标准美国英语口语 04 Talking About What One Needs

UNIT 4: Talking About What One Needs?

61. I am hungry and thirsty. I need a hamburger and a large glass of orange juice.

62. It's so hot, he needs shorts not long pants.

63. It's so cold, she needs a warm fur hat and scarf.

64. As a writer, he needs a compuer to write books.

65. I feel lonely in this strange place, I need to make new friends.

66. Since I often go around the world, I need a laptop computer.

67. Why do you need translation software?

68. Because it will make my work much easier.

69. Why does she need a brand new car?

70. She doesn't need one, but she likes to show off.

71. Why do they want a new house?

72. Because their house is too old and small.

73. Why did he need to make big money?

74. Because his wife loves to spend money.

75. Because he likes to travel around the world.

76. He is alonely, messy and cranky.

77. He needs a wife to take care of him.

78. Why does Jim need a new computer?

79. Because he wants all the up-to-date 1 bells and whistles.

80. My laptop computer needs more memory.

Floating in English: Mona and Jim.

Mona and her husband Jim live in a big, new, fancy 2 house.They have a housekeeper 3 and a cook to work for them at home.They do not have any children.

Jim is an American science fiction writer. He makes a lot of money by selling his books.But he is always under pressure to make more money, Because he buys 2 new laptops computer every year.He also loves to travel around the world.Travelling costs lots of money.

His wife Mona used to be in actress. She hates travelling.What she likes is to have the big parties at their home.She invites all the people she knows to her parties.She always needs more money to buy new clothes, a new car, new jewelry 4 and to pay for the housekeeper and the cook.Mona is also interested in politics. She knows everyone in city government. Her uncle is the mayor 5. She wants the follow in his footsteps 6.Everyone seems to like her.

CONVERSATION 1: The dialogue about Mona and Jim.

Dan:Do Mona and Jim need a new house?

Beth: No, they have a big new fancy house.

Dan:Does Jim make a lot of money?

Beth: Yes, he does. He is a science fiction writer.

Dan:Does Jim need to make more money?

Besth:Afraid so. The more the better.

Dan: What do they need all that money for?

Beth: Well, they spend it pretty quick. New clothes, new computers and new cars every year. And they’ve got a cook and housekeeper.Mona used to be an actress, she likes to spend a lot of money.

Dan: Do they have any children?

Beth: No. They want children but no luck yet.

Dan: What does Jim like to do?

Beth: Jim likes to travel around the world.That's expensive! So he tries to make a lot of money.

Dan: What does Mona like to do?

Beth: Oh, she enjoys spending money on fancy parties.Mona loves to wear sexy dresses, and she has quite a bit of jewelry.

Dan: Wow...She sounds like a high maintenance 7 wife.

Beth: I guess so. She is also interested in politics. She knows everyone in city government.

Dan: Politics can be an expensive hobby.

Beth: She is pretty serious about it. Her uncle is a mayor. She wants to follow in his footsteps.

Dan: Politics is a hard game to play.

Beth: She might do well. Everyone seems to like her.

Floating in English: Paul's family.

Paul's wife died 2 years ago. He lives in a old mobilel home with 5 children.The oldest child is 15 and the youngest is only 3 years old.They definitely 8 need a new house but Paul can't afford to buy a new one. Though his children do not go hungry, they eat too much junk food and drink too much pop. The children need a computer. Even a used one would do. Then the kids could play educational computer games.But Paul can not afford to satisfy the needs of his children.He is lonely and tired.He needs a wife to help him to take care of his 5 children.

CONVERSATION 2: A dialogue about Paul's family.

Alice: How is your Uncle Paul doing?

Beth: Not so good.

Alice: Does Paul need a new house?

Beth: Yes, he does. His trailer is too old and small.

Alice: How many children does Paul have?

Beth: He has 5 children.

Alice: What does Paul's family need?

Beth: The family needs more money. Paul doesn't make much. He works 9 as a security 10 guard.

Alice: Must be hard to make ends meet.

Beth: True enough. His relatives and friends often give them clothing.So their clothes look good.But they eat too many hamburgers and they drink too much pop.

Alice: Oh, Oh, too much junk food isn't healthy.

Beth: No. Not healthy at all..

Alice: What else do they need?

Beth: More books or magazines.The kids work pretty hard in school but they need to read more at home.They also need a computer then the kids could learn more from educational software and internet.

Alice: Can Paul afford to satisfy needs with children?

Beth: No, he can't.

Alice: Is Paul happy?

Beth: No, he's lonely and tired.

Alice: How long has it been since Paul's wife died?

Beth: 2 years.

Alice: Is he dating anyone?

Beth: No, he works a lot of overtime 11. He needs a wife to take care of him and his children.

Alice: He sure does. Good luck to your Uncle Paul.

Beth: Yes, Paul is a nice uncle. We should try to help him.

Alice: My dad has an old computer. It still works fine.He wants to give it away. I'll tell him about your uncle.

Beth: And I've got tons of softwares that I don't use anymore.

Alice:Hey, how about we take his kids to swim at the Y this summer?

Beth: Yes, that would be great! We can go 2 or 3 times a week.

Since I've got a driver's license 12, Dad’s let me go to many places with our van.