General Listening Quiz

Listen to the recording on alcohol abuse and read along with the conversation. Review the key vocabulary and the sample sentences.

Dave’s Sister: Hey, Dave. Um, can we talk for a minute?

Dave: Sure what about? I’m kind of busy, but yeah . . .

Dave’s Sister: Well . . . it . . . um, well, I’m not sure what to say, but um . . .

Dave: Oh, come on. come on.

Dave’s Sister: Well . . .

Dave: What is it? I’ve never known my sister to be [at] a loss for words.

Dave’s Sister: Well, you know Dave. I’ve gotta [got to] be honest. I’m getting really, really concerned about your drinking.

Dave: What are you talking about?

Dave’s Sister: Well, um, it’s . . .

Dave: Can’t a person just have a few drinks without people getting on their case? I mean, first, Dad, then you!

Dave’s Sister: Dave, Dave. Seriously. Listen, Dave. You’re my brother. I love you, but you’ve had two DUIs, you lost your last job because you showed up drunk, [No . . . it . . . wasn’t.] your girlfriend’s gonna [going to] dump you because you’re drinking too much. Dave.

Dave: You don’t understand. I have it under control.

Dave’s Sister: Dave, you don’t.

Dave: That was the old me.

Dave’s Sister: Dave. You got your last DUI three weeks ago. You can’t, you can’t keep doing this. Dave, you’re gonna [going to] kill someone.

Dave: I thought . . .

Dave’s Sister: You might kill yourself.

Dave: I thought siblings there were there to support each other, and that’s not what you’re doing right now.

Dave’s Sister: Dave. I love you, and I’m trying to help you. I really care about you. And these friends that you hang out with . . . they’re not friends. A friend is a person who’s honest and frank with you, not these so-called friends, these buddies you’ve got who encourage you to go and buy booze for any old party.

Dave: You, you just don’t know ’em [them] like I do. I mean . . .

Dave’s Sister: I know ’em [them] well enough. Come on. Wake up. These guys are dragging you down.

Dave: I’ve had enough.

Dave’s Sister: No, no. Listen, listen. The truth hurts; it stings. Listen. I know. I’ve seen what’s happening to you, and look, there’s a . . .

Dave: You don’t, you don’t understand.

Dave’s Sister: You know what? AA. Alcoholics Anonymous. You can go there and you can meet other people, and they can help you to be sober.

Dave: That’s for people who have problems.

Dave’s Sister: You’ve got problems, [Ah, man.] Dave. AA. They’re no membership fees, anyone can attend, the meetings are very confidential. I’ll even go with you. I’ll help you. What do you say? Come on.

Dave: Right. Like I said, I’m in control. I just need more time to deal with this. It just takes a little bit more time.

Dave’s Sister: Dave. How long? You can’t do this alone. You’re not doing it.

Dave: No, I’m done. You’ll see, you’ll see.

Dave’s Sister: Dave, No. I can’t . . . it’ll kill me if there’s another DUI, an accident, something, I’m really worried, Dave.

Dave: I’m done, I’m done. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.

• be at a loss for words (idiom): not knowing what to say
  – My parents are at a loss (for words) to know how to help my younger sister with the drug addiction.
• get on someone’s case (idiom): criticize or give someone a hard time
  – If you don’t get on his case for speeding, he’ll end up causing a serious accident.
• dump someone (verb): end a relationship 
  – Sarah decided to dump her boyfriend because he was involved in self-destructive behaviors.
• siblings (noun): brothers or sisters
  – Many siblings experience problems as they grow up.
• frank (adjective): direct or open
  – You often have to be frank with people who are struggling with serious financial problems, so you can help them get out of debt.
• booze (noun): alcohol (informal)
  – They were giving out booze at that party to kids who were drinking illegally.
• confidential (adjective): private
  – Marriage therapists always keep conversations confidential, so you don’t have to worry that your problems don’t become the gossip of the town.