Text 8

M: Hi, Asha. Is your mother feeling any better?

W: No, I’m afraid not. She’s very homesick. She misses her family and friends back in India.

M: Do yothink she will ever move back to India?

W: I’m not sure. It’s very difficult for her, because my father and my sisters all live here in California, so she doesn’t want to leave us.

M: Does she ever go visit her family in India?

W: She goes back once a year to visit her family and friends. But when she’s in India, she misses her family in the United States.

M: It must be very hard for her, to always be torn between two places.

W: Yes, it is. And she’s always telling us not to forget our Indian culture. So, next year, my sisters and I are planning on traveling to India with her for a few months, so that we can all experience the culture together.

M: I think that’s a wonderful idea. She’ll be so happy!

Text 9

M: Hello, I’m a new student on Economics. Can I know some information about the courses?

W: Well, I lecture on that program. What do yoneed to know?

M: I’d like to know how many lectures a week I have to attend?

W: Two lectures a week, on Tuesday and Thursday. Besides, there’s one group discussion every

Friday.

M: So what time?

W: Let me see …Yoshould have known this information yesterday, at the meeting for the new students.

M: Oh, was there a meeting yesterday? I didn’t know about that …no one mentioned…

W: Never mind. Now lectures are at four in the afternoon.

M: Four’s bit late. I’ve got a part time job that starts at four thirty.

W: Well, but attendance at lectures is necessary. We expect at least 80% attendance at this university, yoknow.

M: 80%! That’s high.

W: But I’m afraid yohave to meet that requirement, otherwise, yocan’t get enough credits to graduate. And what’s more, if yowant to earn the scholarship, 90% attendance rate or above is a must.

M: Ok, I see. Thank yofor your information.

W: You’re welcome.

Text 10

I grew up in a small town until I was 18 and then moved to a big city, so I have experienced the good and bad sides of both. I never thought that I would like living in a big city, but I was wrong. After ten years of living in one, I can’t imagine ever living in a small town again. Surely small towns and big cities both have some problems in terms of transport. In a small town, yohave to own a car to make life comfortable. Yocan’t get around without one because there isn’t any kind of public transport. Big cities generally have heavy traffic and expensive parking, but there yohave a choice of taking public transport, which is cheaper than driving. So, if yodon’t have a car, you’d better live in the city. I also love the exciting life in big cities. I can always enjoy a lot of films, concerts, and other wonderful shows. However, these things are not common in small towns. The final thing I like about large cities is that yocan meet different kinds of people. I think that living in an area where everyone was just like me would quickly become dull. Of course, safety should be considered, and that’s one area where small towns are better than big cities. Still, I would rather be a bit more careful and live in a large city than to feel safe but dull.