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（英会話リスニングスクリプト）
Ever since the Scotsman Alexander Bell invented
the telephone, it has been an indispensable part of American
life.
A lot of American homes have extension phones
in every room, even the toilet, and separate lines for parents
and children; this is because American teenagers tend to
spend a lot of time talking on the phone.
Telephone users are charged a monthly rate
for the right to make unlimited local calls.
Only long-distance calls outside the person's
local area are charged.
Since America privatized its telephone company,
many new companies have been created and this has started
strong competition between them.
The results of this are new services and
cheaper rates for the customers.
The use of answering machines is so widespread
in America today, that people almost always expect other
people to have them.
The telephone industry is constantly changing,
modernizing and inventing new products and services for
its customers.
Now, with the growing popularity of cellular
phones, people can call or be called from almost anywhere
in the world.
However, like all technological advances,
these developments also have their drawbacks.
Salesmen call potential customers without
permission or warning and some men use the phone to harass
women.
Although telephones are very convenient,
they also result in loss of privacy, which is not always
appreciated by everybody.
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