Why did the student come to see Mr. Green?

Man: May I see Mr. Green please?
Woman: Mr. Green won’t be in the office this afternoon, I am his secretary, perhaps I can help you.
Man: I need an extension for a paper, and my professor said I had to get special permission from the Dean’s office.
Woman: For what course?
Man: Economics. Professor Armstrong’s course.
Woman: Is this a term paper or a paper written instead of a final exam?
Man: It is to take the place of final exam.
Woman: So, ordinarily, it would be due on the last day of exam period, which is this Friday, that is two days away. Don’t you think you could have the paper finished by then?
Man: I haven’t started it yet. You see, I have been sick since last Saturday. I just checked out the infirmary this morning.
Woman: Generally, for an illness like this, we can postpone the exam, or the due day of a paper that takes the place of an exam by the number of days the student has been ill, in your case, by four days.
Man: That means I will be able to hand in my paper next Tuesday instead of this Friday?
Woman: That is right, but first you have to fill out this form, giving the name of the course, your reasons for needing the extension and so on, then take the request to me today, and I will have a copy sent to Professor Armstrong.
Man: Thank you very much. I’ll see you late this afternoon with the completed form.