Part III  Oh, there’s a phone.

A. You are going to hear a conversation in which one of the speakers tries several times to make a phone call but fails at last. The following vocabulary which is only acceptable in oral English is used in the conversation. Guess the meaning when you hear these words and expression_rs. While you listen, don’t forget to add more key words in the notes column. They will be very helpful for the next section.

  1. wait a sec: wait a second

  2. wanna: want to

  3. a quarter: a 25-cent coin

  4. oh, boy: here, an expression_r of disgust

  5. c’mon: come on

B. You are going to hear the conversation again. Answer the following questins with the help of the notes.

  1. Where didi the conversaton take place?

   It took place in the street.

  2. When didi the conversation take place?

   It took place in the morning.

  3. How old are the speakers?

   They are probably of high school age.

  4. What is their relationship?

   They are friends.

  5. What did they plan to do?

   They planned to have lunch together.

  6. Why didi one of them have to make a phone call?

   Because she wanted to tell her cousin that she would be late.

  7. Why couldn’t the call get thrugh the first two times?

   Because she dialled the wrong exchange. She dialled 477 instead of 447.

  8. Why couldn’t the call get through the third time?

   Because the number was busy.

  9. What is her attitude toward being on time for appointments?

   She thinks that being on time is very important.

 

C. Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the conversation and decide whether the statements after the conversation are True or False. Put a “T” or “F” in the brackets.

  1. (F)     2. (F)     3. (T)     4. (F)     5. (T)

  6. (F)     7. (F)     8. (F)     9. (T)     10.(F)

Tapescript:

A: Oh, there’s a phone. Wait a sec. I wanna call my cousin.

B: Why do yo uwant to call your cousin?

A: Because I told her I’d meet her at the bookstore at 12:30. And if you and I are going to have lunch, I’ve got to let her know that I’ll be late.

         (Sound of coin being inserted in phone; dialling; phone rings once.)

Recording: We’re sorry. We cannot complete your call as dialled. Please check the number and dial again, or ask the operator for assistance. This is a recording.

(Sound of hanging up and coin being returned.)

A: Hmmm. I must’ve dialled wrong.

B: What’s the matter?

A: I got a recording. I’ll try it again.

  (Coin in phone; dialling; phone rings once.)

Recording: We’are sorry. We cannot complete your call as dialled…

         (Sound of phone being hung up and coin returned.)

       A: I don't understan that. I’ve called her a million times.

       B: Well, do you have the number?

       A: Sure, but not with me. I’ll call Inforamtion.

         (Coin in phone; dialling; phone rings.)

Operator: Directory Assistance. What city please?

       A: Boulder. The number for Dorothy Campbell on Cloverleaf.

 Operator: One moment, please. I show a D.J. Campbell on Cloverleaf Drive.

       A: That’s it!

 Operator: The number is 4472023.

       A: Thank you. (Sound of hanging up and coin returned.) I don’t believe it! I dialled the wrong exchange. I dialled 477 instead of 447.

       B: Yeah, I’ve done that too.

         (Sound of coin being inserted.)

       A: (Dialling.) Well, let’s try it again.

Recording: Twenty-five cents, please. Please deposit twenty-five cents for the first one minute.

       A: Hey, Marilyn, have you got a quarter?

       B: Yeah, I think so.

       A: Never mind. I found one.

         (Sound of coin being inserted. Then busy signal.)

       A: (Sound of hanging up and coin returned.) Oh, boy. Her phone’s busy.

       B: C’mon. Let’s walk to the restaurant. You can try again from there.

       A: OK, but if I can’t reach her to tell her I’ll be late. I can’t have lunch with you. She’ll kill me if she has to wait for me.

       B: Okay, but I wanna have lunch anyway, so let’s go.

Statements:

1. The girls haven’t had supper yet.

2. The recording says that the number has been changed.

3. The caller calls information for her cousin’s number.

4. Dorothy Campbell lives in Cloverleaf Drive, New York.

5. The correct exchange is 447.

6. The caller is using a cell phone.

7. The caller borrows a quarter from Marilyn.

8. The call gets through but no one answers the phone.

9. There will probably be a telephone at the restaurant.

10. The caller’s cousin won’t be angry if she has to wait.