Lesson 48 Fast Food,Slow Service

Tess is a cashier at a fast-food restaurant. Michael is a customer in a hurry.

T: Good afternoon, sir. How are you today?

M: Save it,, lady. Just get me a burger and fries.

T: Would you care for a drink or anything else?

M: Listen. Though I know you’re trying to be nice, I don’t have all day. If I want anything else, I’ll

mention it, Ok?

T: Are you sure you don’t want a dessert? A milk-shake maybe?

M: No , just go and bring me my order, will you?

T: Wait a minute! You look familiar. You’re Michael Jordan, aren’t you? Tell me, how does it feel to be

such a famous basketball player.

M: That’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m going to a real fast-food restaurant.

Lesson 49 Stop Snoring

Millions of families have trouble falling asleep. Do you know why? There’s someone in the family who has a snoring problem. The problem can be quite serious. In some cases, couples have to sleep in separate bedrooms. And in others, kids can never study or even watch TV once Dad hits the sack.

So how can we avoid being a snoring nuisance? One way is to avoid eating a big meal before going to bed. Drinking alcohol near bedtime is something, which also causes snoring. Changing the position in which the snorer sleeps also helps. Another alternative is to wear ear plugs. But if all these ideas fail, you have only one choice: Wake the snorer up. Tell him it’s his turn to watch you sleep.

Lesson 50 Laser Cures Snoring

A mother and son are talking.

S: I can’t stand Dad’s snoring anymore, mom. I didn’t sleep a wink last night.

M: I understand. Neither did I. But what can we do?

S: I read in a magazine that there’s some kind of laser which can cure snoring.

M: I read that, too. But it’s pretty expensive. Besides, people who have tried it say it’s painful and could cause voice change.

S: Oh, I didn’t know that. I guess there’s no hope then.

M: Well, I’ll talk to Dad about it.

S: I hope he agrees to do it. Anyway, a voice change will do him a world of good. Have you heard him try to sniff lately?

M: Come to think of it, you’re right.

Lesson 51 Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving which falls on the fourth Thursday of November, is one of the biggest American holidays. This holiday started in the early 1600’s after settlers arrived in America. These people who came from Europe didn’t know how to survive in the wild new country. Luckily, they met some friendly American Indians, who showed them how to hunt turkeys and grow corn. In the fall, after the harvest, the settlers had a great feast. They invited the Indians to thank them for their help.

Today the tradition continues. On Thanksgiving Day, Americans invite their friends over for a turkey dinner and give thanks for what they have.

Lesson 52 A Thanksgiving Get-together

Larry, who is from Taiwan, is studying in America. His classmate, Sue, who is American, is having a Thanksgiving Day party at her house.

S: Hi, Larry. Are you doing anything for Thanksgiving?

L: I don’t have any plans.

S: Good. I’m having a get-together at my house. Would you like to come?

L: Sure, I’d love to. Should I bring anything?

S: No. There will be plenty of salad, ham, corn, potatoes, wine and, of course, turkey.

L: That sounds great. Do you want me to come by early to give you a hand?

S: That’s not necessary. Just come over at around two in the afternoon.

Lesson 53 Monkeying Around

Thai people believe that keeping monkeys happy brings good luck. So every year there’s a day on which they have a special treat for monkeys called the Annual Monkey Feast. Hundreds of monkeys come from the mountains to "sit at" long buffet tables which are piled high with bananas, peanuts, watermelons and cabbage.

Monkeys will be monkeys. So they fool around and fights break out. But nobody seems to care. Neither do the monkeys. They just stare back at the crowds of people who turn out to watch them. Then they continue to monkey around and have a good time.

Lesson 54 Variety is the Spice of Life

Barney and Debbie are on vacation in Bangkok.

D: So where are you taking me out to dinner tonight, Barney?

B: Let’s go to Phuket. It has the most beautiful sunsets that you will ever see. That’s also where you can get a wide range of exotic foods.

D: Sounds good. What have you got in mind?

B: I’ve been dying to try monkey brains again.

D: What? You’ve got to be kidding. No way!

B: Come on. Haven’t you learned that variety is the spice of life?

D: You just said "again". Have you tried it before?

B: Sure, it’s delicious.

D: No wonder! Sometimes you act like a monkey!

Lesson 55 Life after Death

A 34-year-old married man who died recently had no children. When he died, his wife was not pregnant, either. But now that he’s dead, he has a chance of becoming a father. How’s that possible?

After a man dies, his sperm remains alive for some time. In this case, the woman asked doctors to remove the sperm from her husband’s body and store it in a sperm bank. Now, she can have the baby that she has wanted for a long time. She says it’s as if her husband would come back to life again when the child is born. If that is so, wouldn’t that make her husband her son?

Lesson 56 Baby Trouble

Betty is talking to her husband Dan

B: Don’t you think it’s time that we had a baby?

D: We’re much better off without children. Think of all the trouble raising them.

B: But it’s only natural that married couples have babies.

D: I don’t want any brats who’ll run around the house breaking things.

B: Then I’ll have a baby by myself.

D: Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not possible.

B: Yes, it is. I can adopt or go to the sperm bank or…

D: Stop! Are you crazy? I forbid it.

B: Then, can we have a baby together?

D: Ok. You win.

Lesson 57 New Asian Generation

In the past, the children of Asia had very few choices. A son would usually follow in his father’s footsteps and do the same kind of job as his father. But now, young people have higher education which opens doors to new kinds of jobs. TV exposes kids to new ideas from other countries.

So, the younger generations of Asians are doing things their parents never dreamed of. They’re investing in stocks or dying their hair purple. Unfortunately, some are also getting into trouble with sex and drugs. Asian parents whose children are doing all this do have a reason to be worried.

Lesson 58 Like Father, Like Son

Tom, whose parents are conservative, is talking to Karen, whose parents are open-minded.

T: Boy, I’m really fed up with my dad.

K: Why? What’s the problem?

T: My dad, whose upbringing was very strict, expects me to live by his old rules.

K; That’s too bad. He must be crazy.

T: You know what? He even buys clothes for me, the styles of which belong to the fifties.

K: What a nut!

T: Hey, stop calling my dad names.

K: But I thought…

T: No matter what, he’s still my dad.

K: Like father, like son!

Lesson 59 About Moral Values

More and more people are forgetting the saying, "Pride comes before a fall." I remember only a few years ago when things used to be so different. People used to be more modest and humble.

As I looked around at my schoolmate the other day, I realized how different things are. People are so much more pretentious nowadays. With their fancy clothes and stylish hairdos, they appear too materialistic, which is not to my liking. I know modernization is necessary for advancement. However, I hope we don’t lose our traditional moral values along the way.