II. Listening Exercises

Listen to the conversation again by pressing the Play Audio button and read along with the conversation. Review the Key Vocabulary and the sample sentences.

Paul: So, what do you want to watch on TV tonight? Brenda: Well, what's on? Brenda: Well, hmm. There is a reality show on at 7:00 on channel 5. Paul: Nah, you know I don't like reality shows. I mean, they usually show people doing crazy things like, you know, eating live fish or swimming in a pool full of snakes. I don't get into that. Brenda: Okay. Well, how about watching a documentary on the life of panda bears in the wild? Paul: Personally, I'd rather watch something with a little bit more action and suspense. Brenda: Well, then. Ah, here's something. Do you want to watch a rerun of Star Wars? Paul: Nah, I've seen it a zillion times. I'd like to see something different. Brenda: Okay, let's see here. Oh, how about this? On channel 2 at 9:00, there's a home improvement show about fixing anything around the house. We do have a few things that you could repair in the bathroom . . . Paul: Fixing things? Uh, boy, I'm beat. I think I'm going to hit the sack. Brenda: You're going to bed? Paul: Yeah. I have to get up early tomorrow . . . Brenda: . . . and then you're going to fix the bathroom? Paul: Good night. Brenda: Okay. Too bad, though. There's a basketball game on right now, but . . . but I guess you can catch the score in tomorrow's newspaper. Paul: Oh, okay. I'll stay up and keep you company while I . . . I mean, you . . . I mean, WE watch the game. Brenda: I thought you'd change your mind. I'll get the popcorn.

Key Vocabulary [Top]

• get into something (verb): be interested in something
  - I didn't think the kids would get into watching that nature program, but they loved it

• documentary (noun): a television program that gives facts on a person, place, or thing
  - Hurry. Switch the channels. I don't want to miss the documentary on space travel.

• suspense (noun): a feeling of excitement about what will happen next
  - She liked the movie because it was full of suspense from beginning to end.

• rerun (noun): a TV program that is shown over again
  - This channel usually shows reruns of programs from the 1960s late in the evening.

• zillion (noun): a very large number
  - Sometimes, kids don't mind watching the some TV cartoons a zillion times.

• improvement (noun): a change that makes something better
  - There are a number of improvements you can make on your writing assignment. Read it again and see what you can do.

• beat (adjective): very tired
  - I was so beat last night that I feel asleep watching TV.

• hit the sack: go to sleep
  - He hit the sack early because he has to work in the morning.

Vocabulary Activities [Top]

Now, do these exercises to review the vocabulary. Then, return back to the Post-Listening Exercise to use the vocabulary in real conversations.

• Mixed-Up Sentence
• Sentence and Vocabulary Matching