| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
| Intermediate | Car Insurance | Man – Woman | 01:09 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
There are many factors that determine the cost of car insurance. These could include the following:
- a person’s driving record
- the type of coverage
- age, gender, and marital status
- where you live
- the type of car you drive
- the amount of driving you do
- any anti-theft devices you have installed
As you listen, try to guess the reasons for the man’s car insurance issues.
- Car insurance is more expensive than it should be.
- Young drivers should pay higher insurance rates than older drivers.
- People who drive safely for many years deserve big discounts.
- Car insurance should be the same price for everyone.
- Accidents caused by weather should not raise insurance prices.
- Insurance companies make too much money from drivers.
- People who rarely use their cars should pay less for insurance.
- Car insurance should be optional, not required by law.
- Technology in cars (like cameras and sensors) should lower insurance costs.
- It is better to pay for small accidents yourself than to report them to insurance.
Idioms
“run out of steam” = lose energy, become tired
“Our team played well during the first part of the game, but they ran out of steam.”
“down the road” = in the future
“I want to find a new job down the road.”
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Post-Listening Exercise
Retell the story and give the man suggestions on what he should do next.
Online Investigation
Use the internet to find the approximate cost for car insurance for a car of your choice. Consider the make, model, and year of the car.