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IDIOMS!

"rolling in money" = have a lot of money
"Just remember that I'm not rolling in money, so I can't buy you the latest calculator."
"do without something" = do okay without a particular item
"I don't need new notebooks for school, but I can't do without a few pencils."

More of Randall's Favorite Learning Resources

[ Quiz Script | Text Completion Quiz ]

I. Pre-Listening Exercises
II. Listening Exercises
III. Vocabulary
IV. Post-Listening Exercises
V. Online Investigations

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
medium	education	conversation	man	01:48

I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]
What kinds of schools supplies do you usually need to buy before the start of a new academic year (e.g., pen, pencils, laptop or desktop computers, PDA, calculators)?

HELPFUL TIP: Having an answering machine with a clear message can help your caller know exactly what information they should record (e.g., their name, the time they called, and a short message).

Can using a credit card be a dangerous thing?

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

Listen to the conversation by pressing the "Play Audio" button and answer the questions. Press the "Final Score" button to check your quiz.

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[ Other Audio Options: Play RealMedia | Play Window Media ]

1. Which item did the girl NOT mention about her needed supplies for school?
A. pencils
B. computer
C. calculator

2. Why doesn't the father want to buy his daughter some of these supplies?
A. The items are far beyond his financial means.
B. He feels his daughter really doesn't need them.
C. The family already owns some of these supplies.

3. For which specific class does the girl mention that she needs these supplies?
A. geometry
B. chemistry
C. physics

4. What specific argument does the girl give her father to pursuade him to buy these things?
A. They are on sale until the end of the week.
B. Her teachers require them as part of the curriculum.
C. She volunteers to use some of her own money.

5. Why does the father eventually give in to his daughter?
A. He discovers he had more money than he thought.
B. He concludes that she will provide for him when he is older.
C. The girl promises to help her mother in exchange for the supplies.

Score =
Correct answers:

Listen to the conversation again as you read the Quiz Script.

III. Vocabulary Activities [Top]

Review the key vocabulary from the conversation: [ Why do these? ]

III. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

Most students enjoy having new school supplies at the beginning of every year. What kinds of schools supplies do you usually need to buy before the start of a new academic year? Which supplies do you really need and which ones do you want, if money isn't an object? Where do people usually buy these supplies: at school, at a local store, or on the Internet? Discuss these ideas.

V. Online Investigations - [ What's This? ] [Top]

Having a computer, netbook, or other electronic devices is almost becoming a necessity at schools today. Imagine that you have $1,000 to spend on electronics (for example, a netbook, digital voice recorder, or other devices). Check at least two Web sites and compare prices on the items you find. Also, analyze and then summarize the company's sales policies, handling and mailing fees, and its return policies. Then, decide which products you would buy.

Now, write your ideas on a similar topic at Randall's ESL Blog HERE.

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