Harry: (to waiter) Could we get two cappuccinos please?
Barman: Ok...sit down and I’ll bring them over to you.
Harry: Cheers...
Johnny: So, listen, I had a word with the IT department about that job that I’d mentioned, and they’d like you to come in for a chat sometime...
Harry: A “chat”?
Johnny: Well, yeah, you know, not really a formal interview, just...well...like, a chat, so they can get to know you, and see what you’re like, and stuff...
Harry: But there’s no real job on offer...
Johnny: Well, no, perhaps not as yet, not exactly...
Harry: Hmmm, I’m not sure.
Johnny: Go on! What have you got to lose?
Harry: I guess you’re right...
Johnny: And it’s a good company to work for...lots of prospects...great bonuses! And you get to work with me!
Harry: OK, when can I come in?
(enter Olivia...)
All: Hi!
Johnny: Tomorrow I guess...
Olivia: Tomorrow what? What are you two planning in secret?
Harry: Olivia, you are so nosey! You always have to know everything about everyone else....
Olivia: Just natural curiosity...
Johnny: Harry’s coming to work with me!
Olivia: That’s great!
Harry: Hang on, hang on...it’s not definite yet...
Olivia: I’m sure you’ll get the job! Well done!
Harry: Slow down, will you!
Olivia: That means you’ll be too busy to do my website for me...
Harry: I’m sure I can squeeze you in...
Olivia: I wouldn’t want to overwork you!
Harry: We’ll see, eh?
Olivia: OK, but don’t lose any sleep over it.
(enter Sarah)
All: Hi Sarah!
Johnny: How’s the flat-hunting going?
Sarah: Oooooppphhhh....I’m exhausted. I’ve been going round the city all day, looking at flats.
Olivia: And no success?
Sarah: No success at all.
Harry: What’s the problem?
Sarah: They’re all too small, or too dark, or too far away, or too expensive, or there are weird flatmates...
Harry: You’ll have to compromise at some point....
Sarah: Yeah, I guess so, but I don’t want to live in a complete dump, and it seems that I can’t afford much more.
(enter Fadi)
Fadi: Hello all!
All: Hi Fadi!
Harry: How’s it going mate?
Fadi: I’m fine here, but why are you lot all looking so glum?
Olivia: Sarah still can’t find a place to live.
Harry: Olivia’s fed up because I can’t do her website for her!
Johnny: Harry’s not enthusiastic about working with me!
Fadi: Great...Well, I’lll just have to try and solve all your problems, then, won’t I?
Glossary
prospects (noun) Probability of success
The company offers good job prospects for graduates
a bonus (noun) Something extra that s given or paid
Last month I worked well and got a ten pound bonus
nosey (adjective) Inquisitive
Can I be nosey and ask you how old you are?
squeeze (verb) To apply pressure in order to extract more juice, etc.
Squeeze the last bit of toothpaste and I’ll open a new tube
weird (adjective) Strange, unnatural
He’s a weird guy, he never speaks to anyone
compromise (verb) To agree by making mutual concessions
He wanted black and I wanted white, so we compromised and bought grey!
dump (noun) A dirty, unpleasant place
She lives in a dump but can’t afford to move
glum (adjective) Gloomy, unhappy
She looked quite glum after she heard the bad news
Comprehension
Choose the correct word in each sentence
1 Harry is going to have an informal / a formal interview
2 Johnny thinks his company is a good / bad place to work
3 Harry accuses Olivia of wanting to know nothing / everything about other people
4 Olivia is sure that Harry won’t / will get the job
5 Sarah is very sad / tired
6 Sarah has met some interesting / strange people
Vocabulary one – spelling
Choose the correct spelling:
1 a department b departament
2 a interview b interveiw
3 a curiositty b curiosity
4 a definate b definite
5 a to lose (your keys) b to loose
6 a exhausted b exausted
Vocabulary two – extreme adjectives
Exhausted means very tired. Match the other “normal” and “extreme” adjectives:
1 exhausted a big
2 filthy b small
3 tiny c hungry
4 fascinating d dirty
5freezing e tired
6 enormous f interesting
7 terrifying g scary
8 starving h cold
Grammar – phrasal verbs
Fill the text with a phrasal verb. Use the correct form of the verbs and prepositions from the boxes.
[open box]
bring work slow hang
get come sit
[close box]
[open box]
down (x2) on in
for to over
[close box]
I was sitting in the café waiting. Annie (1) ………………………… at 3 O’clock. She (2) ………………….. next to me and the waiter (3)……………… the menu. We ordered two coffees. Annie was happy. “I’ve started (4) ………………. another company”, she said. “I’m finally (5) ………………. do what I have always wanted to do.” She was talking very fast. “(6) ……………… a minute!” I said. “You’re going too fast, (7) ………………………and tell me what’s happened!”
