Instant messages

Instant messages

Read a conversation by instant messages to practise and improve your reading skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text
Andrew
online

You there, Beatriz?

10:24

Hang on, Andrew.

10:24

OK. What's up?

10:27

It's Caroline's birthday tomorrow.

10:27

Oh yeah, that's right!

10:27

You thought about what to get her?

10:28

You mean a present? Weren't you buying one from both of us?

10:28

I'm sorry! It totally slipped my mind!

10:28

😳

10:28

And I'm working 'til late.

10:28

So …

10:29

Could you pick up a gift today?

10:29

I guess. What sort of thing were you thinking of?

10:30

Dunno. Got any ideas?

10:30

One sec. Phone.

10:30

OK, I'm back.

10:37

Just had an idea for a gift.

10:37

Go on.

10:38

New headphones?

10:38

Nah. Jeremy said he was getting her headphones.

10:38

OK. What then?

10:38

Have you seen those gift certificates for a spa? Maybe one of those?

10:39

She'd love that!

10:39

I'll pick it up today then.

10:39

Thanks a million. Appreciate it.

10:39

No worries. See you tomorrow then?

10:40

Yep.

10:40

What time was it again? 4?

10:40

4.30. I can pick you up at your house if you like.

10:40

👍 👍 👍 👍

10:40

CU then.

10:40

Bye for now.

10:41

 

 

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Average: 4.9 (20 votes)

Submitted by Aakash Jain on Sun, 14/06/2020 - 03:14

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Well, I prefer phoning my friends rather than texting since it is not always possible to write long messages to your friends. Also when you write short texts , they usually don't convey the exact message properly since it lacks the tone of voice. It looks really blank when you text (in most cases). So phoning is better if your friends are not busy.

Submitted by M19 on Wed, 03/06/2020 - 15:42

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Well, that depends on how crucial the information is. I'd call them up if it's a matter of urgency. However, I'll still do so even if it's not. Say contacting an old time kind of a "lost and found" friend. In this context, I would love to hear them express their feelings/ experiences through laughter, listen to their verbal talk and get a deeper understanding from their tone of voice. Yet still l could send them messages, especially when I am in the middle of something important, say at work or school where alot of interruptions would obviously be inevitable.

Submitted by Ahmadbassam on Mon, 01/06/2020 - 19:21

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I like phoning them. I don't like sending messages. I usually get annoyed at typing on any device
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Submitted by rerre on Tue, 26/05/2020 - 02:29

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I prefer phoning people but this kind of contact is rare because everybody is in a hurry and you can disturb if you make a call

Submitted by Muhammad Bagir on Sun, 24/05/2020 - 11:41

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I prefer sending them a message. I'm not very good at talking directly with people.
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Submitted by OlaIELTS on Thu, 07/05/2020 - 01:49

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I prefer sending them messages.

Submitted by jazmin marquez on Fri, 24/04/2020 - 00:15

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Actually, I prefer send messages, spite, I know that is very impersonal. I call only when is a urgent situation or the messages wasn't answered.

Submitted by Pellmen on Sun, 19/04/2020 - 08:49

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In today's world it's almost impolite to phone somebody because you may disturb a person. Therefore, before calling somebody, I often notify about that via texting. There are circumstances in which I phone a person immediately, but more frequently I connect with somebody by texting them.