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TOEFL Listening Comprehension TranscriptNarratorListen to a conversation between a bookstore sales clerk and a student.
Clerk: Can I help you? Are you looking for something in particular?
Student: Yes, well... first I'm looking for the foreign language section.
C: Oh, it's right down here. Here we are. "Foreign Languages". What course are you taking?
S: Spanish Four Thirty-one.
C: You need the Intermediate Spanish textbook?
S: No, I still have that from Four Thirty. What I'm looking for is the novel we're supposed to read: Garcia Marquez's 'Cien años de soledad'-- 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'.
C: 'Garcia Marquez', 'Garcia Marquez'. Hmm. No... Oh, here it is, under 'Marquez'. Here you are.
S: Eighteen dollars? The price is right, but, erm, it's just the text. There don't seem to be any footnotes or any glossary.
C: Ah.
S: This is the only edition you have?
C: Yes, it is. Sorry.
S: Hmm. How many copies do you have left? Just those on the shelf?
C: Yes, uh, four-- no, five copies.
S: Jeez, those'll be gone by Friday for sure. Our class is really full. What's your return policy? Would it be OK if I bought this now, and then returned it if I can find an annotated edition on the internet?
C: Yes, certainly. But you'll need to keep your receipt, of course, and be sure that the book is not marked up or damaged in any way.
S: Sure, that's fair enough.
C: Did you want me to check whether we can find you another edition?
S: I don't think I have time. It usually takes so long to get a book through a bookstore.
C: (laughs) Unfortunately, that's often true.
S: Thanks anyway. I'll take this then, and say-- you have, uh, sweatshirts, don't you?
C: Sweatshirts? Yes, in the 'School Spirit' section. Over this way. And down here. Um. Here you are.
S: Ah. Yes. Hmm....that's not much of a school crest.
C: Oh. (laughs) There's a bigger one on the back, see?
S: Oh, yeah, of course. I see. Uh, this is a medium. I need a large, and uh...I think...in green.
C: Medium, medium...here, is this a large? Yes, large. Here you go.
S: Yeah, that's good. Say, do you know what our motto means, anyway? "Ex Pertinacia Veritas". "Out of something....something-or-other."
C: "From Determination comes Truth". It's been SU's motto since it was founded in 1894. And this crest is "an American bison couchant upon a tome vert".
S: What in heck does that mean?
C: A buffalo lying on a green book. I think the idea was that this new pioneer state was getting its first institution of higher education-- the buffalo represents the prairies-- the green of the book-- and the book represents learning.
S: Huh. That's really interesting. I'll wear it with pride-- and hope for some of that determination! How much is this?
C: $39.95 plus tax.
S: Fine. Uh, what else do I need now? Mmm.... I guess that's it, then: the sweatshirt and the book.
C: And there's no tax on the book.
S: Where's your register?
C: Just take them up to the cashier at the front, please. Over there.
S: Oh, OK. Thanks a lot for your help.
C: Thank you. Have a nice day.
Excerpt from the TOEFL test listening conversationStudent: This is the only edition you have?
Clerk: Yes, it is. Sorry.
S: Hmm. How many copies do you have left? Just those on the shelf?
C: Yes, uh, four-- no, five copies.
S: Jeez, those'll be gone by Friday for sure. Our class is really full. What's your return policy? Would it be OK if I bought this now, and then returned it if I can find an annotated edition on the internet?
C: Yes, certainly. But you'll need to keep your receipt, of course, and be sure that the book is not marked up or damaged in any way.
S: Sure, that's fair enough.
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