| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | Furniture | Man | 01:00 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
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?
- People should buy furniture that fits their home size, not just what looks nice.
- It is better to buy furniture made locally than imported from other countries.
- Some cultures prefer simple furniture, while others like more decorative styles.
- Furniture shopping online is as good as shopping in a store.
- Renting furniture is a good idea for people who move often.
- Furniture should be chosen based on comfort, not just style.
- Family traditions influence the type of furniture people buy.
- Some furniture styles become popular worldwide because of movies and TV shows.
- Secondhand furniture is often a better choice than new furniture.
- It is important to consider environmental impact when buying furniture.
Idioms
“on ice” = do nothing about something until a future time
“We were going to buy some new furniture, but the low advertised prices ended yesterday, so we’ve put the plan on ice.”
“tighten your belt” = spend less money
“She wanted to redecorate her house with new furniture, but she has had to tighten her belt since she lost her job.”
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Post-Listening Exercise
Describe your current housing situation. Discuss the number of rooms it has, its location and convenience to other area attractions and businesses, and the terms of the housing agreement. Then, explain what you like most about the place.
Online Investigation
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, a table and chairs for the kitchen, a bed, and a TV. Find two websites that sell such household furnishing and compare the prices of the items above. Also, determine whether the company delivers to your local area and how much taxes and handling fees would cost.