Easy Pet Care

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

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
difficult	pet care	conversation	two men	2:28

I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]
What are some basic tips for caring for a dog or cat (e.g., feeding, grooming, house training, etc.)?

HELPFUL TIP: Think twice about buying a pet for a family member as a gift for a birthday or other occasion. Many times, such animals have to be returned because the child and the pet aren't compatible. Rather, give the family member a gift certificate for an animal, and he or she can pick out the pet on their own in person.

birthday cake

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

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

[ What's the Difference? ]

1. What is one of Shawn's concern about the dog?
A. It can be somewhat aggressive.
B. It eats too much food at one time.
C. The dog might mess on his carpet.

2. What is Shawn supposed to do between 3:00-4:00 p.m. for the dog?
A. Take the dog for some exercise with a Frisbee.
B. Feed him an afternoon doggie treat for a snack.
C. Let the dog watch a program on television.

3. Which point is NOT true about the cat?
A. The cat becomes a little moody at times.
B. The cat enjoys listening to classical music.
C. The cat will run away if it gets outside the house.

4. What can we infer from the conversation on the snake's reaction to Shawn?
A. The snake appears to warm up to him.
B. The snake doesn't care for Shawn at all.
C. The snake is extremely shy of Shawn.

5. What is Shawn's final response to Norman?
A. Norman should seek someone who is well-trained with animals.
B. Norman should take his animals to the zoo for special care.
C. Norman agrees to watch them for a lot of extra money.

Score =
Correct answers:

II. 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? ]

IV. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

Imagine you want to raise an exotic pet. Choose one of the following animals and search for tips on how to care for your new pet: tarantula, monkey, llama, iguana, or snake. Consider food, shelter, and how difficult it is to handle the pet. Discuss your findings with a partner.

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

More Listening
www.dailyesl.com
www.ezslang.com
www.trainyouraccent.com
www.tips4students.com

IDIOMS!

"quiet as a mouse" = silent or completely still

"Hey, your bird is quiet as a mouse. I wonder if it's okay."

"put your foot down" = take a firm position

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to put my foot down. No more pets!"

Free Software

Randall recommends it!

Practice your English using Google Talk, Skype (voice chat), and the RealPlayer --- add-ons to Google Pack.