1.
Sue: Jim, come here and meet Mary. Mary, this is Jim.
Jim: How do you do Mary? I'm Jim Jones.
Analysis
a. Probably not b. yes c. probably not.
Sue is giving orders (a lot depends on the tone of voice here). Jim wants to prove he doesn't take orders from Sue by deliberately using a different, more formal register ("How do you do", using his surname.) By doing that, he is being less friendly to Mary, so he is probably not very interested in meeting her.
2.
Mike: Hello again Bill.
Bill: Um, it's Sergeant Wilson here, Mike.
Analysis
a. No b. yes c. yes.
Here we have two people who know each other in a social setting who have suddenly met on official business. Bill is reminding Mike that this is official, and his formal title should be used. But he continues to call Mike by his first name to show that he wants to be friendly.
3.
Victoria: Good Afternoon, Mr Williams. The office is over here.
Colin: Oh, call me Colin, Victoria.
Victoria: This way, Mr Williams.
Analysis
a. Yes b. probably not c. yes.
From this we cannot tell which of the two is of higher status. However, Victoria does not want to use informal terms with Colin, and her use of "Mr Williams" a second time tells him that very plainly indeed.
4.
Mr Jones: Mr Thompson, this is Mrs Anderson, our lawyer.
Mrs Anderson: Joe Thompson! Great to see you!
Analysis
a. Yes b. yes c. yes.
Mrs Anderson and Joe Thompson have met before, and Mrs Anderson is ready to go immediately to an informal level. The use of Mr Thompson's surname indicates that they do not meet often, but get on very well. Mr Jones introduction of Mrs Anderson included her profession, indicating he did not know the two had met.
5.
Jenny: Hello Sally.
Sally: What's happened to you? You look awful!
Analysis
a. Yes b. no c. probably not.
Sally skips the introductions because she thinks her question is more important. Since there are so many ways to give an insulting greeting, enemies usually do this when they meet, so Sally is really concerned, and therefore a good friend. She is probably not Jenny's mother. Although some adult Englishwomen do call their mothers by their first name, it is not very common.
