Bob:
Hello Yuki. That rice ball you're eating looks so delicious. What's the filling?

Yuki:
What's the what?

Bob:
The filling. You know - the stuff (1) [outside / inside] the rice ball. The stuff it's filled with.

Yuki:
Oh, yes. Umeboshi. In English that's (2) [pickled / tickled] plum. Do you like onigiri?

Bob:
Of course. They're one of the best things about Japanese food. They're so (3) [convenience / convenient] . And so filling. I just have to eat two rice balls and I'm full (4) [down / up] .

Yuki:
I know what you mean. If I eat two rice balls for lunch, I can't eat dinner. And I agree that they're very convenient - especially with (5) [our / your] busy lifestyles. Life today is so hectic. Sometimes, we don't have (6) [times / time] to go to a restaurant, so an onigiri from a convenience store is just perfect.

Bob:
I couldn't agree more, Yuki. Rice balls save us a lot of time. They're a (7) [stable / staple] food in Japan. The thing I really like about them is the variety. I love choosing from all the different fillings when I'm buying an onigiri in a supermarket. I love (8) [savory / savor] food, which is good because most onigiri fillings are savory.

Yuki:
Except the one I'm eating. Pickled plum is pretty sour.

Bob:
I love sour food too. I love lemons. Did you know umeboshi (pickled plum) [is like a (9) [preservative / preservation] in the rice ball? It helps to keep the food fresh for (10) [long / longer] .

Yuki:
Yes, it is a preservative. Bob. Do you also like nori - dried seaweed? I know many people who don't really like (11) [them / it] .

Bob:
Yes, I do. I love all (12) [varieties / various] of seaweed. Especially konbu. What's konbu in English?

Yuki:
Konbu in English is..... wait... wait.... it's on the (13) [top / tip] of my tongue.... Ah! Yes... I remembered it. Konbu in English is kelp.

Bob:
That's it. I remember now. Thank you. Kelp is a strange word! You know, Yuki, one thing I think is interesting about convenience store onigiri is the packaging.

Yuki:
The packaging? Why do you like the packaging? It's just a rice ball (14) [warped / wrapped] in clear plastic.

Bob:
Ah... Yes. I know. But, the way the onigiri companies wrap the onigiri is very, very clever. They wrap the rice and the dried seaweed so they don't touch each (15) [other / another] . That way, the moisture from the rice doesn't make the nori soggy. The nori stays completely dry. It stays crispy and (16) [crunchy / crunched] .

Yuki:
I suppose you're right. I've never really thought about it. Did you know that that kind of packaging for onigiri only started about 25 years ago? I read that the packaging is only for onigiri that are triangular (17) [in / on] shape.

Bob:
Yes. You're right. But... If the onigiri is triangular, it's no (18) [longer / length] a ball, is it? Hmmm... I wonder why it's called a rice ball in English. It should be called a rice pyramid. Anyway, what's your favourite rice ball filling?

Yuki:
Probably shake - salted salmon. I also like savory fillings. How about you?

Bob:
I think I like tuna and mayonnaise best. That's a standard filling, (19) [aren't they / isn't it] ?

Yuki:
Yes, it's a common (20) [combine / combination] . I guess it's neither savory nor sour.

Bob:
I know, but I love it. All of Japan's rice balls are so, so good.

Yuki:
I agree. OK. Now I have to finish my lunch - my pickled plum rice ball. Yum. And, Bob - it's a rice ball, not a pyramid. OK?