4.

Debate & Argument

361. A Good Plan

Susie: Should we go to the beach or the mountains this year?

Tom: I like the mountains so we can ski.
Susie: I like the beach so we can swim.
Tom: We can go to the beach during the summer and the mountains during the winter.
Susie: That's a great idea. Two family vacations in one year.
Tom: The kids will love that.

362. Something Different

Ben: We go to the mountains every year.

Cynthia: Do you want to try something different this year?
Ben: Let's go somewhere warm.
Cynthia: Where should we go?
Ben: How about the beach? My co-worker owns a condo on the beach.
Cynthia: That sounds nice.
Ben: He said he would give us a discount on the cost.
Cynthia: We can celebrate our anniversary there.
Ben: That's a great idea!
Cynthia: We haven't been to the beach in a long time.

363. Let's Get a Pet

John: Let's get a pet.

Elizabeth: How about a cat?
John: I was thinking about a dog.
Elizabeth: Dogs are too much work.
John: I'm allergic to cats.
Elizabeth: No, you're not. You just don't like cats.

364. Dogs are Good - Cats are Bad

Gary: Dogs are the best animals in the world.

Sally: No, they're not. Cats are the best.
Gary: Dogs are loyal and obedient.
Sally: Cats are cute and cuddly.
Gary: Dogs are cute and cuddly too.
Sally: Cats are smart. They can use a litter box.
Gary: Dogs are smart too.
Sally: Not as smart as cats.
Gary: I've seen many service dogs, but I've never seen a service cat before. Have you?
Sally: Actually, no.

365. Coffee Chain

Gary: I feel like drinking some coffee.

Amy: That sounds good. Where do you want to go?
Gary: Let's go to Starbucks.
Amy: I don't want to go to Starbucks.
Gary: Why not? They have delicious coffee.
Amy: That's true, but it is overpriced and I like to support small businesses.
Gary: Fine. But next time we are going to Starbucks.
Amy: Fair enough.

366. A Compromise

Sue: Let's go hang out at the coffee shop.

Jane: We always hang out at the coffee shop. Let's do something else.
Sue: I thought you loved hanging out there.
Jane: I do, but today I want to do something different.
Sue: Well, I feel like relaxing with a cup of coffee.
Jane: How about this? We will go to the coffee shop and have a cup of coffee and talk for a while. After
that, we will take a stroll around the lake.
Sue: That sounds like a good compromise.
Jane: But you are buying the coffee.
Sue: Haha. That is fair.

367. E-Book Debate

Josie: I don't like e-books.

Isabel: Why? I love them.
Josie: I love the smell of paper and the feel of a paperback book.
Isabel: But e-books are so convenient.
Josie: No, they're not. What if you run out of batteries?
Isabel: That's a good point.

368. E-Book Debate Part 2

Mary: I ordered a paperback book. It should come in 3-5 days.

Megan: If you order an e-book, you can get it instantly.
Mary: I don't like e-books.
Megan: Why?
Mary: I like holding a real book with pages.
Megan: E-books have pages.
Mary: They're not real pages. Paperback books have pages you can turn.
Megan: E-books can be read in the dark.
Mary: That's a good point. But, I still like paperback books better.
Megan: You'll never change.

369. Dieting

Mary: I need to lose weight.

Sue: I've been on a no-sugar diet.
Mary: How is that going?
Sue: I miss eating sweet desserts.
Mary: I love sweets too much.
Sue: Maybe you should try a no-fat diet.

370. A Tough Diet

Rachael: How's your diet going?

Monica: Not well.
Rachael: What's wrong?
Monica: I can't eat sugar but, I love things with sugar.
Rachael: So, you're on the no-sugar diet?
Monica: Yeah. It's torture.
Rachael: I tried that once. It was hard.
Monica: How did you lose weight last year?
Rachael: I did the no-fat diet and exercise.
Monica: What is a no-fat diet?
Rachael: You can't eat things like fried foods, butter, or ice cream.
Monica: That sounds worse than the no-sugar diet.
Rachael: It is worse. But, it works.

371. Scuba Diving

Jeff: Let's go scuba diving.

Emily: I'd rather stay at the pool.
Jeff: Why?
Emily: I'm afraid of sharks.
Jeff: Then why did we come to the beach?
Emily: To play in the sand.

372. Taking a Cruise

Erin: Where should we go this summer?
Ryan: Let's take a cruise.
Erin: I'm afraid of the ocean.
Ryan: Why?
Erin: What if the ship sinks?
Ryan: You shouldn't say that. That's bad luck.
Erin: Also, there are sharks in the ocean.
Ryan: You won't be swimming in the ocean.
Erin: If the ship sinks, we will.
Ryan: You are being silly. Let's just stay in a hotel with a pool.

373. Shopping Online

Janice: Do you want to go to the bookstore?

Christine: No. I buy all of my books online.
Janice: Is it cheaper?
Christine: It is much cheaper than bookstores.
Janice: How much is shipping?
Christine: Shipping is free!

374. Online Shopping

Karen: You got another package today.

Bella: Great!
Karen: What did you order this time?
Bella: Books, clothes, and shoes.
Karen: Wow! That's a lot of stuff.
Bella: I love to shop online. Shipping is fast and free.
Karen: But don't you want to try clothes and shoes on before you buy them?
Bella: I can just return them if I don't like them or they don't fit.
Karen: That's seems like a waste of time to me.
Bella: I love looking for deals without leaving home.

375. To Go

Mark: What are you going to order?

Kim: I'm going to have a burger.
Mark: I'm not really hungry. I'm just going to have a salad.
Kim: You might get hungry later.
Mark: Then I'll order something to go too.
Kim: That's a good idea. You always get hungry around midnight.

376. Party Menu

Tiffany: What should we serve at the party?
Mike: Big, juicy burgers.
Tiffany: We should do salad too.
Mike: Why? Who eats salad?
Tiffany: Some of our friends are vegetarians.
Mike: Salad is boring.
Tiffany: We can have a salad bar with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and other things.
Mike: Ok. That should work.
Tiffany: We can all have salad.
Mike: No way! I want a big, juicy burger.

377. Cell Phone for a Kid

Sue: Ashley wants a cell phone.

Ron: She doesn't need a phone yet. She's too young.
Sue: She says all of her friends have one even a nine-year old named Sally.
Ron: What do you think?
Sue: I think it would be a good idea in case of an emergency.
Ron: She's only 10. If she has an emergency, she would be with one of us.

378. Getting a Kid a Smartphone

Nicky: Jenny wants a new phone.

Chris: What's wrong with her current phone?
Nicky: She says it's too old. All of her friends have smart phones now.
Chris: Why does she want a smart phone?
Nicky: She wants to do social media and check emails.
Chris: She can't do that with her flip phone?
Nicky: I guess not.
Chris: Don't you think she's too young for social media and smart phones?
Nicky: I think times are changing and she needs to keep up with her generation.
Chris: You're more understanding than I am.

379. A New Car

Elizabeth: I think it's time to buy a new car.

John: Let's get a sports car.
Elizabeth: I want another SUV.
John: Why? All of the kids are out of the house now. We don't need a big car anymore.
Elizabeth: I feel safer in a SUV.
John: But I've always wanted a sports car.

380. A Second Car

Julie: We need to buy a second car.
Zach: Why?
Julie: Our car is getting old.
Zach: What kind of car do you want?
Julie: I would love an SUV. They have more room.
Zach: A sports car would be fun.
Julie: A sports car can't seat a lot of people.
Zach: Who are we giving rides to?
Julie: Our kids and their friends.
Zach: We're not their chauffeurs.