Listen to a conversation between two English professors.
(man) Hi, Nancy, is something the matter?
(woman) Oh, I just realized that I've got a scheduling conflict tomorrow.
(man) What is it?
(woman) Well, the poetry class I'm teaching meets at 4 o'clock. My students have a test next week so tomorrow's class is the review session. It's important.
(man) OK?
(woman) The other thing is my cousin's retirement party. But I just realized it also starts at 4 o'clock. I haven't realized it was starting at the exact same time as my class.
(man) Oh, no! Well, I'm free tomorrow at 4, if you want, I could cover your class for you. Lead the review session.
(woman) Really? What a generous offer!
(man) I wouldn't mind. I mean, I haven't taught poetry for a few years. I am a little rusty.
(woman) Well, I have some materials prepared and you could certainly use them. So it might be tough but you could do it.
(man) I'll try anyway.
(woman) Well, my other option is to go to the class. Do the review session myself and arrive late at the retirement party.
(man) So you could prepare your students for the test yourself.
(woman) I could and I know it’d be good for my students. It’s just that I’d miss a lot of the party. My cousin and some others are giving speeches and I think it’ll be really interesting. It’ll be a shame to miss it."
Briefly summarize the problem the professors are discussing. Then state which of the two solutions form the conversation you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation.
Well, the woman's had a problem with her schedule. Actually, her poetry class conflicts with her cousin's retirement party. There are two solutions for the woman's problem: she could let the man cover her class and lead the review session, or she could arrive late for the party after finishing her poetry class. Well, I guess the second solution is a better one for some reasons. First, it'll be irresponsible for the woman to leave her students behind and go to a party. Reviewing classes are so important that the students usually need a summarization from their teacher to organize everything for the whole course and to get prepared for their finals. Second, a new teacher who may probably teach in a different style and cover different knowledge points wouldn't be a wise choice for a replacement as a leader of the review session. So the woman, I guess, should follow the second solution of the problem. (157 words)
