[originaltext]M: Hi Amanda, how are you? I’ve missed working with you and the w

M: Hi Amanda, how are you? I’ve missed working with you and the whole gang since my transfer last week.
W: We’ve missed you too. The office just isn’t the same without you. How is your new job?
M: It’s great. I really get to focus on what I like to do and everyone has been very nice and welcoming. However, I’m having a small problem with my new colleagues.
W: What happened?
M: Well, three people are celebrating their birthdays this month and the policy here is for everyone to contribute ten dollars to a card and a cake for each person.
W: Wow, so you’ll be out thirty dollars on your first week at work!
M: I know. It is a lot of money and I haven’t got to know any of the people celebrating their birthdays well enough yet. At our old department, it was only three dollars for each birthday and there were only ten of us.
W: Well, every department is different. You wouldn’t want your new co-workers to think you’re a Grinch, right?
M: What is that? It doesn’t sound like a good thing to be.
W: A Grinch is a person who spoils the mood at a happy occasion by being selfish or unenthusiastic. You know—a party pooper.
M: I definitely don’t want to be that! But, I still think it’s unreasonable for them to ask me for such a big sum of money when we don’t know each other very well. What should I do?
W: If I were you, I would just bite the bullet and hand over the money. First impressions are important and it’s not worth getting a reputation for being a Scrooge.
M: A Scrooge is someone who is stingy with his money even though he has plenty, right? I wouldn’t want my colleagues to think I am refusing to contribute to the pool even though I can, but this would put me way over my weekly budget.
W: What about a compromise? Maybe you could sit down privately with the person in charge of collecting the money and explain that coming from a smaller department you’ve never had to deal with so many birthdays at once. Offer to give her five dollars for each birthday instead, and promise that you will make your famous brownies for the celebration.
M: That sounds like a good plan. I hope they understand where I’m coming from and don’t hold it against me.
W: I’m sure they will understand. Lots of people have been in the same position before. And, maybe once you get to know them better, ten dollars won’t seem like such a big deal anymore.
M: Thanks so much for your advice. I feel a lot better about the situation.
6. How is the man’s new job?
7. What is the policy in the man’s new department for chipping in?
8. Which is NOT the reason why the man is unhappy about the policy?
9. What would the woman do if she were faced with the situation?
10. What does the woman suggest the man do?