Narrator: Listen to a conversation between two students.

Student 1(female): Hey, Steve, what’s wrong?

Student 2(male): Hey, Jen. I have a problem. I want to be two places at one time.

Student 1: Uh, I don’t think I can help you with that.

Student 2: Well, listen. You know I am graduating soon, so I have to find a job quickly. I got a job interview with a big company next Monday afternoon at 2:00. But, there is a lecture I really want to attend on campus at the same time. I can’t go to both.

Student 1: Steve, if you are graduating soon, why would you still bother going to a school related lecture? Wouldn’t a job interview be more important than a lecture? I think you should go to the interview.

Student 2: You’re right, but the thing is, a very famous biology professor is coming to give the lecture, and I heard he is looking for students to help him in his next research project.

Student 1: Hey, you’re a biology major. Are you thinking you could work with him?

Student 2: Yes, I hope so. A job related to my major would be a lot more enjoyable than a boring desk job at just another big company. And maybe, if I get the job with the professor, I could use him as a reference to get into graduate school.

Student 1: I don’t know. That doesn’t sound very likely to happen.

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question.

Narrator: The students discuss two possible solutions to the man’s problems. Describe the problem. Then state which solution you prefer and explain why.

   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Answer

The man has the difficult problem of wanting to do two things that are happening at the same time. The man wants to go to a job interview with a big company because he is graduating soon, and he also wants to attend a lecture from a famous biology professor who is in town. The man heard that the professor is looking for some students to help him with his research. It sounds like both options are for a job interview, but with the professor…uh…it is not a formal job interview. With both situations, the man hopes to have a job. I think I agree with the woman’s idea that the man should go to the real job interview. I think the man worked hard to get his first interview, so he should go to that one. Maybe later he could go find the professor and talk to him.