Telemarketing

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IDIOMS!

"do something until someone is blue in the face" = do something a lot without achieving your goal
"Listen. You can talk to me about the product until you're blue in the face, but I still won't buy it."
"one-track mind" = always thinking about one specific think
"Telemarketers only have a one-track mind: money, money, and more money. They never think about what customers really need."

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[ Quiz Script | Text Completion Quiz ]

Telemarketing

I. Pre-Listening Exercises
II. Listening Exercises
III. Vocabulary
IV. Post-Listening Exercises

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
difficult	sales calls	conversation	man - woman	01:49

I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]
Have you ever received phone calls from telemarketers trying to sell you something? If so, what was the product or service that was being advertised?

HELPFUL TIP: Telemarketing is big business, but it can be annoying to those who receive such calls. If you don't want people to call you, tell them to put you on their do-not call list.

phone

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

Listen to the conversation by pressing the "Play" button and answer the questions. Press the "Final Score" button to check your quiz.

Media Player

[ What are these different audio choices? ]

[ Other Audio Options: Play RealMedia | Play Window Media ]

1. What product or service is the telemarketer promoting?
A. a stay at a new condominium
B. a membership to a sports club
C. a hotel in Hawaii

2. Which special feature is NOT part of this offer?
A. access to free meals and beverages
B. use of fitness rooms
C. unrestricted use to a swimming pool

3. Why does the man turn down the offer?
A. He doesn't have extra money to spend.
B. He never buys things over the phone.
C. He doesn't need the service being provided.

4. What statement is true about the "do not call" list according to the conversation?
A. It will take four to six weeks to remove the man's name from the company's phone list.
B. The man might be called by another company representative in the coming weeks.
C. The man can request that his name be added again to the company's database.

5. What is the man's name?
A. Mr. Phillips
B. Mr. Jones
C. Mr. Williams

Score =
Correct answers:

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? ]

III. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

Do you feel there should be laws that restrict the hours when telemarketers can call people at home? What do you think of companies that sell your personal information, including your home phone number, to other companies for business (sales) purposes?

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

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