Comprehension Check



Listen to the episode and answer the questions. Which characters are the questions referring to? Magda, Sarah, Harry, Fadi, Johnny or Olivia?

1 Who thinks Tony makes good coffee?

2 Who is sharing a flat with Magda?

3 Who is waiting for exam results?

4 Who is in Chongqing?

5 Who is visiting their family?

6 Who has a shop next door to the café?

注:内容转载自http://www.englishonline.org.cn/

Glossary
Grumpy (adj.) - Miserable, moody. 性情乖戾的; 脾气暴躁的; 难以讨好的

Soap opera (n.) - A TV series with a continuing storyline. 肥皂剧(以家庭问题为题材的广播或电视连续剧)

Degree (n.) - A university qualification. 学位;学衔
He has just got his M.A. degree.
他刚拿到文学硕士学位.

Demolish (v.) - Destroy ( a building). 毁坏,破坏;拆除
The city was demolished during the war.
这座城市在战争中被毁了.

Cheer up (phrasal v.) - Make one's self – or somebody else – happy. 使欢乐;使高兴
He tried to cheer them up with funny stories．
他想讲些滑稽的故事使他们开心。
The news of your return to this country has cheered me up no end．
你要回国的消息使我振奋不已。
All the people cheered up at the good news that our country has successfully launched a manned satellite．
全国人民欢呼我国成功地发射了一枚载人卫星。

Compensation (n.) - Payment for damages caused. 赔偿金;补偿金
Did you get any compensation when you were dismissed from your job?
你被解雇时有没有拿到补助金?
Audio Script
Olivia: Hey! Good to see you again!

Sarah/Magda: Hey! You too!

Harry: Hello Sarah, hi Magda....

Sarah: How are you Olivia? Harry! Great to see you too...

Olivia: Fine, fine thanks, all well. Tony!? Could we have some coffees over here please?

Tony: Ok, ok...hold on...I’m rushed off my feet here...

Harry: He’s always so miserable, so grumpy that guy....

Olivia: He’s not really, it’s just his way...

Harry: I’ll believe you then...his coffee’s always good!

Olivia: So, how are you two getting on?

Magda: Fine. It’s great, we’ve got this really nice flat...

Sarah: We moved into Harry’s old place...

Olivia: Yeah, I remember. How’s it going? No problems? Still friends? It’s not always easy sharing a flat...

Sarah/Magda: No, no problems...

Sarah: …except she leaves the top off the toothpaste tube…

Magda: ...and she spends too much time watching soap operas on tv!

Sarah: No, really, we’re getting along fine.

Magda: The only problem is the rent...

Sarah: It’s really expensive.

Magda: I still need to find that proper job, and that depends on me getting the right dregree results...

Olivia: Yeah, I remember you telling me. When will you find out?

Magda: Next week.

Olivia: Fingers crossed, then!

Magda: Fingers what?

Olivia: Crossed. It’s what we say when we hope for something good to happen.

Magda: Oh, ok...fingers crossed!

Olivia: Has anybody heard from Johnny? Sarah?

Sarah: Just because we’re both Chinese doesn’t mean we keep in touch all the time, you know! There are a lot of people in China! (laughs)

Olivia: Of course...sorry...I just thought...

Sarah: He was more of a friend of yours, wasn’t he Harry?

Harry: Yeah, we’re good mates. I hear from him all the time.

Sarah: How’s he doing?

Harry: He’s still in Chongqing with his new job. He says it’s really interesting, really exciting, but he misses us – and he wants to come back to London!

Magda: Fingers crossed!

Sarah: And how about you Harry? What are you up to? Are you still job hunting?

Harry: Yeah, that’s right. I’m still looking for a new job.

Magda: Any luck?

Harry: I haven’t found anything yet, but I’ve got a few possibilities. I really liked not working at first, I really enjoyed the free time, but now – well, I need the money, and also – well, I just get bored if I haven’t got something to do all the time.

Magda: Where’s Fadi, Olivia? I haven’t seen him for ages.

Olivia: Why ask me?

Magda: I thought you’d know...y’know, you’re like, good friends, aren’t you?

Olivia: Yes, that’s exactly what we are. Good friends. Nothing more.

Magda: I wasn’t suggesting anything! (laughs)

Olivia: I hope not! Anyway, he’s away at the moment, gone to visit his family. He’ll be back next week.

Tony: Here you are...four coffees...

All: Thanks Tony!

Olivia: Cheer up Tony.

Harry: Yeah...it can only get worse...!

Tony: It might get worse! This café might be closing down soon, so then you’ll all have to find somewhere else to go.

All: Oh no....

Olivia: What’s this all about, Tony?

Tony: A big property company - they’re building new luxury flats, just behind here. They want to get rid of these old buildings.

Magda: “Get rid of”?

Tony: Yeah...knock them down. Demolish them.

All: Oh no, that’s terrible.

Tony: It is terrible! I’ve worked here for ages. I mean, they’re offering me compensation, but I want to stay here.

Olivia: Oh no...I’ve just realised...perhaps that means my shop’s affected too...

Tony: It might be. Your shop’s only next door...

Olivia: They can’t knock my shop down! We must do something...

Answers
Comprehension

1 Harry

2 Sarah

3 Magda

4 Johnny

5 Fadi

6 Olivia