分类： Let’s Learn English (Level 2)

Conversation

Anna: (on phone, to Pete) Got it. Pete, I promise. I won’t tell anyone. (to herself) Bye. He is so strange.

Ashley: Hey, Anna!

Anna: Hi, Ashley!

Ashley: Are you talking to yourself again?

Anna: No, not this time. I was talking to Pete.

Ashley: How’s he doing?

Anna: Good. He has a birthday coming up! But he told me not to tell anyone.

Ashley: Why?

Anna: Well, from the way he was speaking, I don’t think he likes cake or presents or fun.

Ashley: That sounds like Pete.

Anna: Well, I don’t care. I’m getting him a present. Do you know where I can buy something unique?

Ashley: I do — Tanglewood Works. You will definitely find something unique there.

Anna: Great. I’ll go this weekend. Now, speaking of Pete’s birthday, what else should I do? I know. I’ll rent him a clown!

Ashley: Yeah, he’ll never speak to you again.

Professor Bot: Did you hear Ashley and Anna using the words talk and speak?

Talk and speak both mean “to say words.” And, many times, you can use either word without losing any meaning. But there are some differences in when we use these words.

The word talk is usually used:
for conversations between two or more people
and informal situations, such as between friends or family

For example, Ashley asks Anna: “Are you talking to yourself again?”

Speak is usually used:
for one-way communication, such as presentations
formal situations, such as a boss speaking with her workers
to talk about language ability
and in polite requests

Keep watching, and listen for the words talk and speak.

(Anna goes to Tanglewood Works.)

Sue: Hey there. Welcome to Tanglewood Works! I’m Sue. How can I help you today?

Anna: Hi Sue, I’m Anna. A friend told me about your store. She said, “Anna, this place is really unique!”

Sue: We are! Here at Tanglewood Works, we focus on things that are handmade, reclaimed and recycled.

Anna: Wow! That is really good for the environment.

Sue: It’s good for you too. Local artists made all of these one-of-a-kind pieces. And I paint most of the furniture.

Anna: Can I look around?

Sue: Oh, please do.

(Anna walks around the store.)

Sue: So, Anna, do you like to make things?

Anna: Me? Oh, no. Every time I try to make something, something goes wrong.

(She knocks down many things.)

Anna: Oh, sorry. Sorry.

Sue: It’s okay. Anna, everybody can make something.

Anna: Sue, this piece is very interesting!

Sue: You know, when I found these pieces, they were broken and in a dumpster. But they spoke to me. And they said, “Save me, Sue! Save me!”

Anna: Sue, what do you mean they “spoke” to you?

Sue: When I see something special that someone has thrown away, I can almost hear it talk.

Anna: It’s not saying anything!

Sue: Anna, it’s not easy to see the treasure in trash.

Anna: Or hear it talk.

Sue: But you can learn. In fact, I teach private classes. And one is called Turning Trash to Treasure.

Sue: Next week, bring in some trash and we’ll turn it into treasure. Just remember – pick some trash that “speaks” to you.

Anna: Got it! I’ll see you next week!

Professor Bot: Will Anna find trash that “speaks” to her? What will it say? We’ll find out next week!

Conversation

Anna: (to Penelope) That’s a great idea. (to Rick) Rick, I think we should use this as the opening shot.

Penelope: Anna, did Ms. Weaver give us instructions for covering the car show?

Anna: She did. She said that we need to show lots of cars. She said we need to interview people. And she also said that we should have fun.

Penelope: Those were her exact words?

Anna: Yeah. She said, “Have fun, Anna!” And she is the boss.

Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you – are you ready? OK. Hello, I’m Anna Matteo. Welcome to the Washington Car Show!

Anna: People all over town are saying that if you like cars, this is the place to be! So, let’s see what people are talking about. (at Rick) How was that? Okay? Is that Good?

Professor Bot: Anna, Penelope and Rick are making a news story about the Washington Car Show. Ms. Weaver gave them instructions.

We often need to tell others what someone else said.

There are two ways to do this. One is to use the person’s exact words and use quotation marks. We call this “direct speech.”

For example, Ms. Weaver had said, “You need to show lots of cars.”

The other way is to talk about what someone said. We call this “reported speech.”

Anna tells Penelope: She said that we need to show lots of cars.

In this sentence, “she,” is the subject, “said” is the reporting verb, “that” is the conjunction and “we need to show lots of cars” is the reporting clause.

Keep watching, and listen for sentences where Anna talks about what someone else said!

Anna: This car show has many styles of vehicles. There are utility vehicles, classic cars, trucks, sports cars, and everyday vehicles.

Penelope: Okay, I think we got good interviews.

Anna: Me too! People had very different opinions. But they all said they loved cars.

Penelope: Anna, look — a robot!

Anna: A robot!

Penelope: A robot!

Anna: Rick, we have to use the robot in the show!

(They walk over to the robot. Anna begins to dance like a robot.)

Robot: What is your first name?

Anna: Anna! Anna!

Robot: Anna, you know, what an effort. What an effort to robot dance. How about a round of applause for Anna! I’ve never seen anyone try so hard.

Anna: Penelope, did you hear that? Hank the Robot said that he has never seen anyone dance like me.

Penelope: Uh, I think many people here are saying that, Anna.

Anna: That was fun. You know what someone told me? You can test drive a Jaguar at this car show.

Penelope: Now, that sounds fun.

Anna: Let’s go.

Penelope: Okay.

Anna: This course is smooth. So you can drive faster.

Anna: He said…that I can’t drive, unfortunately.

(They begin the test drive. Kurt, the stunt driver, does the driving.)

Anna: Oh my gosh…reverse.

Anna: That was great. This is awesome.

Kurt: Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?

Anna: I’m ready.

Kurt: Here we go!

Anna: That’s awesome.

Anna: That was…That was awesome! I just want to go one more time. I promise. That’s it. Just one more time.

Anna: This course is bumpy and uneven. I was told that I could drive this course. So I am.

Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you rolling? Awesome. Okay, this course is uneven. But I think the ride will be smooth.

Anna: Ooh. This hill is really steep.

Anna: Oh my gosh. I can’t tell you how much fun this is.

Anna: Penelope, that was so much fun! I think I need to go again.

Penelope: Uh, Anna, I think we have enough test drive video.

Anna: Ms. Weaver said to get a lot. So, I think I should go again. (to Rick) Rick, I’m going to go again. Until next time!

Penelope: But I want to get lunch, Anna!

Professor Bot: Penelope said she wants to go to lunch. But I don’t think that’s going to happen soon. Visit our website for more!

Conversation

Anna: Hi, can you tell me how to get to your movie theater?

(Movie theater worker on the phone gives directions.)

Anna: Oh, that’s easy. OK, thank you. Bye.

(Anna meets Pete outside of the theater.)

Anna: Hi, Pete! Thanks for the movie invitation.

Pete: Yeah, sure Anna.

Anna: I love movies. I love the plot! I love the set design! I love the costumes! I love –

Pete: Anna, I take movies very seriously. You’re not one of those people who talks during a movie, are you?

Anna: No.

Pete: Good.

Professor Bot: Anna loves movies. And..she loves talking about movies. And Pete doesn’t sound happy about that.

But he’s trying to be polite. He can do that with Indirect Questions.

We can ask a question directly: Where is your movie theater? or indirectly as Anna does:

Anna: Can you tell me how to get to your movie theater?

They have the same meaning. But indirect questions are more polite and a little more formal.

Many indirect questions begin with:

Can/Could you tell me…
Would/Do you mind…
Would it be possible…

or

Do you know…

Hmm, do you know if Anna will stop talking? I sure don’t.

Keep watching. And, this time look for indirect questions that begin with: Would you mind…

Anna: I love the smell of popcorn. I love seats that rock.

(Her chair makes noise as she rocks back and forth.)

Pete: I love when people are quiet.

(The lights go down and we see movie light on their faces.)

Anna: Ooh look, the previews are starting. I love to see what movies are coming out. Oh, this one looks good!

Pete: Anna, the previews are part of the movie experience. So, would you mind not talking?

Anna: Oh, sure, sure.

(Anna eats her popcorn loudly. Then, she begins drinking her milkshake loudly.)

Pete: Anna, I was wondering: are you almost finished with that?

Anna: No. There’s still a lot of milkshake at the bottom.

(She drinks loudly again. And again.)

Pete: Anna, do you mind not drinking so loudly?

Anna: I’ll try. But it’s really thick.

(She moves the straw around and makes even more noise.)

Pete: Anna, what are you doing?!

(A person in the audience shushes Pete.)

Person in audience: Shh!

(Pete tells the person what was happening.)

Pete: I’m not the one making all the noise.

Person in audience: Shhh!

Anna: I’m done now.

(Anna now holds many noisy boxes of candy. Finally, she chooses a candy bar.)

Pete: Anna, would you mind opening that a little bit more quietly?

Anna: I’ll try.

(She tries to open it quietly but cannot.)

Pete: Anna, just give it to me!

(He tears it open with his mouth. It makes a loud noise. Again, someone in the audience thinks he is making too much noise.)

Person in audience: Shhh!

Pete: (to the person) It’s not mine. I’m opening it for her. Here.

Person in audience: Shhhhhh!!

(He gives the candy bar quickly back to her.)

Pete: Here!

Anna: Thanks, Pete.

Pete: Now, would you mind being more quiet?

(The light of someone’s phone shines in Pete’s face. He asks the person a question.)

Pete: Excuse me, would you mind turning down your phone light?

(Then, Anna’s phone rings.)

Anna: Oh, sorry! I forgot to turn my phone off.

(She tries to turn it off but drops it under the seat.)

Anna: Oh no! I dropped it. Where is it?

(She looks under the seat in front of her.)

Pete: Anna, can you please turn off your phone?

(She speaks to the person Pete just asked to turn their phone light down.)

Anna: Excuse me, would you mind lending me your phone light for a minute?

Pete: No! I’ll get it!

Person in audience: Shhhhh!

(People shush Pete again. He finally has had enough.)

Pete: Look, people, I’m not the noisy one here! So, you all need to shush the right person. And I should know about shushing! I shush people all the time!!

Security guard: Excuse me, sir. You can’t yell in a movie theater. Would you mind coming with me?

Pete: You’re kicking me out? Me? But I’m always the quiet one in the movie!

(The security guard takes Pete out. Anna watches the movie and eats quietly from her bag of popcorn.)

Anna: Pete should know better. You have to be quiet in a movie theater. Shh, the movie’s starting!

Professor Bot: Well, that’s a surprise! I thought Anna would be the noisy one.

Well, she was … with her food. But Pete did all of the talking. At least he tried to be polite by using indirect questions.