Unit 11. Listen and Practice. Exercise 2. (CD2:08)

Unit 11 Audioscripts

Unit 11. Listen and practice. Exercise 2. (CD2:08)

Jack: Hi, Amy, what are you doing?

Amy: Oh, I’m trying to choose some small gifts for ourSeattle office. You know, for the end of the year.What do you think – should I send some Christmascards?

Jack: Well, not everyone in the Seattle office celebratesChristmas, so … What else are you thinking about?

Amy: Well, we have these nice company calendars.They have scenes of Singapore.

Jack: I think that’s a good idea. They’re attractive,they’re useful, and they’re easy to mail!

Amy: I guess … They’re not very exciting, though.What about some local crafts?

Jack: I don’t think so. Those would be too expensive.Calendars are fine, and we have plenty of them.

Amy: You’re right.

Unit 11. Listen and practice. Exercise 5. (CD2:09)

Jack: So, do you think the Seattle office will send usanything?

Amy: No, not really. I mean, sometime in Decemberwe’ll probably all get an electronic greeting cardthat says something like Happy Holidays or Season’sGreetings. But American companies don’t usuallysend gifts. It’s just not a custom.

Jack: Well, that’s probably a good thing. A few yearsago, a new vendor sent our whole office some reallyexpensive gifts.

Amy: Oh, dear! That could be a problem …

Jack: Yeah, they didn’t know that in Singapore,company workers can’t accept expensive gifts. Itlooks like the vendor is trying to buy our business,or something. I know in this case it was just theircustom, but still, we had to return the gifts.

Amy: Ouch! That must have been uncomfortable foreveryone.

Jack: Yes, it was.

Unit 11. Selecting gifts. Exercise 3. (CD2:10)

Alana: Oh, hi, Amy. It’s Alana here. Listen, can I askyou a few questions about local customs here?

Amy: Sure thing. What’s up?

Alana: Well, I’ve been invited to someone’s house fordinner. I’d like to bring a small gift. Do you thinkthat’s OK?

Amy: Oh, sure, that would be very nice. What are yougoing to bring?

Alana: Well, I have a nice book about my hometownin Australia, with some lovely photos. And it’s evenwrapped already.

Amy: I think that would be great. However, don’texpect them to unwrap the gift in front of you.

Alana: Really? Why not?

Amy: Singaporeans think that looks too greedy.

Alana: Greedy?!

Amy: Yes, you know, like they want it too much.They’ll open it after you leave.

Alana: I also thought about bringing some food, maybedessert or something to drink.

Amy: Well … actually, it depends on the culture of thepeople you’re visiting. As you know, in Singaporewe have a mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indianpeople. So, for example, it’s OK to bring food to aMalay family, but it’s not a good idea if the family isChinese.

Alana: Really? Why not?

Amy: Well, the host might feel that you think that theirfood isn’t good enough.

Alana: Oh, dear, I don’t want that!

Alana: Wow, I didn’t know it was so complicated. It’svery different from Australia! Is there anything else Ishould know?

Amy: Um, let’s see … well, for Chinese people youshould avoid giving four of something – you know,like four cups or four handkerchiefs.

Alana: Why is that?

Amy: The number four in Chinese can sound like theword for death, so it’s considered unlucky.

Alana: Are there any lucky numbers?

Amy: Yes, eight is lucky.

Alana: Well, I don’t have eight books!

Amy: I’m sure that’s fine.

Amy: And if you’re giving gifts to an Indian family,don’t give eight of the same item.

Alana: Oh, no. Why not? Is it unlucky?

Amy: Not the number eight specifically, but Indiansthink odd numbers are luckier than even numbers.Just the opposite of what the Chinese believe!

Alana: So, seven or nine of something is better thaneight …

Amy: Exactly, or five. For an Indian person, anyway.

Alana: Is there anything I shouldn’t give to an Indianperson?

Amy: Well, no beef, of course. And also don’t give giftsmade of leather.

Alana: OK. That’s because of their religion, right?

Amy: That’s right. Cows are special in the Hindureligion.

Alana: I read somewhere that colors have differentmeanings in different cultures.

Amy: Yes, that’s right. Let’s see … for Malay people,don’t wrap gifts in yellow paper. That color is forroyalty – you know, kings and queens. For all threecultures, actually, white is a color for death, so youshouldn’t use white paper either.

Alana: OK … what color paper is safe, then? Is there acolor I can use that’s good for everyone?

Amy: Everybody? Um … maybe red? That’s a luckycolor for Chinese, and Indian people like brightcheerful colors. But Malay people like the colorgreen, too.

Alana: Well, the paper the book is wrapped in is red.

Amy: Oh, that’s lucky. Well, have a great time!

Unit 11. Explaining a problem or mistake.

Exercise 1. (CD2:11)

A: Here, this is for you.

B: Oh, thank you. May I open it now?

A: Please. Go ahead.

B: Oh. Uh … Well, thank you …

A: Is something wrong? It’s a plumeria lei, fromHawaii.

B: Oh, it’s just that, well, Indians only use this flowerfor funerals.

A: Oh, no! I’m so sorry!

B: Oh, that’s perfectly OK. You didn’t know.

A: Anyway, thank you for telling me.

B: And thank you for the gift. It was a lovely thought.