| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | Ordering Flowers | Man – Woman | 02:15 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
On what occasions do people buy flowers for others (e.g., marriages, funerals, etc.)? Where can you buy flowers in your area? What types of flowers (and colors) are given for different life events?
- Flowers are the best gift for any special occasion.
- People should only buy flowers that are in season.
- Sending flowers is a good way to say sorry.
- Flowers last longer when bought from a flower shop than from a supermarket.
- Some occasions don’t need flowers at all.
- It’s better to give potted plants than cut flowers.
- Flower shops should offer more variety for different budgets.
- Flowers can express feelings better than words.
- Online flower delivery is less personal than buying in person.
- Choosing the right flowers depends on the culture and tradition.
Idioms
“not a bed of roses” = something that isn’t always pleasant or easy – (See Idiom Lesson)
“Marriage isn’t always a bed of roses. Couples often have challenges they have to face.”
“grow apart” = a couple’s relationship becomes less close
“Because the couple focused so much time on their own careers, they steadily grew apart and eventually got divorced.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:
- make up (phrasal verb): become friendly after having a fight or argument
– My parents made up after having a simple argument over who cooked more at home. - cut it (phrasal verb): be enough to do something or deal with an issue
– Studying only 30 minutes for the final exam just won’t cut it. You’ll fail the test for sure if you don’t study more.
– Buying cheap flowers for your wife won’t cut it. She’ll certainly be unhappy if you do that. - be in the doghouse (idiom): be in disfavor or in a bad situation because you did or said something bad
– He was in the doghouse for a while because didn’t tell his wife the truth. - wring someone’s neck (idiom): punish someone for something he or she did
– My girlfriend will wring my neck if she finds out I watched a football game with some friends instead of taking her out for dinner. - wilt (verb): to bend over and look dead because something is old and dry
– The flowers I was going to give my wife wilted because I forgot to water them. - dead meat (idiom): in serious trouble
– Sara’s boyfriend is dead meat. She just found out that he has been seeing someone else. - face the music (idiom): accept the punishment or the consequences for certain events or your actions – (See Idiom Lesson)
– Hey, you have to face the music sooner or later and just accept the fact that your girlfriend isn’t coming back to you. - ugly (adjective): very bad or potentially violent
– The game turned ugly when players from both teams ran onto the field and started fighting.
Post-Listening Exercise
In the situations below, would you give flowers, and if so, what colors and types would you order?
- Your sister is getting married.
- A close friend passed away.
- Your father is in the hospital.
- A friend is graduating from college.
- A neighbor just had a baby.
Online Investigation
Imagine that you want to buy flowers for an important holiday in your country. Find two different websites that sell flowers and compare their services in terms of price, delivery, variety of items, and product guarantee. Report your findings to a partner or class.