Lesson 22

Dialogue I

Li You and Wang Dezhong, who lives across the hallway, are talking about their

plans for the spring break. Wang Dezhong is a student from China.

Wang Dezhong: Li You, do you have any plans for the spring break?

Li You: I'll go back home to visit my parents. What about you?

Wang Dezhong: I'll go to California to visit my grandpa and grandma, and my aunt.

Li You: I thought you didn't have any relatives in the U.S.

Wang Dezhong: My grandpa, grandma and my aunt live in San Francisco. My

uncle's family lives in Los Angeles. Where is your hometown?

Li You: In western Massachusetts.

Wang Dezhong: Does your family live in a big city?

Li You: No, they live in a small town in a rural area, with a population of

only five thousand. There are a few hills to the left, a river to the

right. There are lots of trees on both sides of the river. In spring

time the trees are full of blossoms. It's really beautiful.

Wang Dezhong: The scenery there sounds wonderful.

Li You: It is. I really like the place. It's great all year round. For example,

you can watch flowers in spring, go swimming in summer, look at

red leaves in fall and go skiing in winter.

Wang Dezhong: What a great place!

Li You: You are welcome to come to my home and visit.

Dialogue II

Little Lin: Wang Peng, you've been in the States for several months now. Do you like

your life now?

Wang Peng: America is wonderful, but I like my hometown even more.

Little Lin: Yeah? Well, are you homesick?

Wang Peng: Yes.

Little Lin: Where is your hometown?

Wang Peng: Beijing.

Little Lin: How is Beijing? I often hear that Beijing is great, but I've never been there.

Wang Peng: Beijing is the Chinese capital. It's also China's political, economic, and

cultural center.

Little Lin: How is the climate in Beijing?

Wang Peng: Beijing is in China's north. The climate is about the same as here. There are

four distinct seasons. It's cold in winter, hot in summer, and it's often very

windy in spring. Fall is the most comfortable (season).

Little Lin: When do you plan to go back for a visit?

Wang Peng: This summer. If you and Little Gao would like to travel to Beijing, we

could all go together.

Little Lin: That'd be wonderful. You could be our guide.