（Charles and Mike go sit down on a sofa by the window。）
Mike： What do you think about the uping elections？
Charles： Didn't your parents teach you not to discuss politics in the morning？
Mike： What do you mean morning？ It's already twelve forty。
Charles： Yes； but I've been awake less than an hour； so to me it is still the morning。
Mike： Well； that's too bad because this election is important； and I want to talk about it。
Charles： Yes； I can tell。 You really aren't going to give up； are you？
Mike： Nope。
Charles： Okay； then； what is so important that you must talk about it before I finish mycoffee？
Mike： It's Major Jamison。 He's a thief and he just can't be elected。
Charles： Listen； Mike。 Politics are politics。 Even if we elect a new major； he will turn outjust the same as Jamison。
Mike： No； that's not true。 Larry Strauss is running for major too and he's an honest man。
Charles： You really are a baby。 You are so naive。 Anyone who wants to be a politician isalready dishonest。
Mike： I don't believe that。 You are only twenty years old。 Why are you so cynical？
Charles： I'm not cynical； I'm realistic。
Mike： No； really。 Why are you so sure politicians are dishonest。
Charles： Well； if you must know； my father is a politician。
Mike： Really？
Charles： Yes； really。
Mike： What does he do？
Charles： He is a state senator。
Mike： How long has he been a senator？
Charles： As long as I can remember。 And he's always been crooked so don't tell me youthink politicians are honest。
Mike： Look； Charles。 I don't want to talk about politics。
Charles： What？ You're the one who started this discussion。
Mike： I know； and now I'm ending it。 I have class at one。~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Situation 19 Sociology Class
（Mike arrives early and takes a seat near the front。）
Nancy： Hey； Mike； you're never early； what's up？
Mike： I know； but I was having a terrible discussion on politics with my roommateCharles and I just had to run away。 I just can't discuss politics in the morning。
Nancy： I know what you mean。 I hate talking about politics。 I can't believe Charles woulddo that。
Mike： Yeah； it's very rude； isn't？ Well； that's why I am early。
（The professor es in and sits at a table at the front of the room。）
Professor： Good afternoon。 Last week we were discussing the theory of functionalism。This theory； in brief； states that all people are in a certain socio…economic position for areason。 It further states that each of these positions serves a function and so shouldnaturally be perserved。 Although such a theory seems valid at first glance； there are manyproblems with it。 Today I will like to discuss some of the weak point of the theory offunctionalism。 One of these； for example； is that it does not explain the great difference inopportunities given to the rich as opposed to the poor。 Rather ； it assumes that the poorhave no money because this is their natural condition。 Can anyone think of any moreshortings of functionalism？
Nancy： Well； it's not only money that they don't have。 If they don't have money； that alsolimits their chances of education； medical care and other important services。
Professor： Excellent point。 Would anyone like to add something？
Mike： I think it is all the fault of dishonest politicians。
Professor： （Looking confused。） Interesting。 I am not sure I understand what you mean； but；yes； many politicians are corrupt。
Mike： They sure are。 Like my roommate's dad。。。~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Situation 20 The Laundromat
（Class ends and Mike and Nancy leave together。）
Nancy： Hey； what are you doing now？
Mike： Nothing； why？
Nancy： Oh； I was just going to do my laundry and I was wondering。。。。
Mike： （Interrupting her。） I'd love to； but there is only one washing machine in our dorm；right？
Nancy： Right。 But I know of a cool laundromat about a block from school。 How does thatsound？
Mike： It sounds all right。 What's so cool about this particular place？
Nancy： Well； while you wash your clothes； you can do a lot of other things too。
Mike： Other things？ Like what？
Nancy： Well； they have a coffee bar。
Mike： No。 I just had coffee before class。
Nancy： They also have a snack bar with really good pizza and sandwiches。
Mike： Aha； pizza； that's more like it。 I'm really hungry。
Nancy： Good。 If you e with me； I'll buy you some pizza。
Mike： It's a deal。 But I should warn you； I eat a lot。
Nancy： That's all right。 I just got paid at work yesterday so I have some extra money。
Mike： I wish my girlfriend had some extra money sometimes … I pay for everything。
Nancy： Maybe you should think about getting a new girl friend。
Mike： Don't say that。 Sarah is a great girl。
Nancy： I know。 I was only joking。
Mike： Oh； good。~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~Situation 21 Meeting Bill
（Mike and Nancy finish their laundry； and Mike leaves for home。 He meets Bill on theway。）
Bill： Hey； Mike； where are you going with that laundry in your hand？
Mike： What's up； Bill？
Bill： Nothing much。 I just left that girl I met at the party。
Mike： But it's three thirty； have you been together since last night？
Bill： Yep。
Mike： You dog。
Bill： No； it's not what you think。 She is a very nice girl and we just sat up and talked allnight。
Mike： I thought you didn't want to meet a nice girl。
Bill： Actually I didn't at first。 But once I started talking with her it was different。
Mike： This is not like you。 What was so different？
Bill： She is intelligent and funny and。。。
（Bill stops and thinks without saying anything。）
Mike： And what？
Bill： And beautiful。
Mike： You sound like you're in love。
Bill： I think I am。
Mike： But I thought you didn't believe in love at first sight。
Bill： I didn't before last night； but now I'm not so sure。
Mike： Wow； of all my friends you are the last person I expected to be saying this。
Bill： I'm surprised too； but it's all true。 What can I say？
Mike： You don't have to say anything。 I think it's great。 But I have to run。 My laundry isgoing to get wrinkled。
Bill： What？ I may be in love for the first time in my life； and you're worried about yourlaundry？！
Mike： Sorry。 Hey； why don't you e to my room and we can talk about it there？
Bill： That's a great idea。 Let's go。~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Situation 22 The Internet
（Charles and his friend Kristina are back in the dorm room using the internet。）
Charles： Kristina； do you usually use Netscape Navigator or Internet Explore when yousurf the web？
Kristina： Charles； I don't know anything about puters。 That's why I'm here to learnfrom you。
Charles： Oh； right。 Well； personally； I only use Netscape。 It's the best and besides I don'tlike using anything from Mic