Barbara: Jack, you’re sitting in front of your computer again! The sea and the sand are only steps only away. Why are you wasting these beautiful holidays? The summer will be over before you know it.
Jack: I’m not wasting the holidays as you say. The computer is a good thing. On the Internet you can go to any part of the world; I can see everything in the world. It’s more real than reality.
Barbara: But…but you can’t spend your entire summer watching that screen. You’ll get a big bottom.
Jack: I’m not just watching the screen. I’m doing a lot of things—I’m sending e-mails, I’m learning things, I’m chatting in chat rooms…
Barbara: Right! But I’ll bet you’re spending most of your time playing computer games—a time-wasting, mindless activity that I’ll turn your brain into Chinese doufoo.
Jack: No, it isn’t a single mindless pastime. It’s many activities: role-playing games, arcadegames, adventure games, strategy games…
Barbara: I understand the computer is a wonderful thing, but you have to be careful not to get too much of a good thing. Every life needs some variety in it. It would be a lot healthier if you played a chess game outdoors, in the park.
Jack: It wouldn’t be the same. In those games in the park I can’t play against the grandmaster of Moscow, can I? And there are creative games in the computer, where I can learn city planning and psychology.
Barbara: Well, what about me? Don’t you think I’d like a little attention?
Jack: Now, Baby, that’s no way to talk. After all this time together, you know I love you.
Barbara: I’m not so sure any more. It’s time you made a choice. Is it going to be more me or the computer?
Jack: Well…
1. Where does this dialog probably take place?
2. What dose the man like to do according to the dialog?
3. What does the woman mean when she says the man’s brain will turn into Chinese doufoo?
4. What does the man think about a chess game outdoors?
5. What does the woman mean when she says, “Don’t you think I’d like a little attention?”
Keys: 1.A 2.B 3. C 4.D 5.C
For Reference
1. He says that in those games in the park he can’t play against the grandmaster of Moscow. And there are creative games in the computer, where he can learn city planning and psychology,
2. She asks him to make a choice between her and the computer.
