3.Social Formality

（1）Invitation

A：Hello，Betty. Are you doing anything this Sunday？How about going to see an opera with me？

B：To tell you the truth，I'd rather see a play. I don't care much for operas. I hear a new play is on at Empire Theatre.

A：OK，good. I'll see if I can get tickets for Sunday，shall I？

B：Sunday's not good. It's always so crowded. How about Friday or Saturday？

A：That would suit me just fine. I'll give you a call about the tickets later. Bye.

（2）Catching Up

Man：Denise Gibbs？I haven't seen you for ages.

Woman：Barry？How have you been？

Man：Pretty good. Say，you've really changed！

Woman：Oh，well，I've lost some weight. And my hair is longer than before.

Man：Well，you look great！How are you？

Woman：I'm doing really well. I got married about three years ago. I have two kids now.

Man：That's terrific！

（3）Dating

Boy：Do you have a date for the party yet？

Girl：Actually，I don't... Do you think you could help me find one？

Boy：Hmm. What kind of guys do you like？

Girl：Oh，I like guys who aren't too serious and who have a good sense of humour. You know... like you.

Boy：OK. What else？

Girl：Well，I'd prefer someone I have something in common with—who I can talk to easily.

Boy：I think I know just the guy for you. Bill Bruford. Do you know him？

Girl：No，I don't think so.

Boy：Let me arrange for you to meet him，and you can tell me what you think.

（4）Directions

Driver：Hi. I'm trying to find my way to the hospital. Can you help me？

Local：Yeah，sure. Which hospital are you looking for？There are two in town.

Driver：It's the General Hospital，I think.

Local：OK，no problem. Do you see this roundabout over there？

Driver：Yes，I do.

Local：Well，first，head straight through that and keep going until you reach the third set of traffic lights，OK？

Driver：OK. And then what？

Local：Turn left at the lights，keep going for about 200 meters until you see a yellow shop on your right hand side. Take the first left after you pass the store and follow the road all the way down—you'll see the entrance.

Driver：OK，let me see if I've got that. Through the roundabout，left at the third set of lights，first left after the store. Is that it？

Local：Yeah，that's it.

Driver：Much obliged. Thanks a lot.

（5）Party

Martha：...What horrible weather today！I'd love to go out，but I think it will just continue raining.

Jane：Oh，I don't know. Perhaps the sun will come out later this afternoon.

Martha：I hope you're right. Listen，I'm going to throw a party this Saturday. Would you like to come？

Jane：Oh，I'd love to come. Thank you for inviting me. Who's going to come to the party？

Martha：Well，a number of people haven't told me yet. But，Peter and Mark are going to help out with the cooking！

Jane：Hey，I'll help，too！

Martha：Would you？That would be great！

Jane：I'll make lasagna！

Martha：That sounds delicious！I know my Italian cousins are going to be there. I'm sure they'll love it.

Jane：Italians？Maybe I'll bake a cake...

Martha：No，no. They're not like that. They'll love it.

Jane：Well，if you say so... Is there going to be a theme for the party？

Martha：No，I don't think so. Just a chance to get together and have fun.

Jane：I'm sure it'll be lots of fun.

Martha：But I'm going to hire a clown！

Jane：A clown！You're kidding me.

Martha：No，no. As I was child，I always wanted a clown. Now，I'm going to have a clown at my own party.

Jane：I'm sure everyone will have a good laugh.

Martha：That's the plan！