Front Desk Manners 前台举止 It was a big apartment building. The building was in a big city. Delivery people left packages at the front desk. The front desk held the packages for apartment tenants. Mr. Smith was expecting a package. He stopped at...
It Isn't the Economy 不是经济的错 Carl worked for a company for one year. Then they laid him off. We have to lay you off, said his boss. It's not you. It's the economy. We'll hire you back when the economy gets better. Carl was angry. It wasn't...
Airport Security 机场安保 They kissed and said goodbye one more time. Then the man left. The airport guard still hadn't returned to his chair. The exit was completely unguarded. A terrorist could have entered the airport through this exit. About...
Airport Security 机场安保 The airport guard stopped the tall man. The man was trying to walk past the guard. The guard told him to use the entrance. You cannot enter here, he told the man. You can only exit here. The man nodded his head. He under...
Living Together 一起生活 He was already thinking about leaving. He had just moved in. He and his girlfriend were living together. They were living together for the first time. But it wasn't all lovey-dovey. They argued a lot. She said he was a sl...
USPS Redelivery 美国邮政署包裹 The USPS phone menu voice answered. Jean said, Representative. A male representative said hello. The mailman didn't redeliver my package today, Jean said. What is the tracking number for your package? he asked. J...
USPS Redelivery 美国邮政署包裹 Jean opened her mailbox. She saw the postal form. It said, Insured package. Sorry we missed you. Call for redelivery: 1-800-275-8777. She went upstairs to her apartment. She called the 800 number. A phone menu vo...
USPS Redelivery 美国邮政署包裹 Rob was in Texas. He went to the post office. He mailed a package to Jean. He insured the package. Jean lived in New York City. She lived in an apartment building. The apartment building has 20 floors. It has a f...
He Hates to Fly 他讨厌坐飞机 He had a 9 p.m. flight. He hated to fly. A passenger plane is always crowded. It is always full. Passengers are jammed together. They are packed together. Side by side. Elbow to elbow. Front to back. Knees to butts....
Hassle Man 麻烦男子 Everything's a hassle, he thought. The smallest thingis a hassle. Taking the cap off the toothpaste tubeis a hassle. Squeezing the toothpaste tube is ahassle. Putting the toothpaste on the toothbrush isa hassle. Brushing his t...
The Info Desk 信息台 This was his first visit to the corner library. He walked over to the library information desk. The woman behind the information desk was reading a magazine. He stood in front of her. She continued reading the magazine. He cle...
The Phone Call 电话 The phone rang as he was leaving the apartment. He didn't answer it. It's probably Dave, he thought. His brother Dave had said he would call. He returned home an hour later. He checked his phone for missed calls. There was only...
American Breakfast 美国早餐 She was running late. She wanted a fast breakfast. She didn't have time to make her own breakfast. Her usual breakfast was rice, vegetables, and meat. Will you make me a fast breakfast? she asked her boyfriend. He was...
Bad Toilet Paper 质量差的卫生纸 He needed to blow his nose. He pulled four sheets off the roll of toilet paper. What's this, he wondered. The first two sheets were 2-ply. The next two sheets were mostly 1-ply. He pulled six more sheets off the...
Let's Dance 一起跳舞 She was blonde and pretty. She was in a bar with her friend. Her friend was a brunette. A man put some money in the jukebox. Slow music started playing. He went over to the women's table. Hi, he said. Both women looked at him...
