240562 I expect you can tell from the quoted text, but this is a book written in a colloquial style. Zifre 1421939 I hate to trouble you, but could you move over a bit so there's room for someone else to sit? CK 1559499 I have recently used the services of his travel agency to book a cruise in the Mediterranean. sam_m 1177436 In Japan, it rains quite a bit during our rainy season which is from mid-June until mid-July. CK 595591 In some areas of the world, you can still get sued if you slander or libel a deceased person. saeb 269737 Many parents are worried their children are not being given a basic understanding of numbers. CM 2059127 Since this is your neck of the woods, maybe you can tell us where to find a good pizza joint. darinmex 281382 The Japanese public bathhouse was once used as a center of social life in one's neighborhood. CK 21262 The optimist looks into a mirror and becomes more optimistic, the pessimist more pessimistic. CK 1090967 They say that a person who has perfect pitch can tell just by listening what pitch a note is. CK 72492 Throughout the five years of painful cancer treatments, he managed to keep a stiff upper lip. CK 3232196 Tom and Mary haven't had a decent night's sleep since the birth of their baby six months ago. patgfisher 1095804 Tom became famous because he married a famous actress who had been married many times before. CK 1026943 Tom burned himself badly when he took the pie pan out of the oven without using an oven mitt. CK 237953 A business cycle is a recurring succession of periods of prosperity and periods of depression. CM 277984 A very elderly couple is having an elegant dinner to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary. CK 241323 Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. CK 2790162 Both of Tom's parents died when he was just a baby, so he doesn't remember either one of them. CK 242145 By the end of the century, the earth will have experienced a dramatic increase in temperature. CK 72967 For quantities of 20 or more, we can allow you a special discount of 10% on the prices quoted. CK 680728 In the United States, it takes a minimum of eight years of college to become a medical doctor. Source_VOA 954044 It may seem like a minor thing to you, but for a lot of people this is really difficult to do. CK 1331538 Money can't buy happiness. However, it's more comfortable to cry in a Maserati than on a bike. CK 954177 My aim is to learn enough English so I don't need to carry a dictionary with me when I travel. CK 941301 On Friday evenings, a group of us with spouses working overseas meet at Chuck's Bar and Grill. CK 328655 Recently there are a lot of young people who don't use respectful language to their superiors. fcbond 1929705 There's nothing more annoying than a group of young girls all trying to talk at the same time. CK 3044175 Tom and Mary had a romantic dinner to celebrate the first anniversary of their being together. patgfisher 1093584 Tom hasn't been able to get a hold of Mary, even though he's been trying to call her all week. CK 2639576 Tom wrote Mary's phone number on a piece of paper and laid it on the table near his telephone. CK 239949 When we are away from home, nothing gives us more pleasure than to receive a parcel from home. CM 31124 A motel is like a hotel only much smaller and is used mostly by people traveling by automobile. CM 1942145 I know my Russian still has a long way to go, but I'm pretty happy with the progress I've made. al_ex_an_der 919845 I went to the movie thinking that it would be fun, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. CK 2534580 I'm not the kind of idiot who would climb a mountain in the winter without proper preparations. CK 1955554 In informal, everyday speech, the word "literally" is often used incorrectly as an intensifier. _undertoad 42321 It had the head of a woman, the body of a lion, the wings of a bird, and the tail of a serpent. CM 700480 Never work on electrical wiring without unplugging it; it's a bad idea. I know from experience. Zifre 924560 Recently, I've been putting on a little weight around my waist. I guess it's middle-age spread. CK 29736 Russell was a brilliant philosopher, but even the simplest practical task was quite beyond him. Zifre 45900 The industrialist found a wealthy financier to help him weather the storm which was inevitable. CM 680873 The U.S. Department of Health says people should exercise at least two and a half hours a week. Source_VOA 3330836 Tom and his brother had a major falling-out over who had been left what in their mother's will. patgfisher 1028744 Tom has finished painting the picture of Mary that he's been working on for a couple of months. CK 847248 We humans have a great way of twisting facts to fit our conclusion as soon as we have made one. Source_Benedict_1921 1350151 When I learned that Julie was coming for a visit tomorrow, I was so surprised I almost fainted. CM 276125 When someone becomes neurotic about pens and paper clips, it's a sure sign they're cracking up. CM 275832 A majority of Japanese workers plan to take more than three consecutive days of summer vacation. CK 53511 Barter, however, was a very unsatisfactory system because people's needs seldom matched exactly. Zifre 68117 Don't worry. He may look intimidating at first glance, but he's actually a very friendly person. Eldad