| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | Healthy Snacks | Man – Man | 00:44 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What kinds of snacks, candy, and other items can you buy at school or from the store? When you are thirsty, what do you usually drink: water, a soda like Coke or Pepsi, or fruit juice?
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- Snacking between meals is unhealthy.
- Children should choose their own snacks without adult guidance.
- Sweet snacks are worse than salty snacks for health.
- Snacks are more important for energy than meals.
- People should avoid processed snacks completely.
- Homemade snacks are always better than store-bought snacks.
- Eating snacks while watching TV encourages overeating.
- Schools should limit what snacks students can bring.
- Snacks are an important part of cultural traditions.
- Snacks are just as enjoyable as full meals.
Idioms
“put on pounds” = gain weight
“He’s put on a few pounds because he doesn’t eat a balanced diet.”
“spare tire” = extra fat around the middle of your stomach that looks like a car tire (impolite expression–use with caution)
“My brother’s roommate was really angry when his girlfriend told him he had to exercise because he had a spare tire around his stomach.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:
- buck (noun): informal for dollar
– Could I borrow a buck to buy a drink from the snack bar? - vending machine (noun): a machine from which you can buy items like candy or drinks
– In some places, you can find a vending machine on almost every street corner. - get stuck (verb): unable to move
– I got stuck in traffic on the way home from work. - refund (verb; also a noun): give someone their money back
– That store will refund your money if there is a problem with the item you buy. - bummer (noun): a disappointing situation
– It was a real bummer that you lost your last buck in that vending machine. - rock (verb): move back and forth
– I sometimes rock the baby when he can’t sleep. - nothing doing (noun): no way, used when refusing something
– Are you asking me to loan you more money? Nothing doing! - tough luck (noun): an expression of sympathy about a problem
– Did she really break your date? Tough luck. - hit it off (verb): like someone as soon as you meet
– The man at the store and I hit it off the first time I entered, and now he always gives me discounts on certain purchases.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
Post-Listening Exercise
Vending machines are popular ways schools and businesses can make money; however, some people feel that are more of a health risk for consumers. How do you feel about this issue? Use the internet to search for recent opinions on this topic.
Online Investigation
Finding healthy snacks for children (or for yourself) isn’t always easy. Use the internet to find three different healthy snacks that can be purchased online. What are the benefits of each snack? How much does each cost?