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Mrs Jones: Er — oh, you mean what we call cupboards! Yes, we’ve got plenty of those. And lots of chests of drawers too.

Mrs Applebee: Chests of drawers…?

Mrs Jones: Oh, I should have remembered — the American term is “dresser”, isn’t it?

Switchboard operator (in strong American voice): Are you through?

Mrs Jones: Oh, yes, I’m through.

Mrs Applebee (simultaneously): No, no, we’re not through yet. I’m speaking from my husband’s office and they’re all Americans here. Gosh [136] , I’d no idea the British were so different about languages. What do you mean when you say you are through? We mean we’re finished with the call.

Mrs Jones: Oh dear, we mean we’ve been “put through”, we’re connected! Perhaps you’d like to come and see the house and then we needn’t misunderstand each other quite so much.

Mrs Applebee: I should love to see your house, but I’ve no car right now. Can I get to you easily some other way? I’m in Church Street.

Mrs Jones: You can take a 27 bus to the Twickenham roundabout, then use the subway right there…

Mrs Applebee: Excuse me, I didn’t know the subway went to Twickenham.

Mrs Jones: Oh, of course, my fault. The underground doesn’t go to Twickenham. I just meant when you get off the bus you take the passage under the road and when you come up the other side our house is at the end of Aldridge Avenue, opposite. How soon would you like to come?

Mrs Applebee: Is three o’clock today OK?

Mrs Jones: Fine, I’ll expect you.

I. Define the meaning of these phrases. Make up sentences using them.

to ask somebody (to do) a favour, to be disorderly, to be rung up by somebody, to view one’s suggestion (un)favourably, to do something within reason, to give a party, to be wondering if, to redecorate a room (cottage, house), to know where you are, to be up to something, just the usual grind, to be off to (some town or a country), to be a comfort, as a matter of fact, to play hostess, to look nice in some dress, to look after somebody, it is terribly sweet of you, to come over, to stay with somebody, to get a day off, it’s settled, what’s wrong with him?, to be rather puzzled, to sound the sort of place we need, how many are you in the family?, to be so different about languages, to be put through, I should love to do something

II. Rephrase these sentences.

1. I’m ringing to ask you a small favour. 2. I’ll do anything — within reason, of course. 3. We’d love to come. 4. In about two weeks’ time. 5. Well, you know what it’s like. 6. What have you been up to since I saw you last? 7. James is off to Great Britain. 8. This is a comfort. 9. I’ll be tied with my work. 10. This situation has just come up for the first time. 11. I’m not going to play hostess. 12. When is this do in our club? 13. Her children are such little demons. 14. We usually get on fine. 15. It is so sweet of you. 16. Sort it out with Mike first. 17. Wednesday is his day off. 18. It’s settled. 19. What is wrong with him?

III. Give the American terms for:

to let, is that Mrs Jones?, to call up, a cupboard, a chest of drawers, to be through, now, subway, underground

IV. Fill in the missing remarks in these snatches of telephone conversation.

1.A: Is that Harry?

B: …

2. A: I’ve been ringing you for ten minutes and can’t get through. What’s the matter?

B: …

3. A: Could you do me a favour, Jack?

B: …

4.A: We wondered if you and your wife could come to our party.

B: …

5. A: We wanted to invite a lot of interesting people, but our flat is so small.

B: …

6. A: Why did you make up your mind to have your house redecorated?

B: …

7.A: It’s a pity you will not come to our party.

B: …

8. A: What have you been up to since I saw you last?

B: …

9. A: What have you been doing of late?

B: …

10. A: When did this thing come up for the first time?

B: …

11. A: Will there be a big job of entertaining people when they come?

B: …

12. A: When is this do at your Institute?

B: …

13. A: It is terribly sweet of you to invite us for your birthday party.

B: …

14. A: What’s wrong with my explanation?

B: …

15. A: Good morning, Jones is here.

B: …

16. A: Mrs Shirley, from the ad I found out that you are going to let your cottage for the summer. Could you give me some information about it?

B: …

17. B: How many are you in your family?

A: …

18. A: I would like to see your house. When should I come?

B: …

19. A: How could I get to your house?

B: …

20. A: Can I get there some other way?

B: …

21. A: …

B: How soon would you like to come?

V. Reproduce the telephone conversations as close to the text as possible.

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