Speak out

Task I.Read the following dialogues aloud and dramatically.Then role-play them in your group.

Dialogue A　An Ideal House

（In the street）

Jim：Hi，what are you doing，Ann？

Ann：Oh，Jim，I’m just looking at the classified ads.I’ll have to get a house.

Jim：What does your ideal house look like？

Ann：Oh，I really thought about my ideal house before.Firstly，it must be painted white.

Jim：OK，I know white is your favorite color，and you like keeping things clean.How big do you want your house to be？A house of four rooms？

Ann：Four？I don’t think so！What about having some guests？At least one more room as the guests’bedroom.

Jim：I forgot about that.Then what’s your plan for the living room？

Ann：Oh，imagine that stepping into the door.You’ll see three couches against the wall in the living room.In the middle of the couches is a rectangle teapot.Sitting on the couch you can enjoy the hanging television with a clear image.Near the window is a black piano.When I need to calm myself down，I will play it.

Jim：Very romantic！I hope you can get your dream house soon.

Dialogue B　Life Goals

（In a café）

Lora：Hi，Kevin.

Kevin：Hi，Lora.What have you been doing these past few weeks？The last time I saw you，you were looking for a new job.

Lora：They offered me a new position in the accounting department.

Kevin：A step up in the big business world.

Lora：I wouldn’t exaggerate，but I’m pleased.I had been hoping to get promotion for a while，so when it finally came through，I was relieved.

Kevin：Congratulations.You finally get what you want.I hope the money is better.

Lora：I got a reasonable raise.Now，that’s enough about me.I’m dying to hear your news.

Kevin：I’m getting married.

Lora：No，you said you’d never get married.

Kevin：That was then，and this is now，I’ve got to meet Andrea.She is great.

Lora：This is all news to me.I didn’t even know you were dating.

Kevin：We weren’t.We’ve just been dating for two weeks now.

Lora：And you are getting married？

Kevin：I know.I can’t help it.I just know she is the one.Not like you，family is what I believe is the most important.

Lora：Well，congratulations.That’s fantastic.

Task II.Read the following monologues and retell them in your own words in your group.

Monologue A　Low Carbon Life

Presently，a new lifestyle called low carbon life is spreading every corner of our country.The concepts of low carbon are low energy and no waste.It is such a significant project that I can’t wait to present my ideas on how to promote it.

On the first place，a no-car day is supposed to set up every week in our life，because cars not only cause serious air pollution but also waste energy.On no-car day，neither students nor teachers are allowed to drive to school.Meanwhile，we can just walk，jump，cycle or run.Use our legs and enjoy the fun.On the second place，we do not use plastic bags any more.No one can stand the“white pollution”.So，it is wise to use bags which can be reused.

All in all，it weighs greatly for all of us to put the low carbon lifestyle into practice.It’s the life goal for all of us.

Monologue B　My Future

I earnestly hope to lead a healthy and prosperous life in the future.

Judging from my aptitude inclination and personality streaks，my ideal life will be that of a scientist，researching，lecturing，and writing books.As I am from a farming family，I particularly enjoy being close to earth.If I can afford to live a pastoral life in the countryside，I will feel most blessed.As far as social life is concerned，simplicity is what I intend to pursue，so I really don’t need too many friends.All these will be mere talk if I am idle now.

To attain my goal，I must make a point of training my body and mind.This is a highly competitive society in which everyone is eager to come out on top.That is not only a competition of physical strength and mental power，but a marathon of patience，faith，and perseverance.Life is not all roses，but with what I am being equipped with by the top teachers in this elite school，I surely deserve a promising prospect.

New words and expressions for Task I and Task II

1.low carbon　　低碳

2.white pollution　　白色污染

3.aptitude　　n.　　才能；资质

4.inclination　　n.　　偏向

5.pastoral　　adj.　　乡村生活的；农村生活的

6.elite　　n.　　精华；精英；中坚分子