ESL Podcast 782 – Expressing Bitter Feelings

eslpod 听力文本ESL Podcast（英语作为第二语言播客）是一个专门为英语学习者设计的听力练习资源。

以下是一个虚构的、符合ESL Podcast风格的500字左右的听力文本示例：ESL Podcast 听力文本示例主题：健康饮食Narrator: Today, we're going to talk about healthy eating habits. Staying healthy is important, and what you eat plays a big role.Dr. Smith: That's right. A balanced diet is key. You should try to eat a variety of foods every day.Narrator: What are some good foods to include in a balanced diet?Dr. Smith: Well, fruits and vegetables are essential. They provide vitamins and minerals your body needs. Whole grains are also important for energy. And don't forget protein. Lean meats, fish, beans, and tofu are all good sources.Narrator: What about fats and sugars? Should we avoid them?Dr. Smith: Not necessarily. Your body does need some fat and sugar, but in moderation. It's best to limit processed foods and choose healthier options like nuts, seeds, and avocado for fats, and fresh fruits for sugar.Narrator: What about drinking? Is water the only thing we should drink?Dr. Smith: Water is definitely the best choice, but you can also include unsweetened tea, coffee in moderation, and low-fat milk or plant-based milks. Just try to avoid sugary drinks like soda and fruit juices with added sugar.Narrator: That's great advice, Dr. Smith. Remember, a balanced diet is the foundation of good health. Make sure to include a variety of nutritious foods in your meals, and limit unhealthy options.这个文本围绕“健康饮食”这一主题展开，包含了对话中常见的问答形式，适合英语学习者进行听力练习和理解。

luke's english podcast文本题目：Luke's English Podcast: A Dive into the World of English Language LearningIntroduction:Luke's English Podcast is a popular resource for English language learners around the world. Created and hosted by the dynamic and knowledgeable Luke Thompson, the podcast covers a wide range of topics related to learning English, teaching techniques, and cultural aspects of English-speaking countries. In this article, we will explore the key features of Luke's English Podcast, its impact on language learners, and the reasons behind its popularity.Part 1: Understanding Luke's English Podcast:- Hosted by Luke Thompson, an experienced English teacher, Luke's English Podcast offers a unique blend of entertaining and educational content for listeners.- The podcast showcases a variety of formats, including interviews, scripted dialogues, and monologues, providing listeners with diverse language input.- Luke's teaching approach is student-centered, focusing onpromoting active engagement, authentic language use, and practical skills development.- The podcast encourages learners to embrace the challenges of language learning and adopt a growth mindset, fostering confidence and motivation.Part 2: Content Analysis:- Luke covers a wide range of topics, including grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and idiomatic expressions, ensuring a comprehensive language learning experience.- Through interviews with native speakers and conversations with his wife, who is a non-native English speaker, Luke presents authentic English language use and various accents.- The podcast often features cultural insights and discussions, enabling learners to gain a deeper understanding ofEnglish-speaking countries' traditions, customs, and social issues. - The use of humor, storytelling, and pop culture references in the podcast not only entertains listeners but also helps them connect with the language on a personal level.Part 3: Impact on Language Learners:- Luke's English Podcast has empowered language learners byproviding free, high-quality resources accessible to anyone with an internet connection.- Through the podcast, countless learners have improved their language skills, developed confidence in communication, and expanded their cultural and global awareness.- The podcast's supportive online community offers a space for learners to connect, share experiences, and receive feedback, creating a sense of belonging and motivation.- The podcast's interactive nature, including quizzes, challenges, and listener contributions, enhances learner engagement, making language learning a dynamic and enjoyable process.Part 4: Reasons for Popularity:- Authenticity: Luke's genuine passion for teaching and love for the English language shines through in each episode, resonating with learners seeking an authentic learning experience.- Practicality: The podcast focuses on real-world language use, equipping learners with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate English-speaking environments effectively.- Personality: Luke's dynamic and charismatic teaching style, coupled with his ability to connect with his audience, has made him a relatable and beloved figure in the English learning community.- Community: The podcast's strong online community fosters connections and support among learners, creating a sense of solidarity that further enhances its popularity.Conclusion:As the demand for English language learning resources continues to grow, Luke's English Podcast has emerged as a prominent and influential platform. With its engaging content, student-centered approach, and supportive community, the podcast has garnered a dedicated and global following. Through Luke's expertise and dedication, learners worldwide have access to a wealth of knowledge, helping them excel in their language learning journey.。

Lesson 1How to Bargain in the U.S.A. 跟卖家讨价还价1. downtown2. deals3. the best deal4. making a sale5. seems a little high6. your best offer7. shop around8. What if9. $50 for both 10. split the differenceIt was Saturday afternoon and I was shopping in the garment district in downtown L.A. If you want to find good deals on clothes, shoes, and accessories, this is the place to come. To get the best deal, though, you have to be ready to bargain.I walked by a stall and saw a purse I liked. The owner had just finished making a sale.Lucy: Does this come in any other colors?Man: Yeah, we have this one in white and blue. I also have this other style in green.Lucy: How much is the blue one?Man: It's $32.Lucy: $32? What about the green one?Man: That's $30.Lucy: That seems a little high. Can you do better on the price?Man: This is a designer bag and it's good quality. It's a bargain at that price.Lucy: Is that your best offer?Man: That's the best I can do.Lucy: Well, I don't know. I think I'll shop around.Man: Okay, how about $28.Lucy: That's still more than I wanted to spend. What if I take the blue one and the green one?Man: I'll give you both of them for $55.Lucy: That's not much of a break on the price. How about $50 for both?Man: You drive a hard bargain. The best I can do is $54. You won't find it cheaper anywhere else. Lucy: Why don't we split the difference and make it $52?Man: Okay, okay. You've got a deal.accessories 装饰品make a sale 做一笔交易Lesson 2Negotiating Price1. get our bid2. come to terms on the price3. do better on4. trim a little off5. discount that by 10 percent6. an attractive offer7. driving a hard bargain8. labor costs9. make any promises 10. a revised bidNegotiating PriceJustin: Hello. 贾斯汀：您好。

ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job GLOSSARYemployment agency – a business that helps people find jobs* DeShawn had been looking for a job for almost six months, so he decided to go to an employment agency to get some professional help.dead end job – a job that does not have opportunities for the future; a job that does not lead to another job with greater responsibilities, importance, and pay* Working at a fast food restaurant is a dead end job for many people, so they usually don’t stay there more than a few months.advancement – promotion; moving up within an organization from an unimportant position to one with more responsibility and better pay* Cailee wants to find a job with a lot of opportunities for advancement so that she will always be challenged in her work.pay scale – a system that sets a minimum and maximum payment amount to each kind of job in a business or organization* According to the company pay scale, a senior manager makes between$75,000 and $92,000 per year.pay raise – an increase in one’s salary; an increase in the amount of money that one is paid for working* Most employees get a pay raise at the end of their first year if they are good workers.employment history – a record of where one has worked in the past and for how long* His employment history shows that he spent four years in the army before beginning to work in sales.mind-numbing – boring; extremely uninteresting* That class is so mind-numbing that most of the students fall asleep in the first half-hour!menial – boring and unimportant; uninteresting because something is too easy to do* During her first day at work, they gave her the menial task of writing addresses on envelopes. She was so bored!ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Jobto burn out – to no longer be able to do something because one has done too much of it in the past and is too bored, tired, or sick to continue* Young lawyers who work 70 hours each week often burn out by the end of their third year.glass ceiling – the idea that people, especially women, who work in an organization can see the top managers and presidents but can never become one of them* Many women think that there is a glass ceiling for them in this company because all of the directors, vice presidents, and presidents are men.to promote (someone) – to give someone a better job that has more responsibility and better pay within the same organization where he or she was already working* Hank was promoted from Mechanic to Senior Mechanic last month and now he makes a lot more money.steppingstone – something that helps a person get to another place or to another level, especially at work* Getting a college degree is a steppingstone to most good jobs.stumbling block – something that makes it difficult or impossible to do something* When the runner hurt his knee, it was a major stumbling block in his athletic performance.reference – an evaluation of a person as an employee, made by someone who knows one professionally, usually when one is applying for a job* Pauline used to work for me, so she asked me to write a letter of reference when she decided to apply for a new job.to be trapped – to not have any options; to be forced to do something; to not be able to change something* Once they bought a house, they were trapped in their jobs, because if they quit working, they wouldn’t be able to pay for their new home.personal satisfaction – a feeling of happiness and contentment from what one is doing* Kayeesha worked as a lawyer for years, but she didn’t find personal satisfaction until she quit her job and began singing professionally.ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End JobCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these would be part of a dead end job?a) Advancementb) Menial workc) Personal satisfaction2. What does Kurt mean when he says that there was a glass ceiling in his job?a) The building was made of glass.b) He got cut a lot at work.c) There were not opportunities for advancement.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?to burn outThe phrase “to burn out,” in this podcast, means to no longer be able to do something because one has done too much of it in the past and is too bored, tired, or sick to continue: “After seven years of graduate school, Kelly was burnt out on studying and going to school.” The phrase “to burn up” means to have a very high fever or a very high body temperature: “This child is burning up! We need to take him to the doctor’s office right away.” Finally, the phrase “to burn down” means for a building to be destroyed by a fire so that there is nothing left: “When the candle fell over, the house made of wood quickly caught on fire and burned down.”referenceIn this podcast, the word “reference” means an evaluation of a person as an employee, made by someone who knows one professionally, usually when one is applying for a job: “People have to send a list of three references when they apply for that job.” The phrase “with reference to (something)” means regarding or about: “Hello, I’m calling with reference to your ad to sell your car.” When writing an academic paper, a “reference” is a book or article that one used to find information: “Don’t forget to list your references at the end of your essay.” Finally, as a verb, “to make a reference to” means to refer or to mention a book, article, or other source of information that one used while writing a paper: “Did you make a reference to any books from other countries, or did you read books only by American authors?”ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job CULTURE NOTEAmerican companies “recruit” (look for new employees) in many different ways. One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways is to place an “ad” (advertisement or announcement) in the local newspaper. Sometimes they place ads in “journals” (academic magazines) for professionals in a “field” (an area or type of work).Many companies also use the power of the Internet for recruitment. Companies often post “job descriptions” (a summary of what the job is and what the company is looking for in a new employee) on their website. Other companies use employment websites specifically for job announcements to “post” (upload something to the Internet for others to read) their job announcements. “Jobseekers” (people who are looking for a new job) can read job announcements on those websites and then “apply” (send in the required papers to be considered for a job) for those jobs.Companies that have a lot of money and need to hire for “top” (very important) positions often use “executive search firms,” which are also known informally as “headhunters.” These companies call people who are working in similar jobs at other companies and try to get them interested in coming to the company that is “hiring” (looking for a new employee). They often do this by offering to pay more money than what the other company is currently paying.Finally, many American companies recruit on college “campuses” (areas with many college buildings). They send a representative to a college campus to speak with interested students before they have completed their education. Some of these students are offered jobs to work after they finish college even before their graduation from the university.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – cESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 400: Working in a Dead End Job.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 400. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . Go there to download a Learning Guide for this episode to help you improve your English even faster.This episode is called “Working in a Dead End Job.” It’s a conversation between Kurt and a woman who works at an “employment agency,” a company that helps you find a job. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Agency employee: Tell me why you’d like to sign up with our employment agency.Kurt: Well, right now I’m working in a dead end job. There are no opportunities for advancement. I’m already at the top of the pay scale, so there’s no chance of another pay raise.Agency employee: Okay, I’d like to find out a little more about your employment history. Tell me about your last job.Kurt: Oh, that was a mind-numbing position. I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.Agency employee: What about the job you had before that?Kurt: The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling. They would never promote a person like me.Agency employee: And what about the job you had before that?Kurt: I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead. My boss didn’t like me and wouldn’t give me a good reference.ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job Agency employee: Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you’ve had. Kurt: No, they weren’t right for me. I don’t want to be trapped in a dead end job.I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.Agency employee: I see. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Have you considered working at an employment agency? I’m looking for a new job myself.[end of dialogue]The conversation begins with the woman who works for the employment agency asking Kurt, “Tell me why you’d like to sign up with our employment agency” – tell me why you want to use our agency – our company – to help you find a job. Kurt says, “Well, right now I’m working in a dead end job.” A “dead end job” is a job that doesn’t have a lot of opportunities; it doesn’t have a very good future. A “dead end” is when you have a street that stops, that you can’t go any farther on. Here, it’s used to refer to a job that doesn’t have any great importance, pay, or responsibilities in the future; it’s not going to lead you to anything else.Kurt says, “There are no opportunities for advancement.” “Advancement,” here, means moving up in the company; it’s the same as a “promotion,” to get a better job in the same company. Kurt says, “I’m already at the top of the pay scale, so there’s no chance of another pay raise.” The “pay scale” is a system that a business or organization uses to determine how much each job is going to be worth, how much they’re going to pay their employees. If an employee is there for two years, they may get this salary; if they’re in the company for five years, they get a different salary. So that’s what a pay scale is; it’s a set of, we would call them, “steps” that you go through as you are in the company longer, as you have more experience, or perhaps as you increase your education while at the job. A “pay raise” is an increase in the amount of money you receive for working, an increase in your salary.The agency employee says, “Okay, I’d like to find out a little more about your employment history.” Your “employment history” is a list or a description of the jobs that you have had in the past. If you look at my employment history, it began working at a car wash, cleaning cars when I was 15 years old. When I was 16, I worked at a nursing home, cleaning dishes in the kitchen for three or four months. Then, I worked in a store, selling things for almost seven years, and so on and so forth. Eventually, I ended up being a podcaster – it’s a long story!ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End JobKurt says, in describing his last job, it “was a mind-numbing position.” “Mind-numbing,” here, means boring, very uninteresting. Not interesting at all – it was mind-numbing. To “numb” (numb) something means that you lose your feeling. For example, if you sit on your legs the wrong way your foot could go, we would say, to sleep. It would go numb; you couldn’t feel anything in your foot.So, this is a mind-numbing – a brain-numbing, if you will – position. He says, “I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.” “Menial” (menial) is similar to mind-numbing; it’s boring, it’s not important, it’s uninteresting. Usually, “menial” is a very simple physical task, such as washing the windows, or washing cars, or washing dishes – these are menial jobs. To “burn out” means that you can no longer work at that job; you are exhausted, mentally and perhaps physically. When you do a job for a long time, you may get sick of it; it becomes boring to you. “Burn” has several different meanings; take a look at our Learning Guide for some additional explanations.The agency employee then asks Kurt, “What about the job you had before that?” – what was the previous job you had? Kurt says, “The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling.” A “glass ceiling” (ceiling) is the idea that people, especially women, who work in an organization can never become the managers, the vice presidents, or the presidents. They’re looking up as if through a ceiling made of glass at all of those men in the higher positions. The “ceiling” is, as you probably know, the top of a room; the bottom is called the “floor.”So, “glass ceiling” is usually used to talk about women who are unable to advance or get promotions in an organization, but Kurt says that he was a victim of a glass ceiling. He says, “They would never promote a person like me.” To “promote” someone means to give them a better job, something with more pay and more responsibility.Then, the employment agency employee asks Kurt, “Well, what about the job before that one?” Kurt says, “I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead.” Couple of expressions here: first “steppingstone,” in this case, is something that helps you get to another level – to a higher level, especially at work. So, you start washing dishes, and you say, “Well, that’s a steppingstone for cleaning the tables in the dining room; that’s what I really want to do.” A “steppingstone” is the first, or one of the first jobs that you have that you hope will lead you to get a promotion. A “stumbling block” is something that makes it difficult or impossible to do something. To “stumble” means to fall; “stumbling block,” then, would be something in your path – in your way that would make you fall. Here, Kurt isESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job talking about how the job he had was a stumbling block; it prevented him from advancing.He says, “My boss didn’t like me and wouldn’t give me a good reference.” A “reference,” when we talk about a job, is an evaluation, usually a letter that someone will write about an employee, often for an employee that’s looking for another job outside of the company – a different job. “Reference” has a couple of different meanings in English however, so take a look at the Learning Guide so you know how to use it correctly.The agency employee says, “Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you’ve had.” Kurt says, “ No, they weren’t right for me (they weren’t good for me). I don’t want to be trapped in a dead end job.” To be “trapped” means not to have any choices, not to have any options, to be forced to do something. Kurt doesn’t want to be trapped in a dead end job. He says, “I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.” “Personal satisfaction” is a feeling of happiness, feeling good about what you are doing.The employee says, “I see” – I understand. Then she asks Kurt, “Have you considered working at an employment agency? I’m looking for a new job myself.” So the woman says that maybe Kurt wants to work at the employment agency, because she wants a new job.Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a regular speed.[start of dialogue]Agency employee: Tell me why you’d like to sign up with our employment agency.Kurt: Well, right now I’m working in a dead end job. There are no opportunities for advancement. I’m already at the top of the pay scale, so there’s no chance of another pay raise.Agency employee: Okay, I’d like to find out a little more about your employment history. Tell me about your last job.Kurt: Oh, that was a mind-numbing position. I did menial work all day and I burned out in six months.Agency employee: What about the job you had before that?ESL Podcast 400 – Working in a Dead End Job Kurt: The problem with that job was that there was a glass ceiling. They would never promote a person like me.Agency employee: And what about the job you had before that?Kurt: I only took that job as a steppingstone to the next one, but it turned out to be a stumbling block instead. My boss didn’t like me and wouldn’t give me a good reference.Agency employee: Okay, so you were not happy with any of the jobs you’ve had. Kurt: No, they weren’t right for me. I don’t want to be trapped in a dead end job.I want something that will give me personal satisfaction.Agency employee: I see. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Have you considered working at an employment agency? I’m looking for a new job myself.[end of dialogue]The script for this episode was written by someone who definitely needs a pay raise, Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. We’ll see you next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. This podcast is copyright 2008.。

柒和远志直通车小甘初中英语单词In the realm of language learning, especially for middle school students like Xiao Gan, the journey of mastering English vocabulary is akin to boarding a direct train to a broader horizon. The adventure begins with the basics, the simple yet foundational building blocks that form the vast structure of the English language.Imagine stepping onto the 'Qi and Yuanzhi Express,' a metaphorical train designed to transport students through the landscape of English vocabulary. Each carriage is filled with words, each more intriguing than the last. The first stop introduces common nouns, the very essence of our daily conversations. Words like 'family,' 'school,' and 'friendship' are not just terms; they represent the universal experiences shared across cultures.As the train chugs along, the next station delves into the world of verbs. Actions like 'run,' 'study,' and 'laugh' bring dynamism to our language, illustrating the activities thatfill our days. Adjectives await at the following stop, with 'happy,' 'bright,' and'challenging' painting our conversations with emotion and depth.The journey with the 'Qi and Yuanzhi Express' is not just about memorization. It's about connecting these words to the real world. For instance, when learning the word'environment,' students like Xiao Gan are encouraged to think about their surroundings, the importance of sustainability, and their role in preserving the planet.The train moves forward, and adverbs come into play, adding nuance to our verbs. Words like 'quickly,' 'carefully,' and 'happily' modify actions, providing a clearer picture of how these actions are performed. Prepositions such as 'above,' 'between,' and 'against' follow, offering a sense of place and relationship between objects and people.Conjunctions and interjections are the passengers that add complexity and emotion to the journey. 'Because,' 'although,' and 'however' show the cause and effect, contrast, and concession, while 'wow,' 'oops,' and 'hurray' express surprise, error, and joy, respectively.The 'Qi and Yuanzhi Express' does not just stop at individual words. Phrases and idioms are the scenic views from the window, expressions like 'break the ice' or 'hit thebooks' that give color and character to the language. These are the phrases that, when used aptly, can make a conversation or a piece of writing come alive.As the train approaches its final destination, the students have amassed a treasure trove of vocabulary. But the journey doesn't end at the station. Language is a living entity, constantly evolving and expanding. The 'Qi and Yuanzhi Express' is a continuous loop, with new words and expressions being added to the carriages with each lap.For Xiao Gan and his peers, this train is more than a means to an end; it's a gateway to understanding and engaging with the world. With each word learned, a door opens to new ideas, cultures, and opportunities. The 'Qi and Yuanzhi Express' is not just a train;it's a vehicle for dreams, aspirations, and the endless pursuit of knowledge.In conclusion, the mastery of English vocabulary is a vital component of language acquisition. It empowers students like Xiao Gan to communicate effectively, think critically, and connect with the global community. The 'Qi and Yuanzhi Express' is the perfect embodiment of this educational voyage, where each word learned is a ticket to a future without limits. 。

ESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a Hospital GLOSSARYemergency room – the part of a hospital that treats people with serious, dangerous, and unexpected medical problems* If you’re having chest pain, go to the emergency room right away because it could be a hear attack.trauma unit – the part of a hospital that treats people with injuries (not illnesses) * The trauma unit sees a lot of student athletes, especially football players.heart condition – a weakness or other problem in the heart (the part of the body that pumps to move blood)* Eating a lot of salt will increase his blood pressure and make his heart condition worse.cardiology – the area of medicine dealing with the heart* We are taking Joanna to see a doctor in the cardiology department at the children’s hospital.ICU – intensive care unit; the part of a hospital that provides specialized care and treatments for people who are very sick and need almost constant attention* Normally, visitors are welcome in the hospital, but in the ICU, only close family members can come, and only for one hour each day.pregnant – expecting a child; with a baby growing inside a woman’s body* As soon a Becca found out she was pregnant, she started buying baby clothes and decorating the nursery.obstetrics – the area of medicine related to childbirth and the care of women who are pregnant and giving birth* Are husbands allowed to be in the obstetrics department, or do they have to wait in the lobby until the babies are born?gynecology – the area of medicine dealing with illness and diseases affecting girls and women, especially involving the female reproductive system (functions related to having babies)* Doctors specializing in gynecology have to know a lot about sexually transmitted diseases.ESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a Hospitalneonatal – newborn; referring to a baby that was born very recently (usually within a few hours or days of birth)* You can’t see the baby yet because she’s being checked by doctors in the neonatal ward.neurology – the area of medicine related to the study of the brain and the nervous system (how messages are sent through the body for movement and sensation)* A neurology exam revealed that Shannon’s problems with her legs are related to damaged nerves.oncology – the area of medicine related to the study of cancer and tumors (a part of the body that grows uncontrollably)* The doctor found a suspicious lump in Kimi’s left breast, so she referred her to the oncology department.burn unit – the part of a hospital that treats people who have been burned by fire or very hot objects* After his car exploded, Vladimir was in the burn unit for several days while doctors treated his injuries.to look (someone or something) up – to search for a name or word in a list or database; to conduct research to find a particular piece of information* Have you tried looking up Kirk’s number in the phone book?to admit – to complete paperwork so that someone can come into a hospital or clinic as a patient* Yes, sir, I realize you’re in pain, but you have to answer these questions and sign these papers before I can admit you and arrange for the doctor to see you. to go out of (one’s) mind – to go crazy; to become irrational and illogical, especially because one is very worried or anxious about something* Am I going out of my mind, or did I just see a giraffe walking down Main Street? bedpan – a basin or other small container used to hold urine (pee) and feces (poop) from someone who must stay in bed and cannot get up to use the bathroom* Henry has always been independent, and now that he’s sick, he’s very uncomfortable seeing his wife change his bedpan for him.ESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a HospitalCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. In which part of the hospital are you most likely to find a newborn baby?a) The emergency roomb) The neonatal unitc) The burn unit2. Which branch of medicine studies the human heart?a) Cardiologyb) Gynecologyc) Neurology______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?unitThe word “unit,” in this podcast, means a department or one part of a hospital or clinic, as well as the people working there: “The pediatrics unit has brightly painted walls and lots of toys for the children to play with.” When talking about an apartment complex, a “unit” is one apartment: “We live in Building E, Unit 4.” A “unit” is also used to talk about measurements: “Feet and yards are units of length.” Or, “How can I convert units from grams to ounces?” When talking about manufacturing, “units” are the number of items that have been made: “On a good day, we can produce up to 3,000 units per hour.” Finally, a “family unit” is a group of related people who live together: “What percentage of our students live in a traditional family unit with two parents?”to look (someone or something) upIn this podcast, the phrase “to look (someone or something) up” means to search for a name or word in a list or database: “If you don’t know the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.” The phrase “to look in on (someone)” means to visit someone and check up on him/her, especially if that person is sick: “Could you please look in on grandma at least once a week?” The phrase “to look (something) over” means to review something quickly, but not in great detail: “Could you please look over these calculations and check to see if they’re correct?” Finally, the phrase “to look forward to (something)” means to anticipate and want something to happen: “We’re really looking forward to your visit next month!”ESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a HospitalCULTURE NOTETypes of HospitalsWhen people think of hospitals, they usually think of a “general hospital” that is prepared to deal with many types of diseases and injuries. General hospitals usually have an emergency room and they are prepared to admit patients from a single area. Some of these hospitals are “non-profit” (organizations that work for a particular purpose, but not primarily to make money), often organized by a church. But other general hospitals have a traditional “business model” (operational plans designed to make money).Other types of hospitals are more specialized. For example, many large cities have “children’s hospitals” that focus on “pediatrics” (medicine for children).A “teaching hospital” provides medical treatments, but is closely “affiliated with” (connected to) a medical school or a nursing school. Doctors and nurses are on staff, but they work alongside “medical students” (students who want to become doctors) and nursing students, giving them “hands-on experience” (learning by doing, not by reading or hearing about something) with patients. Patients may receive treatments from students operating under the “supervision” (observation and monitoring) of “licensed” (with official permission to do something) healthcare providers.Finally, a “research hospital” also provides medical treatments, but the doctors are actively “engaged” (involved) in research projects. Patients may be asked to “give their permission” (say that something is okay) for “experimental treatments” (treatments that have not been performed often and whose results are not yet known).______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – aESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a Hospital COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 951 – Parts of a Hospital.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 951. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . Go there, become a member of ESL Podcast, and download a learning guide for this episode.This episode is a dialogue that takes place at a hospital about the parts of a hospital. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Jordan: Excuse me, my girlfriend was brought into the hospital about two hours ago, but I can’t find her.Admissions Clerk: Why was she brought into the hospital?Jordan: I’m not sure. I got a call from her coworker, but she didn’t give me any details.Admissions Clerk: If it weren’t an accident, then she wouldn’t be in the emergency room or the trauma unit.Jordan: It may have been her heart. She has a heart condition.Admissions Clerk: Then she might be in the cardiology department. If she is in severe condition, she’ll be in the ICU.Jordan: It may also be the baby. She’s pregnant.Admissions Clerk: Then she might be in the obstetrics and gynecology department. And if the baby has been born, it would be in the neonatal unit. Jordan: I’m just not sure where to go. Maybe I’ll start in the cardiology department.ESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a Hospital Admissions Clerk: That’s fine. Go past the neurology and oncology departments and it’s on your right. If you see the burn unit, then you’ve gone too far. Jordan: You can’t look her up for me to see if she’s been admitted? Admissions Clerk: I’m sorry, but our computer systems are down right now. If you wait until they’re up again, I can try to find her for you.Jordan: And go out of my mind worrying? No thanks. I’m going to find her, even if I have to look behind every bedpan![end of dialogue]Our dialogue begins by Jordan saying to an employee of the hospital, “Excuse me, my girlfriend was brought into the hospital about two hours ago, but I can’t find her.” Jordan is speaking to the admissions clerk. If you are “admitted” to a hospital, that means that you are formally registered, usually to stay overnight or to stay for a longer period in the hospital. The person who takes care of the paperwork – of getting your information, your insurance documents, and so forth – is called the “admissions clerk.” The word “admissions” comes from the verb “to admit” – to let into.The admissions clerk says, “Why was she brought into the hospital?” Jordan says, “I’m not sure. I got a call from her coworker, but she didn’t give me any details.” The admission’s clerk says, “If it weren’t an accident, then she wouldn’t be in the emergency room or the trauma unit.” The emergency room in a hospital – sometimes called the “ER,” by its initials – is the part of the hospital that treats or takes care of people who have very serious or dangerous medical problems that need to be treated right away.If you break your leg or you have a cut in your arm and it’s bleeding, you would go to the emergency room. You can’t wait to make an appointment to go see your doctor next week; you have to go right now. A “trauma (trauma) unit” is a part of a hospital that takes care of people who have injuries like a broken leg, but not illnesses like influenza or some other disease. Trauma units take care of people who have had accidents – physical injuries that usually result from some activity such as playing sports or driving a car and getting in a car accident, that sort of thing.Jordan says, “It may have been her heart. She has a heart condition.” A “heart condition” is when you have some problem with your heart, some problem that might be serious enough for you to go to go to a hospital, for example. PeopleESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a Hospitalwho have heart conditions can have a lot of different things wrong with the heart. It’s just a general term. The admissions clerk then says, “Then she might be in the cardiology department.” “Cardiology” (cardiology) is an area of medicine that deals with the heart. It’s the area of medicine that is concerned with the heart. The clerk says, “If she is in severe condition, she’ll be in the ICU.” The “ICU” is the “intensive care unit.” The word “unit” in a hospital just means the section or area. Intensive care is when someone is very sick, perhaps even close to dying, and so you need someone to be watching over them, to be looking after them, 24 hours a day. The intensive care unit is where people go with all sorts of different kinds of illnesses and problems, but who are all in danger of dying, really. Jordan says, “It may also be the baby. She’s pregnant.” “To be pregnant” (pregnant) means you are expecting a baby. You are expecting a child. The situation in this dialogue, as in other dialogues, is meant to reflect the changes that have taken place, in some cases, in the U.S. These are situations that are not necessarily the same as in other countries or, for that matter, even a few years ago here in the U.S. It has become common in past 20 years for a larger percentage of women to get pregnant before they get married and even have children before they are married.The admissions clerk says, “Then she might be in the obstetrics and gynecology department.” “Obstetrics” (obstetrics) is the area of medicine related to childbirth, to the care of women who are pregnant and are having a baby. “Gynecology” (gynecology) is the area of medicine that deals with illnesses and diseases affecting girls and women – affecting females. A man would not go to a gynecology department . . . unless you were the doctor in the gynecology department. If you need more explanations about this, you can talk to your own doctor, or maybe your parents.The admissions clerk says, “If the baby has been born” – and of course, one would think Jordan would know if that were about to happen – “it would be in the neonatal unit.” “Neonatal” (neonatal) is the part of the hospital that takes care of babies who have been born very recently, usually within, say, 24 hours of the birth. Jordan, who is quite clearly a confused person at this point, says, “I’m not sure where to go.” Of course, it seems unlikely that the girlfriend wouldn’t have a telephone – a cell phone – nowadays, but well, Jordan apparently doesn’t think of that.He says, “Maybe I’ll start in the cardiology department.” The admissions clerk says, “That’s fine” – okay – “Go past the neurology and oncology departments and it’s on your right.” The “neurology (neurology) department” is the part of theESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a Hospitalhospital that takes care of people who have problems with their brain and what is called the “nervous system.” The “nervous system” is the way that the body communicates messages, or the brain communicates messages, to the rest of the body, you could say. So, if you have problems with your brain, like my neighbor, then you might be in the neurology department.There’s also a part of the hospital called an “oncology (oncology) department.” An “oncology department” takes care of people who have cancer. The admissions clerk says, “If you see the burn unit, then you’ve gone too far.” In other words, if you are walking down the hallway of the hospital, and you see something called the “burn unit,” you’ve walked too far. You have to turn around and go back. The “burn (burn) unit” is the part of the hospital that treats people who have been burned by fire or some other hot object.Jordan says, “You can’t look her up for me to see if she’s been admitted?” Jordan is asking the admissions clerk if she can give him that information by looking it up. “To look someone up” is a phrasal verb meaning to search for that person – usually, nowadays, in a database that is in a computer. “To be admitted,” as we mentioned earlier, means to be formally taken into and registered at a hospital. Jordan wants to know if the admissions clerk can just look up the information for him.That isn’t always possible, especially if you’re not a family member. In fact, in many hospitals there are strict rules about the kind of information you can get by talking to the admissions office, but that doesn’t seem to be the problem here. The admissions clerk says, “I’m sorry, but our computer systems are down right now.” When we say the “computer systems are down,” we mean the computer isn’t working again. She says, “If you wait until they’re up again, I can try to find her for you” – if you wait until the computer systems are working, then the admissions clerk says she can try to find the girlfriend for Jordan.Jordan says, “And go out of my mind worrying?” “To go out of your mind” means to go crazy, to become irrational – usually because you’re very worried or anxious about something. Jordan says, “No thanks. I’m going to find her, even if I have to look behind every bedpan.” A “bedpan” (bedpan) – one word – is a small container that is used for people basically to do what they would normally do in a bathroom. But if they can’t get out of their bed, they need somewhere “to go,” we would say informally. That is what a bedpan is.What Jordan is really saying is that he’s going to look everywhere to find her, instead of just waiting for the computer system to come back up.ESL Podcast 951 – Parts of a HospitalNow let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Jordan: Excuse me, my girlfriend was brought into the hospital about two hours ago, but I can’t find her.Admissions Clerk: Why was she bought into the hospital?Jordan: I’m not sure. I got a call from her coworker, but she didn’t give me any details.Admissions Clerk: If it weren’t an accident, then she wouldn’t be in the emergency room or the trauma unit.Jordan: It may have been her heart. She has a heart condition.Admissions Clerk: Then she might be in the cardiology department. If she is in severe condition, she’ll be in the ICU.Jordan: It may also be the baby. She’s pregnant.Admissions Clerk: Then she might be in the obstetrics and gynecology department. And if the baby has been born, it would be in the neonatal unit.Jordan: I’m just not sure where to go. Maybe I’ll start in the cardiology department.Admissions Clerk: That’s fine. Go past the neurology and oncology departments and it’s on your right. If you see the burn unit, then you’ve gone too far. Jordan: You can’t look her up for me to see if she’s been admitted? Admissions Clerk: I’m sorry, but our computer systems are down right now. If you wait until they’re up again, I can try to find her for you.Jordan: And go out of my mind worrying? No thanks. I’m going to find her, even if I have to look behind every bedpan![end of dialogue]You don’t need to look up the name of our scriptwriter anywhere – I’ll tell you: it’s Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast was written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2013 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.。

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ESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island GLOSSARYplum job – a very good job with good pay and benefits; a great job opportunity * Cassie got a plum job that lets her do what she loves best.island – an area of land that is completely surrounded by water, especially the ocean* The Hawaiian Islands were formed by underwater volcanic eruptions.map – a diagram that shows the location of things and that can be used to determine how to go somewhere* This map shows the capitals of each country in Africa.far-flung – very far away; remote* Jamison’s far-flung adventures have taken him to the highest mountains, the deepest oceans, the center of the rainforest, and the North Pole.remote – very far away from other people; not near cities, civilization, or other people* Why did they open a store in such a remote location, where there are so few customers?unspoiled – not ruined, especially not affected in a negative way by humans* This forest is one of the last remaining unspoiled places in the country. paradise – heaven; a place and/or situation where everything is ideal, beautiful, and perfect* Spending a week on a sandy beach with no responsibilities sounds like paradise!to get settled – to become comfortable in a new place or position, especially after one has moved and/or started a new job* It took Tamara a few weeks to get settled at college, but now she’s comfortable and doing well in her classes.desolate – without any people or things; empty and barren* This apartment feels so desolate without any furniturem or paintings on the walls.mainland – a very large area of land that makes up most of a country’s territory; not an island* We sailed out into the ocean until we couldn’t see the mainland anymore.ESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island isolation – the state of being alone, without other people, or with the feeling of not being able to connect with other people* Sometimes the prison uses temporary isolation as a punishment for prisoners who break the rules.civilization – society; a well-developed group of people living together with an established government rules and social norms* Many of the ideas behind American democracy come from Greek civilization. another living soul – another person; another human being* We went hiking in the wilderness and didn’t see another living soul for four days.population – the number of people living in a particular area or country* As the population increases, the city will have to create new housing.to make – to be a certain number or amount of something; to achieve a certain level* When Frank and Holly announced they were expecting a baby, we sent them a balloon with the words “Baby Makes Three.”consideration – careful thought, especially about the advantages and disadvantages of something, often before making a decision* Thank you for your consideration of my application. I hope you’ll call me to schedule an interview soon.ESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. What is a plum job?a) A job in the food industry.b) A job that allows telecommuting.c) A job that is very good and pays well.2. What does Alysson mean when she says, “After I get settled, you should come for a visit”?a) She wants him to visit once she has received her first paycheck.b) She wants him to visit once there are more settlers on the island.c) She wants him to visit once she feels comfortable in her new environment.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?remoteThe word “remote,” in this podcast, means very far away, not near cities, civilization, or other people: “On a bad day, Brett wishes he could run away to a remote cabin where no one could find him.” The phrase “to work remotely” means to telecommute, or to work from home, not at the main office: “All our employees are allowed to work remotely one or two days per week.” A “remote” is a remote control, or a small, wireless device with many buttons used to control a TV, DVD player, stereo, or other electronic device or machine: “The volume button on the remote isn’t working anymore. Maybe it needs new batteries.” Finally, a “remote possibility” is something that is very unlikely to happen: “Since I don’t meet most of the qualifications, getting that job seems like a remote possibility.”to makeIn this podcast, the verb “to make” means to be a certain number or amount of something, or to achieve a certain level: “Wow, the Madisons just said they will come to our Thanksgiving dinner, so that makes 23 guests!” The verb “to make” also means to be promoted or to receive a position or honor: “She is the youngest person ever to make vice president in this firm.” The phrase “to make (an event)” can also mean to be able to attend something: “I won’t be able to make the meeting. Can you take notes for me?” Finally, the phrase “to make believe” means to use one’s imagination and pretend that something is real or true: “We all tried to make believe this plan could work, but I think we all knew it would fail.”ESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote IslandCULTURE NOTERemote U.S. PossessionsA U.S. “possession” or “territory” is an area that is “governed” (ruled) by the United States, “whereas” (while in contrast) a state shares “sovereignty” (the right for an area to govern itself) with the “federal” (national) government. The “better-known” (known by many or most people) U.S. territories include Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, as well as American Samoa. But there are many “lesser-known” (not known by as many people) possessions, too.Several U.S. possessions were “taken” (made part of the United States) under the Guano Islands Act, which was “enacted” (made into law) in 1856. The law allowed the United States to take possession of “uninhabited” (without anyone living there) islands with “guano deposits” (large amounts of bird poop) that could be collected and used as “fertilizer” (substances that improve the soil for growing crops) and as a “component” (ingredient; part) of “gunpowder” (the explosive substance used in guns and other weapons.More than 100 islands were “claimed” (taken and declared as U.S. property) under the Act, but only a few of them “remain” (are still) U.S. possessions today. These include Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, the Johnston “Atoll” (a ring-shaped island made of coral), Kingman Reef, the Midway Atoll, and Palmyra Atoll in the North, Central, and South Pacific Ocean. They are almost “equidistant” (the same distance to two points, one on each side) between Asia and North America. Another possession, Navassa Island, is in the Caribbean Sea, but its possession is “disputed” (being argued about), because Haiti also claims it.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – cESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 1,082 – Traveling to a Remote Island.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 1,082. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Visit our website at . Become a member of ESL Podcast. When you do, you can download the Learning Guides for these episodes. Our Learning Guides contain a complete transcript of everything we say, as well as additional cultural notes, definitions, sample sentences, and a whole lot more.This episode is a dialogue between Leandro and Alysson about going to an island far, far away. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Leandro: When you said you got a plum job working abroad, I thought you were going to Europe or Asia. Where exactly is Hueller Island?Alysson: It’s in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Here, I’ll show you on the map. Leandro: Wow, I had no idea you’d be working in such a far-flung place. It’s a bit remote, isn’t it?Alysson: It is, but it’s also unspoiled and beautiful. I’ve seen photos and it looks like my idea of paradise. See? After I get settled, you should come for a visit. Leandro: It looks a little desolate. Is it hard to get to?Alysson: You would need to take a 19-hour flight from here to the mainland and then a two-day boat ride to reach it.Leandro: Aren’t you worried about living in such isolation? It’s so far from civilization.Alysson: There are other people living on the island, you know, so it’s not like I wouldn’t see another living soul for days.ESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island Leandro: Oh, I’m glad there’s a community living there. What is the population of Hueller Island?Alysson: It’s small, which isn’t unusual for an island this size.Leandro: How small?Alysson: When I move there, it’ll increase to seven. And if you visit, you’ll make eight.Leandro: I’ll give the idea of that trip all the consideration it deserves.[end of dialogue]Leandro begins our dialogue by saying to Alysson, “When you said you got a plum job working abroad, I thought you were going to Europe or Asia.” A “plum (plum) job” is a very desirable job – a good job that perhaps pays a lot or has a lot of benefits. This expression “a plum job” is actually quite old in English. It goes back at least to the nineteenth century. A “plum” is a small, sweet fruit that was considered very desirable, and so we have a “plum job,” meaning a very desirable job.Leandro is asking Alysson about a plum job that she got working abroad. The term “abroad” (abroad) means in another country – in a “foreign country,” we could also say. Leandro thought Alysson was getting a job in Europe or Asia. Instead, she appears to be working somewhere called “Hueller Island.” An “island” is a piece of land surrounded by water. Leandro wants to know where Hueller Island is. Alysson says, “It’s in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Here, I’ll show you on a map.” A “map,” of course, is a diagram or drawing of a certain place, a geographical location.Leandro says, “Wow, I had no idea you’d be working in such a far-flung place.” The term “far-flung” (flung) means very far away, at a very long distance from here. We might also use the term that is used in the title of this episode, “remote” (remote). Something that is remote is very far away from other people – very far away, often, from cities or what we might loosely call “civilization.” It might be a place that is “isolated” – that is, it’s not next to anything else. It is at a great distance from other places.Leandro says it’s a very remote place – he says, “It’s a bit remote, isn’t it?” “A bit” means a little bit, a small amount. Alysson says, “It is, but it’s also unspoiled and beautiful.” Something that is “unspoiled” is something that is not spoiled. So, youESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island need to know the definition of “spoiled.” Something that is spoiled is something that is ruined, something that has gone bad, something that is in a very poor condition or state. So, “unspoiled” would be a place where very few people have gone – a place that is still, in this case, beautiful.Alysson says, “I’ve seen photos,” meaning photographs of this island, “and it looks like my idea of paradise.” “Paradise” (paradise) is a perfect place, an ideal place. In some religions, it’s associated with the idea of heaven – a place where you go when you die (if you’re good, of course). But we also use it to describe a beautiful place to visit or often to go on vacation.Alysson says, “After I get settled, you should come for a visit.” “To get settled” means to become comfortable in a new place or a new position, especially if you are moving from one place to another. If you move from one city to another, it takes a while for you to get settled – to get everything in the right place, to figure out where everything is in your new city, and so forth. Alysson is inviting Leandro to come and visit her.Leandro says, “It looks a little desolate.” “Desolate” (desolate) means empty. It’s a negative way of describing a place that looks like it doesn’t have very much there. If you drive out into the middle of the desert outside of Los Angeles, many parts of it seem desolate. They seem as though there is nothing there. There is nothing interesting there, although some people love the desert, and so for them, it’s not desolate at all. Leandro says, “Is it,” meaning the island, “hard to get to?” “Is it hard to travel to?” is what he’s asking.Alysson says, “You would need to take a 19-hour flight from here to the mainland and then a two-day boat ride to reach it.” We use the term “mainland” (mainland) to describe a country that includes one or more islands. However, most of the land of the country is on one of the seven continents: North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Antarctica, and Australia.So, in the United States, for example, the mainland consists of the parts of the United States that are part of the North American continent. It does not include the islands, say, of Hawaii, or of Puerto Rico, or of Guam, or of the U.S. Virgin Islands, or other U.S. territories. The mainland, then, is the main part of the country that is located on one of the seven continents. Now, it gets a bit confusing, of course, because Australia is also an island, but you understand the general idea here.The mainland is the main part of the country. Unless, of course, the country is itself mostly an island. Then you wouldn’t talk about the mainland, since theESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island entire country is an island. It’s only used when a country has both islands and a significant amount of land on one of the continents. Alysson is describing this island and is telling Leandro that he has to fly to the mainland of whatever country this island is part of and then take a two-day boat ride – a ride in a small ship – in order to get to the island.Leandro says, “Aren’t you worried about living in such isolation?” “Isolation” is when you are alone, when there is no one else around you. He says, “This island is so far from civilization.” “Civilization” means society – a well-developed culture that people have, usually with some sort of established government and social rules and so forth. The word “civilization” can be a tricky one to use nowadays, because traditionally it has been used to describe more industrialized, more Westernized countries and societies versus those that were less so.More generally, the term is used to describe a place where there are “services,” shall we say: electricity and water and food and stores and houses – things that we associate with modern society. Alysson says, however, “There are other people living on the island, you know, so it’s not like I wouldn’t see another living soul for days.” The expression “another living soul” (soul) means another person, another human being.Leandro says, “Oh, I’m glad there is a community living there.” He’s glad. He’s happy that there are lots of other people there on this island as well. He then asks, “What is the population of Hueller Island?” “Population” is the number of people living in a certain place. Alysson says, “It’s small, which isn’t unusual for an island this size.” Leandro then asks, “How small?” meaning exactly how many people are we talking about here.Alysson answers, “When I move there, it’ll increase to seven,” meaning the population will go up to seven. “And if you visit, you’ll make eight.” “You’ll make eight” here means that we will have that number of people. In other words, this island only has six people living on it. If Alysson goes there, the population will go up to seven people, and if Leandro visits, there’ll be eight people there. Now, normally if you visit a place we don’t count that as part of the place’s population, but Alysson is speaking in more general terms here.Well, Leandro clearly is not very interested in visiting Alysson on this very small island. He says, somewhat sarcastically – somewhat jokingly – “I’ll give the idea of that trip all the consideration it deserves.” “Consideration” means careful thought, when you think about the advantages or disadvantages, the pluses or minuses of something. Leandro is saying that really, he’s not going to think about this at all because it’s not an idea that appeals to him, that he thinks it would be aESL Podcast 1082 – Traveling to a Remote Island good one. He’s not going to visit Alysson on this very small island named Hueller island.Is there a Hueller Island? Well, no. We just made that name up (though there are people named “Hueller”).Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Leandro: When you said you got a plum job working abroad, I thought you were going to Europe or Asia. Where exactly is Hueller Island?Alysson: It’s in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Here, I’ll show you on the map. Leandro: Wow, I had no idea you’d be working in such a far-flung place. It’s a bit remote, isn’t it?Alysson: It is, but it’s also unspoiled and beautiful. I’ve seen photos and it looks like my idea of paradise. See? After I get settled, you should come for a visit. Leandro: It looks a little desolate. Is it hard to get to?Alysson: You would need to take a 19-hour flight from here to the mainland and then a two-day boat ride to reach it.Leandro: Aren’t you worried about living in such isolation? It’s so far from civilization.Alysson: There are other people living on the island, you know, so it’s not like I wouldn’t see another living soul for days.Leandro: Oh, I’m glad there’s a community living there. What is the population of Hueller Island?Alysson: It’s small, which isn’t unusual for an island this size.Leandro: How small?Alysson: When I move there, it’ll increase to seven. And if you visit, you’ll make eight.[end of dialogue]Listening to the scripts of Dr. Lucy Tse, our scriptwriter, is a bit like being in paradise – a wonderful place. Thank you, Lucy.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast was written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2015 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.。

ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smells GLOSSARYto renovate– to improve a room or building by rebuilding, expanding, and/or redecorating it* They’re going to renovate their house by adding another bathroom.stale– not fresh; old and used* The bread won’t become stale as quickly if we keep it in a closed plastic bag. musty– slightly wet and bad-smelling because something hasn’t had enough air moving around it* The basement is really musty. Would it help to put a fan down there?to air (something) out– to make air move around something so that it becomes fresher and better-smelling* If you don’t have time to wash your gym socks, at least air them out before you put them back on.putrid– dead and decaying, with a very bad smell* They couldn’t understand why their entryway had such a putrid smell until they found the dead rat under their front porch.faint– very slight; almost unnoticeable; barely* Can you hear that music? It’s very faint, but you can hear it if you stand very still.nasty– very unpleasant and disgusting; gross* Why would anyone want to live in such a nasty apartment building?to permeate– to be present in every part of something; to be found throughout something* The sound of laughter permeates the air at school during recess.burnt– damaged by fire; damaged by being burned* After the fire, a few pieces of burnt wood were all that was left of the building. smoky– with a lot of the smelly, hot, grey air that is produced by a fire* Let’s open the flue in the chimney before we start the fire, or else the whole room will get smoky.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smellsto hold (one’s) breath– to not breathe, usually to avoid smelling something or to avoid making a noise* When we go in there, hold your breath! The air is full of poisonous gases. truckload– the amount that would fill one truck; the amount of something that can be carried by one truck; a large amount* They used two truckloads of river rocks to decorate the area in front of the building.scented– with a pleasant smell* Do you like to use scented soap when you take a bath?perfume– a liquid with a strong, pleasant smell, used by women to make themselves more attractive, usually placed on the wrists and neck* The smell of her perfume quickly filled the elevator, and people began to cough. to mask– to cover something else; to make it impossible to see, smell, hear, or perceive something else* Yu-Lin tried to use makeup to mask her acne.foul– very unpleasant* We went to that restaurant last week, and we were served the foulest food we’d ever tasted. It was horrible!to stink– to have a very bad smell* That blue cheese stinks! I don’t know how you can eat it.sense of smell– the ability to smell things and/or to recognize something by its smell* Dogs have a great sense of smell, so police officers use them to help find drugs in suitcases at airports.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. What kind of smell would you expect to find around a dead animal?a) A musty smell.b) A putrid smell.c) A burnt smell.2. What does Giles mean by saying he’d have to lose his sense of smell to work there?a) He’d have to learn to stop breathing.b) He’d have to bring good-smelling things to work.c) He’d have to stop being bothered by smells.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?faintThe word “faint,” in this podcast, means very slight or almost unnoticeable: “There’s always faint music playing in the office, but it’s never so loud that it interrupts our work.” The phrase “a faint hope/chance” means a slight possibility that something might happen: “There’s only a faint chance that people are still alive under the collapsed building, but we have to keep looking.” The phrase “to not have the faintest idea about something” means to not know anything about something: “‘What do you think she meant by that?’ ‘I haven’t the faintest idea.’” Finally, someone who is “faint-hearted” is not trying very hard, usually because one doesn’t think one can do it, or because one doesn’t really want to do or have it: “Marissa made a faint-hearted attempt to get the job, but she really wants to stay home with her children.”foulIn this podcast, the word “foul” means very unpleasant: “Bryan hates changing his daughter’s foul-smelling diapers.” The phrase “foul language” means bad or rude words that may be offensive: “Please don’t use foul language around the children.” If someone is in a “foul mood,” he or she is in a very bad mood and might get angry very easily: “Don’t do anything to make Mom mad. She’s in a really foul mood today.” In sports, a “foul” is an action that doesn’t follow the rules: “The player got a foul for hitting another player.” Finally, the phrase “foul play” means an illegal or dishonest activity, or murder: “The newspaper said she died of natural causes, but the police suspect foul play.”ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsCULTURE NOTEMany “breeds” (types of an animal) of dogs have a very good sense of smell. For that reason, these dog breeds are often used as police dogs, which are also known as “K9s,” meaning “canines” (dogs or dog-like animals).A “public order enforcement dog” is used to help police officers “chase” (run after) “suspects” (people whom the police believe have committed a crime). These dogs can also help to protect the police officer by “attacking” (physically fighting against) a criminal, if necessary. These are usually large, strong, and intelligent dogs.A “tracking dog” is used to “track” (find where someone has gone and follow that direction) criminals or people who have become lost. The dog might be given a small piece of the person’s clothing and then be told to track that person. The police officers follow the dog until the person is found.An “illicit substances dog” is used to find drugs or “explosive devices” (bombs). These dogs are often seen at airports where they “sniff” (smell something by breathing in loudly through one’s nose) suitcases. If the dog “detects” (finds something), it points to the suitcase until the police officer comes over and opens it.Finally, a “cadaver dog” is used to find “cadavers” (dead bodies) through its sense of smell. With the right training, some dogs can even smell cadavers that are underwater.Police dogs are “valued” (respected and honored) members of the “police force”(a group of police officers). Sometimes they are given their own “badges” (a piece of metal worn to identify oneself as a police officer or firefighter). When the dogs are “killed in the line of duty” (killed while working), they are often given a full police “funeral” (the ceremony held after someone dies).______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – cESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smells COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 543: Describing Different Smells.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 543. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . Go there today to download the Learning Guide for this episode, that will help you improve your English even faster.This episode is called “Describing Different Smells.” It’s a dialogue between Julia and Giles talking about the different words we use to describe how things smellin English. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Giles: Do you really think we’ll be able to renovate this place and turn it into a restaurant?Julia: It’s not so bad. I know it smells a little stale and musty in here, but all we need to do is air it out.Giles: Air it out? This place needs a lot more than an airing out. The kitchen smells putrid. I wonder what died in there.Julia: There is a faint smell of something nasty in there, but I don’t think it permeates through the rest of the building, do you?Giles: No, but there are different nasty smells in other parts of the building. Oh! There’s a really strong burnt, smoky smell in this corner. Hold your breath!Julia: This is a restaurant. I’m sure a thorough cleaning will make all the difference.Giles: That might be true for the kitchen, but what will you do in the dining room? An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!Julia: All right, I’ll look for another building, but this place is cheap and within our budget.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsGiles: Yes, but if I had to work here, I’d first have to lose my sense of smell! [end of dialogue]Giles begins by saying to Julia, “Do you really think we’ll be able to renovate this place and turn it into a restaurant?” “To renovate” means to improve a room or an entire building by usually rebuilding parts of it, expanding it, perhaps putting different decoration – different colors, that sort of thing. “To renovate” means to make new, in some ways, the room or the building. Giles wants to take a place, some place they own or are renting, and turn it into a restaurant, meaning make it into a restaurant. Maybe it was a store before, now it would be something different.Julia says, “It’s not so bad.” The place is not too bad is what she’s saying. She says, “I know it smells a little stale and musty in here, but all we need to do is air it out.” “Stale” is a way of describing a smell that is not fresh, that is old; something that smells used could be described as stale. “Musty” (musty) is something that smells like it’s slightly wet; it’s a very bad smell, usually because there hasn’t been enough air circulation in a particular area. If you live in the northern part of the United States and your house has a basement, sometimes in the basement it can get very moist, very damp, meaning there’s water there, and that can lead to a musty smell. “To air (something) out” means to open windows or to do something to make the air move around the particular space so it dries out, smells better, gets rid of the bad smells. You might open a window, for example, to air something out.Giles says, “Air it out? This place needs a lot more than an airing out.” Notice he uses “airing out” as a noun, from the verb “to air (something) out.” He says, “The kitchen smells putrid.” “Putrid” (putrid) is the smell of something that is dead, something that is perhaps decaying, meaning that, for example, it’s been sitting there for a long time and so it starts to come apart. A human body, if it were left in a room – a dead body, that is – would start to decay. It would start to change colors; it would start to smell bad. Well, that bad smell we could describe as being putrid. It doesn’t just mean it’s a dead body; there are other things that can smell putrid. “Putrid” is perhaps one on the most negative words you can use to describe the way that something smells. Giles says, “I wonder what died in there.” He’s joking; he doesn’t mean something actually is dead in there – although it’s possible!Julia says, “There is a faint smell of something nasty in there, but I don’t think it permeates through the rest of the building, do you?” A “faint (faint) smell” is aESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smellsvery slight, very small – so small you can almost not notice it. “Faint” has a lot of different meanings in English in addition to this one. Take a look at the Learning Guide for some more explanations. “Nasty” (nasty) is something that is very unpleasant; we might even say it’s disgusting or it’s gross. It’s a very negative way to describe something. You could say, “It was a nasty fight.” The two people were fighting, they were yelling at each other, they were shouting, using bad language. That would be a nasty fight. Here, “nasty” means that the smell is very bad. Julia says there’s a faint smell something nasty in there, but she doesn’t think it permeates through the rest of the building. “To permeate” (permeate) means to be present in every part of something – in every part of, in this case, the building. If a nasty smell permeates the building, we mean you can smell it everywhere in the building.Giles says that he doesn’t think the nasty smell permeates through the rest of the building, but there are different nasty smells in other parts of the building. He then says, “Oh! There’s a really strong burnt, smoky smell in this corner. Hold your breath!” A “burnt (burnt) smell” would be something that smells after it has been damaged by fire. “Smoky,” similarly, means that something has been burning, or something has been producing smoke, and the smoke is now the smell that you get when you go close to that object. So if there’s a fire in the room, and there was a wooden chair, after the fire whatever is left of the chair might have a burnt, smoky smell. Giles says to Julia, “Hold your breath!” “To hold your breath” means not to breathe, usually because you don’t want to smell something. You want to avoid a bad smell, hold your breath. It means not to breathe.Julia says, “This is a restaurant. I’m sure a thorough cleaning will make all the difference.” So I guess they’re in a building that had a restaurant, but it’s an old one and it needs cleaning up. Giles says, “That might be true for the kitchen, but what will you do in the dining room (the place where people eat, or dine)? An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!” Giles says that an entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those fouls smells. A “truckload,” here, would be the amount that you could put into a truck; more generally, it just means a large amount of something. So he’s saying that even if we had a large number of scented candles – “scented” means with a pleasant smell. So you buy a candle, and you light it, and it gives off a pleasant smell. That would be a scented candle. I personally don’t like scented candles, because I don’t think the smell is very pleasant at all usually. Giles also mentions bottles of perfume. “Perfume” is a liquid with a strong, pleasant smell. It’s used primarily by women. When men use perfume, they don’t call it perfume, they typically call it “cologne,” just so they don’t seem like they’re women I guess.ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different SmellsI don’t know; it’s all perfume basically! “To mask” (mask) means to cover something, to make it difficult or impossible to see or smell or hear something. In this case, make it difficult to smell something. “Foul” (foul) is like the word “putrid,” something that is very unpleasant, something that is very bad. “Foul,” however, has some other meanings; take a look at the Learning Guide for those. So going back, Giles says, “An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!” “To stink” means to have a very bad smell. You would never want to say to your boss or to your girlfriend, “Boy, you really stink!” That is not a nice thing to say. More generally, “stink” means to be very bad at something. So we could say, “Ah, that baseball player stinks.” “David Beckham stinks,” for example. I’m not saying he actually stinks; I don’t watch soccer so I don’t really know! But when Giles says, “This place just stinks,” he means it literally stinks; it smells “from top to bottom,” meaning the entire building – the entire room.Julia says, “All right, I’ll look for another building, but this place is cheap and within our budget,” meaning we can afford it; we have enough money for what we planned. Giles says, “Yes, but if I had to work here, I’d first have to lose my sense of smell!” Your sense of smell is your ability to smell. We talk about the five senses: smell, see, hear, taste, and touch. And then of course, the sixth sense, which is the ability to see dead people – if you saw the movie, you know what I’m talking about!Now let’s listen to the dialogue again, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Giles: Do you really think we’ll be able to renovate this place and turn it into a restaurant?Julia: It’s not so bad. I know it smells a little stale and musty in here, but all we need to do is air it out.Giles: Air it out? This place needs a lot more than an airing out. The kitchen smells putrid. I wonder what died in there.Julia: There is a faint smell of something nasty in there, but I don’t think it permeates through the rest of the building, do you?Giles: No, but there are different nasty smells in other parts of the building. Oh! There’s a really strong burnt, smoky smell in this corner. Hold your breath!ESL Podcast 543 – Describing Different Smells Julia: This is a restaurant. I’m sure a thorough cleaning will make all the difference.Giles: That might be true for the kitchen, but what will you do in the dining room? An entire truckload of scented candles or bottles of perfume couldn’t mask those foul smells. This place just stinks, from top to bottom!Julia: All right, I’ll look for another building, but this place is cheap and within our budget.Giles: Yes, but if I had to work here, I’d first have to lose my sense of smell! [end of dialogue]There was nothing stale about this dialogue, because it was written by Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for Educational Development.。

have allergies (to something)：对某些东西过敏。

you're up for: be ready for 为甚么做好准备。

to play ball:to play sports 喜欢运动，参加群体运动。

chore：指的是一种任务，你必须做的事情，通常是指家务。

in business：准备好了。

一切就绪——we're in business。

Push comes to shove, your family are the only ones you got：当你处于艰难的处境时，你能依靠的人或者事物只有（在此处）你的家人。

Criteria：（criterion的复数）指的是评价某物的一个准则或条件。

例如：“The criteria forthis job are that you are able to speak English and have a college degree.” If you don't meet those criteria then you cannot get the job.Standard：会跟政府的一些机构或者官方组织有关，例如学校有关。

The school has certain standards for its students, and it's a list of things that each student must know before they get their high school diploma. Other government organizations - also have these rules that everyone is supposed to follow. 每所学校每个州都设有一定的标准/规范，而政府组织——一些其它的政府组织也设有大家都要遵守的标准。

criteria更倾向于表示跟具体的东西，并且通常跟判断和评估什么东西有关。

四川省宜宾市2023-2024学年高一下学期期末考试英语试题一、阅读理解The best podcasts for people learning to cookThe Kitchen CounterThis show is designed to help new cooks on their way to greatness. While important topics such as healthy eating, the cost of good food and cooking meals suitable for the whole family are covered on the podcast, the great strength of The Kitchen Counter is in its rich recipes. This is home cooking done right, with both the host and guests talking listeners through a variety of global dishes, from their origins to their variations and most importantly, how to make them.The Splendid TableWhy do we cook? Why do we eat what we eat? The host, Francis Lam, touches upon great recipes and killer cooking tips in his conversations, but they also focus on the impact food has on our lives and the personal connections it allows us to build. New cooks looking to get caught up in this culinary world will find the podcast helpful, inspiring and very relatable.Recipe ClubThe recipe is at the heart of everything the Recipe Club podcast concentrates itself on. Each episode (一集) presents new themes, recipes and members of the club to debate and analyze these critical cooking instructions. Listeners will hear how the presenters have cooked the meal themselves and can learn how a good recipe can be made even better.BBC Good Food Podcast The episodes cover a set of bases, including spices (香料), food trends, following recipes, important kitchen equipment and even barbecuing. As a limited series, there’s not a never-ending run of episodes to keep up with. Plus, this is a one-stop shop for all the essentials and the host and guests offer up insights that simply aren’t available anywhere else.1．What do The Kitchen Counter and Recipe Club have in common?A．They share various recipes.B．They center around food trends.C．They present different global dishes.D．They focus on food experimentation. 2．Which podcast explores the influence of food?A．Recipe Club.B．The Splendid Table.C．The Kitchen Counter.D．BBC Good Food Podcast.3．What is special about the BBC Good Food Podcast?A．It invites well-known guests.B．It educates people on healthy eating.C．It is designed for those new to cooking.D．It covers various cooking topics with unique insights.The envelope lies among the branches of the tree on the balcony. It has been a birthday gift for my husband for 10 years. It all began because my husband Mike hated the commercial aspects of celebrating birthday. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to stop buying the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling (摔跤) at the junior level at the school he attended. There was once a match against a team called Power, sponsored (赞助) by an inner city charity.As the match began, I was surprised to see that team members of Power were wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the team obviously couldn’t afford. Well, we ended up beating them. And as each of their boys got up from the ground, he walked around with a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved kids — all kids. He understood kids in competitive situations, having coached little league football, baseball and basketball. That’s when the idea for his present suddenly occurred.That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store, bought varieties of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them secretly to the inner city charity. On his birthday, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.4．What is the author aimed at in paragraph 1?A．Introducing the author’s husband, Mike.B．Describing the appearance of the envelope.C．Explaining the significance of the envelope.D．Bringing out the reason of seeing the envelope as a birthday gift.5．What could we learn about the match from the text?A．The team Power lacked protective headgear.B．The author’s husband thought highly of the match.C．The author’s son Kevin was a professional wrestler.D．The team Power accepted the outcome of the match willingly.6．How did Mike react when Power failed?A．He felt indifferent for the team’s failure.B．He thought they didn’t have the ability to win.C．He admired their street pride despite the defeat.D．He believed it would discourage the boys’ spirit.7．What does the “envelope” symbolize?A．The author’s dissatisfaction with traditional birthday gifts.B．The author’s love and thoughtfulness towards her husband.C．The author’s desire to keep the gift hidden until the last moment.D．The author’s attempt to remind her husband of his coaching days.Traditionally, filmmaking has been seen as a domain (领域) limited to professional teams led by experienced directors or wealthy individuals. However, with the help of AI-generated content (AIGC), ordinary people are now ab le to produce brilliant films and even receive awards at a film festival.This year, the 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) introduced the AIGC Short Film Unit for the first time. From January to April, the committee received 430 films from both domestic and international creators. Impressively,45 percent of the total submissions (提交) were from independent creators, with the youngest being just 11 years old, while professionals accounted for only 10.7 percent.“AIGC is changing the film industry by allowing ordinary people to create films,” stated Wang Lei. Wang Zimin, a 29- year- old journalism major, won the Best Creative Award with his film Illegal Report. In his film, a special group decides whether beings are considered as AI or human to prevent chaos.A significant challenge in AIGC filmmaking is shot continuity because many AIGC applications can only produce random video clips based on users’ order. As a result, charactersoften appear differently in following scenes. Wang Zimin explained his innovative solution: “To maintain continuity, I used unclear images to make the scenes smooth.” He added, “I dug into AI applications for just two months. AIGC tools are everywhere and user- friendly like Meitu.”According to Song Donghuan, a scriptwriter and founder of StoryStorm, a leading AIGC workshop, “AIGC filmmaking is accessible to everyone, with no barriers related to wealth or technology. The essential requirement is a strong desire to express themselves.”Song also highlighted the transformative impact of AI: “We are fortunate to live in the era of AL Now, the only limit to becoming a director is not the absence of a team, scenes or actors, but rather your own imagination.”8．What can we know about the AIGC Short Film Unit at the 14th BJIFF?A．Chinese creators contributed to half of the films.B．Only 10.7 percent of the films were well- received.C．Most of the entries were made by non- professionals.D．Individuals age under 18 were disqualified to submit films.9．What is one problem of using AIGC to make films according to the text?A．Unclear images at certain scenes.B．Lack of continuity between scenes.C．The limited AIGC tools in filmmaking.D．High costs for independent filmmakers. 10．Which is closest in meaning to “transformative” in the last paragraph?A．Short- termed.B．Negative.C．Predictable.D．Ground- breaking. 11．Which is the most suitable title for the text?A．The Rise of Independent Filmmakers.B．Wang Zimin: A Rising Star in the Film Industry.C．A Revolutionary Era in Filmmaking: The Role of AI.D．The Development of Beijing International Film Festival.Over 8,300 million tons of plastic produced up to the end of 2023, 6, 300 million tons have been thrown away. Most of that plastic waste is still with us, buried in landfills or polluting the environment. Microplastics have been found in Antarctic sea ice, in the guts of animals that live in the deepest ocean and in drinking water around the world.But what if we could wave a magic stick and remove all plastics from our lives? It mightseem like a good idea for the planet, but we’d soon find out how far plastic has spread to every aspect of our existence.In hospitals, the loss of plastic would be devastating. “Imagine trying to run a dialysis (透析) unit with no plastic,” says Sharon George, senior lecturer at Keele University in the UK. Plastic is used in gloves, tubing, blood bags, sample tubes and more. Some everyday plastic items are also important for protecting health. Face masks, including plastic-based surgical masks and respirators (人工呼吸器), as well as reusable cloth masks, have helped slow the spread of virus.Our food system would also quickly come apart. We use packaging to protect food from damage in transit and preserve it long enough to reach supermarket shelves, as well as for communication and marketing. “I cannot imagine how plastic would be replaced completely in our system,” says Eleni, a lecturer in environmental management at Brunel University London.Swapping out plastic packaging would have a series of environmental effects. While glass has some advantages over plastic, such as being endlessly recyclable, a one- liter glass bottle can weigh as much as 800g compared to a 40g plastic one. When those heavier bottles and jars need to be transported over long distances, carbon emissions grow even more. It’s clear that replacing one material with another won't solve all our plastic problems.12．What happens to most of the plastic waste thrown away in paragraph 1?A．It is stored in certain facilities.B．It is recycled into new products.C．It is transformed into microplastics.D．It is buried in landfills or pollutes theenvironment.13．What can be interred from paragraph 3?.A．Plastic plays a significant role in hospital.B．Hospitals prefer using cloth masks to plastic masks.C．Hospitals can function well without plastic materials.D．Plastic masks have little impact on slowing the spread of viruses.14．What is Eleni’s attitude towards completely removing plastic from the food system?A．Supportive.B．Optimistic.C．Doubtful.D．Indifferent. 15．What makes the best title for the passage?A．What if we stopped using plastic?B．Swapping out plastic for sustainable living.C．More recycling won’t solve plastic pollution.D．Is plastic packaging bad for theenvironment?Ways to keep your brain youngEvery brain changes with age, and mental function changes along with it. Mental decline is common, and it's one of the most feared consequences of aging. But cognitive(认知的) damage is not unavoidable. 16 .Get mental stimulationThrough research with mice and humans, scientists have found that brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and may even help the brain generate new cells.17 Read, take courses, and try “mental gymnastics,” such as word puzzles or math problems that require mental effort like drawing, painting, and other crafts.Get physical exercise18 . People who exercise regularly increase the number of tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen- rich blood to the region of the brain that is responsible for thought. Exercise also spurs the development of new nerve cells and increases the connections between brain cells.19Good nutrition can help your mind as well as your body. For example, people that eat a Mediterranean style diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, unsaturated oils (olive oil) and plant sources of proteins are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia. In this way, both your blood sugar and blood pressure will be in good control.Care for your emotionsPeople who are anxious, depressed, sleep- deprived, or exhausted tend to score poorly on cognitive function tests. Immediate actions should be taken to prevent cognitive decline. Neglecting your emotional well- being can have a profound impact on your ability to think clearly, make decisions, and maintain a high level of mental sharpness. 20 .A．Improve your dietB．Improve your blood sugarC．Enough sleep is of great importance for brainD．Research shows that using your muscles helps your mindE．Here are some ways you can help maintain brain functionF．Any mentally stimulating activity should help to build up your brainG．Positive moods can reduce stress and anxiety, leading to improved mental health二、完形填空Many years ago, there was a young boy named Daniel who lived in a small village. He was a gifted student with a(n) 21 for science, but he faced a significant challenge: his family was too poor to 22 the necessary equipment and resources for his experiments.23 , Daniel’s determination to pursue his passion did not waver (动摇). He collected waste materials from the local factory and used them to 24 temporary lab equipment. His creativity and resourcefulness allowed him to 25 simple experiments, and he learned a great deal from them.One day, Daniel heard about a national science competition for students. The winner would receive a(n) 26 to a well-known university. Daniel knew this was a chance to change his life, so he decided to 27 the competition.He spent 28 hours designing and building a unique device that could convert waste materials into renewable energy. Despite numerous setbacks and 29 , Daniel never gave up. He worked tirelessly, refining and improving his invention.When the day of the 30 arrived, Daniel presented his invention to the judges. They were impressed by his ingenuity and the potential impact of his invention on the environment. To Daniel’s delight, he was 31 the winner of the competition.Daniel’s victory not only earned him a scholarship (奖学金) but also 32 others in his village to pursue their dreams, 33 their circumstances. His story serves as a 34 reminder that with determination, creativity, and a little bit of resourcefulness, one can 35 barriers and achieve great things.21．A．solution B．passion C．expectation D．examination 22．A．donate B．attract C．afford D．invent 23．A．However B．Besides C．Therefore D．Otherwise 24．A．introduce B．fix C．discover D．create 25．A．conduct B．observe C．question D．construct26．A．introduction B．award C．reward D．call27．A．quit B．host C．escape D．enter 28．A．limited B．precious C．countless D．equal 29．A．successes B．performances C．opportunities D．failures 30．A．victory B．competition C．experiment D．ceremony 31．A．discussed B．admitted C．adjusted D．declared 32．A．persuaded B．inspired C．recommended D．allowed 33．A．because of B．in case of C．regardless of D．in place of 34．A．powerful B．familiar C．careful D．convenient 35．A．overcome B．welcome C．forget D．target三、语法填空阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

泛听篇：ESLPod入门操作指南展开全文【ESLPod简要介绍】今天这篇文章讲讲泛听，我选择的泛听材料是风靡全球的ESLPod。

ESLPod简单地说就是一个Podcast，那什么是Podcast（播客）呢？Podcast类似于电台，但和BBC、VOA等不同的是，Podcast一般由个人制作，而非官方，而且播讲内容也比较轻松愉快有趣，不像新闻那么严肃正式。

ESLPod (English as a Second Language Podcast)是一款针对初级和进阶英语学习者使用的播客材料，两位播讲主持人分别是Dr. Jeff McQuillan和Dr. Lucy Tse。

ESLPod分为Daily English和English Cafe，前者主要针对地道表达和习语（针对听力和口语的提高），后者主要针对英语国家文化。

下面说到的ESLPod，默认指的是Daily English。

ESLPod的内容比较丰富，包含了生活的方方面面的实用英语表达，如旅行、工作、娱乐、饮食等等。

ESLPod的模式很简单。

每集大概有20分钟，首先是一段慢速短文；然后Jeff对短文中所用到的表达进行讲解，讲解时所用到的词汇都是十分简单易懂的；最后，Jeff博士再把这段短文用常速说一遍。

【ESPod学习原理】关于学习原理，Dr. Jeff在ESLPod专门拿出第0集来讲解学习和提升英语的原理，我个人强烈建议初学者听一下第0期。

这个材料的核心理念是“T o pick up, or to acquire a language, to really know the language, you have to understand the language”，也就是说，只有听和读那些你能够理解大部分（大概是85%或90%）的材料，你才能吸收，你才能提高你的英语。

因此，ESLPod的播讲语速非常慢，目的就是为了能让收听的人听懂大部分。

利用你懂得大部分知识来吸收不懂的少部分知识。

ESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Food GLOSSARYfunny – strange or unusual, often in a bad way* There’s something funny about the way he told us to be careful, almost as if he knew something bad would happen.tainted – contaminated; spoiled or unsafe because a food or drink contains something harmful or poisonous* The air was tainted by the fumes from the tire factory.to detect – to be able to sense something; to identify the presence of something * Bacteria are too small to detect just by using our eyes, so we have to use a microscope.metallic – tasting like a piece of metal, with a sharp, bitter taste* This medicine might leave a metallic taste in your mouth, but it should go away within a few hours.off – wrong; incorrect; not quite right, but difficult to define or identify* When Tariq came home, the door was unlocked and even though nothing had been stolen, he felt that something was off.adulterated – made impure or contaminated by adding something else, often to make something less expensive* The infant formula was adulterated, so people were actually giving their babies powdered formula mixed with chalk!poison – a substance that can hurt or kill when eaten, drunken, or touched* If the mouse traps aren’t working, it’s time to buy some poison.a terrible death – a horrible way to die; a very slow and painful death* Taisha suffered from the disease for months and died a terrible death.toxic – poisonous; containing substances that can cause harm or death, especially chemical substances* What does the factory do with all that toxic waste?sour – spoiled; a food or drink that was not eaten early enough and has an unpleasant taste* Pease finish the milk before it becomes sour.ESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Food ingredient – one of the foods or substances used to make another food or drink * This recipe calls for just four ingredients: oatmeal, raisins, milk, and brown sugar.spoiled – damaged through decay; no longer good to eat* The food is spoiled because she forgot to put it in the refrigerator last night. botulism – a type of food poisoning, often deadly, caused by bacteria in food, especially in damaged cans* Food safety experts warn that people should never buy dented cans of food, because they might cause botulism.to pass – to forego; to decide not to have or do something* A: Are you going to go to the party tonight?B: No, I’ll pass. I have to study.to hand (something) over – to give something to another person* If you aren’t going to finish that cake, hand it over!hypochondriac – a person who believes he or she has many diseases, even though he or she is actually healthy* Nancy complains about her health all the time. Is she really sick, or is she just a hypochondriac?paranoid – very worried and anxious, believing that other people are trying to hurt oneself in some way* Kyle is really paranoid. He thinks the FBI and the CIA are listening to his phone calls and reading his emails.ESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated FoodCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these words could be used to describe bread that should no longer be eaten?a) Toxic.b) Sour.c) Spoiled.2. Why doesn’t Rachel want to eat the food?a) She thinks it doesn’t look nice.b) She thinks it has a strange smell.c) She thinks it might kill her.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?offThe word “off,” in this podcast, means wrong, incorrect, or not quite right, but difficult to define or identify: “The kids were playing with the radio dials, and now the sound is a little off.” The phrase “the off season” refers to a time of year when a business is not very busy: “Toy manufacturers work really hard in the months before Christmas, but the rest of the year is the off season.” The phrase “an off day” refers to a day when things are not going well and when a person is not behaving or performing as well as usual: “Normally, Norma-Jean is a sweet little girl, but today she’s having an off day.” Finally, the phrase “off-limits” describes something that is forbidden and not allowed: “Sugar is off-limits while you’re on this diet.”sourIn this podcast, the word “sour” means spoiled, referring to a food or drink that was not eaten soon enough and has an unpleasant taste: “How can you eat your cereal with sour milk? It smells terrible!” The phrase “a sour face” refers to someone with an unpleasant, unfriendly facial expression: “Dmitriy is really nice and friendly, but the has such a sour face that people don’t want to talk to him.” Finally, the phrase “sour grapes” refers to someone who cannot have something, so pretends not to like or want it even though that isn’t true: “Helena was very critical of their new home, but it was really just a case of sour grapes. She’d love to buy a home like that if she had more money.”ESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated FoodCULTURE NOTEMajor Food Poisoning IncidentsThere have been many “outbreaks” (occurrences of a disease in many people) of “food-borne illnesses” or “food poisoning” (sickness caused by food) in the United States in recent years. The “deadliest” (causing the most deaths) one “occurred” (happened) in 1985 in California, when approximately 50 people died from eating cheese contaminated with Listeria (a type of bacteria). The second-deadliestU.S. food poisoning incident occurred in 2011 throughout the United States when 29 people died from eating “cantaloupes” (an orange-colored melon) from Colorado, also contaminated with Listeria.In 2010, more than 500 million eggs were “recalled” (taken back from stores so they cannot be sold) after almost 2,000 people became ill. The eggs were contaminated with Salmonella (another type of bacteria). Salmonella was also the “culprit” (the thing or person responsible for some problem or crime) in the food illnesses caused by peanut butter in 2009. The peanut butter was used as an ingredient in many products sold by many different manufacturers across the country. “Altogether” (in total), the foods containing the peanut butter made more than 22,000 people sick and killed nine people.The E. coli bacteria have been the source of many other instances of food poisoning. E. coli is normally found in meats like “poultry” (chicken and turkey) and ground beef, but it has been found in other products, too. For example, in 2009 more than 65 people became ill after eating “raw” (not cooked) cookie “dough” (the mixture of ingredients used to make bread, cookies, or muffins) “presumably” (probably, but not proven) contaminated with E. coli.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – cESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Food COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 821: Eating Contaminated Food.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 821. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our dialogue is on our website. You can also download a Learning Guide from that same website, . Go there today and become a member.How are you doing today? Are you happy? Are you sad? Let's hope you're happy. If not, let's listen to this dialogue and maybe that will make you happy. It's about eating contaminated food, food that has something wrong with it, and there's nothing happier than the subject of contaminated food. Let’s get started![start of dialogue]Rachel: This tastes funny.Sergey: It’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with it.Rachel: It tastes like it’s tainted or something. Don’t you detect a funny metallic taste?Sergey: No, it’s perfectly fine. Just eat it.Rachel: I swear there’s something off about this food. I’m not eating adulterated food. There’s probably poison in here and we’re both going to die a terrible death.Sergey: There is nothing poisonous or toxic in this food. I made it myself.Rachel: Did you make sure that the milk wasn’t sour and that none of the ingredients were spoiled? I’ll probably die from botulism.Sergey: There’s nothing spoiled, tainted, toxic, or poisonous in this food. Are you going to eat that or not?Rachel: I think I’ll pass.ESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Food Sergey: Then hand it over. I’m hungry. I’ve never met such a hypochondriac before!Rachel: I’m not a hypochondriac. I’m just a little paranoid...[end of dialogue]Our happy dialogue begins with Rachel saying, “This tastes funny.” You see? “Funny” – it’s already a happy dialogue. We have the word “funny.” Well, in some cases, it can mean something that makes you laugh. He’s very funny – ha, ha, ha, ha. But “funny” here, when we're talking about the ways something tastes in your mouth, means strange or unusual, usually in a bad way, meaning there's something wrong with it. It might make you sick. It might kill you. It's a weird phrase, but we use the word funny with the verb taste when we mean food has some unusual, usually bad taste. Sergey says, “It's fine. There's nothing wrong with it.” There's nothing wrong with the food, Sergey says.Rachel, however, says, “It tastes like it's tainted or something.” It tastes like it has the taste in my mouth of something that is “tainted” (tainted). “Tainted” is another word for contaminated. It means something – some food or drink – contains something that is harmful or poisonous. It's not safe to eat or drink it. Rachel says, “Don’t you detect a funny metallic taste?” To “detect” (detect) means to be able to identify the presence or existence of something, to be able to tell, if you will, that it's there. Don’t you detect, can't you taste, a funny metallic taste? “Metallic” (metallic) comes from the word metal, so something that tastes like metal, which of course is not a very nice taste.Sergey says, “No, it's perfectly fine.” “Perfectly” here means completely, no problem. “Just eat it,” he says to Rachel. Rachel says, “I swear,” meaning I believe, I really believe, “there's something off about this food.” When we say the food is “off” (off), we mean it's not quite right. We can use this expression, “there's something off about this television program” or “there's something off about the way I'm feeling.” It's not quite right. It's wrong, but it's difficult to say exactly what the problem is. If you say there's something off about this food, you mean it doesn’t taste good. You're not sure what the problem is, but you know there's something wrong with it.Rachel says, “I'm not eating adulterated food.” “Adulterated” (adulterated) means the same as tainted or contaminated. Usually, however, adulterated means that something was actually added to the product, to the food or the drink. Someone actually put something in there that was contaminated. Sometimes it is done on purpose, and that’s the idea here, that someone put something in there thatESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Food makes it not the food you think it is. Rachel says, “There's probably poison in here and we're both going to die a terrible death.” Didn’t I tell you this was going to be a happy dialogue? There's probably “poison” (poison) means there's probably a substance here that will kill us or hurt us if we eat it or drink it or perhaps even touch it. Poison is something, some substance, some chemical substance often, that kills you. “A terrible death” would be a horrible way to die, a very slow and painful death might be a terrible death. Well, Rachel is probably not serious, but you don’t really know. Maybe there is poison and they will die a terrible death.Sergey says, “There is nothing poisonous or toxic in this food. “Toxic” (toxic) is the same as poisonous. It contains some substance that will kill you or that will hurt you. It has something that will injure you or perhaps kill you. Sergey insists that there's nothing wrong with the food. He says, “I made it myself.” I made this food.Rachel said, “Did you make sure that the milk wasn’t sour and that none of the ingredients were spoiled?” “Sour” (sour) here means gone bad. When you have a food or a drink that is not eaten quickly enough, sometimes it will go sour. It will go bad. It will “spoil” (spoil). Well, if you put milk out in the sun, eventually the milk will sour. It will change so that you can't eat it, or drink it, rather, anymore. That’s what Rachel is asking Sergey, if he used milk that was not sour and that none of the ingredients were spoiled. “Ingredients” are the things you use to make a certain kind of food. So if you're making lasagna, an Italian food, you would have pasta and perhaps tomato sauce and vegetables and meat and cheese. These are ingredients for that particular dish, that particular kind of food. Rachel is asking Sergey if he made sure that none of the ingredients were spoiled. Remember “spoiled” means they’ve gone bad. We might say they're “rotten” (rotten). When you wait too long to eat a certain kind of food, it could spoil. It would no longer be able to be eaten. That’s the idea.Rachel then says, “I'll probably die from botulism.” “Botulism” (botulism) is a kind of food poisoning that can often kill you. It's caused by certain bacteria being in the food, things that shouldn’t be there, especially if you put them in a certain kind of can, or if something happens and the food somehow gets this bacteria in it. It could kill you. It's a kind of food poisoning. Well, that’s what Rachel says here, “I'll probably die from botulism.”Rachel – come on, Rachel! I mean, she’s sort of what we would call a drama queen. A “drama queen” is someone who is always very dramatic about something, who always exaggerates things: “Oh, it's so hot in here, I think I will die!” That would be kind of someone who’s a drama queen, someone who thinksESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Foodthat something bad is going to happen to her, or someone who – a woman – who exaggerates problems that she has, who always is making things worse than they actually are.Sergey says, “There's nothing spoiled, tainted, toxic, or poisonous in this food. Are you going to eat that or not?” Rachel says, “I think I'll pass.” “To pass” means I'm not going to do it. To decide not to do something is to pass. Sergey says, “Then hand it over.” “Hand it over” is a somewhat rude way of saying “Give me that!” Give that thing to me. If you are being robbed by a thief, someone has a gun and comes up to you and wants your money, he may say, “Hand it over!” meaning give it to me right now. That’s what Sergey says. “Hand it over. I'm hungry. I've never met such a hypochondriac before!” A “hypochondriac” (hypochondriac) is a person who believes that he or she has many diseases even when they don’t have any diseases. This is the kind of person who reads about something in the newspaper and says, “Oh, I have that. I have that sickness. That’s me.” And they start to feel sick even when there's nothing wrong with them. That’s a hypochondriac.Rachel says, “I'm not a hypochondriac. I'm just a little paranoid.” “Paranoid” (paranoid) is when you're very worried and anxious about something because you think someone else is trying to hurt you. You think someone else is trying to kill you or maybe just follow you around, someone who’s paranoid thinks everyone is trying to get him. And that’s what Rachel is, in addition to being a drama queen.Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Rachel: This tastes funny.Sergey: It’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with it.Rachel: It tastes like it’s tainted or something. Don’t you detect a funny metallic taste?Sergey: No, it’s perfectly fine. Just eat it.Rachel: I swear there’s something off about this food. I’m not eating adulterated food. There’s probably poison in here and we’re both going to die a terrible death.ESL Podcast 821 – Eating Contaminated Food Sergey: There is nothing poisonous or toxic in this food. I made it myself. Rachel: Did you make sure that the milk wasn’t sour and that none of the ingredients were spoiled? I’ll probably die from botulism.Sergey: There’s nothing spoiled, tainted, toxic, or poisonous in this food. Are you going to eat that or not?Rachel: I think I’ll pass.Sergey: Then hand it over. I’m hungry. I’ve never met such a hypochondriac before!Rachel: I’m not a hypochondriac. I’m just a little paranoid...[end of dialogue]There's nothing off about our dialogues. That’s because they're written by the wonderful Dr. Lucy Tse.From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us again here on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2012 by the Center for Educational Development.。

ESL Podcast 346 – Using the Restroom GLOSSARYrestroom – a public bathroom; a large room with one or more toilets and sinks * Do you know where the men’s restroom is?mess – disordered; unclean; not organized or neat* Your room is a mess! Please clean it up before your grandparents get here. stall – one small area with a toilet, surrounded by metal or wooden walls and a door that closes to give one privacy in a public bathroom* Even though the women’s restroom has six stalls, there is always a long line of women waiting to use them.toilet paper – a roll of soft white paper that can be torn into squares and is used to clean one’s skin after using the toilet* This brand of toilet paper is expensive, but it’s softer than all the other brands. toilet seat cover – a piece of thin white paper that has the shape of the seat of a toilet, is put on a toilet seat before one sits on it to avoid germs, and then is thrown away* I don’t like using the public bathrooms at a sports stadium when there are no toilet seat covers.toilet – a ceramic device that one stands in front of or sits on to urinate (pee) or defecate (poop) and then pushes a handle to have everything wash away* The janitor cleans all of the toilets on this floor everyday.to flush – to push a handle on a toilet so that everything in it washes away and it partially fills again with clean water* Who forgot to flush the toilet?toilet seat – the flat, circular part of the toilet that one sits on* Sherri gets mad at her husband when he forgets to put down the toilet seat after going to the bathroom.to give up – to stop trying to do something, usually because it is too difficult, time-consuming, or frustrating* Craig tried to play the violin for years, but last month he gave up and stopped taking lessons.ESL Podcast 346 – Using the Restroomurinal – a ceramic device that hangs on a wall and that men stand in front of to urinate (pee)* Do you prefer to use a urinal or a toilet?soap – detergent; a liquid or powder that is used with water to wash one’s skin, especially to remove dirt and grease* Soap makes her skin very dry, so she always uses lotion after washing her hands.dispenser – a device that holds a liquid or small objects and gives out a small amount at a time* He has a candy dispenser on his desk that gives out one piece of candy whenever someone pushes on the top of it.pump – the part of a machine that is moved up and down to move liquid or air into or out of something* Can I use your bicycle pump to fix my flat tire?faucet – the metal part above a sink that water comes out of* Old sinks have two faucets: one for hot water and one for cold water. Newer sinks have just one faucet so that you can control the temperature.to splash – to throw small drops of water or another liquid at something, often at one’s face* Henrietta splashed cold water on her face, trying to make it look like she hadn’t been crying.paper towel – a square, soft piece of paper used to dry one’s hands* Keith dried his hands on a paper towel and then threw the towel away.out – not available; used up; with no more of something remaining* The store was out of 2% milk, so I bought 1% milk instead.hand dryer – an electronic device that blows hot air, used for drying one’s hands in a public restroom* To start the hand dryer, just push this button. It will stop automatically after 45 seconds.ESL Podcast 346 – Using the RestroomCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these things is part of a sink?a) Dispenser.b) Pump.c) Faucet.2. Why are his pants wet?a) He tried to wash them.b) The faucet sprayed too much water.c) The faucet was out.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?stallThe word “stall,” in this podcast, means one small area with a toilet, surrounded by metal or wooden walls and a door that closes to give one privacy in a restroom: “Knock on the stall door to find out whether anyone is inside.” A “stall” is also one small part of a barn where a horse, cow, pig, or other animal is kept: “Every morning he goes to the horse stalls and makes sure that the animals have enough food and water for the day.” As a verb, “to stall” means to procrastinate, or to delay doing something until later: “It was time for the children to go to bed, but they were stalling, asking for a glass of water and a bedtime story so that they wouldn’t have to go to sleep so early.”to give upIn this podcast, the phrase “to give up” means to stop trying to do something, usually because it is too difficult, time-consuming, or frustrating: “I give up! This math homework is impossible!” The phrase “to give (something) out” means to distribute something, or to give one copy of something to many people: “She stood on the street corner all day, giving out flyers about the concert.” The phrase “to give (something) away” means to give something to another person for free: “The store gives away free radios to the first 25 customers the day after Thanksgiving.” The phrase “to give (something) away” can also mean to accidentally tell a secret, or to share information that one wasn’t supposed to share: “We were planning a surprise birthday party for Sanjay, but someone gave it away and now he knows all about it.”ESL Podcast 346 – Using the RestroomCULTURE NOTEMost public bathrooms are “segregated” (separated) by sex. For example, in most public buildings there is usually a “men’s room” (a restroom only for men) and a “women’s room” (a restroom only for women). Sometimes, however, smaller businesses will have “unisex” restrooms that can be used by either men or women. Some places have “family restrooms” which are designed for parents with young children who need help using the restroom. If there isn’t a family restroom, these parents often take their children into the regular adult restrooms, but sometimes this is uncomfortable if a man is with his daughter or if a woman is with her son. Family restrooms also have changing tables where babies’ “diapers” (material babies wear around their bottom so they can go to the bathroom) can be changed.Outdoors, many public places have “porta-potties” (portable toilets), where people can go to the bathroom. These porta-potties are not connected to water, so they often smell bad. They can be picked up by special trucks and taken away to be emptied. In other public places, like sports stadiums or on popular “pedestrian streets” (streets where many people walk and where cars are not allowed), sometimes there are “paid toilets” where people have to pay a little bit of money, usually less than one dollar, to use the toilet.In a home, there are three types of bathrooms: a “full bathroom,” “three-quarter bathroom,” and a “half bathroom.” A “full bathroom” or “full bath” has a toilet, sink, shower, and bathtub. A “three-quarter bathroom” has everything a “full bath” has, but it only has a shower and no bathtub. A “half bathroom” or “half bath” has only a toilet and sink, but no shower or bathtub. A home with “one-and-a-half baths” is a home that has one full bath and one half bath. Usually the full bath is near the bedrooms and is used by the family, and the half bath is closer to the living room and is used by visitors.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – bESL Podcast 346 – Using the Restroom COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 346: Using the Restroom.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 346. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from – where else? – beautiful Los Angeles, California, and the Center for Educational Development.Our website is . On it you can find a Learning Guide for this episode that you can download to help you improve your English even faster. You can also find our ESL Podcast Blog, where several times a week we give you additional help in learning English, and our ESL Podcast Store, where we have business and personal English courses for you to purchase.This episode is called “Using the Restroom.” A “restroom” is another name for a bathroom – a public, usually, bathroom, where you have toilets and sinks and so forth. Let’s get started.[start of story]Denzel: Excuse me, where is the restroom?Server: It’s down the hall, on your left.Denzel: Thanks.When I got into the bathroom, it was a mess. I walked into a stall and there was toilet paper all over the floor. There were no toilet seat covers and the toilet wouldn’t flush. Even the toilet seat was broken!I gave up on the stall and decided to use a urinal. I went to wash my hands, but there was no soap in the dispenser. I kept hitting the pump, but nothing came out.When I turned on the faucet, water splashed all over my pants. I looked for some paper towels to dry myself, but they were out. I tried using one of the hand dryers, but that was broken, too.I couldn’t believe what a mess this bathroom was. I just thought, what happened here? World War III?ESL Podcast 346 – Using the Restroom[end of story]Our story begins with Denzel saying to someone at the restaurant, “Excuse me, where is the restroom?” He could also say, “Could you tell me where the restroom is?” The server says, “It’s down the hall, on your left,” meaning walk down the hallway, you’ll see the door on your left-hand side. Denzel says, “Thanks.” He then says, “When I got into the bathroom, it was a mess.” Something that’s a “mess” is unclean, it’s unorganized or disorganized; it’s the opposite of neat. My mother would always tell me, “Jeffrey, your room is amess!” She was right. Now, my desk is a mess!Denzel says, “I walked into a stall and there was toilet paper all over the floor.” A “stall” (stall) is a small area with one toilet. Usually, there is a toilet that has walls on either side and a door in front for privacy, so no one else can see in. That’s a “stall,” or a “restroom stall.” So he walks into the restroom stall, “and there was toilet paper all over the floor.” “Stall,” I should say, has a couple of different meanings in English; take a look at our Learning Guide for additional definitions. “Toilet paper” is a usually white, soft paper that is put on what we would call a “roll.” It goes round and round and round a center stick. You tear the toilet paper off and use it to clean your skin, basically, after you have used the toilet.He then says, “There were no toilet seat covers and the toilet wouldn’t flush.” The “toilet” is usually a device that is made from a material called “ceramic,” and you either sit on the toilet or you stand in front of the toilet in order to urinate. The informal word for “urinate” would be “to pee” (pee); that’s a word that children may use, not a word that you would use in general public. The technical term is “to urinate.” The other thing that happens is, on a toilet, you can “defecate.” The informal, sometimes a word used by little children is “poop” (poop). Again, you don’t want to say that to your boss. The technical word is “to defecate,” although you probably don’t want to tell your boss about that either! So, a “toilet” is a device that takes that urination or the results of your defecation and washes it away, usually with water. That’s a “toilet”; “toilet seat covers” are the things that go on top of the toilet. They’re thin pieces of paper that you can put on so you don’t have to sit on a public toilet seat. Usually you will find these, if they are available, above the toilet on the wall.Denzel says, “the toilet wouldn’t flush. “To flush” means that water moves in the toilet to take away the results of your going to the bathroom. “To flush a toilet,” then, means you push down on a handle so that the water comes out and washes things away. Someone says to you, “Be sure to flush the toilet when you are finished,” seems like an obvious thing to do, but some people need to be told – children, in particular.ESL Podcast 346 – Using the RestroomDenzel says, “Even the toilet seat was broken!” The “toilet seat” is the part of the toilet that you would sit on. He then says, “I gave up on the stall and decided to use a urinal.” “To give up on something,” or “to give something up,” is a phrasal verb meaning to stop trying to do something, usually because it is too difficult. So, Denzel is having problems in the stall, so he decides to use a urinal. “Urinal” (urinal) is related to the word “to urinate,” it’s a ceramic device that men can use – women don’t normally use a urinal. It’s something you would find in a men’s bathroom, and it is a place where you can urinate by standing – you don’t have to sit down. One of the few advantages of being a man, I think! There are several different kinds of bathrooms that you might encounter in the United States; take a look at our Learning Guide, in our cultural note, where we talk about those different kinds of bathrooms, or restrooms.Denzel says, “I went to wash my hands, but there was no soap in the dispenser.” There was no soap – no detergent, what you use to clean something – in the dispenser. The noun “dispenser” comes from the verb “to dispense,” which means to give something to someone. A “dispenser” is a small device, in this case, a thing that holds liquid and allows you to get the liquid out. The soap is liquid, and the soap dispenser is a place where you get the soap from; it’s what holds the soap.He then says, “I kept hitting the pump (on the dispenser), but nothing came out.” The “pump” (pump) is the part of the machine that you move up and down on the dispenser so you can get something out of somewhere. If you are putting gasoline into your car, you use a “gasoline pump” – takes it out of the tank below, and puts the gasoline into your car.“When I turned on the faucet, water splashed all over my pants.” Denzel’s having a bad day! The “faucet” is the part of the sink where the water comes out. The “sink” is where you wash your hands; the “faucet” is the little piece of metal where the water comes out of to wash your hands. To say something “splashed all over your pants” means that the water went onto your pants. We use this verb, “to splash,” when we are talking about something liquid. Sometimes you can splash something in someone’s face. In this case, the water splashed on his pants – his pants got wet, the water went onto them.Denzel says, “I looked for some paper towels to dry myself, but they were out.” “Paper towels are small, square pieces of paper you can use to dry your hands. When we say “something is out,” we mean it is no longer available – there’s no more remaining. You may say to someone, “We’re out of milk. I need to go to the store to buy some” – we no longer have any. Well, they were out of paperESL Podcast 346 – Using the Restroomtowels, so Denzel tried using one of the hand dryers. A “hand dryer” is something you find in many restrooms – public restrooms – nowadays. It’s a electric device that blows hot air onto your hands, and you move your hands back and forth so you can dry them. It’s better for the environment, of course – at least I think it is!Denzel ends the story by saying, “I couldn’t believe what a mess this bathroom was. I just thought, what happened here? World War III?” It was like there was a war in the bathroom; things were so messy, things were so broken.Now let’s listen to the story, this time at a normal speed.[start of story]Denzel: Excuse me, where is the restroom?Server: It’s down the hall, on your left.Denzel: Thanks.When I got into the bathroom, it was a mess. I walked into a stall and there was toilet paper all over the floor. There were no toilet seat covers and the toilet wouldn’t flush. Even the toilet seat was broken!I gave up on the stall and decided to use a urinal. I went to wash my hands, but there was no soap in the dispenser. I kept hitting the pump, but nothing came out.When I turned on the faucet, water splashed all over my pants. I looked for some paper towels to dry myself, but they were out. I tried using one of the hand dryers, but that was broken, too.I couldn’t believe what a mess this bathroom was. I just thought, what happened here? World War III?[end of story]The script for this episode was written by the never messy Dr. Lucy Tse. Thank you Lucy!From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next time on ESL Podcast.ESL Podcast 346 – Using the RestroomEnglish as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. This podcast is copyright 2008.。

ESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule1GLOSSARYbus schedule – written information about where buses go and stop, how often, and at what times* According to this bus schedule, there isn’t any bus service on Sundays.route number – the number assigned to all buses that follow a certain path * Route numbers 14, 28, and 59 pass by the university.stop – a place where a bus stops for a short period of time to let passengers get on and off* Start gathering your things. We’ll get off at the next stop.column – information printed vertically (not horizontally) in a table; words or numbers that are printed above and below each other (not side by side)* This table of sales data has one column for sales in each of the past five years.to work backwards – to solve a problem or answer a question by starting with the end result and using logic to find what must have been true at the beginning * If we know we have $360 in the cash register and we’ve made $200 in sales so far today, then we can work backwards to figure out that we started the day with $160 in the cash register.starting point – where someone or something begins; the initial location or situation* Yes, I’d be happy to give you directions to our store, but first I need to know where your starting point is. Will you becoming from the north or south?directly – moving in a line that is as straight as possible between points A and B, without going to any other places* Their kids are supposed to come home directly from school, but sometimes they stop at the candy store first.transfer – a piece of paper that is given to a passenger by a bus driver andallows that passenger to get on another bus without paying for a certain period of time, usually a few hours* If you ride the subway, be sure to get a transfer so that you can take a bus to your final destination without needing to pay again.ESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule2to take (something) into account – to consider something; to includesomething as a factor in one’s decision* When deciding whether you can afford to stay home with the kids, take intoaccount all the added expenses of working outside the home, like transportation, professional clothing, dry cleaning, and lunches at restaurants.peak – when something is busiest or most heavily used* Many doctors’ offices experience peak call volume on Monday mornings, so they recommend that their patients call at other times if possible.commuter – a person who is traveling between his or her home and workplace * Ryan hates wasting time as a commuter, so he is looking for an apartment downtown so he can walk to and from the office.bus pass – a small card or other piece of paper that allows one to ride the bus a certain number or an unlimited number of times during a certain period of time, often one month* Since we ride the bus at least twice each day, it’s cheaper for us to buy a monthly bus pass than to pay for individual tickets.exact change – coins and/or bills that add up to the price or cost of something, so that one does not need to receive any money in return* Riding the bus costs $1.90 and requires exact change, so if you only have two $1 bills, there’s no way to get the extra $0.10 back.fare – the cost of riding a bus or some other form of transportation* The city is going to increase bus fares to cover the rising cost of gas.to board – to get on a bus, train, boat, or plane* The flight is scheduled to leave at 3:45, so we should start boarding around 3:20.ESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule3COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. What would you find on a list of route numbers?a) Information about how long it takes to go certain places.b) Information about what the bus looks like.c) Information about which buses go where.2. What does Curt mean by saying, “mornings are peak times”?a) More people ride the bus in the morning than at other times of day.b) It costs more to ride the bus in the morning.c) Buses come more frequently in the morning.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?peakThe word “peak,” in this podcast, means when something is busiest or most heavily used: “February is a peak month for florists, because many people buy flowers to celebrate Valentine’s Day.” Or, “Very hot weather causes a peak in energy demand because many businesses use powerful air conditioners.” As a noun, a “peak” is the top of a mountain: “Have you ever climbed to the peak of Mount Washington?” When something is “at its peak,” it is at its best, strongest, or highest: “When was the Roman Empire at its peak?” Finally, if someone“looks peaked,” he or she appears sick, tired, and very pale (without much color on their face): “Charlene was sick with the flu last week, and although she feels better now, she still looks peaked.”boardIn this podcast, the verb “to board” means to get on a bus, train, boat, or plane: “I’ve never seen such a long line of people waiting to board the train!” The verb “to board” can also mean to pay to live in a room in someone’s home: “If you need to make some extra money, consider having students board with youduring the school year.” The phrase “to board (something) up” means to cover the windows and doors of a building with long pieces of wood so that no one can get in: “We were really surprised to see that they had boarded up the restaurant. Why did it go out of business?” Finally, a “board game” is a type of game played on a printed piece of heavy paper or cardboard: “Monopoly and Scrabble are Hal’s favorite board games.”ESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule4CULTURE NOTEPeople who ride buses, trains, and subways in the United States should be aware of the expected “etiquette” (polite ways of behaving).Some of the rules of etiquette are written on the walls of the stops and vehicles. For example, many signs “remind” (help someone remember) people to“surrender” (give to someone else) their seat to “the elderly” (old people),“disabled” (handicapped; with physical problems) individuals, and pregnantwomen. Certain seats near the doors are usually “reserved for” (set aside for; intended for) these people, but if those seats are full, then people sittinganywhere in the bus should surrender their seat as needed.Other signs remind people to “refrain from” (not do; avoid) eating, drinking, smoking, listening to loud music, talking loudly, or using a cell phone if it“disturbs” (annoys or troubles) other passengers. Animals are generally notallowed on buses, trains, and subways unless they are “service dogs” (dogs that help blind people).One of the “unwritten” (not stated in writing, but generally understood) rules of etiquette is to leave empty seats between people whenever possible. Forexample, on a bus where seats are in “pairs” (groups of two), riders will generally sit alone in each row. As the bus continues to fill and there aren’t enough seats for everyone to sit alone, riders begin to sit next to “strangers” (unknown people), but this is almost never their first choice.Another “unwritten” rule of etiquette on “public transportation” (transportation shared by many people) is to keep one’s “personal belongings” (the things one brings on a ride) near one’s body. It is important to keep jackets, bags, andpackages out of the “aisle” (the area where people walk). It would also be “rude” (not polite; inappropriate) to place personal belongings on an empty seat in a full bus.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – aESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule5COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 606: Reading a Bus Schedule.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 606. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Our website is . Go there to download a Learning Guide for thisepisode, an 8- to 10-page guide including a complete transcript of everything we say.This episode is called “Reading a Bus Schedule.” It’s a dialogue between Louisa and Curt about how you read the “schedule,” the information about places and times, for a bus. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]This was my first visit to McQuillanville. I wanted to avoid driving, so I decided to take the bus around the city. However, I was having some trouble figuring out the bus schedule.Louisa: Excuse me, could you help me read this bus schedule?Curt: I can try. Where do you want to go?Louisa: I want to go downtown, but I’m not sure which bus to take.Curt: Let me see that bus schedule. Here’s a listing of the route numbers on the back of this schedule. Look for a bus that goes downtown.Louisa: Oh, I see. That’s great. Tomorrow, I want to arrive at the Podcast Museum at 10 a.m. when it opens. Which bus will I have to take?Curt: Let me look at this bus schedule. That’s simple. All you have to do is find the stop closest to the museum, then look down the column to find the arrivaltime of 10 a.m. or before, and work backwards to see what time that bus passes the stop at your starting point. Got it?ESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule6Louisa: I think so, but I don’t think there’s a bus that goes directly from here to downtown.Curt: In that case, it says on the schedule that you’ll need to get a transfer from the driver of the first bus so you can ride for free on the second bus. Just take the additional time into account. Mornings are peak times, and according to this schedule, the buses run more frequently to accommodate commuters, so itshouldn’t take you a lot longer. It also says here that you’ll need to have a bus pass or exact change for the fare when you board.Louisa: Thanks a lot for all the help. Do you know how much the fare is?Curt: I have no idea. I’ve never ridden the bus before in McQuillanville.Louisa: Then how do you know so much about riding the bus?Curt: I can read.[end of dialogue]Louisa says that this is her first visit to McQuillanville. McQuillanville, of course, is one of the more beautiful places in the world; you should really visit! She says that she wanted to avoid driving during her visit, so she decided to take the bus, or ride the bus, around the city. She’s going to use the bus to get from one place to another. “However,” she says, “I was having some trouble (some difficulty)figuring out (or understanding) the bus schedule,” which is the written information about where buses go, where they stop, how often they go, at what times, and so forth. Louisa asks someone on the street, someone she sees, she says, “Excuse me, could you help me read this bus schedule?” Curt says, the other person she’s talking with, “I can try. Where do you want to go?” Louisa responds, “I want to go downtown,” to the center, main part of the city, where most of thebusinesses are located in a typical city. “But,” she says, “I’m not sure which bus to take.”Curt says, “Let me see that bus schedule. Here’s a listing (here’s a list) of the route numbers on the back of this schedule.” A “route” is the streets that the bus drives. In your city, you will have buses that always go down Main Street, and then go down First Street, and then cross over to Lincoln Avenue, and so forth, and they go back and forth along those same streets. Each one of those routes is given, in U.S. cities, a number. The numbers depend on the city you are in; there isn’t any consistent pattern across the United States. Every city has itsESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule7own bus system. So, the “route number” is the number of the bus that tells you where that bus goes, and those are listed – those are printed on the back of the bus schedule. Curt says, “Look for a bus that goes downtown.” This issomewhat obvious advice, but Louisa is in the brightest, smartest person in the world it seems.Louisa says, “Oh, I see. That’s great. Tomorrow, I want to arrive at the Podcast Museum at 10 a.m. (10 o’clock in the morning) when it opens.” The PodcastMuseum is located in McQuillanville; it’s a museum with all the greatest podcasts represented. I think we are in the Podcast Museum! Louisa wants to go and see the museum, and she wants to be there at 10 o’clock a.m., or 10 o’clock in the morning. “Which bus will I have to take?”Curt says, “Let me look at this bus schedule.” Again, this is something thatLouisa could do if she were a little more intelligent. Curt says, “That’s simple. All you have to do (the only thing you have to do) is find the stop closest to themuseum, then look down the column to find the arrival time of 10 a.m. or before.” Let’s stop there and go back. A “stop” is a place where the bus stops for a short period of time to allow passengers to get off the bus and get on the bus. In some cities the buses will stop at any corner where there is a person standing wanting to take the bus. But in most cities you have to go to a place that has a sign that says “bus stop,” and that is the only place you get on or, we would say, catch the bus.So, Louisa has to look at a bus schedule. The bus stops, usually the streets where the bus stops, are listed on the schedule. She has to look down the column. A “column” is information that is printed vertically, up and down, not horizontally, side to side. A column is part of a table; the up and down parts of the table are called columns; the horizontal parts are called rows (rows). So, Louisa has to look at the column for the bus that she is interested in to find the arrival time, the time the bus will get there. She wants to get there before 10a.m. Then, Curt says, she has to “work backwards,” meaning solve her problem or answer her question by starting from the result and using logic to get back to the beginning. So in this case, she has to see what time the bus goes past the stop where she is going to get on, her starting point. A “starting point” is where someone or something begins.Curt then asks Louisa if she understands. He says, “Got it?” Louisa says, “I think so, but I don’t think there’s a bus that goes directly from here (from where she is standing) to downtown.” Curt says, “In that case (in that situation), it says on the schedule (it is printed on the schedule) that you’ll need to get a transferESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule8from the driver of the first bus so you can ride for free on the second bus.”Louisa wants a bus that goes directly from where she is to downtown. “Directly” means going in as straight a line as possible between one point and the otherwithout going to other places. If you are working and you say you are going to go directly to your house, you mean you’re not going to stop anywhere else. You’re going to leave your workplace and drive to your house in the fastest, most direct way possible.Curt says that Louisa is going to have to get a “transfer,” which is a piece ofpaper that is given to a passenger by the bus driver. It allows the passenger to get on another bus without having to pay again, usually for a certain number of hours. For two or three hours they can use this transfer to ride another bus without having to pay extra. This allows people to take two or three buses without having to pay two or three times.Curt says, “Just take the additional time into account.” “To take (something) into account” (account) means to consider something, to include something as part of your thinking when you are making a decision. In this case, Louisa has to take into account the extra or additional time it will take to get on one bus, get off, and then transfer, or get on, another bus. He says, “Mornings are peak times.”“Peak (peak) means when something is busiest, when it is most heavily used. In many doctors’ offices, Monday morning is a peak time; everyone who was sick over the weekend comes to the doctor’s office on Monday morning. That’s a peak time, a busy time.Curt says, “according to this schedule, the buses run more frequently (in the mornings they run more often) to accommodate (to help) commuters.” A“commuter” (commuter) is someone who travels usually a long distance between their house and where they work. That’s a commuter. When I used work at the university I was a commuter; I would have to drive 45 minutes to an hour from my house to the university, and then, of course, to get back to my house it was another 45 minutes to an hour. That’s what a commuter does. Curt says itshouldn’t take you a lot longer in the morning because there are more buses in the morning.Curt says the schedule says that you’ll need to have a bus pass or exact change for the fare when you board. A “bus pass” is a small card, typically, that you buy. It allows you to ride the bus either a certain number of times – 10 times, 20 times – or often it’s for an entire month or an entire week. You can use it as much as you want during that time. “Exact change” means the coins or paper money that equals the price or the cost of something so that the person is not going to getESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule9any money back. So, if you’re buying something for $1.50 and you givesomeone $2.00 that is not exact change. Exact change would be one dollar and fifty cents. The bus drivers in the U.S. don’t give you change; you have to have the exact amount of money. If you pay more money you will not get that extra money back. The “fare” (fare) is the cost of taking some form of transportation such as a bus or an airplane. We call the price you pay for your airplane ticket your airfare, that’s the same idea. He says you’ll need exact change for the fare when you board. To “board” (board) as a verb means to get on the bus or get on the train; we also use it for a boat or a plane. “The plane is now boarding,”people are getting onto it. Both the word “board” and “peak” that we mentioned earlier have different meanings in English; take a look at our Learning Guide for some additional explanations.Louisa says, “Thanks a lot for all the help. Do you know how much the fare is?” She wants to know the price of getting on the bus. Curt says, “I have no idea. I’ve never ridden the bus before in McQuillanville.” Notice “ridden” is the pastparticiple of “to ride.” Louisa says, “Then how do you know so much about riding the bus?” Curt answers, “I can read.” He knows about the bus because he can read and he read the bus schedule – something that we hope Louisa will be able to do some day!Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]This was my first visit to McQuillanville. I wanted to avoid driving, so I decided to take the bus around the city. However, I was having some trouble figuring out the bus schedule.Louisa: Excuse me, could you help me read this bus schedule?Curt: I can try. Where do you want to go?Louisa: I want to go downtown, but I’m not sure which bus to take.Curt: Let me see that bus schedule. Here’s a listing of the route numbers on the back of this schedule. Look for a bus that goes downtown.Louisa: Oh, I see. That’s great. Tomorrow, I want to arrive at the Podcast Museum at 10 a.m. when it opens. Which bus will I have to take?ESL Podcast 606 – Reading a Bus Schedule10Curt: Let me look at this bus schedule. That’s simple. All you have to do is find the stop closest to the museum, then look down the column to find the arrivaltime of 10 a.m. or before, and work backwards to see what time that bus passes the stop at your starting point. Got it?Louisa: I think so, but I don’t think there’s a bus that goes directly from here to downtown.Curt: In that case, it says on the schedule that you’ll need to get a transfer from the driver of the first bus so you can ride for free on the second bus. Just take the additional time into account. Mornings are peak times, and according to this schedule, the buses run more frequently to accommodate commuters, so itshouldn’t take you a lot longer. It also says here that you’ll need to have a bus pass or exact change for the fare when you board.Louisa: Thanks a lot for all the help. Do you know how much the fare is?Curt: I have no idea. I’ve never ridden the bus before in McQuillanville.Louisa: Then how do you know so much about riding the bus?Curt: I can read.[end of dialogue]My starting point for every podcast is the wonderful scripts that are written by our own Dr. Lucy Tse. Thank you, Lucy!From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come back and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for Educational Development.。

Unit 3. HOW MUCH IS IT课前讲一个和本单元有关的真实的故事。

Vincent’s StoryIt was a rip-offI went to Buynow to buy some office supplies this afternoon. Actually, I’ve been meaning to get an ink-jet printer and a recorder. The print store in the neighborhood is absolutely overpriced. 1 rmb each page is ridiculous. Plus, as I will leave my job by the end of March, I can’t use the company’s recorder anymore. I need to get one of my own. When I arrived there, my friend Jack was waiting there for me. The shopping mall was packed with people. We toured around the place for like 15 minutes before we got to the printer store. I chose an EPSON ink-jet printer at a price of 350. its not expensive, but the consumable-ink cartridge was a rip-off. Then we decided to get a modified one(改装的), which would save me a lot of money to be spent on the ink cartridge. Then I got a MP4 which could also work as a recorder and a KOSS earphone. It cost me an arm and a leg.1. SNAPSHOT2) Ask student to say colors in English: what does each color mean to you. Try to think of an adjective for each color.3) Assume that you are invited to a big party hosted by your boss. There will be a lot ofbusinessmen and government official attending. What color dress would you wear to the party? Why?2. CONVERSATIONLook at the pic, ask: guess who they are? ( a couple) where are they( jewelry store), what are they doing? (Picking earrings) why they want to buy some jewelries?Write on the WB: 1. what color necklace do they buy? 2. How does Maria like yellow? 3. How much is the blue necklace? 4. why does Steve buy the necklace?Ask: when is your parent /husband /bf’s birthday? What would you give him/her as a gift?课文讲解：3. earrings, roommate, eardrop, pendant4. they look perfect on you. I’m the perfect fit for the position. You are perfect for each other.5. overpriced, pricey. It’s rip-off. It costs me an arm and a leg!6. gift. Bracelet, anklet, pendant, pinListen to rest of the conversation, and find out “what else do they buy? Who pays for it?7. LISTENING Look at these!Tim and Sandra are shopping. They want to know the prices of four things. Now we will listen to 4 dialogues between them.New vocabulary:In-line skates: 单排旱冰鞋When you are listening, please complete the chart on page 18.Share your experience when you buy something you don’t need at all. Or something so expensive that you regret for getting it for a week. Why do you think women always buy something they don’t need at all? Do you think women are more material?8. ROLE PLAYOk. Let’s do a simply role play practice. Who wants to be a store clerk? You should try your best to talk your customer into buying your items. Who wants to be the customer? You should try your best to drive a hard bargain.Kenji: Hello, my car was stolen and I want to report it.Officer: Where was it when it was stolen?它被偷的时候停在哪里？Kenji: It was parked outside of my apartment building. I went outside this morning to drive to work, and it was gone.Drive to work: 开车去上班就这么说啊路上（开车）小心是drive safe 或者drive carefully你到底想说什么？What are you driving at?Officer: Okay, you need to fill out this form. Put down the make and model of the vehicle, the year, and the color. You’ll also need the license plate number. Do you know the vehicle’sVIN number? Make and model and year of a car 汽车的牌子、型号和年份License plate number：车牌号VIN number:车辆识别代码Kenji: No, I don’t.Officer: That’s okay. Just fill it out and we’ll launch an investigation.还可以用Conduct, carry out和investigation 搭配Kenji: What do you think the chances are that I’ll recovermy car?recover：找回（失窃、遗失的物品）Officer: That’s hard to say. If it was stolen by some kids who wanted to take a joyride, they’ll abandon it afterwards and you may get it back in one piece. If it was taken by professional car thieves, that’s a different story. They usually strip the cars of their parts and sell th em to chop shops. You may not want your car back after it’s been stripped.Joyride：（驾驶偷来的汽车）乱兜风In one piece：完整无损地，你说谁谁谁全身而退，毫发未损地回来也可以用in one piece That’s a different story =that’s another story=那就是另外一回事了，那情况就不同了。