703 - Attending an Auction

Want to experience an exciting way to shop? Go to an auction in this episode and learn the English you’ll need to buy that Monet you’ve always wanted.
Slow dialogue: 1:14
Explanations: 3:09
Fast dialogue: 17:11
Diane: This is so exciting! I’ve never been to an auction before.
Martin: Sit down. It’s about to start. The auctioneer is on the podium with her gavel and she’s ready to start the bidding.
Diane: Are you bidding on the first lot?
Martin: No, the reserve is too high. See? The opening bid is over 10,000 dollars. I’m not surprised. Items of that quality don’t appear on the auction block very often.
Diane: What are those people doing on the phone?
Martin: They are bidding on behalf of people who can’t be here, the absentee bidders. Hey, stop waving that paddle around! The auctioneer is going to think that you’re placing a bid.
Diane: Oh, sorry. Listen, the price is up to 30,500 dollars. Going, going, gone! The auction house is going to make a nice commission on that one. This is so much fun!
Martin: Shhh! I’m going to bid on the next lot. Where is the paddle?
Diane: The paddle?
Martin: Yeah, the paddle. Where did you put it?
Diane: I had it just a minute ago.
Martin: Find it, or else I’m putting your head on the block.
Diane: The auction block?
Martin: No, the chopping block!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse