Advanced English Conversations - Robert Allans, Ahmet Mustafaoglu, Metin Emir 2019

Set (90) - Where is the common sense in that?

Dialogue

Suzan: My mom raised a stink when the store refused to accept her return without a receipt.

Josef: She shouldn’t have! No receipts no returns; that’s a simple rule of thumb.

Suzan: Really! Where is the common sense in that? They know her very well. She’s one of their most loyal customers - That’s why she was offended.

Josef: Well, I don’t want to be judgmental, but well-respected shops aren’t supposed to go hard with their customers.

Suzan: That’s right. After long argument, the seniors stepped in and helped us.

Josef: Yeah; I’d say! It’s all because of these greenhorn sales people.

Vocabulary

Raise a stink: to be very vocal in one's displeasure; to make a scene.

Rule of thumb: an easily learned and easily applied procedure or standard, based on practical experience.

Common sense: sensibility; good sense and sound judgment.

Offended: resentful or annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult.

Judgmental: (adj) forming opinions of people and situations very quickly.

Go hard with: to be difficult, problematic, or unpleasant for someone.

I’d say: it is my estimate or opinion.

Greenhorn: a person who is new to or inexperienced at a particular activity.

Exercise

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases:

raise a stink

rule of thumb

common sense

offended

judgmental

go hard with

I’d say

greenhorn

a. Knowing the state of the rails, though, it'll only take half an inch to stop the trains from running, so the chances are fair to good, ..........

b. I questioned him without trying to be .......... but the hurt tone was definitely there.

c. A .......... is to leave at least 18 inches below a towel ring so a hand towel can hang freely.

d. One of the customers is .......... about the service charge we included on his bill.

e. If these people play fair and use discretion and .........., they shall have my full support

f. There are step-by-step instructions to help you if you are a ..........

g. It will .......... John if he doesn't realize that Tommy is only interested in him for his money”

h. I felt a little .......... by their lack of respect.