James: Hi, Kate! How are you doing?

Kate: Oh, it’s you, James. Everything’s fine, thanks. I’m just looking for my key. It must

be here somewhere … in my bag, but I can’t find it…

James: You missed the morning class. Did you feel unwell?

Kate: Oh, no! I just didn’t hear my alarm clock. I went to bed late yesterday - I was busy

with an essay on English Literature, and then chatted online with some friends to

cheer myself up … And I found it too difficult to wake up on time. Oh dear. Mrs.

Jefferson will never forgive me for skipping the test.

James: She won’t get very angry with you. Your grades in Maths are the highest in the class.

Kate: Yeah, I would prefer three Maths tests to one essay …but still… Oh, here’s the key

at last. I was afraid I’d lost it somewhere during our PE lesson.

James: You had PE?

Kate: Yes. We did lots of running today – I really hate it.

James: You don’t like any sport, do you?

Kate: No, I don’t hate everything. I don’t mind watching some sports on TV. Something

artistic like gymnastics or skating. I even did some skating myself, a couple of years

ago.

James: Were you any good?

Kate: No, not really. I gave it up pretty soon after. The skating rink was a bit far from our

house. I had no time to go there.

James: I live a long way from the stadium too, but I go there three times a week anyway.

My coach has designed a special programme for me and I stick to it. If you like what

you do, you can always find an opportunity to do it.

Kate: Hey, James, you sound like my father! He’s a manager in a company, and a very

well-organized person. He plans everything! Not only his work but our home life too

– when we go on a picnic, when we go to the cinema, when we go out as a family.

James: There’s nothing wrong with that – when you plan, you find time for everything, and

for hobbies too.

Kate: I don’t think I have any hobbies. Do you?

James: I don’t know… Sports don’t count as a hobby, do they?

Kate: No, they don’t.

James: Then it’s probably computer games. I don’t play them very often, but sometimes

they help me relax. And what’s your hobby?

Kate: My mum has always tried to get me interested in gardening. But it’s her idea of

relaxation. Not mine!

James: It can’t be that you don’t enjoy doing anything… Music, may be?

Kate: No, not that. What I really like is reading old historical novels. Or science-fiction

books. Not modern authors but the old classical fictions. They are old-fashioned but

so beautifully written and relaxing. I even have a little collection of excellent old

books at home.

James: Which means you do have a hobby after all! It’s reading and collecting old books.

Kate: Yes, you’re right! Collecting old books sounds glamorous. It’s a nice hobby. The only problem is it’s difficult to find these books in the shops.

James: Yes, you can hardly find them there. But some people have these books at home and

would gladly give them to you for free. Me, for example. I think there are some

books like that in our attic.

Kate: Are there?

James: I could give a couple of them to you, say, as a birthday present…

Kate: But I can’t wait till then! It’s March, and I was born in August!

James: Never mind. It can be a present for your previous birthday.

Kate: Oh, thanks. That’s so nice of you…

James: My birthday is in December and I’ve always envied people born in summer, like

you.

Kate: Why? It’s not as good as it seems. Very few people come to my birthday parties.

Lots of friends are on holiday, out of town… (fades away)