These words are often used interchangeably but are actually quite different. Being positive about something means you are sure about it but optimism is more about having a positive outlook on future events without certainty. If you asked someone "are you sure?" and they answered "I'm optimistic" it would mean they they are not 100% sure but feel good about the outcome.

everything makes sense to me and I'd personally only make a few small changes: When you have the opportunity to have meals with your friend, will one of you PAY the ENTIRE bill or choose to go Dutch? Going Dutch means people have a separate check at the end of the meal. Some people hold the opinion that one PERSON should pay for the meal since they are friends. However, others prefer going Dutch when eating in the restaurant. When I eat out with friends, we prefer to go Dutch every time. "Pay" instead of "pays" "Entire" is a better word then "general" in the context of a restaurant bill In the sentence: "Some people hold the opinion that one should pay for the meal totally since they are friends" the word "totally" is redundant as this is already implied when describing one person paying the bill. I simplified your last thought: "In my opinion, when I eat out with my friend, we never care who pays the bill because we go Dutch every time when we go out to eat." Your paragraph discussed two different opinions so you don't need to say "in my opinion" because you're taking a side of the two opinions shared not offering an alternative opinion. Your last "when we go out to eat is also redundant/ unnecessary as the beginning of your sentence already says that.

there's some missing context to this passage but given what we know we can assume that whatever financial penalties (fines) this company might have received under normal circumstances the court has decided to increase the fines by quite a lot. It could also be a comparison against another company who had committed the same crime who had received lower penalties.

literally means "can I speak with you", usually about something serious or in a professional environment

Where I grew up in Australia we called this game Bocce (pronounced boch-ee) and the balls were simply "Bocce Balls"

The most natural answer would be "A" though "phone" is not commonly used as a verb in English so it's not very natural. Most people say "call", "calling" or "called"

Both David and Charlie are correct but Charlie's answer describes the more natural way that people actually speak. Saying "Dad alone..." is perfectly fine but no one talks like that very often in reality.

yes this word is commonly used to describe something broken