| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | Landscaping | Man – Man | 01:14 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What types of landscaping do people use around their homes (or businesses) in your country? What rules or regulations are in place to protect homeowners in particular neighborhoods? What kinds of problems can arise when there are disagreements between neighbors about their yards?
Idioms
“go out on a limb” = do something risky
“I went out on a limb to find him a job, but he didn’t thank me.”
“bark up the wrong tree” = make the wrong decision or get the wrong idea – (See Idiom Lesson)
“Listen. You’re barking up the wrong tree. I didn’t take your cell phone. It’s a lie.”
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:
- ladder (noun): a piece of equipment used to climb up to high places
– Be careful if you use the ladder to get into the trees. - get sick and tired of something (idiom): become exhausted and/or upset about something
– I just get sick and tired of picking up garbage in the yard. - litter (verb and noun): make a place messy or untidy with trash or other objects left on the ground
– I hate it when people walk through the park and litter.
– Please don’t throw litter out the window as we drive. - right (noun): something you are legally allowed to do by law
– The government should protect our individual rights to the freedom of speech and to vote in public elections. - inform (verb): tell, make aware, or notify
– It is often a good idea to inform your neighbors if you are planning to make major changes to your yard and landscaping. - juvenile (noun or adjective): a young person, or someone who is acting inappropriate for an adult
– Several juveniles were arrested for destroying the landscaping of our company.
– Stop acting juvenile! You can’t play games and jump over seats in a movie theater.
Post-Listening Exercise
What are common problems that could happen between neighbors? What are the best ways to resolve such issues?
Online Investigation
Caring for a yard around a house is more than just throwing some grass and flower seeds on the ground and hoping that things will grow well. Instead, careful planning is the key. Search the internet and find 10 money-saving landscaping tips that can beautify any area. Then, share your findings with a partner.