General Listening Quiz
“Immigration and Customs”
| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Travel | Man – Woman | 00:51 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
Finding discount plane tickets and cheap tours is only the first step to traveling abroad. Once you arrive at your destination, what things would you expect to do when passing through immigration and customs in a foreign country?
Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!
These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, exploring ideas, and sharing opinions.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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- Everyone should carry a passport when traveling to another country.
- Immigration checks should be quick and easy for tourists.
- People should always declare everything they bring into a country at customs.
- Customs officers should speak multiple languages to help travelers.
- It’s important to follow all the rules when entering a new country.
- Tourists should not have to go through customs if they are only staying for a short time.
- Immigration rules are too strict in some countries.
- You should never lie to customs officers.
- Immigration checks help keep countries safe from dangerous items or people.
- It’s better to arrive at the airport early to avoid problems with customs.
Idioms
“roll with the punches” = adjust to difficult situations
“Living in a new country can be hard, but sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.”
“go to pieces” = lose emotional control
“She went to pieces at the airport when couldn’t understand what the immigration officer was saying.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
Here are some words that appear in the recording:
- attend (verb): to be at or go to
– I’m planning on attending a language class before I go to China. - book (verb): to make arrangements in advance
– You ought to book a room at least a month in advance. - luggage (noun): bags used during traveling to carry your things
– You are only allowed two pieces of luggage on this flight. - belongings (noun): your personal property or possessions
– Be sure to collect your belongings before you leave the plane.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
Post-Listening Exercise
What advice do you give a friend before he or she passes through an airport in your country (e.g. What documents should you have ready? Can you buy souvenirs at the airport? Where do you need to go to find public transportation into the city?, etc.)? What things can you carry on the airplane and what are the size requirements of your luggage?
Online Investigation
Many airlines have rules or restrictions on the size of luggage or bags you can take on the plane. Use the internet to search for two companies that sell bags specifically for airline travel. Compare the bags based on price, quality, durability, and style.