NARRATOR：

Listen to a conversation between two students.

FEMALE STUDENT：

How's it going, Tom?

MALE STUDENT：

So-so. I've got a problem.

FEMALE STUDENT：

What's up?

MALE STUDENT：

Well, the theater club's going to be doing this play I really wanna try out for¡ªa production of Hamlet.

It's my favorite Shakespeare play...

FEMALE STUDENT：

[following] OK...

MALE STUDENT：

And, I thought the auditions were next week, but it turns out they're tomorrow morning.

So I haven't prepared at all.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Prepared what?

MALE STUDENT：

Well, to audition, you have perform a monologue—you choose a small part of the play—like two or three minutes—and you perform it for the director.

And based on that, the director chooses which actors' ll get parts in the play.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Oh, OK. But you still have tonight to prepare...

MALE STUDENT：

Well, the trouble is, I promised a friend I'd help him study for a big physics test tonight.

He's not doing well in the class, and I got an A in that class last semester.

FEMALE STUDENT：

[following] OK...

MALE STUDENT：

I mean I could just cancel—

you know, just tell him "sorry, I can't help you tonight."

FEMALE STUDENT：

Could he find someone else to study with?

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, he probably could. But I did promise him...

FEMALE STUDENT：

[reflecting] Hmm...

MALE STUDENT：

Another option would be, I could help my friend study for his exam,

and then after we finish, I could just stay up late—

all night, if necessary—and prepare for the audition.

FEMALE STUDENT：

That'd still leave you enough time to prepare?

MALE STUDENT：

Yes, I think so.

I mean, it'd definitely be better to have more time, but...

FEMALE STUDENT：

And you might not perform very well if you're tired....

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah. Hmmm....