2. Presentation Successful conversation depends on finding a topic both people can easily talk about. One－way of reaching this point is to follow a number of steps until a topic of common interest is found. A typical sequence might be：
1． opening question
2． immediate answer
3． follow－up question
4． immediate answer + additional comment
5． next question or comment on topic of common interest
6． Answer or further comment on topic of common interest
Now look more closely at the typical sequence of conversation.
2.1 Opening question
Is this your first trip to________________？
How was your trip？
2.2 Immediate answer
Yes， it is.
Fine， thanks.
2.3 Follow－up question
Are you staying long？
Business or pleasure？
2.4 Immediate answer
No.
Business.
Note： These answers are not helpful in finding a common interest. You need to make an additional comment.
2.5 Additional comment
But hopefully not my last.
Unfortunately only a couple of weeks.
Business， I‘m afraid. My company is setting up an office here in Tokyo.
2.6 Next question
Have you found time to see much？
Really？ Where is your company based？
2.7 Establishing topic of common interest
Are you interested in gardens？
Oh， I visited Detroit a couple of years ago.
That‘s a coincidence. My wife is in fashion， too.
3. Controlled practice
The following four dialogues are in the wrong order. Rearrange them to make a natural flow of conversation.
Dialogue 1
Really？ What did you expect？
No， I‘ve been to the States before， but this is the first time in Atlanta.
So， what do you think of Atlanta？
Fine， I‘ll see what I can arrange.
Well， it‘s not what I expected.
There is a part like that. You must let me show you around.
Well， I suppose I thought it would be more traditional.
Is this your first trip over here？
Dialogue 2
I‘m sure. I hope to get back here again
That‘s a pity. There‘s a lot to see.
Good. Are you here on business then？
Are you staying long？
Really？ That‘s interesting. What line are you in？
No， just a couple of days.
Yes， we‘re thinking of setting up an office here.
1． opening question
2． immediate answer
3． follow－up question
4． immediate answer + additional comment
5． next question or comment on topic of common interest
6． Answer or further comment on topic of common interest
Now look more closely at the typical sequence of conversation.
2.1 Opening question
Is this your first trip to________________？
How was your trip？
2.2 Immediate answer
Yes， it is.
Fine， thanks.
2.3 Follow－up question
Are you staying long？
Business or pleasure？
2.4 Immediate answer
No.
Business.
Note： These answers are not helpful in finding a common interest. You need to make an additional comment.
2.5 Additional comment
But hopefully not my last.
Unfortunately only a couple of weeks.
Business， I‘m afraid. My company is setting up an office here in Tokyo.
2.6 Next question
Have you found time to see much？
Really？ Where is your company based？
2.7 Establishing topic of common interest
Are you interested in gardens？
Oh， I visited Detroit a couple of years ago.
That‘s a coincidence. My wife is in fashion， too.
3. Controlled practice
The following four dialogues are in the wrong order. Rearrange them to make a natural flow of conversation.
Dialogue 1
Really？ What did you expect？
No， I‘ve been to the States before， but this is the first time in Atlanta.
So， what do you think of Atlanta？
Fine， I‘ll see what I can arrange.
Well， it‘s not what I expected.
There is a part like that. You must let me show you around.
Well， I suppose I thought it would be more traditional.
Is this your first trip over here？
Dialogue 2
I‘m sure. I hope to get back here again
That‘s a pity. There‘s a lot to see.
Good. Are you here on business then？
Are you staying long？
Really？ That‘s interesting. What line are you in？
No， just a couple of days.
Yes， we‘re thinking of setting up an office here.