Daily Life - Making A Collect Call (C0314)

A:  This isthe operator, how may I help you?
B:  Yes, I would like to make a collect call.
A:  Ok sir, please dial the number. Now please state your name.
B:  Tommy.
A:  Please wait a moment. Hello, you have a collect call from Tommy. Would you like to accept the charges?
C:  Yes of course.
A:  Dad?
C:  Yeah Tommy, what happened are you ok?
A:  Yeah dad everything is ok. I’m calling you because I want to know if it’s ok for me to go to my friend’s house today after school.
C:  Yeah sure no problem. You scared me to death! I’ve told you to make a collect call in case of an emergency only! Why didn’t you call me from your mobile phone?
B:  I ran out of credit and I also didn’t have twenty five cents N forthe payphone. Sorry dad.

Key Vocabulary

operatora person who operates a telephone switchboard
chargeamount of money to be paid
creditthe positive balance in a person's mobile phone account
payphonea public telephone operated by coins or a phonecard
collect calla telephone call that the receiving party is asked to pay for

Supplementary Vocabulary

networktelephones interconnected by telecommunication equipment or cables
landlinea home telephone
connectto establish communication between
receptionthe quality attained in receiving radio or television broadcasts

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