ESL Podcast ESL Podcast 283 – A Restaurant Drive-Thru

I had a little time between appointments and stopped at a fast food restaurant to get some lunch. The idea was to save time by using the drive-thru, but it didn’t work out that way.

Order-taker: Welcome to McDenny’s. May I take your order?

Daniel: Yes. I’d like a cheeseburger, an order of French fries, and a large soda¹.

Order-taker: I’m sorry, sir. Can you speak up and speak directly into the microphone²? I can barely³ hear you.

Daniel: Oh, okay. I want to order one cheeseburger, one order of fries, and a large soda.

Order-taker: That’s four hamburgers, an order of French fries, and a sundae. Would you like anything else?

Daniel: No, I mean, yes. That order isn’t right. I wanted one cheeseburger, one order of fries, and a soda.

Order-taker: No problem, sir. There’s no need to shout. I can add those to your order. That’s four hamburgers, one cheeseburger, two orders of French fries, a sundae, and a soda. Your total comes to $18.95. Please pull up to the next window.

Daniel: Wait! Hello, hello. There’s been a mix-up. Hello!

Order-taker: Please pull up to the next window, sir. There are cars behind you and you’re holding up the line.

Daniel: But you don’t understand. My order is all wrong. I don’t want five burgers!

Order-taker: Well, sir, if you’ve changed your mind, just tell me your new order. There are other customers waiting.

Daniel: Forget it. Cancel my order. I’ve lost my appetite!


Script⁴ by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

2 microphone   

n.扩音器，麦克风，话筒

参考例句：

• He gave a tap at the microphone before speaking.他在讲话前先轻叩了一下扩音器。
• She behaved naturally before the microphone.她在话筒前表现自然。

3 barely   

adv.仅仅，几乎没有，几乎不

参考例句：

• The male bird is barely distinguishable from the female.雄鸟和雌鸟几乎无法辨别。
• He took barely enough money to keep the children in bread.他赚很少的钱仅够孩子们勉强糊口。

4 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。