72-Hour Emergency Kit

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IDIOMS!

"in a pickle" = a difficult situation
"You'll find yourself in a real pickle if you don't have enough water during an emergency."

"hang loose" = relax or stay calm
"Tell the people to hang loose until help arrives."

"wacky" = silly or foolish
"My brother had the wacky idea of packing twenty bottles of ketchup in his emergency kit instead of water."

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[ Quiz Script ]

72-Hour
Emergency Kit

1. Pre-Listening Exercises
2. Listening Exercises
3. Vocabulary
4. Post-Listening Exercises
5. Online Investigations

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
difficult	emergencies	conversation	man - woman	03:57

1. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

Do you have any supplies in your house or at your apartment you can use in case of a natural disaster or emergency? If so, what are they? What things are most needed in such an emergency to get you by for at least 72 hours?

HELPFUL TIP: Having a family or individual emergency plan in case of a natural or manmade disaster is vital to your survival. Such a plan might include food, shelter, and first-aid supplies. Don't wait until it is too late to start preparing.

mother and child

2. 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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1. What kind of emergency does the man NOT mention?
A. power failure
B. snowstorm
C. tornado

2. Which idea was stated in the conversation about water?
A. You should buy spring water in bottles in advance.
B. Having a water filter to clean water can be helpful.
C. Bacteria in water can cause serious illness.

3. What is one basic principle behind food in a 72-hour kit?
A. Packing sweets is unwise for health reasons.
B. Cooking warm meals can lift people's spirits.
C. Buying easy-to-prepare foods is ideal.

4. What is the woman's image of an emergency shelter?
A. people working together in a difficult situation
B. a very overcrowded building that is dirty
C. a facility lacking adequate food and drinking water

5. What advice does the man have for people with small children?
A. pack plenty of snacks and treats
B. carry a portable DVD player with movies
C. be prepared with some basic art materials

Score =
Correct answers:

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

C. Watch Randall in this Video Lecture on how to prepare you and your family from natural disasters.

3. Vocabulary Activities [Top]

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

4. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

What are some ways that people can become more prepared in your local area, both individually and as communities? Can you think of a time in your life when you wish that you had been more prepared either a minor or major emergency? What was the situation and in what ways where you prepared or unprepared for it?

Listen to real interviews from people on this topic and practice your listening skills:

Real Interviews and Questions

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

Most people don't think about emergencies until it is too late. Let's suppose you have decided to pack a 72-hour kit. Make a list of the top 10 things you would pack in the kit and be prepared to explain your reasons for choosing each one. Would each of these items be easy to find at local stores in your area, or would you have to special order them online? Now, use the Internet and compare specific products or emergency kits by two different companies in terms of the necessity/desirability of each item ("Do I really need this?" or "Would I really enjoy eating this?"), it quality, and finally its price.

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

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