[originaltext]M: Alice, we’re about to go. What are you doing?W: Wait, wait...

M: Alice, we’re about to go. What are you doing?
W: Wait, wait... I’m just finishing this book.
M: OK.
W: Last page... nearly there... ohh, fantastic book!
M: Well I’m glad you enjoyed that. What was the book you were reading there?
W: No, never mind Neil. [2] It’s not your kind of book. You wouldn’t like it.
M: How do you know that?
W: Well, [2]I just think you might read something a little more intellectual.
M: Oh I see...
W: Yeah. Perhaps you like reading the works of a famous writer—the classics—Charles Dickens, Shakespeare.
M: [1]Do you think you know people’s reading habits well? Actually, people would like to seem to be more intellectual.
W: What do you mean?
M: Well, [3]they can show off by reading these books—the classics. Here’s the question. When people go on holiday—maybe to the beach—what kind of books will they read? And what do they read when they’re going to work?
W: Perhaps they read popular novels or romantic fiction—a light easy read.
M: People often think that, you know, traditionally you take a light easy read for the beach and on the train. Um, you maybe read something very different.
W: ... only to show off?
M: Exactly, to appear to others to be more intellectual. You see, usually summer reads are generally lighter books, easier to get on with, to take away on holiday, but this summer the big retailers have seen a shift in what people read actually—people moving sort of slightly higher brow, taking away more classic books.
W: Interesting. Highbrow books are read by intellectuals or perhaps the people who read these books are just showing off.
M: Now, do you think commuters read romantic novels on the tube?
W: I think, they’re even more likely to read romantic novels on holiday than when they’re sitting on the tube being looked at by lots of other people. [4]Perhaps you don’t want others to see you reading that stuff. It can be a bit embarrassing. I don’t know.
M: Possibly, but [5]with the advent of e-readers, you can read anything you like and no one knows—or on your phone—no one knows what you’re reading.
W: An e-reader? Yeah... an electronic book. Instead of pages, you read off a screen.
M: So perhaps they are reading a romantic novel on the tube—no one knows.
W: I see your point. People really have a diversified reading habits nowadays.
M: OK. Then let’s go.
1. What is the conversation mainly about?
2. What kind of books is the woman probably reading?
3. According to the man, why do many people read classics on holiday?
4. How do people feel if they read romances on the tube?
5. What is the advantage of an e-reader according to the man?