Mr Dedov: 7 for 7.30[5].
Manager: Thank you very much, Mr Dedov. Good-bye.
Mr Dedov: Good-bye.
4. Booking a Plane Reservation
Clerk: BEA[6]. Good morning.
Mr Bardin: Good morning. My name is Bardin. I’d like to book a seat on the plane to Rome for Monday, the tenth.
Clerk: Yes, sir. Do you want to travel economy class[7] or first class?
Mr Bardin: I’d like first class.
Clerk: I’ll check the time-table for you. Will you hold on, please? There is a flight leaving Heathrow[8] at 11.55 on Monday and arriving in Rome at 13.30. It flies non-stop.
Mr Bardin: That suits me. What time do I have to get to the airport?
Clerk: You’ll have to be at West London Air Terminal[9] by 10.20 at the latest. The coach leaves for the airport at 10.30. But if you are going to the airport on your own you must be there before 11.30 and you can pick up your ticket at the airport booking-office.
Mr Bardin: Thank you. Good-bye.
Clerk: Good-bye.
5. Booking Theatre Seats
Clerk: Hello. National Theatre.
Mr Lazarev: Hello. I’d like to know what’s playing[10] tonight?
Clerk: “Long Day’s Journey into Night” by O’Neill[11] starring Laurence Olivier.
Mr Lazarev: I want to reserve two stalls, please.
Clerk: Sorry, sir. All stalls are sold out. Would the dress-circle do?
Mr Lazarev: Are the seats good?
Clerk: First row (Row A), seats 16 and 17, that’ll be right in the middle to the left of the central aisle.
Mr Lazarev: How far to the left?
Clerk: The second and third seats, sir.
Mr Lazarev: All right. I guess that will do. My name is Lazarev. I’ll call for them some time around seven.
Clerk: Very good, sir. We’ll keep your booking till seven then. Good-bye.
Mr Lazarev: Thank you. Bye.
EXERCISES
I. Read the dialogues and reproduce them paying attention to telephone phrases.
II. Say something in reply to the following remarks and questions.
1. Would you like to make a long-distance call, please? 2. Can you find his phone number for me? 3. Do you want to make a person-to-person call? 4. I’m afraid there will be some delay. 5. Could you spell the name, please? 6. Do I have to confirm my reservation in writing? 7. I would like to make arrangements with you for a birthday party (with the manager of a restaurant). 8. We would like to invite you for our Christmas dinner. 9. Why doesn’t this flight suit you? 10. Sorry, I can’t give you a definite answer.
III. In what situations would you say the following?
1. cannot get in touch with him. 2. The use of a large telephone directory is somewhat difficult. 3. I’m sorry you don’t have single rooms with private bathroom available. 4. I would ask you to see that the apartment is a quiet one. 5. Do you have accommodation with a less service charge? 6. We would like to make arrangements with the restaurant manager for a small dinner party. 7. A flight leaving Heathrow at 11.55 on Monday does not suit me. 8. We would prefer to have our seats in the middle of the fifth row. 9. They’ve changed the cast and we are returning the tickets to the booking office. 10. At last we have come to the airport. Thank you for the lift.
