Apologies I
PART A Micro-Listening
Numbers Teens and Tens
I. Directions: Listen carefully and repeat the number you hear. Then underline the correct number. 10 points
1. The dress cost me 30 / 13 pounds.
2. You have to pay 19 / 90 dollars for the night.
3. Tom was 14 / 40 minutes late for class this morning.
4. It usually takes me about 50 / 15 minutes to walk to the school.
5. Ellie lost 18 / 80 dollars on her way home.
6. Bill is young but he has been to 16 / 60 countries.
7. I went to the post office for 30 / 13 fifty-cent stamps.
8. This happened in the year 1916 / 1960.
9. The Johnsons live at 1017 / 1070, 5th Avenue.
10. Her room number is 1418 / 1480, Park Hotel.
II. Directions: You will hear five sentences. Each one will be read three times. Listen carefully and write down what you hear. 10 points
1. ___________.
2. ___________.
3. ___________.
4. ___________.
5. ___________.
PART B Macro-Listening
Dialogue 1
It Wasn't My Mistake
I. Tapescript
Miss Smith Good morning, Mr Sharp. I'm awfully sorry I'm late.
Mr Sharp You're late every morning, Miss Smith. You were late Tuesday, yesterday... Don't you have a watch?
Miss Smith Yes, but it wasn't my mistake. I stood in the rain for an hour this morning. I waited and waited for a bus, and then when one came, it was full.
Mr Sharp How about yesterday and the day before yesterday?
Miss Smith Well, I came by taxi yesterday and...
Mr Sharp And you were still late! And Tuesday?
Miss Smith Tuesday I went to see the doctor and I waited for my turn for about two hours. It was terrible!
Mr Sharp And tomorrow, Miss Smith?
II. Language and Culture Notes
1. Awfully sorry is used in colloquial English, meaning 'Very sorry'. 'I'm awfully sorry' is a useful expression in making an apology. Some other apologetic expressions are: 'Oh, I'm sorry', 'It's my fault', 'Sorry to trouble you', 'I'm afraid I can't...', etc. Answers to apologies are: 'That's quite all right', 'It doesn't matter', 'Not at all', etc.
2. I wailed for my turn for about two hours. It means Miss Smith had to wait for her chance to see the doctor for a long time.
III. Exercises with Key
1. Directions: Listen to the dialogue and choose the best answer to each question you hear. 10 points
1
a. Monday morning.
b. Tuesday morning.
c. Wednesday morning.
d. Thursday morning.
2
a. Three times.
b. Four times.
c. Five times.
d. Six times.
3
a. The bus service was very bad.
b. It was raining.
c. She didn't have a watch.
d. She wasn't feeling well.
4
a. She was very ill and had to go and see the doctor.
b. She was kept waiting for a long time at the clinic.
c. She couldn't get a taxi.
d. The bus was late.
5
a. Miss Smith was very sorry because she was always late for work.
b. Miss Smith was unlucky.
c. Miss Smith was always late for work.
d. Miss Smith always had some excuses for not coming on time.
2. Directions: Listen to the dialogue again and fill in the blanks with what you hear. 10 points
1 — Good morning, Mr Sharp. ___________ I'm late.
2 — ... I stood ___________ for an hour this morning.
3 — I waited and waited for a bus, and then when one came, ___________.
4 — Well, I came ___________ yesterday and...
5 — Tuesday I went to see the doctor and I ___________. It was terrible!
Dialogue 2
This Isn't the First Time
I. Tapescript
Customer I'm afraid I have a complaint to make.
Manager Oh, dear. Please take a seat.
Customer I'm sorry to say the bill you sent me was incorrect.
Manager Incorrect, madam? That's very strange.
Customer Yes, I know, and what's more, this isn't the first time.
Manager Really, madam? I find it hard to believe.
Customer Look, it's happened five or six times in the past three months.
Manager Ah. Well, I must apologize, madam. It's the new computer.
Customer Well, don't you think it's about time you got it working properly? It's most inconvenient.
Manager I agree entirely. I'm awfully sorry about it. I assure you it won't happen again.
II. Language and Culture Notes
1. The bill In many large department stores it is possible for customers to buy goods without paying cash for them immediately. The store keeps a record of the cost of all the things the customer buys, and then sends him / her a bill for the total amount at the end of the month.
2. The new computer Since its first use in 1946, the electronic computer has played a very important role in people's life. Nearly every company or store uses computers to do calculation work. But sometimes they get out of order and cause trouble.
3. Oh, dear is an interjection used to express the speaker's surprise or annoyance.
III. Exercises with Key
1. Directions: Listen to the dialogue and choose the best answer to each question you hear. 10 points
1 What was the woman complaining about?
a. The bill was not clear enough.
b. The bill was sent to a wrong address.
c. Incorrect bills were sent to her now and then.
d. The clerks were rather rude to her.
2 Why did the same kind of mistakes occur again and again?
a. The manager was careless.
b. The computer was too old to be used.
c. The new computer was not working properly.
d. The clerks did not know how to use the new computer.
3 What did the sales manager agree to do?
a. To fire the rude clerks.
b. To give back the money to the woman.
c. To get a better computer.
d. To get the computer working correctly.
4 Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the dialogue?
a. The customer asked the manager to punish the rude clerks.
b. The computer was a new one.
c. A customer came to complain about incorrect bills.
d. The sales manager was sorry for the incorrect bills sent to the customer.
5 What does the dialogue mainly suggest?
a. Incorrect bills should not be sent to customers.
b. Some customers complain too much.
c. Computers are less efficient than men.
d. Computers are not always reliable.
2. Directions: Listen to the dialogue again and supply the missing words. 10 points
1 I'm afraid ___________.
2 Oh, dear. Please ___________.
3 Yes, I know, and ___________, this isn't the first time.
4 Look, it's happened ___________.
5 Ah. Well, I must apologize, madam. ___________.
PART C Oral Practice
I. Directions: Work in pairs and find all the expressions of apology in the two dialogues you've just heard.
II. Directions: Use the above expressions in the following situations and make a dialogue with your deskmate.
1. You're late for class. Make an apology to the teacher.
2. You failed to return a book to your friend on time. Apologize for it. |