! Thank God you're all right.  What was said before this conversation?
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The answer is:
M: Hello, Joan. Why are you late today? You are never late for work.
input question: Woman: That sounds great. I'll call Jean to see if she likes to join us.  What was said before this conversation????
output answer: Man: I heard on the radio that it'll be sunny during the holiday weekend. Maybe we can take a trip to Boston.
W: Hello. Is that Mr. Jackson?  M: Yes, it is.  W: Mr. Jackson. I am a reporter from the TV station at school. As far as I know, you are a very successful teacher and quite popular among the students, so I want to ask you some questions.  M: OK.  W: Do you often give homework to your students after class?  M: It depends. Maybe once or twice a week.  W: Do you think it is good for your students to do a lot of homework?  M: No, I don't think so. Too much homework takes too much of their free time. I seldom give homework to my students on the weekend. They need time to relax and rest, especially on weekends.  W: You are a great teacher. By the way, what do you do in your free time?  M: I'm a very good football player. My team won first place in our city tournament last year.  W: Congratulations! Well, thank you for your help.  What was said before this conversation?
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Answer: M: Hello?
Q: M: I wish I could. But Japanese and, of course English are the only languages I can speak.  What was said before this conversation?
A:
Answer: W: Having visited so many countries, you must be able to speak several different languages.