ESL Podcast 971 – Getting in to See a Busy Doctor

ESL Podcast 1097 – Landscaping a HomeMona: I want a lawn. I’ve always pictured our new house with a lawn.Kellan: Lawns require a lot of water and upkeep. I think we should use hardscape for most of the yard and plant only drought-tolerant plants.M ona: I don’t want my yard to be full of gravel and rocks. I picture a water feature in the middle, with annuals and perennials planted all around it, surrounded by a big, beautiful lawn.Kellan: We can have some kind of slow-growing ground cover if you want to, but the rest isn’t practical.Mona: I don’t know what you mean. We can plant a hedge over there and install planters along the walkway.Kellan: Who will do the pruning and mulching? Who will pull the weeds and mow the lawn? Who will rake the leaves when the seasons change?Mona: Well, I guess I will, with your help.Kellan: Don’t count on me. My motto is:No muss, no fuss!English Café 499Topics: Americans Abroad –The Confederados in Brazil; Chaco Canyon National Historical Park; speaking in tongues, folks, porridge, and just right; to ingratiate (oneself) withWords:civil wareconomyto have a tie toheritagearcheologistengineeringartifactto inhabitarchitectureastronomytribedesertedspeaking in tonguesfolksporridgejust rightdramatraumato ingratiate (oneself) withESL Podcast 1096 – Improving Online ReviewsJerrise: Okay, you were right. We need to do something to improve business. Do you think we should take out an ad in the local newspaper?Russell: We could do that, but I think a better strategy is to improve our online reviews.Jerrise: Who looks at websites with unsolicited reviews? I’m not convinced that’ll help us.Russell: Lots of people look at reviews when choosing which business to patronize. Right now, we only have three stars out of five, and that’s hurting us.Jerrise: It’s hard to believe that adding a star will really improve our business. Russell: Believe it. And those mediocre reviews we received last week? We should respond to each one and try to make it right.Jerrise: Those reviews were written by a few disgruntled customers. We’re always going to have a few whiners.Russell: Yes, but now they’re much more vocal. If they’re not happy with o ur service or product, we need to compensate them for their bad experience. Jerrise: That would put us out of business!Russell: No, that’s an investment in our business reputation.Jerrise: What you’re saying is that we need to bribe people to write good reviews.Russell: I wouldn’t put it that way, but we should recognize that crowdsourcing is the wave of the future and we need to move with the times if our business is to survive.Jerrise: All right. I guess we can try that.Russell: What are you doing now?Jerrise: Writing my own review. I’ve always given myself excellent service!ESL Podcast 1095 – Childhood FitnessMom: Hold it right there. Put that candy bar down.Justin: Mom, I just wanted a snack to tide me over.Mom: Don’t you remember what Dad said about this family’s need to improve our level of fitness?Justin: Only old people have to worry about getting fat.Mom: It’s not just about getting fat.Justin: But I’m just a kid. I’m in great shape.Mom: Childhood obesity is a huge problem in this country. Even if you’re not overweight, people your age lead sedentary lives.Justin: Whatever that means.Mom: It means that you sit around all day as couch potatoes watching TV and playing videogames. In my day, kids went outside to ride their bikes, climb trees, and run around.Justin: I don’t have that kind of energy.Mom: Precisely! You and your brothers are lethargic because you don’t get enough exercise.Justin: But exercise is tiring.Mom: That’s because you’re no t fit. You have no stamina or endurance. Justin: I don’t need endurance.Mom: Stop grumbling. It’s Saturday and you boys should be outside getting some fresh air.Justin: In Los Angeles?Mom: Are you smart mouthing me, young man? Get outside or you’ll all be helping me clean the house.Justin: We’re out of here!English Café 498Topics: American Movies/Musicals – Mary Poppins; Craigslist; oblivion and to overwhelm; to select versus to elect; wee hoursWords:nannynurserysuffragetteto interviewchaosto adaptclassified advertisementto incorporateto generaterevenueto crack downfraudoblivionto overwhelmto selectto electwee hoursESL Podcast 1094 –Tracing One’s GenealogyAaron: Do you think you can help me trace my genealogy?Corrie: Sure, I can try. We can get started by talking to your parents and grandparents. Oral interviews will give us some names of your relatives.Aaron: I’ve already talked to them and I grew up hearing stories about my lineage on both sides of my family.Corrie: That’s great. If you know some of the people you’re descended from, we can start by looking at public records and historical records from the area. You’re from Tennessee, right?Aaron: That’s right. There are a lot of people in Tennessee with my last name, though.Corrie: Well, we can triangulate the information we get to zero in on your ancestors.Aaron: What if I want proof positive that I’m related to someone?Corrie: Then you can have a genetic analysis done. A DNA test is generally accepted proof.Aaron: Good, it’s about time someone in my family established the blood connections.Corrie: Blood connections to whom?Aaron: Elvis, of course.Corrie: Elvis?! You think you’re related to Elvis?Aaron: His last name was Presley; my last name is Presley. My first name is Aaron; his middle name was Aaron. It can’t be a coincidence, especially considering my talent.Corrie: Talent?Aaron: Sure, listen: “Well, it's one for the money, two for the sh ow, three to get ready, now go, cat, go!”Corrie: I consider that counterevidence!ESL Podcast 1093 – Having a PicnicBill: Surprise! I brought you here to this beautiful spot for a romantic picnic. I have a very special question to ask you.Madison: Oh, that’s so sweet. Did you remember to bring a picnic blanket?Bill: I did. I have everything we’ll need in this picnic basket.Madison: Don’t put it down there. There are ants. You should put it on the blanket.Bill: Yes, you’re right.Madison: And I hope you remembered to bring something to drink. I’m thirsty.Bill: I brought both food and a bottle of champagne.Madison: Well, I hope the food isn’t too cold and the champagne isn’t too warm. You know how I hate warm champagne.Bill: Actually the food is cold because I brought chicken sandwiches and potato salad.Madison: Oh, I thought you would have brought something a little more, well, gourmet or lavish, something a little special.Bill: That’s why I brought the champagne. It’ll make this picnic extra special.Madison: I guess we’ll have to make do with warm champagne and sandwiches. I hope you remembered to bring a corkscrew and some dishes and silverware.Bill: I bought paper plates and plastic utensils.Madison: Paper and pla stic? I guess we’ll have to make do with those, too. Okay, now, you said you had a special question you wanted to ask me. What is it?Bill: Question? Oh, never mind. It’ll keep.English Café 497Topics: American Presidents –James A. Garfield; to resign/draw/abandon match; gorgeous versus magnificent; nail in (someone’s) coffinWords:to be raisecanalto pursuesessionto nominatecandidateslogantow pathadministrativeto appointpatronage systemsuccessionmatchto resigndrawto abandongorgeousmagnificentnail in (someone’s) coffinESL Podcast 1092 – Keeping a Meeting On TrackLynda: Could I say one more thing about that?Bruce: I’m afraid we’re running short on time. Maybe we could wrap up this discussion now.Lynda: Before we leave this topic, though, I really think we should talk about next year’s plans.Bruce: That’s outside the scope of this meeting. We can put it on the agenda for next time.Lynda: But we won’t meet again for a month. We should s pend some time talking about our plans for next year. I think we should consider closing the Irvine office and moving it to Franklin. It would save us a lot of money.Bruce: If we get off on a tangent, we won’t be able to get through our discussion for t oday. Let’s try to get back on track and discuss the main focus of today’s meeting, which is how to end this year without any more problems. I feel like we’re getting close to making some decisions.Lynda: We can’t make any decisions when there are still so many unresolved issues. Things are still up in the air because we don’t know what will happen next year. Any decisions we make now will be moot if our assumptions are wrong.Bruce: I’m afraid we differ on that. I think we have enough information now to forge ahead. We can come to some tentative decisions and make any adjustments later. Should we take it to a vote?Lynda: If you insist. I still think it’s premature.Bruce: I’ll take that as a “no” vote.ESL Podcast 1091 – Punishing ChildrenYuki: What are you doing?Al: I’m getting ready to give Charlie a spanking for beating up his classmate. He has to learn that there are serious consequences for his actions.Yuki: You’re punishing him for beating someone by giving him a beating? Th at doesn’t make sense. Our response shouldn’t be an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.Al: I’m not going to beat him. This isn’t going to be a flogging. I’m going to give him a simple spanking.Yuki: Corporal punishment isn’t the answer. We can give him a severe punishment without resorting to violence.Al: What kind of punishment? Withholding his allowance or taking away his toys? Those don’t seem severe enough to me.Yuki: We could ground him for a month, only allowing him to go to school. Al: That still doesn’t seem to be enough.Yuki: All right, we can pull out the big guns then. We could have him spend the weekend with your mother and ask her to talk some sense into him. He’s scared of your mother.Al: I’m scared of my mother. Do you thi nk it would work?Yuki: If I were a 10-year-old and I had to face your angry and disapproving mother for an entire weekend, I’d be quaking in my boots!English Café 496Topics: Ask an American –Digital music technology; It’s called being nic e versus It’s called been nice; to stutter versus to stumble; meanWords:social mediato be signed byrecord labelliberatingto do showsto build a brandreputationstreaming serviceFM radiomusic collectionterrestrial radiorelevantto stutterto stumbleto meanmean。

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。

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.。

ESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bed GLOSSARYturn – the time when one person needs to do something, because another person did it previously; the moment when one person does something in a sequence with other people* They were playing a long game and took a break for lunch, but when they came back they couldn’t remember whose turn it was.to put the kids to bed – to help young children get ready to go to sleep* When you put the kids to bed, did you remind them to brush their teeth?nope – no; an informal way to make a negative response* - Do you like green beans?- Nope, I don’t.bedtime story – a short story that is told or read to young children while they are lying in bed to make them tired at night when it is time to sleep* When I was a child, my favorite bedtime story was The Giant Jam Sandwich. pajamas – comfortable clothes worn while sleeping* Mike used to wear pajamas to bed, but now he prefers to wear an old t-shirt instead.lights out – the time when the lights in a room must be turned off so that one can fall asleep* The soldiers are on a strict schedule with lights out at 11:00 p.m.to watch over (someone or something) – to observe; to monitor; to watch what someone or something is doing to make sure that it is done correctly* Who is going to watch over your daughter while you are at the meeting tonight? method – a way of doing something; technique* Melissa’s method for making a sale is to be very friendly with the client and always send a thank-you note after a meeting.this I’ve got to see – a phrase used to show that one does not think something is possible and needs to see it to be able to believe it* When Jimmy said that he could clean his room in just four minutes, his mom said, “This I’ve got to see!”cuddle – hugs, caresses, and gentle touches to show affection and loveESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bed* Peggy Sue cannot fall asleep unless she has time for a cuddle with her favorite teddy bear.monster – an imaginary (not real) creature that scares children* When you were a child, did you believe that monsters lived under your bed? through the night – all night long; during an entire night* Chelsea didn’t sleep well, because she had strange dreams all through the night.nonsense – foolishness; silliness; a word used to show that one does not believe or agree with what another person has said or done* Keith said that walking under a ladder is bad luck, but I think that’s nonsense. harm – damage, pain, or injury; negative consequences of doing something* Riding a bicycle without a helmet can cause great physical harm.ESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to BedCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Which of these is part of putting the kids to bed?a) Forgetting the bedtime story.b) Telling the kids to brush their teeth.c) Finishing the newspaper.2. Why does Andrea think that telling the children about Norman is a bad idea?a) Because they need to have a cuddle.b) Because they will have bad dreams.c) Because it will put them to sleep.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?turnThe word “turn,” in this podcast, means the time when one person needs to do something, because another person did it previously: “Paulina and Kristoff take turns washing the dishes: she does it on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and he does it on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.” As a verb, “to turn” means to move toward the right or left: “Drive straight for three blocks and then turn right.” Or, “When she heard someone call her name, she turned toward the sound of the voice.” The verb “to turn” can also mean to move an object so that it is facing a different direction: “The little girl turned the dolls toward each other and pretended that they were having a conversation.”lights outIn this podcast, the phrase “lights out” means the time when the lights in a room must be turned off so that one can fall asleep: “At the children’s summer camp, lights out is always at 9:45 p.m.” The phrase “to knock (someone’s) lights out” means to hit someone very hard so that he or she falls down and is not conscious: “Two drunk men got into a fight and the bigger one knocked his friend’s lights out.” The phrase “to light up (something)” means to illuminate something, or to shine light on something: “When are they going to light up the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center?” Finally, the phrase “to light up (one’s) life” means to make one’s life better, happier, and/or more interesting: “Grandchildren light up their grandparents’ life.”ESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to BedCULTURE NOTEMany American families have bedtime “rituals” (things that are done the same way every time) for their children. These rituals not only help children do all the things they need to do before going to bed, but also help them “calm down” (become quiet) at the end of the day so that they can “fall asleep” (begin to sleep) more easily.Bedtime rituals usually begin in the bathroom, where children use the toilet, brush their teeth, and wash their face and hands. Parents help young children do these things, and often watch older children do them by themselves. Next, children change into their pajamas.Once these things are finished, the children get into bed and the parents “tuck” (fold fabric around something) the blankets around them. Often they tuck in the child’s favorite “stuffed animal” (a soft toy in the shape of an animal), too. Then they often spend time talking together.Parents of young children usually read a bedtime story, pointing to the pictures and using a soft voice until the children fall asleep. Parents often ask older children to tell them about their day at school. Some religious families pray together before falling asleep. Parents often give their children a kiss on the “forehead” (the skin above one’s eyes and below one’s hair) before they fall asleep.Even with these bedtime rituals, children often do not want to fall asleep and try to “stall” (do something to cause a delay and make something happen later than it normally would). These children often ask their parents for a glass of water, or say that they have to go to the bathroom again before they can fall asleep.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – bESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bed COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 365: Putting the Children to Bed.This is ESL Podcast number 365. 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 and download a Learning Guide for this episode. The Learning Guide is an 8 to 10 page PDF file that you can download, print out, and use to improve your English even faster.This episode is called “Putting the Children to Bed.” “Putting the children to bed” means to get the young children ready so that they can go to sleep. Let’s get started.[start of dialogue]Andrea: It’s your turn to put the kids to bed.Marlon: No, I put them to bed last night, didn’t I?Andrea: Nope, I did that. Don’t forget their bedtime story.Marlon: The kids won’t let me forget it. Okay, time for bed! Go brush your teeth and put on your pajamas. It’s lights out in 15 minutes.Andrea: What are you doing?Marlon: I’m finishing my newspaper.Andrea: Aren’t you going to watch over them to make sure they’re getting ready for bed?Marlon: Nope. You have your methods and I have mine.Andrea: Okay, this I’ve got to see.Marlon: I don’t hear anyone brushing their teeth. If everyone isn’t in bed in five minutes, they’re going to get a cuddle from Norman.ESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bed Andrea: Who’s Norman?Marlon: Norman is just a little scary monster I told them about. Norman eats little children who aren’t in bed when they’re supposed to be. It’s my way of making sure they stay in bed through the night.Andrea: That’s terrible! That’ll give them nightmares.Marlon: Nonsense. It won’t do them any harm. As my father told me, Norman only eats bad children.[end of dialogue]Our dialogue begins with Andrea saying to Marlon, “It’s your turn to put the kids to bed.” “Turn,” here, is the time when someone needs to do something, because, usually, the other person did it before. For example, if there are five children and each one has to answer a question, after the first child answers it’s the second child’s turn, and then the third child’s turn, and the fourth child’s turn, and the fifth child’s turn. Each one has to do something following the other person. “Turn” has several meanings in English; take a look at the Learning Guide for some additional explanations of those.Andrea says to Marlon, “It’s your turn to put the kids to bed,” to get the children ready to go to sleep. Marlon says, “No, I put them to bed last night, didn’t I?” And Andrea says, “Nope (meaning no), I did that. “Nope” is an informal way of saying no, you don’t want to say it to your boss, but it’s okay in a family or among friends. “Nope” is a little stronger way of emphasizing the “no.”Andrea says, “Don’t forget their bedtime story.” The “bedtime” is the time that children go to bed; the “bedtime story” is usually a short story, a book perhaps, that is told or read to young children while they are lying in bed to make them tired, to make them relaxed so they can sleep more easily. That’s the “bedtime story.”Marlon says, “The kids won’t let me forget it,” meaning they’ll tell me about the bedtime story because children generally like a bedtime story, at least that’s the tradition here in the United States. Marlon then shouts at the children, “Okay, time for bed (meaning it’s time for you to go to sleep)! Go brush your teeth (go clean your teeth) and put on your pajamas.” “Pajamas” (pajamas) are comfortable clothes that you wear while you are sleeping. Not everyone wears pajamas, but many people do, especially children. Marlon says to them, “It’s lights out in 15 minutes.” “Lights out” is the time when the lights in a room mustESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bedbe turned off, or will be turned off, so everyone can fall the asleep. Often in the army, or in the military services, there are men and women who are sleeping together in a big room, and they turn the lights off at a certain time so everyone can fall asleep. That’s “lights out.” There are a couple of other meanings of this expression; once again, take a look at the Learning Guide for some more explanations.Andrea says, “What are you doing?” Marlon, who is still sitting at the table, says, “I’m finishing my newspaper (I’m finishing reading my newspaper).” Andrea says, “Aren’t you going to watch over them to make sure they’re getting ready for bed?” “To watch over someone (or something)” is a phrasal verb meaning to look and observe something to make sure that it is actually happening, or the person is doing what they are supposed to be doing; It’s monitoring, or supervising.Marlon says, “Nope. You have your methods and I have mine,” you have your way of doing something – your technique, and I have mine. Andrea says, “Okay, this I’ve got to see.” This expression, “this I’ve got to see,” is a phrase we use to show that we don’t really think something is possible and need to see it in order to believe it. If we don’t see it, we won’t believe it, usually because it’s something we don’t think is true or don’t think is possible. Andrea doesn’t think it’s possible for the children to be put to bed unless Marlon goes and watches over them. Marlon then shouts to the children, “I don’t hear anyone brushing their teeth,” meaning the children aren’t doing what he told them to do. Then he says, “If everyone isn’t in bed in five minutes, they’re going to get a cuddle from Norman.”A “cuddle” (cuddle) is like a hug, when you touch someone else to show them that you love them or that you like them, that is “to cuddle.” It’s something that a married couple, for example, might do in bed; they may “cuddle,” they may hold each other close to show that they love each other.Marlon says the children will get a cuddle from Norman. Andrea asks who Norman is. Marlon answers, “Norman is just a little scary monster I told them about.” Something that is “scary” is something that makes you afraid, something that frightens you. A “monster” is an imaginary – not real – creature or animal that is supposed to scare people, especially children. You’ll often read about a monster in a story or see a monster in some sort of cartoon for children. Monsters are usually bad people – or I should say, bad creatures or animals. Marlon says Norman is a monster he told his children about, “Norman eats little children who aren’t in bed when they’re supposed to.” So he told his children that if they are not in bed when they’re supposed to be, Norman will come andESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bedeat them. He says, “It’s my way of making sure they stay in bed through the night.” He doesn’t want them getting out of bed, so he tells them this story about Norman the monster. The expression “through the night” means during the entire night, or all night long.Andrea says, “That’s terrible! That will give them nightmares.” “Nightmares” are bad dreams. Marlon says, “Nonsense.” This is a word to show that you don’t agree with what someone has just said or done, you are expressing a very strong feeling that the person is wrong, that they are foolish; they are ridiculous, perhaps. Someone says “nonsense” to you, that means they disagree very strongly with what you just said. Once again, not something you would say to your boss or colleague at work.Marlon, then, is disagreeing with Andrea, saying that this idea of Norman coming to eat them will not give them nightmares. I kind of like this idea that Marlon has, actually! Marlon says, “It won’t do them any harm.” “Harm” is damage, pain, or injury; “harm” is the negative consequence of doing something, something bad that will happen to you if you do something. Marlon says, “It won’t do them any harm (it won’t cause the children any damage). As my father told me, Norman only eats bad children.” So obviously, Marlon got this story from his father and is just using it with his own children, just as his father used it with him.Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.[start of dialogue]Andrea: It’s your turn to put the kids to bed.Marlon: No, I put them to bed last night, didn’t I?Andrea: Nope, I did that. Don’t forget their bedtime story.Marlon: The kids won’t let me forget it. Okay, time for bed! Go brush your teeth and put on your pajamas. It’s lights out in 15 minutes.Andrea: What are you doing?Marlon: I’m finishing my newspaper.Andrea: Aren’t you going to watch over them to make sure they’re getting ready for bed?ESL Podcast 365 – Putting the Children to Bed Marlon: Nope. You have your methods and I have mine.Andrea: Okay, this I’ve got to see.Marlon: I don’t hear anyone brushing their teeth. If everyone isn’t in bed in five minutes, they’re going to get a cuddle from Norman.Andrea: Who’s Norman?Marlon: Norman is just a little scary monster I told them about. Norman eats little children who aren’t in bed when they’re supposed to be. It’s my way of making sure they stay in bed through the night.Andrea: That’s terrible! That’ll give them nightmares.Marlon: Nonsense. It won’t do them any harm. As my father told me, Norman only eats bad children.[end of dialogue]The script for this episode was written by the never scary Dr. Lucy Tse. Thank you, Lucy!From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thanks 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. This podcast is copyright 2008.。

Audio Index: 15:08This is turning out to be a month for seeing old friends. I got an email a couple of weeks ago from an old friend from graduate school. She and her family are visiting L.A. for a week. They plan to see family and to visit old friends. Since she moved out of the country, I hadn't seen her in ages. I'm looking forward to meeting her new kids and seeing her again.Another old friend called this week. She and I were buddies in our undergraduate days. She plans to swing by L.A. on her way to San Francisco. We've made plans to have lunch. She works in Washington D.C. as a political advisor and is usually very busy. I'm glad she could make time for us to get together.When we say good-bye to our friends, we always hope to keep in touch. But, what with this and that, it's sometimes hard to do. With friends that I've fallen out of touch with, it's sometimes hard to meet up again and pick up where we left off.We've both moved on to a different phase in our lives. Some of my old friends have become very successful, living lives in the fast lane . Other friends are struggling along and are just making ends meet. But, no matter how they're doing, it's always nice to touch base again.I'm really looking forward to seeing these old pals of mine and catching up after all this time.。

ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripGLOSSARYroad trip – a trip using a car to get from one place to another, usually with a lot of driving* Barry and I are going on a road trip from Vegas to Florida next summer.to navigate – to find out which way to go or how to get somewhere* I'm very bad with directions, so someone else should navigate.road map – a map that shows a lot of detail, including the streets and roads in an area* Road maps are really helpful when you get lost in a certain city and need to find your way back home.route – a path of travel; a way to get from where you are now to where you want to go* When I drive to work, I like to take a longer route around the mountains so that I can see the nice view.points of interest – things or places that are famous; usually why tourists visit an area* One of main points of interest in Los Angeles is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. camper – a large vehicle (truck) that has beds, a place to cook, and other equipment for camping* When my cousin visits my house, she sleeps in her own camper because she feels more comfortable there.to behave – to be good, usually used with children; to be quiet and to not cause problems* Ben doesn't like to spend time with his sister’s kids because they don’t know how to behave.car sick – feeling sick because of the movement of the car* I would love to go on a road trip, but I need to be careful so I don't get car sick. to act up – to be bad; to misbehave; to be loud and to cause problems* Can you go outside to see why the dogs are acting up again?ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road Triprest stop – an area near a freeway or highway where people can stop for a short time to use the bathroom, get something to drink or eat, or to rest, usually not near towns or cities* I drive so much for my job that I know where all the rest stops are in this state. mile marker – signs along a freeway or highway showing the number of miles, usually from the state’s border* The mile markers said that we were 60 miles from the border, but I didn’t think we had been driving that long.to explode – to feel a violent emotion; to blow apart* She didn’t want to go home and tell her father that she had failed her math class because she knew that he would explode.photo op – short for “photograph opportunity”; a chance to take a good picture * Mickey Mouse walks around Disneyland to give kids a lot of photo ops.to question the wisdom – to doubt how intelligent or sensible something is* I'm beginning to question the wisdom of eating six hamburgers for dinner.to recover – to get better from an illness or from a stressful or worrying situation * Wow, that movie is really scary. I think it’ll take me a few days to recover!ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1. Who felt car sick?a) The man’s wife.b) The man’s oldest son.c) The man’s daughter.2. Why was the man in the story unhappy?a) His wife wanted to stop many times along the way.b) They didn't have a camper.c) The car ran out of gas.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?to behaveThe verb “to behave,” in this podcast, means to be good or to not create problems: “I was surprised that the group of young school kids behaved so well in the museum.” “To behave” can be used more generally to describe how people are acting in a situation: “Mary behaved so foolishly when she gave her credit card information to the man on the street!” Here, “to behave” is used to describe her behavior. Another example would be: “Why does he behave like a policeman every time there are other people around?” It’s very common to use the word “behave” to compare people to other people or things. A teacher may complain: “These students are behaving like monkeys!”to recoverIn this podcast, the verb “to recover” means to feel better after an illness or a stressful or worrying situation: “The operation was a success and the doctor said she should recover within four weeks.” We can also use “recover” to mean to return to normal after being surprised or upset: “While he was giving his speech, he forgot part of it but then recovered at the end.” “To recover” can also mean to find or to have something returned to you that was lost or stolen: “My car was stolen last week but the police recovered it after only two days.” Or, “She lost her luggage on the train but recovered it after she reported it missing.”ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripCULTURE NOTEThere are many historical places to visit in the United States. At some historical places, visitors can even experience life the way it was lived in earlier times. Colonial Williamsburg, in the state of Virginia in the eastern part of the U.S., is a place where people can see how people lived in the 1700’s. Williamsburg used to be the capital city before the U.S. became a country. This site “recreates” or tries to rebuild the city as it was at that time, so that people today can see the lifestyle of those who lived 300 years ago. Colonial Williamsburg has a large number of people working there who “reenact,” or play a role showing what people did on a day-to-day basis during that time in history. Visitors can also participate in activities and do things in the old way, like make their own butter or flour for baking.Other historical places to visit include the Pennsylvania State House, in the northeastern part of the U.S. It is the place where the two most important governmental documents were created and signed that made the United States a country. It was where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the United States Constitution was written and signed. Also in this area is the Liberty Bell, the famous cracked bell that was used to call people together for meetings during the time of Revolution War, the war with Britain to make the U.S. its own country.Another historical site to visit is the Alamo, in San Antonio, Texas, in the southern part of the U.S. The Battle of the Alamo was an important event in a war with Mexico in 1836 to make the land that is now the state of Texas independent. Even though the battle only lasted 13 days, Americans think of the battle as one that shows the courage of a small group of fighters who wanted their freedom. If you visit this site today, you’ll see an old “mission,” or church building where the small group of fighters lived and fought._____________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – aESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripCOMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 210, “A Family Road Trip.”This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 210. I am your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Remember to visit our website at and download the Learning Guide for this podcast. It contains all of the vocabulary, as well as additional words, explanations and a complete transcript of this episode.This episode is about a family taking a vacation trip in their car. Let's go![Start of story]Our family decided to take a road trip across the country this year. The kids were really excited and my oldest son wanted to help navigate. Before the trip, we looked at the road maps and decided on our route and the points of interest we would try to see. Since we wouldn’t be taking a camper, we needed to make hotel reservations along the way. After a little planning, we were ready to go. The kids were behaving themselves the first day. My daughter was a little car sick in the morning, but we made it to our first stop without any major problems. On the second day, though, the kids were really acting up. They kept asking, “Are we there yet?” and they wanted to stop at every rest stop. My youngest son, who is only four, kept calling out the mile markers as we passed them, and I thought my head would explode if he didn’t stop. On top of that, my wife wanted to stop every few miles for a photo op and I thought we’d never get to the next town.By the third day, I was really questioning the wisdom of taking three young children on the road for 10 days. I suspect that after this vacation, I’ll need another one to recover from it.[End of story]ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripToday, we take a road trip. A road trip is when you take your car, travel in your car, on a short vacation or it could be a long vacation. Many families like to visit historical places. In our Learning Guide for this episode, we talk about some of the most popular places where Americans visit on their vacation.The family in our story - not my family, I should say - goes on a road trip. The story begins by the narrator saying that, “Our family decided to take a road trip across the country this year.” Usually when we say across the country, we mean a very long distance in the United States. “The kids were really excited,” the story says, and the “oldest son wanted to help navigate.” To navigate, “navigate,” means to guide, to give people directions on where they should go. We use that term, navigate, for a plane. There is usually one person on a plane that is the navigator; that would be the noun from the verb to navigate. You would also have someone who navigates a ship. Here we use it for a car, to show or to indicate where you should go.“Before the trip, we looked at the road maps.” The road maps, are, as you could guess, maps that tell you where the freeways, the highways, the streets are. “We looked at the road map and decided on our route and points of interest.” To decide on something means that you made a decision to do something. You could say, “We decided to take” a certain route, and there we would use the verb in the “to” form, decide to do something. But, if we are using a noun or a noun phrase, then we use the preposition “on.” So I decided on the blue car instead of the red car. That means I decided to buy the blue car instead of the red car. Well, in this story, the family decided on the route. The route, “route,” is the path or the roads and streets, in this case, that you are going to go on to get to your city or wherever you are going. The place where you are going we usually call the destination, “destination.” That's the place where you are going. Well, the destination could take you on different routes. So if I was going from Los Angeles to San Francisco in Northern California, I could take the freeway number five, or I could take the highway number one. Those will both get me to San Francisco. So there are different routes. Points of interest are places where you want to stop and see something. That might be a park, it might be a monument, it might be a interesting place for you, those would be points of interest.Well, since we were not “taking a camper, we needed to make hotel reservations.” A camper, “camper,” is like a big truck or vehicle that has places for you to sleep in. Often, the car pulls this vehicle. That would be called aESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road Tripcamper. Well, we're not having a camper, we're not taking a camper on this trip, so we made hotel reservations.The first day, the children “were behaving themselves.” To behave, “behave,” means to act nicely, and this is usually a verb we use when we are talking about children or young students. The opposite of to behave is to misbehave, “misbehave.” So, when we say, “the kids were behaving themselves,” we mean they were acting nice; they were being good. There are other ways to use that verb, to behave, and we talk about those in today's Learning Guide.“My daughter was a little car sick,” the story says. To be carsick usually is a type of motion sickness, where when you move in the car, some people, the motion of the car - the movement of the car - makes their stomach a little sick. They start to feel a little sick. That happens to people in the plane, or on a ship or boat. Well, “we made it to our first stop without any major problems.” Our first stop would be the first place where we were going to sleep overnight somewhere. “On the second day,” the kids began to misbehave. Another way of saying misbehave is to act up, “act up,” two words. To act up means to misbehave, especially for children. The children “kept asking, 'Are we there yet?'“ meaning have we arrived, because, of course, children don't like to wait. They want everything right away, and so if you if you have a long trip, they may say, “Are we there yet?” - have we arrived?“And they wanted to stop at every rest stop.” A rest stop is a place on a big highway or freeway where you can stop and use the bathroom, and usually there are places where you can eat, and these are on the side of the big freeways. Usually, between large cities, you will find some rest stops every 40, 50 miles. “My youngest son,” the story says, “kept calling out the mile markers.” To call out means to say out loud, and in this case, the son is calling out the mile markers. On most U.S. highways and freeways there's a little sign for every mile that tells you the mile number of that particular freeway. It can sometimes be the number of miles from the border of the state. When you have a highway or a freeway that goes between two states, the mile markers usually start at one again at the border. Well, they start at zero. The border would be zero, and the first mile into the state would be one.ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripThe mile markers, then, were being called out, or announced out loud, by the youngest son, “and I thought my head would explode if he didn’t stop.” To explode, “explode,” means literally, actually that something blows apart. For example, if you had a tire for your bike - the round piece of rubber that goes around the wheel - and you kept putting air into the tire and you didn't stop. Eventually the tire would explode, it would break open. And, that's the idea of the verb, to explode. We usually use that verb to talk about bombs such as you would find in a war, but the expression, my head would explode, means that I was getting a headache. My head was starting to hurt. “On top of that,” or in addition to that, “my wife wanted every few miles for a photo op.” A photo op is short for a photograph opportunity. In other words, my wife wanted to take a picture every few miles in our trip.“By the third day, I was really questioning the wisdom of taking” my young children on a trip “for 10 days.” To question the wisdom is the same as to doubt, or “I was thinking this is a bad idea.” When you question the wisdom of something you begin to doubt if it is a good idea or not.The story ends by the narrator saying, “I suspect that after this vacation,” meaning I think, I believe that after this vacation I'm pretty sure “I’ll need another” vacation “to recover from it.” To recover, “recover,” means to get better. We usually use that verb when we are talking about being sick. But here, in the story, he's sort of making a joke, saying he needs to recover from this vacation, meaning he needs to get some rest, to get better after the difficult vacation. To recover means something different if you are talking about a thing or an object, and that's something we talk about in today's Learning Guide.Now let's listen to the story, this time at a native rate of speech.[Start of story]Our family decided to take a road trip across the country this year. The kids were really excited and my oldest son wanted to help navigate. Before the trip, we looked at the road maps and decided on our route and the points of interest we would try to see. Since we wouldn’t be taking a camper, we needed to make hotel reservations along the way. After a little planning, we were ready to go. The kids were behaving themselves the first day. My daughter was a little car sick in the morning, but we made it to our first stop without any major problems.ESL Podcast 210 – A Family Road TripOn the second day, though, the kids were really acting up. They kept asking, “Are we there yet?” and they wanted to stop at every rest stop. My youngest son, who is only four, kept calling out the mile markers as we passed them, and I thought my head would explode if he didn’t stop. On top of that, my wife wanted to stop every few miles for a photo op and I thought we’d never get to the next town.By the third day, I was really questioning the wisdom of taking three young children on the road for 10 days. I suspect that after this vacation, I’ll need another one to recover from it.[End of story]Our script today was written by Dr. Lucy Tse.That's all we have time for. From Los Angeles, California, I'm Jeff McQuillan. Thanks 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 2006.。

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.。

Audio Index: 13:57For me, things never go very smoothly at my local post office. I've learned that if you want to mail a letter, you'll have no problems. But if things get more complicated than that, well, watch out!Yesterday I went there to mail a small package and to pick up a book of stamps. I waited my turn in line, and when I get up to the window, the clerk asks me, "What can I do for you?" "Well," I said, "I need a book‚Äîno, make that a roll of stamps. And I need to send this package priority to San Francisco." "You want insurance with that?" he asked me. "Uh, I don't know, what do you recommend?" "Well," he said, "you can send it priority with tracking if you want to see when it gets there, you can send it insured if the contents are valuable, or you can do both." "Okay, I'll take the insurance." "Then step aside to fill out the insurance form," he said, "and bring it back up to me when you're finished." With that, I was waved aside to fill out my form. "Next in line!" the clerk called. When I finished filling out the form, I waited patiently until the gentleman being waited on in front of me was finished, and then stepped back up to the window. "Sorry," the clerk said, "I'm on break now. She can help you at the next window." Maybe it would be quicker just to drive my package to San Francisco.。

ESL Podcast 771 – Commuting by Train Lisa: Can you tell me if this is theright platform for the train to Arlington? Omar: Yes, it is. Is this your first time taking the train?Lisa: Is it that obvious?Omar: No, you just look a little lost. Lisa: I’m starting a new job and I have to commute to work for the first time. Omar: Oh, I see. Did you buy a ticket at the ticket machine?Lisa: Yes, I did, when I entered the station.I hope I bought the right one.Omar: Let me see. Yes, that’s the right one.The good news is that I haven’t heardany announcements about the train being delayed, like it has been a couple of times this week, so it should be on time.Lisa: I’m relieved to hear that. I can’t afford to be late to work on my first day. Will I need to show this ticket to get on the train?Omar: Not when you get on. After the train is under way, the conductor will walk down the aisle to collect it.Lisa: Oh, I see, thanks. That sounds simple.Omar: It is simple if you can actually find a seat. It can be pretty crowded on these commut er trains. Sometimes it’s standing room only.Lisa: Let’s hope for the best.Omar: Stick with me. I’ll elbow a few people out of the way to get you a seat. Lisa: [laughs] Thanks, I think.。

u校园新视野大学英语2第三版Unit 1 (1)Sharing (1)Listening (1)Viewing (2)Role-play (2)Conversations (3)Passage (3)Unit test (4)Unit 2 (4)Sharing ..................................................................................................................4 Listening (5)Viewing (6)Role-play (6)Presenting (7)Conversations (7)Passage (7)Unit test (8)Unit 3 (9)Sharing ..................................................................................................................9 Listening (9)Viewing (10)Role-play (10)Presenting (11)Conversations (11)Passage (12)Unit test (12)Unit 4 (13)Sharing ................................................................................................................ 13 Listening . (14)Viewing (14)Role-play (15)Presenting (15)Conversations (16)1Passage ................................................................................................................16 Unit test (16)Unit 5 (17)Sharing ................................................................................................................17 Listening (18)Viewing (18)Role-play (19)Conversations (19)Passage (20)Unit test (20)Unit 6 (21)Sharing ................................................................................................................21 Listening (21)Viewing (22)Role-play (22)Presenting (23)Conversations (23)Passage (23)Unit test (24)Unit 7 (25)Sharing ................................................................................................................25 Listening (25)Viewing (26)Role-play (26)Presenting (27)Conversations (27)Passage (28)Unit test (28)Unit 8 (29)Sharing ................................................................................................................29 Listening (30)Viewing (30)Role-play (31)Presenting (31)Conversations (32)Passage (32)Unit test (32)2Unit 1SharingTask 2(1) new things (2) At the moment (3) quite difficultTask 31, 3, 7, 8Task 41. (1) ever learned2. (1) a combination3. Learning to drive4. (1) nine cases5. French6. hatedListeningTask 2 Activity 1e-c-a-g-d-h-b-fActivity 2(1) speak(2) saying the wrong (3) native speakers (4) pronunciation(2) found(2) body movements (2) by most standards1(5) talking to himself (6) making mistakes (7) listening skills (8) listeningActivity 31. (1) embarrassed2. anything you like3. (1) voice4. (1) how it sounds5. on the Internet6. sound likeViewingTask 2 Activity 1BABAActivity 2DABADRole-playTask 2 Activity 11Activity 2G：1, 3, 5(2) hear (2) pronunciation(2) the news (3) English televisionR：2, 4, 6, 72Activity 31. (1)2. (1)3. (1)4. (1)you should eat should not spend Why don't it's a good (2)(2) (2) (2)a good You'ream not sure that's suppose soConversationsTask 1BDDCATask 2CDACPassageTask 1Task 2(1) alternative (2) numerous (3) traditional (4) academic (5) countryside (6) athletes(7) take advantage of (8) Secondary(9) in a collective effort (10) serve asUnit testPartⅠCBBCCPartⅡBADCBPartⅢAADBCPartⅣ(1) political (2) Traditional (3) acquire(4) bear in mind (5) difficult (6) invented (7) successful (8) reason for (9) thousands of (10) brainsUnit 2SharingTask 2(1) different countries (2) home (3) places (4) cultures4Task 31, 4, 5Task 41. mature2. airport3. theater4. scenery5. culture6. languageb-a-d-f-c-eListeningTask 2 Activity 11. slowly sinking2. two and a half3. try and stop4. temporary5. permanentActivity 23, 4, 55ViewingTask 2 Activity 1DBBCDActivity 21. busy2. bars3. friendliness4. elegant5. views6. (1) beaches (2) cheap7. (1) changing (2) sunset8. criedRole-playTask 2 Activity 13Activity 2(1) trying to (2) takes(3) looking for (4) right way (5) the first left (6) until you reach (7) get to (8) Is it far (9) Go left6(10) on the leftPresenting(1) isolated (2) far (3) plane(4) three months (5) culture (6) way of life (7) speak to (8) find out (9) history (10) dreamsConversationsTask 1ADBCDTask 2ADCAPassageTask 1DABDTask 2(1) scared (2) perceive (3) negative7(4) result in (5) lose faith in (6) goes down (7) depressed (8) preferably (9) adapt (10) revealUnit testPartⅠABBAAPartⅡBCADPartⅢCADBPartⅣ(1) vacation (2) walks of life (3) routine (4) adventure (5) treat(6) popularity(7) gain a better understanding of (8) similarities (9) perspective (10) marvelousUnit 3SharingTask 2(1) concerts (2) a bar (3) bandTask 31. (1) keep fit2. (1) small children3. (1) eating and drinking4. (1) friends around5. (1) love to read6. (1)playing the guitar Task 41, 6ListeningTask 2(1) free art exhibition (2) a concert (3) dinner (4) bus home (5) museum (6) paintings (7) entertainers (8) comedy(9) comedy club (10) Covent Garden(2) theater(2) seeing friends (2) houses (2) a jazz club (2) oil painting (2)watching films9ViewingTask 2 Activity 1(1) sightseeing (2) beach(3) get away from (4) relaxing (5) a dozen (6) fantastic (7) attitude (8) perfectActivity 2BAABABActivity 3c-e-f-b-a-dRole-playTask 2 Activity 1(1) Book a table (2) 4(3) Saturday (4) 10 o'clock (5) two tickets (6) Starr (7) June the fifth (8) June the ninth(9) dinner with friends10(10) eight-thirty (11) Saturday(12) dinner tonight (13) 098845673Activity 2(1) repeat (2) check (3) catch(4) slow down (5) speak upPresentingTask 1 Activity 1e-d-b-f-a-cActivity 2b-a-c-e-dConversationsTask 1DCCBCTask 2DAAD11PassageTask 1AADDTask 2(1) objectives (2) farthest (3) recognized (4) separated into (5) involves(6) is referred to (7) life-threatening (8) designed (9) endurance(10) putting themselves at riskUnit testPartⅠACBBBPartⅡDBDCAPartⅢCDCCPartⅣ(1) have a passion for (2) looked upon (3) take risks12(4) probably (5) ignore (6) attractive (7) familiar (8) obviously (9) powerful (10) requiresUnit 4SharingTask 2(1) finding out(2) a normal person (3) feel about fameTask 32, 3, 41. exciting2. worthwhile3. a model4. real fame5. invention6. in the streetTask 5b-a-c-f-e-dListeningTask 2(1) advertising (2) enjoy the job (3) travel (4) chance(5) go traveling (6) a doctor (7) have time (8) play the piano (9) writing songs (10) make more timeViewingTask 2 Activity 11. (1) the attitude2. speed3. (1) Formula One4. ambitious driversActivity 2(1) speed (2) survive (3) October (4) richest (5) track (6) bank (7) glory (8) better(2) the talent (2) big guys14Activity 3(1) 7 (2) 4(3) everythingRole-playTask 2 Activity 1(1) White House(2) tomorrow afternoon (3) a space flight (4) next week (5) her husband (6) 80(7) three or four (8) organize (9) this weekend(10) restaurant service (11) French (12) Paris (13) directions (14) bookR：1, 2, 4O：3, 5, 6PresentingTask 11. South Wales2. a rock star3. his dream4. (1) drum kit(2) write songs155. apart fromConversationsTask 1BBCDDTask 2ABBDPassageTask 1BDACTask 2(1) commentators (2) exaggerated (3) focus on(4) lead an active life (5) laid the foundation (6) annual (7) a series of (8) advocating (9) abolish (10) influentialUnit testPartⅠCACCC16PartⅡPartⅢBCCBAPartⅣ(1) champion (2) challenges (3) Regardless of (4) inspiration (5) remarkable (6) legendary (7) dominance (8) appeal in (9) aspire to (10) magnificentUnit 5SharingTask 2(1) cities(2) mix of people (3) peace and quietTask 3d-e-a-c-f-bTask 41, 2, 517Task 51. horribly2. get round3. (1) on the go (2) take time out (3) missing out4. green transport5. (1) crimeListeningTask 2(1) shopping (2) good nightlife (3) safe (4) cheap (5) terrible (6) restaurants (7) fantastic (8) fast (9) green (10) crowded (11) friendly (12) atmosphere (13) clean (14) safe (15) see (16) do(17) beautiful (18) perfect (19) culture (20) too muchViewing1. a combined age2. (1) forgotten(4) 16 times(2) committing crimes(2) stuck indoors(5) closure18(3) felt right (6) meet3. 404. (1) available online(2) 2 millionRole-playTask 2 Activity 1Conversation 1 1. a hotel2. The air conditioning3. send someone up Conversation 2 1. a restaurant 2. (1) 20 minutes (2) the service charge 3. busy time Conversation 3 1. a train station 2. an hour3. wrong type of snowActivity 2C：1, 2, 5R：3, 4, 6ConversationsTask 1AABADTask 2AADB19PassageTask 1BDCDTask 2(1) join up (2) reaction(3) makes increasing sense (4) sustainable (5) aims (6) monitored (7) access to(8) experimenting with (9) eye-catching (10) commuting Unit testPartⅠBCDABPartⅡBCDACPartⅢDCBDDPartⅣ(1) widespread (2) property (3) penetrates20(4) robbed (5) victim(6) argue about (7) contribute to (8) population(9) remains unsolved (10) proposedUnit 6SharingTask 2(1) a researcher (2) gets too busy (3) relax (4) flatTask 33, 4Task 4c-e-a-d-b-fListeningTask 2(1) a free bus (2) a dentist (3) Lunch (4) a cheap(5) a surprise holiday (6) free coffee(7) bring their children21(8) free drinks (9) go fishing (10) all the fishViewingTask 2(1) traveling to work (2) live abroad (3) cheap houses(4) an online map company (5) working (6) drive (7) 700(8) 38 pounds (9) quality of life (10) the trafficRole-playTask 2 Activity 11, 3Activity 21. like2. can't stand3. absolutely love4. (1) don't like5. don't mind6. keen on7. hate8. (1) not very keen on(2) prefer(2) want to be22PresentingTask 1 Activity 11. (1) shaped2. (1) personal3. at home4. beautiful website(2) faces(2) special messageActivity 2c-e-a-b-dConversationsTask 1BDACCTask 2ADBBPassageTask 1BBADTask 2(1) evaluate(2) compensation (3) negotiating (4) confirm(5) schedule(6) circumstances (7) turn down (8) start over (9) work out (10) informed Unit testPartⅠBACCDPartⅡBDDCCPartⅢCADBCPartⅣ(1) opportunities (2) practical (3) define(4) compassion (5) focusing on (6) significance (7) think big(8) plays a huge role (9) attend(10) Contented24Unit 7SharingTask 2(1) enjoy(2) live without (3) plan my life(4) listening to musicTask 3b-e-f-a-d-cTask 51. (1) on it all the time2. (1) my laptop3. beyond that4. (1) computer(2) my husband(2) phone (2) Internet(3) essentialListeningTask 2 Activity 11, 2Activity 21. on the Internet2. videos3. (1) a break4. reading books5. (1) the computer(2) someone in the office (2) sports and going out25(3) looking through (3) live in the real worldViewingTask 2 Activity 11, 4Activity 2CBDDCRole-playTask 2 Activity 1Speakers 1 Gadgets Mobile phone MP3 player Television Digital camera Laptop 2 Mobile phone TV Laptop Digital camera MP3 player Reasons26Essential √ √ √ √ √ Not essential √ √ √ √ √ (1) all the time (2) texting(3) watch much television (4) terrible (5) for work(6) an emergency (7) a problem with (8) go on the Internet (9) Someone elseActivity 2Speaker 1：c-a-b Speaker 2：b-a-cPresentingTask 1(1) 2(2) near the sea(3) real achievement (4) 12(5) talked online (6) hello (7) lonely (8) a new girl (9) bored(10) my real friends (11) a club(12) good-looking(13) start talking to him (14) on the dance floor (15) haven't been dancingConversationsTask 1BCDDC27Task 2BBACPassageTask 1DAADTask 2(1) response (2) illegal(3) in charge of (4) consequently (5) relied heavily on (6) linked to (7) anticipate (8) familiar with (9) remedy (10) betrayingUnit testPartⅠADBCBPartⅡBCADCPartⅢABCDDPartⅣ(1) refer to (2) involves (3) unique (4) valuable(5) at your expense (6) associated with (7) responsible (8) minimize (9) regularly (10) maintainUnit 8SharingTask 2(1) come from(2) most of my family (3) talking to peopleTask 3c-e-a-f-b-dTask 41. (1) height2. (1) my sister3. (1) a younger version4. quite calm5. (1) my brothersTask 52, 6(2) same traits(2) similar to (2) organized (2) quite different29(3) think about things (3) mathematical (3) louderListeningTask 2(1) 1689 (2) advisor (3) soldiers (4) sailors (5) dull(6) incredibly (7) surname (8) great funViewing(1) islands(2) There are no rules (3) an account (4) a digital (5) male(6) half animal (7) edit (8) short (9) face(10) features (11) pick(12) personality (13) online stores(14) over three million (15) chat30Role-playTask 2 Activity 1Conversation 11. speaking and listening2. conversation Conversation 2 1. summer camp 2. Different ages Conversation 3 1. online classes 2. demandingActivity 2(1) So for me the most important thing is to (2) I suppose I'd have to say (3) In my opinion(4) One thing I'd like to say is thatPresentingTask 1 Activity 1(1) BBC breakfast TV (2) hair color(3) businesswoman (4) personality (5) buildingActivity 21, 3, 4, 5, 631ConversationsTask 1Task 2CDABPassageTask 1CCABTask 2(1) infancy (2) assumed (3) inherited (4) rooted in (5) fairs(6) compensate for (7) cement (8) witness (9) exposed to(10) contributed toUnit testPartⅠBBCCBPartⅡBDAA32PartⅢBCCAAPartⅣ(1) kicked out of (2) hang out (3) involved (4) useless (5) failure (6) fell in love with (7) positive (8) especially (9) took off (10) succeed。