General Listening Quiz

Listen to the recording on fashion and clothing styles and read along with the conversation. Review the key vocabulary and the sample sentences.

Ashley: Hey, Jake. Are you ready for your trip?

Jake: Well, not really. I still have to buy some clothes.

Ashley: Well, what’s the weather like where you’re going?

Jake: Well, uh, it’s really hot in the summer, so I’m going to buy some shorts, sandals, and a few t-shirts.

Ashley: What about the rest of the year?

Jake: People say that the fall can still be warm until November, so I’m gonna [going to] buy some jeans and a few casual shirts.

Ashley: Will you need any warm clothes for the winter?

Jake: Well, the weather doesn’t get too cold, but it often snows in the mountains, so I’m going to buy a couple of warm sweaters, a jacket, and a hat. I don’t have room in my suitcase to pack a coat, so I’m going to wait until I get there and buy it when I really need it.

Ashley: Are you going to take anything else?

Jake: They say it rains cats and dogs in the spring, but again, I’ll probably just wait and pick up a raincoat or an umbrella later on. But, I’m going to take a good pair of shoes because I plan on walking to and from school everyday.

Ashley: Do you need any clothing for formal occasions?

Jake: Well, you never know when you might need something on the spur of the moment for a wedding or maybe someone’s graduation, or a nice date, so I’ll probably take some nice slacks, a dress shirt, and a couple (of) crazy ties or two.

Ashley: Um, that makes sense.

Jake: And I’ll just rent a tuxedo if I need anything more formal. Hey, maybe I’ll get married.

Ashley: You? Married? Haha!

Jake: Wait. What are you trying to say?

Ashley: I just can’t imagine you getting decked out in a tuxedo for any formal occasion. [What?!] I mean, for high school graduation, you wore an old pair of jeans and tennis shoes.

Jake: Hey, there was a reason for that, so let me explain. [Yeah, ha, ha.] No, really. You see, it goes like this . . .

• rest (noun): what is left over after everything else has been used, eaten, etc. 
  – Wow. Your suitcase is already full of shirts and shoes. What are you going to do with the rest of your clothing?
• room (noun): space 
  – Do you have any room in your backpack for a couple more books?
• pack (verb): fill a suitcase, box, or another container
  – You’d better start packing your bags tonight so we don’t have to rush out the door tomorrow.
• rain cats and dogs (idiom): rain very hard
  – Last night, I was walking home from work when it began raining cats and dogs. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my umbrella with me.
• pick up (phrasal verb): buy something
  – Could you pick up some white socks from the store on your way home from work?
• formal occasion (noun): an important event where people wear special clothing and behave politely
  – I sometimes rent a tuxedo for formal occasions. I don’t want to buy one that I will only wear once every few years.
• on the spur of the moment (idiom): without planning or preparation
  – She always makes decisions on the spur of the moment, so you never know what she’s planning.
• slacks (noun): good-quality pants
  – You don’t have to wear a suit to the event, but you might want to wear a pair of nice slacks and a conservative tie.
• make sense (idiom): have a clear meaning or a sensible explanation
  – It makes sense to ask teachers to wear a nice shirt and tie to work.
• be decked out (idiom): dressed in formal clothes for special occasions
  – Everyone was shocked when my brother came to the barbecue decked out in a white tuxedo. Then, we realized he came to propose to his girlfriend.