T: Jack! You look really unhappy. I thought you'd be thrilled to be here. What's wrong? You can tell me.

J: Nevermind, Tracy, it's just a slight headache, that's all, I'll be fine.

T: It seems to me you never feel well when the exams are on the schedule. Aren't you enjoying the exhibition? Just take it easy, relax. After all, it's your first time visiting the National Museum of American Art.

J: I would if I could, believe me. It's just annoying when you can't have fun doing something.

T:Fun? You're kidding, right? Museums are educational establishments for advancing our knowledge. You're not expected to have fun like at a dog show or flower exhibit.

J: Oh, come on, this is boring. How much longer are we going to stay here?

T: Hang in there, I promise, it'll get interesting. Look at that lovely portrait, for instance.

J: OK, it's not bad. It looks like it must be from 19th century, so I guess you like realism?

T: Actually, I don't. But I enjoy looking at hair styles and dress designs from the past, and they're best shown in realistic paintings. I'm really into fashion, as you know.

J: Well, I prefer pictures that are true to life, where every leaf and every flower is depicted exactly as it really is.

T: Like in still life paintings?

J: Well, yes. If I have to look at art, I'd rather see that kind of picture.

T: Than look over there, there's a good one: flowers in a vase, watermelons, grapes, cherries. Yumm, it makes my mouth water.

J: Now that you mention food, I could do with a snack right now. I haven't had anything to eat since morning and I'm starving.

T: I'm sure there's a cafe on the ground floor. Why don't we get a bite to eat and then return to the gallery?

J: Agreed. And if we have to go back, I'd love to see some landscapes. They're inspiring.

T: Especially the romantic ones. The dramatic contrasts in romantic landscapes are unbelievable. I'm glad you're finally begiining to feel a little more enthusiastic about museums.

J: I'm afraid you missed the point: the sooner we begin, the sooner we finish. Let's go eat something.

K: Hi Joey! It's good to see you after your gap year. You look fantastic. I'd love to have a tan like yours, but it's difficult to get in misty England.

J: Thanks, Kathy. I'm really happy to finally be back home. I've missed everybody here so much, including you, of course. Drop by my place some day, I'll show you my photos. There are a lot of them and they're amazing. And mum will be delighted to see you. She'll treat you to her special cake.

K: So where have you been? Tell me. I can't wait.

J: Here, there, everywhere.

K: Stop right there, Joey. I'm already green with envy. You are so lucky to have traveled so much. As for me, I'm a stay-at-home girl. I haven't been anywhere but Greece. And Greece doesn't count, it's just a typical summer vacation with my parents. I hope I can have a gap year too after high school is over.

J: Oh, don't be envious. To be honest, I mainly stayed in Australia, which is, of course, a great place, take it from me. I did a lot of wildlife watching.

K: And I guess you did a lot of sports there, you look really fit.

J: Not really. I didn't have time for sports, except for surfing, of course. If you go to Australia, you have to take up surfing, it's the best place in the world for water sports.

K: But you've alwayse been into sports, haven't you?

J: You know, I've been an obsessive tennis player, but I gave it up when I broke my ankle last year.

K: Oh, I really love tennis. My coach says I'm a natural. How about a game some time?

J: Well, I'm really rusty, I'll have to practice first.

K: Don't be silly, I'm only a novice. We'lll just have a friendly game, that's all.

J: OK, let's say Monday, does that suit you?

K: Monday afternoon is perfect. In the morning I'm working at my dad's shop.

J: Good, it's a date, see you then. And maybe we can get a cup of tea after the game?

K: Why not? There's a good juice bar in the club as well, we can have healthy drinks instead.

J: OK, and then we can have a proper chat. There's still a lot to tell you about my time away.

K: Absolutely. I'll be free for the rest of the day. I must be off now, though, my class starts in half an hour.

J: Have a nice day.

K: Thanks, same to you. Bye.

K: Hi Joey! It's good to see you after your gap year. You look fantastic. I'd love to have a tan like yours, but it's difficult to get in misty England.

J: Thanks, Kathy. I'm really happy to finally be back home. I've missed everybody here so much, including you, of course. Drop by my place some day, I'll show you my photos. There are a lot of them and they're amazing. And mum will be delighted to see you. She'll treat you to her special cake.

K: So where have you been? Tell me. I can't wait.

J: Here, there, everywhere.

K: Stop right there, Joey. I'm already green with envy. You are so lucky to have traveled so much. As for me, I'm a stay-at-home girl. I haven't been anywhere but Greece. And Greece doesn't count, it's just a typical summer vacation with my parents. I hope I can have a gap year too after high school is over.

J: Oh, don't be envious. To be honest, I mainly stayed in Australia, which is, of course, a great place, take it from me. I did a lot of wildlife watching.

K: And I guess you did a lot of sports there, you look really fit.

J: Not really. I didn't have time for sports, except for surfing, of course. If you go to Australia, you have to take up surfing, it's the best place in the world for water sports.

K: But you've alwayse been into sports, haven't you?

J: You know, I've been an obsessive tennis player, but I gave it up when I broke my ankle last year.

K: Oh, I really love tennis. My coach says I'm a natural. How about a game some time?

J: Well, I'm really rusty, I'll have to practice first.

K: Don't be silly, I'm only a novice. We'lll just have a friendly game, that's all.

J: OK, let's say Monday, does that suit you?

K: Monday afternoon is perfect. In the morning I'm working at my dad's shop.

J: Good, it's a date, see you then. And maybe we can get a cup of tea after the game?

K: Why not? There's a good juice bar in the club as well, we can have healthy drinks instead.

J: OK, and then we can have a proper chat. There's still a lot to tell you about my time away.

K: Absolutely. I'll be free for the rest of the day. I must be off now, though, my class starts in half an hour.

J: Have a nice day.

K: Thanks, same to you. Bye.

F: Hi, Jane! I haven't seen you for ages. How are you?

J: Oh, hi, Fred. It's great to see you. I'm fine, thanks. How about you?

F: Same. Hey, you look so busy, what are you doing?

J: Now? Nothing at all now. I was studying, working away happily, but I had to stop because my computer crashed for some reason. The screen just went blank and that's it. That's why I have the rest of the day free.

F: Oh no, did you lose the files you were working on?

J: I don't know, I might have. We'll see as soon as it's back to normal.

F: I hope it's not some nasty virus, there are a lot of them now on the Internet, you know. Have you downloaded anything recently?

J: I have, so you're probably right. I'll just have to consult a specialist. And I'll need a decent firewall too, I guess.

F: Well, I'm not using my laptop at the moment, would you like to borrow it? It's not much of an offer 'cause it's rather old and the screen is very small, but you could probably make do with it while yours is being fixed. That's better than nothing, right?

J: Thanks, that's very kind of you, but I do really hope tomorrow I'll get my computer back. I'll still have plenty of time to study.

F: OK, if you say so. If you change your mind, though, just give me a ring. I'll be happy to help out.

J: Agreed. By the way, would you like to come to the movie tonight? I think they're giving away two tickets for the price of one.

F: Well, I don't know. What's playing?

J: I'm not sure.

F: Well, I like going to the movies, but I'm not going if I don't know what film we are going to see.

J: Wait a minute. I have a newspaper somewhere in my bag. Hold on. I'm trying to find the right page. OK, here it is. It's a new horror film. How about that?

F: Horror film? Definitely not. You know, I always have nightmares when I see horror films. We went to see one last year and by the end I was shaking with terror. That's just not my cup of tea.

J: Oh, alright, I guess I'll have to go by myself then. See you on Monday.

F: Sorry about that, maybe next time.

J: No problem. Bye for now.

F: Bye.