Exercise 10

Two years after they were married, Jim and Nancy's marriage was still going strong. When telephoned last month, Jim had quitted his band and had finished his degree in accounting. Although Jim wasn’t singing in the band anymore, he said, "I've always believed that music brought us together, and we still share that." Nancy also changed careers. She was working as an artist when she met Jim, but she switched to teaching art at a high school shortly after they got married. She said, "I used to think about how cool we were, me an artist and Jim a rock singer. I did dream that we would be famous. Soon it became obvious, however, that we just hadn't made enough money, so we had to change careers. I guess we have both matured a little bit."

Exercise 9

When did you two first meet?

I met Paul years ago. He was working in the mailroom in City Hall, and I was working as a court recorder. We used to chat in the lunchroom, and I would always bring him cookies. We kind of liked each other, but I found out that he was going to move to Washington, D.C. to pursue his political career. That made me feel like we had no future because someone had just offered me a new job here, and I had decided to accept it. Besides, he was a Republican and I was a Democrat! 

So how did you finally end up together? 

Well, I did go to Washington, D.C, but I soon realized that I could serve people better here at home. So I came back in 2000. Julie and I had stayed in touch over the years, and we had both become quite involved in public service. When the elections for mayor came up, Julie and I were talking on the phone almost every day to give each other advice. I wanted to help her, especially because I had had more campaign experience than she had. And Julie helped me with the local issues because she had become much more knowledgeable about them than I was. I proposed shortly after we were both elected.

Exercise 8

Chris Jim Reed first met his wife, Nancy, on a stage while hundreds of people were watching. Jim used to sing in a rock-and-roll band. Nancy, a local artist, liked Jim and had been going to his shows regularly. Then one night, the drummer didn't show up. After Jim had sung a couple of songs without the drummer, he jokingly asked the audience if anyone wanted to come up and play the drums for the rest of the show. Nancy didn't know how to play the drums, but she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to meet Jim. So she volunteered to play and took a seat behind the drums. The noise she made wasn't pretty. Fortunately, she had only played for a couple of minutes when the real drummer arrived. It turned out that Jim liked Nancy, even though she was a terrible drummer. After they had dated for a few months, Jim decided to propose the same way they had met—in front of a large audience. Jim had it all planned: He would ask Nancy to come on stage, then he would propose to her. However, Nancy had heard ahead of time what Jim was planning to do, so while Jim was still outside, she told the audience and gave them confetti. When Jim proposed to Nancy, the audience surprised him with the confetti! Jim and Nancy were married later that year.

Exercise 7

Dear Rob,

I have some big news! I have told you before that I wanted to take a vacation, right? Well, you'll never believe it, but I'm going to Brazil in February for Carnival! By then, I will have been working for almost three years without a vacation. I have been reading some information about Carnival and Rio on the Internet, and it sounds amazing! I am planning to stay there for a week. I will stay in a hotel by the ocean, and I will visit all the sights! I am wondering if you want to go with me. I have bought my tickets already, but my travel agent says there's room in the hotel and on the plane if you want to go. 

Let me know,

Chris

Exercise 6

Here's what's included in the Rio vacation package: You arrive in Brazil on Wednesday, February 2nd, and you leave the following Wednesday, February 9th. 

I will have access to all the local Carnival parades, won't I?

Yes, of course! There are also going to be opportunities for you to visit places like Ipanema Beach, Copacabana, Petropolis, and Sugar Loaf. You will be sight-seeing during the day and dancing to samba music at night! By the end of your trip, you will have seen not only Carnival, but also many of the other wonderful sights in Rio.

This vacation sounds wonderful! I'm ready to leave today!

Exercise 5

It's early in the morning in the heart of the Amazonian rainforest. Toucans are calling to each other. Monkeys are playing in the trees. A tourist is walking down an overgrown trail, stopping from time to time to take in the exotic sights and sounds of the jungle.

Do you wish that tourist was you? Well, imagine that your dream has come true. You have booked a ticket for the Amazon Adventure Tour. Look at your exciting itinerary! You land in Manaus, Brazil, at 10 A.M. on Sunday, and you arrive at your luxurious hotel overlooking the Amazon River at 1 P.M. As soon as you check in, you will start to relax. During your week-long stay at the hotel, you will have the time of your life! With river cruises and trips to local villages on the itinerary, by the end of your vacation, you will have experienced the magic of the Amazon!

My name is Donna, and I'm a travel agent. Whether your dream destination is the Amazon or some other exotic locale, I will work with you to plan the perfect vacation! I have been helping people like you to plan their dream vacations for more than 20 years, so call me today!

Exercise 4

What are you listening to?

Erin Henderson. I bought her album yesterday, and I have been listening to it ever since.

She sounds great. Where did you hear about her?

I was working when I heard a review of this album. I actually used to have a roommate who used to listen to her all the time. She used to own all her albums, and she used to sing along. I liked her music then, but I love it now! The reviewer said that she had been traveling in the Far East before she recorded this album and that her style has really improved because of her experiences there. Her music doesn’t sound Asian now, or anything, but she has just matured as a singer and songwriter.

Exercise 3

Dear Debby,

Thank you for writing to us about Henderson's new album. We often receive e-mail from music fans, but we were very surprised by the response we got when we played the review of Henderson's new album! We have been expecting to receive her CD for several weeks now, but we still haven’t received it. In fact, we were planning to play her album immediately after we broadcast the review. It wasn't until our staff member reached for the CD at the end of the review that he realized that it hadn’t come in yet. After calling the record company, we found out that there had been a shipping mistake. 

We are hoping to receive the CD soon. We thank you for your interest, and we hope that you will continue to listen to our station.

Sincerely yours,

Robin Warner, Producer

Exercise 2

To Whom It May Concern:

I want to thank you for broadcasting that review of Erin Henderson's new album, Family of Man. I bought her album after I had heard your review (it was hard to find the album), and I love it! I remember that my roommate used to listen to her, and I enjoyed the music, but I never knew who was singing. Also, I am writing because I had been listening closely to your station every day at work, but I haven’t heard you play any of the songs from her new album yet. I was going to tell all my friends to listen to your station so that they could hear her. I wonder why you aren’t playing her music. What's going on?

Debby

Exercise 1

              Erin Henderson has been creating music since she was five. Although her name may be unfamiliar to you, people around the world recognize her voice. She has released seven albums, and she is preparing to release her eighth album, Family of Man, this week. Her unique style carefully combines elements of African and European music. She began recording her new album in a studio, but in the end, she recorded most of the songs in an empty swimming pool. As you listen to the album, you will hear birds in the background, and, in one song, a plane is flying overhead. Some of the songs will make you dance, while others will relax you.
           
            Before she started work on Family of Man, Henderson had taken some time off from songwriting to travel to the Far East. Her travels have influenced her music for the better. As you listen to Family of Man, you will realize how many changes she has made in her style. She used to rely heavily on instrumentation in her music. Now, she uses fewer instruments, which focuses the listener on her voice. I believe this is her finest work yet.