Comprehension Check


Comprehension

Decide whether these statements are TRUE or FALSE

1 If Magda does well in her degree she will get a permanent job

2 Johnny is moving to Shanghai

3 Fadi doesn’t like his cousin

4 Harry has been offered a permanent job

5 Magda suggests that she and Sarah share a flat

6 The café is going to close down

Glossary
A row (noun) A verbal argument or disagreement吵架,口角;公开争论
He had a row with his neighbor.
他与邻居吵了一架.

Permanent (adjective) Long lasting, not temporary永久的; 永恒的; 长久的; 长期的
She is looking for permanent employment.
她正在找固定的工作.

Proper (adjective) Appropriate, conforming, correct适合的,恰当的
He wondered whether it would be proper to knock at her door.
他不知道敲她的门是否恰当.

To miss (verb) To feel sorry about the absence of somebody or something想念,惦记
I know how you miss your mother.
我了解你多么地想念你的母亲.

Audioscript
Olivia: Hi Magda! How was your first day?

Magda: Fantastic!

Olivia: Really!? I’m amazed...

Sarah: Yeah, you were so worried about your new job...

Magda: Well, I had some good news...

Olivia: Yeah? What?

All: Hi Johnny!

Johnny: Hi! I’ve got some good news...

Sarah: Makes two of you then!

Johnny: At least I think it’s good news...I’m not really sure...

Olivia: Tell us!

Magda: Can’t I tell you my good news first?

Sarah: Wow, this is getting complicated...and I’m afraid I’ve only got some bad news...

Magda: Oh no...what a shame! What’s the problem?

Olivia: Yeah, go on, bad news first, then the good news will cheer us up!

Sarah: OK, well, I had a row with my landlord, finally! And I’m moving out...

Magda: Oh no!

Sarah: Oh yes! So, I need a new flat...

Olivia: Again!!!

Magda: Oh dear...

Olivia: What a shame. I hoped it was going to work out...

Sarah: Yeah, but I didn’t get on with the landlord.

Magda: Have you told Fadi yet?

Sarah: No...I’m worried what he might think. The landlord is his cousin, after all...

Olivia: Well, let’s just wait until he comes in. I was going to tell him you weren’t happy – now I’ll tell him you’re leaving!

Magda: Is it good news time yet?

Sarah: Yes! Go on! What’s your good news?

Magda: I’ve been offered a job!

Johnny: Me too!

Olivia: Hang on! Wait a minute! You’ve already got a job, haven’t you Magda?

Sarah: And you have too, Johnny, haven’t you? You talk about it all the time...

Magda/Johnny: But...

Magda: Go on...!

Johnny: No, you first, please...

Magda: I’ve been offered a permanent job, with the same company! I’ll be a proper architect!

Olivia: Wow! That’s fantastic!

Magda: But...

Olivia: There’s always a ‘but’...

Magda: I have to get a distinction in my master’s degree...

Sarah: Phew...that’s not easy...

Magda: No, but I’m doing well...

Olivia: Fingers crossed then...

Sarah: Let’s hope!

Johnny: That’s amazing – I’ve got the same news!

Olivia: What? You’re going to be an architect?

Johnny: No!

Sarah: You’re doing a master’s degree?

Johnny: No!

Magda: What then?

Johnny: A job...I’ve been offered a new job!

Olivia: Yes, you said...

Johnny: And there’s a ‘but’...

Olivia: I told you there was always a ‘but’...

Johnny: It’s not in London...

Olivia: You’d have to leave...

Johnny: Yeah...

Olivia: Well, where is it? New York?

Johnny: No...

Magda: Paris? Berlin? Where?

Johnny: It’s back in China.

Sarah: Oh...Beijing? Shanghai?

Johnny: No, it’s in Chongqing.

Olivia: Where?

Johnny: Chongqing!

Magda:: Where’s that?

Sarah: Southwest China. It’s a really interesting place...growing really quickly...

Johnny: Yeah, it’s a great opportunity...

Olivia: But?

Johnny: But I love it here so much. I’m not sure I want to go back to China yet – I’d miss all my friends...

Olivia: You’ll have to choose!

Sarah: It’s big decision time! Oh no...here comes Fadi....and Harry.

All: Hi Fadi! Hi Harry!

Fadi: How’s it going everyone?

Olivia: Don’t ask...

Magda: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – if I get a good degree!

Johnny: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – but I have to go back to China!

Harry: Wow! Busy day everyone’s having...I’ve got some news too...

Olivia: Oh no...

Harry: Oh yes – I’ve been sacked!

Magda: “Sacked”?

Harry: Yes – I’ve lost my job, been made redundant, unemployed, no longer working!

Magda: Oh no!

Harry: Don’t worry – I don’t care. I hated that job anyway. I’ll soon find another job. A man with my skills and abilities is always in demand!

Johnny: Somebody from my company sacked you? Why?

Harry: I told them I wasn’t going to work at the weekend – Saturdays and Sundays. If I worked on Saturday and Sunday, when could I play football!? So I said ‘no’, and they said ‘goodbye’...

Magda:: What will you do now?

Harry: I have absolutely no idea! The future is an open book...

Sarah: Very poetic!

Fadi: Well Sarah, at least you’re ok...with your new flat and everything...

Sarah: Oh...er...well...

Olivia: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that...cousin

Fadi: You wanted to talk to me?

Olivia: (whispering) Yeah, well, you see, Sarah’s a bit embarrassed...

Fadi: (whispering) What’s up?

Olivia: She wants to leave the new flat...she doesn’t get on well with the landlord...

Fadi: My cousin.

Olivia: Yes, your cousin.

Fadi: I’m not surprised!

Olivia: Eh?

Fadi: I said I’m not surprised! My cousin’s horrible! I can’t stand him!

Olivia: (laughs) Oh that’s a relief...

Fadi: Sarah – I’m sorry if I got you involved with my cousin...I thought you were desperate for a place to live...I know my cousin’s horrible!

Sarah: Oh, never mind Fadi – thanks for trying to help anyway...Now I need a new place to live though...

Magda:: If I get this job, I’ll have more money – we could get a place together...

Sarah: That’d be great...

Johnny: If I take the job in China, I’ll have to leave my flat...

Sarah: And we could move in...

Olivia: What a lot of ‘if’s’...

Sarah: It’s exciting...

Magda:: But also worrying...

Johnny: And confusing...

Harry: And that’s not all...

Fadi: What?

Harry: I’ve just been speaking to the owner of the café...

Olivia: And?

Harry: They’re closing down – next week!

All: What!!?? Oh…that’s terrible…no....what are we all going to do??
Answers
Comprehension

1 True

2 False (he may move to Chongqing)

3 True

4 False (he has lost his job)

5 True

6 True