Janet: What’s the matter with Joe today? Andy: No idea. He’s a bit like that sometimes. He gets annoyed with me, but I don’t really know why. Janet: He wasn’t being at all fair. How often does he get like this? Andy: Well, I (1)___________ it’s not very often. But sometimes he really gets on my nerves. Janet: Don’t let it get to you. He’s probably got too much work, and he’s (2)__________. Andy: Well, he should keep his problems away from the studio. Anyway, you’re the expert on Dickens, tell me something about him. Janet: Well, Charles Dickens was one of the most popular novelists in 19 th -century Britain. Many of his novels first appeared in magazines, in short episodes. Each one had a (3)__________ at the end that made people want to read the next episode. Andy: And was he a Londoner? Janet: He was born in Portsmouth but his family moved to London when he was ten years old. Andy: And he set most of his stories in London, didn’t he? Janet: That’s right. He knew the city very well. Andy: (4)__________ in London are his stories set? Janet: Around the law courts in the centre of London. He worked as a court reporter and many of the real-life stories he heard in court inspired some of the most famous characters in his novels. Andy: I think some of his stories take place south of the river? Janet: That’s right, especially around Docklands. The thing was... Dickens was a social commentator as much as he was a novelist- his stories describe the hardship, the poverty, and crime which many Londoners experienced in the 19 th century. It makes me want to read some Dickens again. Maybe I’ll just go shopping for a copy of Great Expectations . Andy: Anyway, you did me a huge favor. That was a real brainwave to suggest the new (5)____________. Janet: Cheer up, Andy. It wasn’t your fault. Andy: No, it’s OK. I’ll get over it. Go on, off you go and enjoy your shopping.