I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

What kinds of information do you hear in typical radio or TV commercials, let's say, for a department store (e.g., store hours, telephone number, etc.)? What types of promotions do companies advertise to get you to buy their products?

HELPFUL TIP: Listening to radio commercials is a good way to improve your comprehension skills, and commercials usually contain a self-contained message in just 30 seconds. What images, pictures, or sound might you hear in an ad on living room furniture?

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

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? ]

• Multiple-Choice and Short-Answer Questions
• Text Completion Quiz

Imagine you are renting a two-bedroom apartment in the US while you are studying English. You have about $2,500 to furnish your apartment with some basic necessities including a sofa, table and chairs for the kitchen, a bed, and a few other items. How much do such items cost? Can you purchase them on the Internet and have them delivered? Would you consider buying used items to save money? If so, under what conditions?