Dialogue A
(Mary and Bill are going to an acrobatic performance. )
Mary:I'm all dressed up and ready to go.
Bill:That was pretty fast. It only took you fifteen minutes.
M:I don't dilly dally when there's the prospect of a good acrobatic performance in the offing. Let's go.
B:Yes,it's very difficult to see Chinese acrobatics at home. So it's great to have this opportunity since I like them very much.
M:So do I. What kind of things do you prefer?
B:All kinds. Such as magic shows, flying trapeze acts,tightrope walking, and even the clowns.
M:Flying trapeze acts! Oh! They're breathtaking. I'm the nervous type and get too nervous.
B:Yes,those hair-raising performances can be scary. I saw a little girl fell off a pyramid of chairs when she was balancing on them.
M:Really? Was she hurt?
B:Fortunately,she survived the accident because of the safety rope fastened on her.
M:That's too bad. It must be very difficult for them to be trained as very skillful acrobats.
B:Yes,that goes without saying.
M:Oh, it's a hard and very dangerous job. I hope we won'tsee the same thing today.
B:I don't think so. It seldom happens.
Dialogue B
(Mary and Bill are watching the performances. )
B:Can you see clearly? If not,we can move to the front.
M:No problem. It's very good here.
B:Look at the girl who is building a pagoda of bowls. She's stacking the bowls one by one very skillfully.
M:Oh,it's almost incredible. How can she do that?
B: I heard they are trained when they were very young. Oh,she's finished. Let's applaud her.
M:All right. What's next?
B:We have to wait for the announcer. Ah,it's bicycle stabilizing feats on a raised platform.
M:What's that like?
B:Er…one or more people do performances on a still bike. The bike is on a raised platform.
M:That's difficult, unless the bike is moving.
B:Yeah. It's not easy even on a moving bike. There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight. That's the one with a moving bike. If there is one, you can see it with your own eyes.
M:That kind of act would take a lot of skill. Everything is easier when you are skillful at it.
B:Yes, just like speaking Chinese. We feel it's difficult,yet the Chinese use it freely.