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

Download
Worksheet129.04 KB

Language level

Topics

Average: 4.8 (25 votes)
Do you need to improve your English reading skills?
Join thousands of learners from around the world who are improving their English reading skills with our online courses.
Profile picture for user rerre

Submitted by rerre on Tue, 26/05/2020 - 02:29

Permalink
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

Permalink
I prefer sending them a message. I'm not very good at talking directly with people.
Profile picture for user OlaIELTS

Submitted by OlaIELTS on Thu, 07/05/2020 - 01:49

Permalink
I prefer sending them messages.

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

Permalink
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

Permalink
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.

Submitted by shahhoseini on Thu, 02/04/2020 - 07:04

Permalink
What do you prefer – sending messages to your friends or phoning them? I prefer often to phone with my friends but, if I guess they haven't enough time to respond, I will send messages to them.

Submitted by Nguyễn Ngọc Hưng on Thu, 02/04/2020 - 04:55

Permalink
After this reading test, I have known many useful instant messages. They can help me chat or reply my friend quickly so I can save my time.

Submitted by gianbar92 on Sat, 14/03/2020 - 22:34

Permalink
Nowadays people of all ages use smartphones to connect with others sending messages or phoning them. Often young people prefer chatting than phoning because, in this way, they could answer whenever they want and it's faster than typing the telephone number, calling them and hoping they will pick up the phone at that moment. However I prefer sending messages to my friends but sometimes I call them when I have to tell them something important or when I need an aswer very quickly.

Submitted by Sanja on Tue, 04/02/2020 - 12:17

Permalink
As most of introverts, I prefer sending messages. But sometimes it is impolite and I strongly agree that if you really want to know someone's feelings and want to avoid eventually misunderstandings, phoning is quite better.