General Listening Quiz
“72-Hour Emergency Kit”
Level: | Topic: | Speakers: | Length: |
difficult | emergency kits | man – woman | 03:57 |

Pre-Listening Exercise
Do you have any emergency supplies or even a 72-hour emergency kit in your house or at your apartment you can use in case of a natural disaster? If so, what are they? What things are most needed in such an emergency to get you by for at least least three days?
Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started
These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.
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In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
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In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
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For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and self-assess your progress.
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- Every household should have an emergency kit with at least three days of supplies.
- It’s more important to prepare for natural disasters than for power outages.
- Schools should hold regular emergency drills to keep students prepared.
- Knowing basic first aid is essential for everyone in the family.
- It’s a waste of time to prepare for emergencies that probably won’t happen.
- Emergency plans should be updated every year to stay effective.
- Mobile phones are the most reliable way to get information during an emergency.
- Local governments should provide emergency supplies to all residents.
- It’s better to focus on evacuation plans than on sheltering in place.
- Pets should always be included in emergency preparedness plans.
Idioms
“in a pickle” = a difficult situation
“You’ll find yourself in a real pickle if you don’t have enough water during an emergency.”
“hang loose” = relax or stay calm
“Tell the people to hang loose until help arrives.”
“wacky” = silly or foolish
“My brother had the wacky idea of packing twenty bottles of ketchup in his emergency kit instead of water.”
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
Post-Listening Exercise
What are some ways that people can become more prepared in your local area, both individually and as communities? Can you think of a time in your life when you wished that you had been more prepared either for a minor or major emergency? What was the situation and in what ways where you prepared or unprepared for it?
Online Investigation
Most people don’t think about emergencies until it is too late. Let’s suppose you have decided to pack a 72-hour kit. Make a list of the top 10 things you would pack in the kit and be prepared to explain your reasons for choosing each one. Would each of these items be easy to find at local stores in your area, or would you have to special order them online?
Now, use the Internet and compare specific products or emergency kits by two different companies in terms of the necessity/desirability of each item (“Do I really need this?” or “Would I really enjoy eating this?”), it’s quality, and finally its price.