Conversations

 Family Habits

Todd: Okay, Katie, let's talk about your family.

Katie: Sure.

Todd: In your family, who gets up early?

Katie: My mom gets up early every day.

Todd: What time does she get up?

Katie: My mom gets up at 4:00 AM in the morning.

Todd: What?

Katie: Yes.

Todd: That's crazy.

Katie: But she also goes to bed very early.

Todd: What time?

Katie: She goes to bed at 7:00.

Todd: Wow, at 7:00?

Katie: At 7:00 every day.

Todd: Is everyone quiet in the family?

Katie: Oh, no. No, no, no.

Todd: Wow, that's amazing. Okay, so who stays up late?

Katie: Probably, me and my brother. We always stay up late.

Todd: Yeah? How late?

Katie: Well, when we were younger, we stayed up until 11:00. Which when you're a five or six-year-old, that's very late.

Todd: That is very late. Wow. What about TV? Who watches a lot of TV?

Katie: My dad. My dad watches a lot of TV.

Todd: Oh yeah, what does he watch?

Katie: He watches sports TV programs. He watches comedy programs. He watches everything.

Todd: Okay, yeah. Sounds like my dad. Now my dad falls asleep in front of the TV a lot.

Katie: Mine too.

Todd: Really?

Katie: Yeah.

Todd: Yeah. Okay, who cleans the house?

Katie: Sometimes, me and my brother will help clean the house. But mostly, it's my mom.

Todd: Oh right. Same. I think it's the same in everybody's house.

Katie: I think so too.

Todd: I know, poor mom.

Katie: Yeah.

Todd: Well, similarly, who cooks for the family? I bet it's your mom.

Katie: Nope. Actually, it's my dad.

Todd: Really? Oh great.

Katie: My dad is a chef.

Todd: Oh nice.

Katie: So he is very good at cooking meals.

Todd: Oh, what does he cook?

Katie: Lots and lots of stuff. Lots of British food, such as roast beef or fish and chips. Lots of British food.

Todd: I lived in England for one year. And I love Sunday roast.

Katie: Oh, me too.

Todd: It's so good.

Katie: I wish it was Sunday roast every day.

Todd: I know. Okay, in your family, who does the shopping?

Katie: Who do you think does the shopping in my family?

Todd: Your mother.

Katie: Of course. Yeah.

Todd: Oh wow.

Katie: I don't think my mother would be happy if my dad did the shopping.

Todd: Why?

Katie: My dad buys too many silly things that we don't need.

Todd: Ah, okay, I gotcha. All right, who makes you laugh? 

Katie: Definitely, my dad makes me laugh.

Todd: Oh yeah, how?

Katie: My dad makes me laugh a lot. His sense of humor is very different from mine, so when he says a joke and nobody laughs, that makes me laugh.

Todd: Oh, right, yeah, that's funny. So sometimes, we argue with people. Who argues with you sometimes?

Katie: Not sometimes. All the time, I argue with my brother.

Todd: Oh really?

Katie: Yes.

Todd: What do you argue about?

Katie: Everything. Everything. We're very different people.

Todd: Okay, for example?

Katie: Can be even small things like the color T-shirt that someone is wearing, we will argue about it.

Todd: Right. That sounds like my sisters. So I have two older sisters, I never fight with either sister. Never. But my sisters fight all the time. Yeah. They love fighting.

Katie: I love fighting my brother.

Todd: Okay, so in your family, who helps you out a lot?

Katie: I hope that we help each other out a lot. I don't think one person helps a lot of people. We all help each other.

Todd: Oh, wow, that sounds great. Thanks, Katie.

Katie: Thanks. 

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) When does her mom get up? a

•  a) 4

•  b) 6

•  c) 7

2) Who watches a lot of TV? b

•  a) Her mom

•  b) Her dad

•  c) Her brother

3) Who cooks for the family? b

•  a) Her mom

•  b) Her dad

•  c) Her brother

4) Who argues with her? c

•  a) Her mom

•  b) Her dad

•  c) Her brother

5) Who makes her laugh? b

•  a) Her mom

•  b) Her dad

•  c) Her brother

House and Things

Aimee: So, Todd, do you like your house?   

Todd: I do. It's a nice house, but it's an old house. It's very old.

Aimee: How many rooms are in your house?

Todd: My house has four rooms, a living room, a sleeping room, a study room, and a kitchen.

Aimee: That sounds big. How about bathrooms? How many bathrooms do you have?

Todd: I have two bathrooms or toilets, and then I have one washing room to take a shower.

Aimee: Oh, nice. Do you have a TV?

Todd: I do have a TV in the living room, and I have a big couch and a nice table, and I have cable TV.

Aimee: Wow.

Todd: I have cable, but I don't watch TV much.

Aimee: Oh, well, what about your kitchen? Do you have a kitchen?

Todd: I do. I have a very small kitchen. My kitchen has one stove, a small stove, a table, and a refrigerator, and a microwave. I can cook, but it's not easy.

Aimee: Oh, how many chairs do you have in the kitchen?

Todd: We only have two chairs. It's very, very small.

Aimee: Do you have a kettle?   

Todd: I do have a kettle. Do you want coffee?

Aimee: No. It's an important, important kitchen appliance.

Todd: It is. It is. I like that kettle. I think, in American English, we say "Coffee pot."  

Aimee: Really?

Todd: Yeah. Do we say, "Kettle?" Maybe. I don't know. I don't know American English. I need to learn.

Aimee: For me, a kettle is something you use to boil water, so you could be making tea or coffee.

Todd: True.

Aimee: It doesn't matter.

Todd: Maybe we do say kettle. We say kettle. Sorry.

Aimee: How about books, Todd? Do you have many books?

Todd: No. I have a rule. I only keep two books.

Aimee: What?

Todd: Yeah. If I want a new book, I must get rid of a book.

Aimee: Wow.

Todd: Only two. Never three. I don't like having three, four-

Aimee: That is so strict.

Todd: It is. It is very strict. My rule, strange rule.

Aimee: How about clothes? Do you have a lot of clothes?

Todd: No. I am a minimalist. That means I have few items of clothing. I think I have maybe five shirts and three pairs of pants. 

Aimee: Wow.

Todd: And two pairs of shoes.

Aimee: Wow. It sounds great.

Todd: It is, kind of, but I'm 47. I'm old, so it's okay. I can wear the same clothes every day. It's okay.

Aimee: In your house, do you have a patio?

Todd: I do, but it's really old, and it's not safe. It can fall. It's old, so I don't use it, but I have a small area to go outside, a small garden. It's nice.

Aimee: Sounds nice. Sounds like a great house.

Todd: It is, it is. Old, but nice.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) How many bathrooms are in his house?  b

•  a) One

•  b) Two

•  c) Three

2) How many chairs are in the kitchen? b

•  a) None

•  b) Two

•  c) Four

3) Does he have many shoes? b

•  a) Yes, he does.

•  b) No, he does not.

•  c) He does not say.

4) What does he have outside? b

•  a) A car

•  b) A garden

•  c) A pool

4) What items does he mention? c

•  a) Cups

•  b) Pictures

•  c) Books

What is a typical day for you?

Todd: So Natalie, what is a typical day for you? For example, what is a typical morning?

Natalie: Well, I wake up at about 7.00 a.m.

Todd: Oh that's early.

Natalie: Yes, I really am a morning person.

Todd: I think you are a morning person. I'm not a morning person at all.

Natalie: Well, I don't actually get out of bed until about 7.30.

Todd: Okay, so what do you do?

Natalie: Well, I play on my phone, I check my emails, I check Facebook, and I read the news.

Todd: Do you eat breakfast at home?

Natalie: I usually prepare breakfast at home, yeah.

Todd: What do you eat?

Natalie: Oh, just the simple stuff, eggs, bacon, sausages, sometimes I'll have toast.

Todd: Do you drink coffee or tea?

Natalie: No, I don't like coffee or tea.

Todd: Oh, what do you drink?

Natalie: Actually, I like hot chocolate in the morning.

Todd: Yeah, I like hot chocolate too. So what about your day?

Natalie: Well, I'm a teacher. I teach at a school. Lessons start at about 9.00 a.m. and we have lunch at noon.

Todd: How many classes do you have in the morning?

Natalie: Each class lasts an hour, so I have three classes.

Todd: Do you eat lunch at school?

Natalie: Yes, we have a huge canteen.

Todd: Is the food good?

Natalie: The food is great and it's so much fun eating with the students too.

Todd: Is the food cheap or expensive?

Natalie: It's pretty cheap. I'd say maybe $3 for lunch.  

Todd: Oh that's really good.

Natalie: Yeah, and for that you get a lot of food.

Todd: What do you do in the afternoon?

Natalie: In the afternoon I have more lessons, usually taking me till about 4.00 p.m.

Todd: Oh and do you have big classes?

Natalie: Yes, so I teach English, that means I teach the whole year, so I have really big classes. We have about 2000 students at the school.

Todd: That's a lot.

Natalie: Yes it is.

Todd: What about the evening? What do you do in the evening?

Natalie: When I get home I'm usually really tired, so I get changed into my pajamas and I watch TV for about two hours. After that, I'll maybe have some dinner, maybe get a pizza and then read a book or play on my phone again.

Todd: What do you watch on TV?

Natalie: I really like watching Korean dramas.

Todd: Korean dramas are cool.

Natalie: I know, the characters are so much fun.

Todd: Do you listen to K-pop?

Natalie: A little bit but I think it's a little bit boring. I prefer American pop.

Todd: Oh so you like Korean dramas and American music?

Natalie: That's right. I also like game shows.

Todd: Oh, what game shows?

Natalie: Well actually my favorite one is Busted, and that's also Korean.

Todd: Okay, I need to see that. So when do you go to bed?

Natalie: Most nights I go to bed at around 10.00 p.m. but at the weekend, sometimes it's later, maybe around midnight.

Todd: Well I think you have an interesting and long day.

Natalie: That's right, I'm usually very tired. 

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) When does she get out of bed?              c

•  a) Before six

•  b) Before seven

•  c) Before eight

2) What does she do in the morning in bed?  b

•  a) Read books

•  b) Check her phone

•  c) Go back to sleep

3) What does she like to eat in the morning?  ab

•  a) eggs

•  b) toast

•  c) cereal

4) What does she drink in the morning?  c

•  a) tea

•  b) coffee

•  c) hot chocolate

5) What does she do in the evening?     bc

•  a) do yoga

•  b) watch TV

•  c) wear pajamas

Fruits and Veggies

Todd: So Meg, you look like a healthy person. Do you eat lots of fruits and vegetables?

Meg: I do eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially fruit. I love to eat fruit because it's so sweet.

Todd: Yeah? What fruits do you like?

Meg: I love bananas because they're so healthy for you. And so usually, in the morning for breakfast, I'll have a banana. I also love blueberries. Blueberries are my favorite fruit. But sometimes, they're expensive so I can't often eat blueberries.

Todd: Oh, I agree. Blueberries are so good. I love blueberries in oatmeal. 

Meg: That's a good idea. I love to have blueberries in muffins.

Todd: Oh, that's nice. Well, you bake. Do you bake blueberry muffins?

Meg: I do bake blueberry muffins, and also blueberry bread, blueberry pancakes, many blueberry things.

Todd: Wow. That's great. So are there any fruits you don't like?

Meg: I don't like kiwi actually because the flavor is okay but the fruit is too soft. So usually, I don't want to eat kiwi.

Todd: Oh well, I love kiwi. I love kiwi and bananas. It's very good.

Meg: Hmm, sounds okay but maybe I'll just have the banana.

Todd: So what about vegetables? Are you a person who eats lots of salad?

Meg: I don't eat a lot of salad but I do like to eat vegetables with my meals, usually lunch and dinner.

Todd: So you cook vegetables.

Meg: I cook vegetables or I eat vegetables fresh. For example, usually with my lunch, I'll cut up a cucumber, and put some salt or pepper on the cucumber, and eat it with my lunch. 

Todd: Oh great. I love vegetable sticks, so I love carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, and radish sticks. It's very good.

Meg: Do you like to dip vegetable sticks into any dressing?

Todd: I do but it's not healthy, right?

Meg: No.

Todd: But yeah, I love the dressing like the ranch dressing with carrot sticks or the ranch dressing with cucumber sticks. It's very nice.

Meg: Yeah. It's pretty delicious. But you're right. Not so healthy.

Todd: No. So what vegetables do you cook?

Meg: Sometimes I cook broccoli. I actually like to roast broccoli, which is when you put broccoli into the oven and cook it for a few minutes. So it's really delicious. You can add some salt or seasonings and it's easy to make. You can cook some meat or rice while the broccoli is in the oven and then it's ready for your dinner.

Todd: That's great. Yeah. You see some vegetables like on a kebab that are roasted. I guess onions are roasted, peppers are roasted.

Meg: Right, right.

Todd: Do you roast other vegetables besides broccoli?  

Meg: Sometimes tomatoes, and sometimes potatoes although, it's that a vegetable?

Todd: It is, but it's not a very healthy vegetable.

Meg: So maybe I shouldn't eat potatoes.

Todd: I love potatoes though. So you roast vegetables, do you cook vegetables any other way? Do you boil vegetables or fry vegetables?

Meg: Sometimes I boil vegetables. For example, I like to boil carrots because they're soft and you can add some spices again to have some flavor when you eat carrots with your meal.

Todd: Yeah. Actually, I love carrots but I only like raw carrots.

Meg: Oh really?

Todd: And I hate cooked carrots. 

Meg: Oh well, I'll try to remember that if ever you come over for dinner.

Todd: Yeah. Carrots sticks please.

Meg: Okay.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) Who eats blueberries with oatmeal?     a

•  a) Todd

•  b) Meg

2) Meg puts blueberries in _____ .  ab

•  a) muffins

•  b) pancakes

•  c) smoothies

3) Meg does not like _____ .   c

•  a) Oranges

•  b) Pineapple

•  c) Kiwi

4) She eats vegetables _____ for lunch.                b

•  a) salad

•  b) sticks

•  c) soup

5) She likes to _____ broccoli.      c

•  a) fry

•  b) boil

•  c) roast

Guess the Celebrity

Todd: Hello, Shantel.

Shantel: Hello.

Todd: Let's play a game.

Shantel: Okay.

Todd: Can you guess the famous person?

Shantel: Let's play.

Todd: Okay, person number one. She is American, she is a singer, she is young, she is about 25 years old, and now she is very famous. Her hair is blonde and she is very cute and very pretty.

Shantel: Hmm. Is it Taylor Swift?

Todd: Yes, correct. Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding.

Shantel: Woo!

Todd: Okay, so the next person is also very famous, he is from Argentina. He is a soccer player, he is very good at sports, and he is on a team in Spain.

Shantel: On a team in Spain?

Todd: Yeah, he is very good. He is a little short, but he is quick, he is very fast.

Shantel: Hmm. I don't watch soccer so much, but is it Cristiano Ronaldo?

Todd: No. It is Lionel Messi.

Shantel: Ooh, I don't know who he is.

Todd: Oh no. Ronaldo is the rival of Lionel Messi.

Shantel: I see.

Todd: Okay, so 1-1. Alright, ready? Next one. This person is from Hong Kong, he is older, he is my age, about 50, maybe older. He is good at martial arts, he is in many movies.

Shantel: Okay.

Todd: Oh, also he is funny, he is very funny.

Shantel: Is it Jackie Chan?

Todd: Yes, correct. Ding-ding-ding.

Shantel: Yay!

Todd: Okay, so now let's switch. You ask me.

Shantel: Okay. This person is a woman, she is American, and she is a very famous singer in the United States and the world. She is married to a very famous rapper. Do you know who she is?

Todd: Is she Beyonce?

Shantel: Yes, very good.

Todd: Bing-bing-bing-bing.

Shantel: She is Beyonce.

Todd: Oh, nice.

Shantel: Okay, are you ready for the next person?

Todd: I'm ready.

Shantel: He is a Jamaican and he runs really fast.

Todd: Okay, he is fast, he's from Jamaica.

Shantel: Mm-hmm (affirmative), and he is so fast he joined the Olympics and won many times.

Todd: Is he a gold medal winner?

Shantel: He is a gold medal winner.

Todd: Oh, I know.

Shantel: Who is it?

Todd: It is Usian Bolt.

Shantel: Correct.

Todd: Yay!

Shantel: Ding-ding-ding.

Todd: Thanks, Shantel.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) Who is the first person?  a

•  a) A singer

•  b) An athlete

•  c) An actress

2) Who is the second person?  b

•  a) A singer

•  b) An athlete

•  c) An actor

3) Who is the third person?  c

•  a) A singer

•  b) An athlete

•  c) An actor

4) Who does she talk about first?          c 

•  a) A model

•  b) A rapper

•  c) A singer

5) What famous man does she talk about?  b

•  a) An American

•  b) A Jamaican

•  c) An Australian

Likes and Favorites

Todd: Natalie, let's talk about our favorite things.

Natalie: Sure.

Todd: First, what is your favorite color?

Natalie: My favorite color is purple.

Todd: Really? My favorite color is purple, too.

Natalie: Oh, really?

Todd: Yeah, but I don't have purple clothing. I love the color purple, but I don't have purple clothes.

Natalie: Oh, well, everything I wear is purple.

Todd: No kidding?

Natalie: Yeah, really.

Todd: That's so cool. So, what about food? What's your favorite food?

Natalie: Good question. My favorite food is pizza. I love pizza, but I don't like really big pizzas.

Todd: I love pizza, too. What is your favorite topping on pizza?

Natalie: I like really spicy toppings, so salami or pepperoni, chillies, and sometimes bell peppers, too.

Todd: Do you like thick pizza or thin pizza?

Natalie: No, I don't like thick pizza, because I can't eat too much. The thin pizzas, I get lots of toppings and I don't feel so full.

Todd: Yeah, I agree. What about seasons? What is your favorite season?

Natalie: My favorite season is winter.

Todd: Winter?

Natalie: Yeah, I love winter, don't you?

Todd: No, I hate winter. Why do you like winter?

Natalie: I love the snow.

Todd: Oh, I hate the snow. Well, I like the snow a little bit, but I hate cold weather.

Natalie: Yeah, I guess the cold is kind of annoying, but the snow is so much fun. I go skiing and I play snowball fights and I build snowmen.

Todd: Yeah, that sounds fun. What about sports? What's your favorite sport?

Natalie: I’d say my favorite sport is tennis.

Todd: That's interesting. Do you play tennis?

Natalie: Yeah, but I'm not very good.

Todd: Do you like singles or doubles?

Natalie: At the moment I'm having singles lessons. They're really fun.

Todd: Oh, now you are taking tennis lessons?

Natalie: Yes, about twice a week.

Todd: Do you watch tennis on TV?

Natalie: Yes, I watch it all the time.

Todd: Who is your favorite tennis player?

Natalie: I really like Roger Federer.

Todd: Yeah. He's really good. Okay, last question. What is your favorite movie?

Natalie: I don't have a favorite movie, but I really like comedies.

Todd: So, what is your favorite comedy?

Natalie: My favorite comedy is Ace Ventura.

Todd: Ace Ventura is very funny, but that movie is really old.

Natalie: It is, but it's a classic, Todd.

Todd: It's like 20 years old, I think, maybe more.

Natalie: I know. I've seen it a hundred times.

Todd: Yeah. I like it a lot, too. 

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) What is purple?  a

•  a) Her clothes

•  b) Her hair

•  c) Her car

2) What does she like on her pizza?ab

•  a) salami

•  b) pepperoni

•  c) pineapple

3) What does she like about winter?   c

•  a) The clothes

•  b) The food

•  c) The snow

4) What does she say about tennis?       c

•  a) She plays every day

•  b) She hates it

•  c) She takes lessons

5) What kind of movie does she like? b

•  a) Dramas

•  b) Comedies

•  c) Horror

Making Breakfast

Katie: So, I want to make breakfast for everybody. Do we have anything to make breakfast with?

Todd: We do, but not much. I think we need to go to the store. Let's make a list, and I'll buy some stuff today and bring it back for breakfast.

Katie: Okay. Well, how about eggs? Do we have eggs?

Todd: Oh, yeah. We have plenty of eggs. We have maybe two dozen eggs. I bought eggs yesterday, so we have enough eggs.

Katie: Okay. How about pancake mix? Do we have pancake mix?

Todd: I don't think so. I think we have some, but it's not enough, so I will buy more.

Katie: Okay.

Todd: How much do we need?

Katie: Maybe two packets.

Todd: Two packets? Okay. Two big boxes?

Katie: Yeah, maybe two big boxes of pancake mix.

Todd: Okay.

Katie: Do we have any sugar?

Todd: I don't think so. We have some, but again, I think it's not enough, so I'll buy-

Katie: I like to make a lot of pancakes.

Todd: Okay, so I'll buy a lot of sugar.

Katie: Okay.

Todd: I'll buy a big bag of sugar.

Katie: That sounds good. Do we have any milk?

Todd: We do have a little, but it's not enough, so I'll buy some more. Maybe two cartons of milk? Two liters?

Katie: Sounds good.

Todd: Okay.

Katie: Do we have any bacon?

Todd: We don't have any bacon.

Katie: No bacon?

Todd: No, but we have ham. We have lots of ham. Can we have ham instead of bacon?

Katie: No. It's got to be bacon.

Todd: Okay, so I'll buy some bacon. How much?

Katie: How about six rashers of bacon?

Todd: Okay.

Katie: Or six packets of bacon.

Todd: Six packets? Okay.

Katie: Sounds good. Do we have any coffee?

Todd: We do, but probably not enough, so I'll buy a big can of coffee.

Katie: Okay. Everyone needs to drink coffee.

Todd: Yeah. Plus, we need coffee for us.

Katie: Of course. How about juice? Do we have any juice?

Todd: We do. We actually have lots of juice. I bought juice two days ago, and it was on sale, so I bought three cartons of juice.

Katie: Three cartons?

Todd: Yeah. We need to drink the juice.

Katie: Okay. That's not a problem, then.

Todd: Yeah, we have enough juice.

Katie: Do we have any syrup?

Todd: I think we also have a lot of syrup because we had breakfast a while ago, and we didn't use that much, so there's enough syrup.

Katie: Okay. How about when it's time for washing up? Do we have any dish soap?

Todd: I think there's some, but not enough, so we need to buy some more.

Katie: We're going to have lots of washing up to do.

Todd: Okay. I'll put that on the list.

Katie: Okay.

Todd: All right. I think the list is complete. We should be okay.

Katie: Okay.

Todd: I'll buy everything, and then we should have enough of everything for breakfast tomorrow.

Katie: You buy it, and I'll make it.

Todd: Oh, sounds good.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) Do they need to buy eggs?         b

•  a) Yes, they need some more.

•  b) No, they have enough.

•  c) They do not say

2) Do they need some pancake mix?            a

•  a) Yes, they need some more.

•  b) No, they have enough.

•  c) They do not say.

3) What do they say about milk?  b

•  a) They have enough.

•  b) They need some more.

•  c) They are not sure.

4) Do they need some tea?  c

•  a) Yes, they do.

•  b) No, they do not.

•  c) They do not say.

4) What do they need to buy?  b

•  a) syrup

•  b) dish soap

•  c) juice

My Hometown

John: So Sarah, what can you tell me about your hometown?

Sarah: My hometown. Well, my hometown is called Eau Claire, Wisconsin. And it's a really great city.

John: Me too.

Sarah: There's lots of shopping. You can find anything you want there. There are a lot of malls and stores.

John: Are there many restaurants?

Sarah: Yes. The thing I like is you can eat any type of food. There are Chinese restaurants and Korean restaurants, Italian restaurants. There is a big variety of restaurants, and they're all good.

John: That sounds great. What about parks? Are there many places to see nature in your town?

Sarah: Yes. We have a lot of rivers, and lakes and hills. My hometown has four seasons. So in summer, it's great because there are lots of lakes to swim in, lots of forests to play in. In winter, there is a lot of snow. So you can go ice skating or ice fishing or even skiing.

John: Wow. That sounds really fun.

Sarah: Yeah. It's a really nice city. It's also really safe. There are lots of nice people there.

John: Good. Is there much to do at night?

Sarah: Well, maybe, maybe not. There's not many things to do at night. There aren't any nightclubs. There aren't many bars. So actually, maybe there isn't much night life.

John: That's okay. It sounds like a nice place to have a family.

Sarah: Yeah. It is. It's a great place to have a family. There's lots of good schools and libraries.

Sarah: So John, where are you from?

John: My hometown is very small. It's a little town in the countryside, in Wisconsin. There are only 5,000 people there.

Sarah: Wow. There aren't very many people.

John: No, it's very small. There aren't very many businesses. There isn't a shopping mall. There are a lot of grocery stores. And there are a lot of gas stations. But there isn't much to do there.

Sarah: Oh really? Are there any movie theaters?

John: Well, there is one movie theater. So that's a nice thing to do. In fact, there are many screens in the theater. There are eight different movies showing.

Sarah: How about at night? What's fun to do – how about at night? Is there very much night life?

John: Yeah, there is not so much. But there is a bowling alley. It's fun to go bowling with friends. There's a bowling alley and the movie theater. There is one restaurant where you can go for tacos and burritos. And there's one more restaurant for pizza and spaghetti.

But during the daytime, you can go to the park. There's a river that goes through the town. So in the middle of town, there's a river. And there's a park that goes along both sides of the river. And at the park, there is a tennis court and a disc golf course.

Sarah: Disc golf?

John: Yeah. I like to play disc golf with my friends. It's really fun. And after we finish playing disc golf, we usually go to the pizza restaurant.

Sarah: Oh, I see. How about schools? Are there very many schools?

John: Let's see. No, there aren't very many. There is only one elementary school, one junior high school and one high school. That's it.

Sarah: Interesting.

John: Yeah. There aren't very many schools but the town doesn't need more schools because there aren't very many people there.

Sarah: I see. Are there any mountains?

John: No. The whole area is very flat. There are no mountains but there are a lot of trees. In fact, there are trees on my town's sign because my town is famous for all the trees on every street.

Sarah: Oh wow. It sounds like a great city.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) What does she do in her town?              c

•  a) Go to the gym

•  b) Go to the park

•  c) Go to the movies

2) Is there lots of nature in her town? a

•  a) Yes, there is.

•  b) No, there is not.

•  c) She does not say.

3) How many people are in his town? a

•  a) 5,000

•  b) 80,000

•  c) He does not say

4) What is there in his town? a

•  a) A bowling alley

•  b) A health club

•  c) A night club

5) What else is there in his town? c

•  a) Mountains

•  b) A big lake

•  c) A park

My Weekend

Todd: Hey, Shantel, what do you do on the weekend?

Shantel: On the weekend, I wake up and, first, I make breakfast.

Todd: Oh, what do you make?

Todd: All right. I often eat toast, too.

Shantel: Do you put butter on your toast?

Todd: I do. I put butter and jam.

Shantel: Ew, I love butter and jam on my toast.

Todd: Do you eat cereal?

Shantel: No. I used to, but not anymore.

Todd: On the weekend, I don't eat cereal. On the weekend, I cook a nice breakfast, but I eat cereal during the week. What else do you do on the weekend?

Shantel: Let's see. After I eat breakfast, I clean the kitchen and make my bed. What about you?

Todd: I also clean my house. I clean my rooms. I vacuum. I wash the windows. I wash the dishes. I do my laundry. I do that on Saturday, but on Sunday, I have fun.

Shantel: What do you do for fun?

Todd: I go to the park. I play sports. I play soccer at the park. Sometimes, I ride my bike. Sometimes, I go hiking. I do lots on Sunday. On Sunday, I relax. I don't study. I don't work, and I don't clean my house.

Shantel: Nice.

Todd: What do you do on Sunday?

Shantel: I also enjoy my time on Sunday. I really like to meet my friends and, sometimes, we go to festivals or visit new cities, and we eat a lot of really good food.

Todd: Oh, that sounds fun.

Shantel: Actually, we also really enjoy camping. Do you like camping?

Todd: I love camping. I love the outdoors. I go hiking often.

Shantel: Oh, me, too.

Todd: Oh, that's cool. What about Sunday evening?

Shantel: Oh, Sunday evening, I relax. I cook a big dinner, and I listen to music, and, sometimes, I read my book, but, often, I go to sleep very early on Sunday.

Todd: Oh, wow.

Shantel: And you?

Todd: Well, on Sunday, I don't cook. I usually order food. I order pizza or maybe I eat at a restaurant, and then, later in the evening, on Sunday, I always watch TV. My favorite TV show is on Sunday night.

Shantel: What's your favorite TV show?

Todd: My favorite TV show is called Billions.

Shantel: Billions?

Todd: Yeah. It's about money and power in New York. It's very interesting.

Shantel: Nice. Maybe I should watch it.

Todd: Oh, you should, but you go to bed early.

Shantel: Yes, around nine o'clock.

Todd: Oh, okay, maybe you can see it.

Shantel: Okay.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) What does she put on her toast?       ab

•  a) Jam

•  b) Butter

•  c) Veggie Mite

2) What does he do on Saturday?  ac

•  a) Vacuum

•  b) Wash his car

•  c) Wash his clothes

3) What does she do on the Sunday night?ac

•  a) Read a book

•  b) Go the gym

•  c) Listen to music

4) What is his favorite show about?      ac

•  a) Money

•  b) Sports

•  c) People in New York

5) When does she go to bed?   b

•  a) 8

•  b) 9

•  c) 12

Family Connections

Shantel: So Todd, you live in Japan. Do you see your family often?

Todd: Yes. I see them often. I see them usually once a year, but I write to them often, and I call them sometimes.

Shantel: Okay. And when you see them, do you go to the United States to visit them, or do they come to Japan?

Todd: I go to America, and then everyone goes to my mom's house, and everybody meets me at my mom's house, which is nice. I see my sister, and we talk a lot, and it's good.

Shantel: Does your mother miss you?

Todd: Yes. She misses me and I miss her a lot, so it's very nice to see her, and also, I miss my dad. I miss him a lot, so I'm always happy to see him.

Shantel: Nice. What about your sister? When you're in the United States, do you have some activities you like to do together?

Todd: Yeah, sometimes we do stuff together. Maybe I will meet her at a café, or I will go shopping with her, so we do something fun each time I go back.

Shantel: Nice.

Todd: Also, when I go home, I see my best friend, and that's always nice. I usually meet him for dinner, and of course I call him, and it's always nice to see my best friend. How about your family?

Shantel: Well, since I live in Japan, I also call them and write them, but usually, we only Skype about once a month.

Todd: Oh. So, who do you Skype with the most, your mom or your dad?

Shantel: I Skype the most with my father, because he wakes up very early, so his time and his schedule match my schedule, so it is easy for us to Skype.

Todd: Do you call him or does he call you?

Shantel: I usually call him, but sometimes he calls me. Usually, if he calls me, it's because I haven't called in a long time.

Todd: Uh-oh.

Shantel: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Todd: So sometimes, you make him mad.

Shantel: A little angry.

Todd: Right. That's nice.

Shantel: But-

Todd: You have a brother too, right?

Shantel: I do have a brother, and I call him less frequently, because he is so busy with his job, so we speak about once or twice a month, by messages or by phone.

Todd: Oh, that's nice. Do you follow your family on social media?

Shantel: Yes. I use Facebook.

Todd: Oh, I use it too.

Shantel: It is a really easy way to keep in contact with them.

Todd: Yeah, I agree. What about other social media? Do you use Twitter?

Shantel: No. I don't use Twitter, and I don't use other social media either, only Facebook.

Todd: Ah, that's good, I think. Too much is too bad.

Shantel: I agree, but I do love Facebook, because I can speak with my brother, and my mother, and my father anytime.

Todd: So, with Facebook, do you check it every day?

Shantel: I do check it every day. Maybe it's a bad habit, but I do like to check it every day. Do you check your Facebook every day?

Todd: Not every day. I check it maybe three times a week.

Shantel: hree times a week?

Todd: Yeah, I don't use it much, and I don't use it on my phone.

Shantel: Oh. That's a good idea.

Todd: Yeah. I like my free time.

Shantel: Do you use other social media, such as Twitter or Instagram?

Todd: I do use Twitter, but I don't use it on my phone. I only use it on the computer.

Shantel: Okay. What about Instagram?

Todd: Oh, I don't use it at all. Do you use it?

Shantel: No, I don't use it.

Todd: Oh, that's right. You only use Facebook.

Shantel: I only use Facebook.

Todd: Oh, interesting. Well, that's nice that we can talk to our family on Skype and Facebook because Japan is so far from America.

Shantel: Yes, and I think they are very happy too.

Todd: Yeah, I think they are happy.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) How often does he see his family?   a

•  a) Every year

•  b) Twice a year

•  c) Once every two years

2) Where does he usually meet them?          a

•  a) America

•  b) Japan

•  c) Both places

3) Who does he meet?  ab

•  a) His sister

•  b) His mother

•  c) His brother

4) Who does she meet? ab

•  a) Her father

•  b) Her brother

•  c) Her sister

5) What does she use to contact family?ac

•  a) Skype

•  b) Twitter

•  c) Facebook

I like that and those!

Todd: Hey, Natalie, I like your outfit. It looks really cute.

Natalie: Oh, hey Todd. Thank you.

Todd: So, that shirt looks expensive. Did it cost a lot?

Natalie: Oh, this one? Yeah. It was about $50.

Todd: $50? That's a lot.

Natalie: I know. It's an American brand.

Todd: Ah. Do they have that shirt in different colors?

Natalie: Yes, so I actually have this top in six colors.

Todd: Really? What colors?

Natalie: I have it in purple, blue, red, gray, white, and black. Actually, I have two black ones, so that's seven.

Todd: You have two shirts in black? Why?

Natalie: Well, black is such a good color to wear. It matches everything.

Todd: Yeah. So true, so true. What about your pants? Those pants are pretty cool too.

Natalie: Oh, these? Yeah. These were much cheaper than the tops. I bought these in San Francisco. They cost about $40.

Todd: Ooh. Those are cheap. That's a good price.

Natalie: It is, and I only have one pair of these.

Todd: And your shoes? Did you buy those shoes in San Francisco too?

Natalie: No, I didn't buy these in San Francisco. These, I bought online.

Todd: You bought them online?

Natalie: Yes. These sandals are really hard to find, so I had to buy them through Amazon.

Todd: Oh, I like Amazon. I buy lots of things on Amazon. For example, I bought this watch on Amazon.

Natalie: How much did it cost?

Todd: Well, this watch was really cheap. This watch only cost about $20.

Natalie: Whoa.

Todd: Yeah, but I have two watches, and I also bought a nice, gold watch on Amazon. That watch was very expensive. It cost $200.

Natalie: Whoa, $200 on a watch? I think my watch only cost maybe $70, but I really like this watch. It's an Apple Watch. I bought it in Malaysia. I've had it for about two years now, but I think now that I have an Apple Watch, I'll always have Apple Watches.

Todd: Yeah, that is a nice watch. I want an Apple Watch too.

Natalie: Yeah, they're so cool. I spend so much time on my phone, and the watch works really well with my phone. I definitely recommend it.

Todd: Yeah, I like this cheap watch, because if it rains, or if I play sports, or if I am traveling, I can take my cheap watch, because this watch is not important. I can break it. I can lose it. I can do anything. But my gold watch, that watch is expensive, so I keep it at home. I only wear it on nice occasions.

Natalie: Oh, well it's nice to have something a little more expensive, but my watch can tell me what the weather's like, my watch can tell me how many calories I've burned, and my watch can tell me what the time is anywhere in the world.

Todd: You know, I think I need to get a watch like that.

Natalie: This is the greatest watch.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) How many shirts does she have of the same top?   b

•  a) three

•  b) five

•  c) seven

2) What clothing items does she discuss?         a

•  a) shoes

•  b) socks

•  c) a jacket

3) How much were the pants?  b

•  a) 40 dollars

•  b) 50 dollars

•  c) 80 dollars

4) Where did she buy the pants?  b

•  a) London

•  b) San Francisco

•  c) Online

4) Who has a smart watch?   b

•  a) Just him

•  b) Just her

•  c) Both of them

Months and Holidays

Meg: Hey Todd, let's talk about months and American holidays.

Todd: All right, let's do it.

Meg: Great. What holiday is in January?

Todd: Well, on January 1st, we have New Year's Day.

Meg: Right.

Todd: That's very fun.

Meg: Of course.

Todd: I love New Year's Day.

Meg: Me too.

Todd: What about February?

Meg: In February, we have Valentine's Day on February 14th.

Todd: That's right, so romantic.

Meg: Yes.

Todd: I don't like Valentine's Day.

Meg: Why not?

Todd: I never have a girlfriend.

Meg: Oh, sorry. What about March? What holiday is in March?

Todd: March has St. Patrick's Day.

Meg: Right.

Todd: On March 17th?

Meg: Yes. Do you usually celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Todd: I do. I love green. Green is my favorite color.

Meg: Me too.

Todd: Oh, nice.

Meg: What about April?

Todd: April has April fool's Day, but that's not a holiday.

Meg: Not really, but it's still fun to celebrate on April 1st.

Todd: Right. Oh, usually Easter is in April.

Meg: Usually yes, but the day changes every year.

Todd: Right. Sometimes it's March though.

Meg: True.

Todd: Right, okay.

Meg: What about in May? What holidays are in May?

Todd: In May, I think a lot of countries have a holiday on May 1st, but America doesn't have a holiday on May 1st, but we do like to have fun celebrations for Cinco de Mayo, May 5th.

Meg: Right. What do you usually do for Cinco de Mayo?

Todd: We usually eat Mexican food.

Meg: Same.

Todd: I hear that in Mexico they don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Meg: Really?

Todd: Yeah, it's only in America.

Meg: That's funny.

Todd: Yeah, funny. I actually heard that St. Patrick's Day also is not popular in Ireland.

Meg: Oh, that's surprising.

Todd: Yeah, I don't know. Maybe.

Meg: Maybe.

Todd: Okay, what about June?

Meg: In June, we have the first day of summer.

Todd: What day is that?

Meg: I think it's on June 21st.

Todd: I think so.

Meg: The longest day of the year.

Todd: I love that day.

Meg: Me too.

Todd: It's the best.

Meg: Yeah.

Todd: In July?

Meg: In July, in America of course, we have July 4th, Independence Day.

Todd: Yeah. What do you do on July 4th, Independence Day?

Meg: Usually, I would have a barbecue with friends and family and watch fireworks.

Todd: Yeah, me too. The same.

Meg: It's fun.

Todd: What about August? Is there a holiday in August?

Meg: I can't think of a holiday in August, but my brother's birthday is August 15th.

Todd: That's great.

Meg: Yeah, my younger brother.

Todd: Oh wow.

Meg: Do you know of any holidays in August?

Todd: I don't, but usually school is out in August, so for the whole month there's no school.

Meg: Yeah, vacation time. What about September?

Todd: Well, September has Labor Day, but I don't remember the day. Is it September 1st?

Meg: I'm not sure.

Todd: I think it's September 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.

Meg: I think it changes every year.

Todd: Maybe it's the first Monday.

Meg: I think so. Let's see, after September, what holiday is in October?

Todd: The best holiday, Halloween.

Meg: Yes, I love Halloween.

Todd: Halloween is October 31st.

Meg: Right. Every year.

Todd: Plus, October has my birthday.

Meg: Oh, what day is your birthday.

Todd: October 2nd.

Meg: Nice.

Todd: Yeah. When is your birthday?

Meg: Not until December.

Todd: Coming up.

Meg: Yes.

Todd: Okay, so what holiday is in November?

Meg: November, we have Thanksgiving Day.

Todd: Yes. Actually, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

Meg: Oh, you said Halloween.

Todd: I know, I change, I changed it.

Meg: What day is Thanksgiving?

Todd: It changes, like Easter. It's on the third Thursday.

Meg: Is it the third or the fourth Thursday?

Todd: It's the fourth Thursday.

Meg: Oh, okay.

Todd: You're right. It's on the fourth Thursday of every November.

Meg: Right. How do you usually celebrate Thanksgiving?

Todd: I have dinner with my family-

Meg: Me too.

Todd:... and I watch football.

Meg: Yes, it's tradition.

Todd: I watch football on [inaudible 00:04:55].

Meg: Right. What about December?

Todd: Well, December has Christmas, which is December 25th.

Meg: Yes.

Todd: We also have New Year's Eve, which is December 31st.

Meg: Right, both fun holidays.

Todd: Yeah, really good holidays. I like it because you get lots of time off work or school.

Meg: Yeah, it's good to spend time with friends and family.

Todd: And to get presents.

Meg: Of course.

Todd: When is your birthday?

Meg: December 14th.

Todd: Nice. I have to remember.

Meg: Yes. You could give me a gift.

Todd: What is your favorite holiday?

Meg: My favorite holiday is actually Halloween.

Todd: Okay, I change again, me too.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) When is Valentine's Day? b

•  a) January

•  b) February

•  c) March

2) When is Saint Patrick's Day?  a

•  a) March

•  b) April

•  c) May

3) When is Independence Day in America? c 

•  a) May

•  b) June

•  c) July

4) What day is popular in May? b

•  a) May Day

•  b) Cinco de Mayo

•  c) Thanksgiving

4) When is Labor Day? b

•  a) May

•  b) September

•  c) November

Class Schedule

Todd: Hello. Are you the new teacher?

Natalie: I am, yes. My name's Natalie. What's your name?

Todd: I'm Todd. Nice to meet you.

Natalie: Nice to meet you, too.

Todd: Welcome to the school.

Natalie: Thank you.

Todd: What is your morning schedule?

Natalie: First period, I teach Math.

Todd: So do I. I teach Math first period, too.

Natalie: Oh, cool. After that, for second period, I teach French.

Todd: You speak French?

Natalie: I do. Oui Oui.

Todd: That's great. Well, I speak some Japanese, so I teach Japanese second period.

Natalie: Oh, that's so cool. I wish I spoke Japanese.

Todd: Yeah, but my Japanese is not very good.

Natalie: Oh.

Todd: But I'm the only teacher that speaks Japanese, so I teach Japanese.

Natalie: Maybe you could teach me one day.

Todd: Maybe, but I don't know much. How about third period? What do you teach third period?

Natalie: Third period, I teach English.

Todd: Ah. I teach English, too. Our schedules are very similar.

Natalie: I know, although it is my first day. I'm a little nervous.

Todd: What about the afternoon schedule? What do you teach fourth period?

Natalie: Fourth period, I think I have Physics.

Todd: Oh, you teach Physics?

Natalie: Yeah. I love Physics. Do you teach Physics?

Todd: No, I don't teach Physics, but I teach Math. I teach Math fourth period.

Natalie: Oh. What do you teach in fifth period?

Todd: In fifth period, that's the sports period. I am the cross-country coach.

Natalie: Oh. I have sports, too, but I'm the coach for swimming.

Todd: Oh, really? Are you a good swimmer?

Natalie: I think I'm a really good swimmer. How about you?

Todd: I can swim, but I'm not a good swimmer. I like running.

Natalie: Oh, I hate running. How far do you run?

Todd: Well, for the class, usually we run 5K every day.

Natalie: Wow! 5K. Sixth period, I hear that's our teaching hours.

Todd: Yeah. Sixth period, we are in the classroom, but the students are free. They can do what they want. But students can come to class and ask questions.

Natalie: Oh, cool. Do lots of students come and ask questions?

Todd: Yeah. Some students come, but not too many.

Natalie: Oh, okay.

Todd: Well, this is your first day and your first week, so maybe the job will be a little crazy. But I think after your second or third week, the job will be very, very easy.

Natalie: I hope so. I'm really excited to meet the students. They seem great.

Todd: Oh, I think the students will like you a lot.

Natalie: Oh, I hope so, too. Maybe if you have some time, you could give me a tour of the school?

Todd: Sure. I'd love to.

Natalie: Great. Thanks. 

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) What does she teach first period?  a

•  a) Math

•  b) Science

•  c) English

2) What does she teach second period?                     c

•  a) Japanese

•  b) French

•  c) English

3) What does she teach third period?  c

•  a) art

•  b) history

•  c) language

4) What does she teach fourth period?            a

•  a) physics

•  b) biology

•  c) chemistry

5) What does she coach fifth period?  b

•  a) running

•  b) swimming

•  c) gymnastics

House Guest

Katie: Hey Todd, can I ask you a favor?

Todd: Sure, anytime.

Katie: Um, I really need a place to stay, and I heard that your place is on AirBNB.

Todd: It is on AirBNB. I do rent my house, but for you it's free.

Katie: OH, amazing. Can I stay there then?

Todd: You can. How long?

Katie: Maybe a week or two weeks.

Todd: OK, when?

Katie: From next Monday.

Todd: Yeah, actually, you can do that. That works.

Katie: Excellent. Thank you so much! How about a car? Can I park my car?

Todd: Ah, that's a problem. You can't park your car because there's no space, but there's a cheap parking lot about maybe two blocks away.

Katie: OK.

Todd: So, it's only a couple dollars a day.

Katie: OK, I guess I can park my car there. How about cooking there? Can I cook?

Todd: Of course, you can cook. I have a stove, a frigerator. You can bring your own food. You can do whatever you want.

Katie: Excellent. Thank you. Can I use the Internet?

Todd: You can use the Internet. There's a password. I will write down the password before I leave, and I will write down the password before you get there.

Katie: Excellent. Thank you so much! I was thinking about asking my friend if he can stay. Can my friend stay over?

Todd: Yeah, sure, so your friend can stay. Not a problem I don't think.

Katie: He has a dog? Can he bring his dog?

Todd: Oh, that is a problem. Does the dog have a cage?

Katie: Ah, no, but we can get a cage.

Todd: I'm not sure about the dog. If the dog is in a cage, it's OK in the house but I think you can't have the dog in the house.

Katie: OK, how about smoking? My friend is a very heavy smoker. Can he smoke outside?

Todd: Yeah, he can smoke outside, just please pick up cigarette butts, but of course, he can't smoke inside.

Katie: OK, he can't smoke inside.

Todd: No.

Katie: OK, how about if we want to have a party? Can we have a party?

Todd: Yeah, you can have a party. That's OK, but please be quiet. Don't be too loud. The neighbors live very close to my house.

Katie: Alright, that sounds good. Thanks. And I have one more question. Can I use the washing machine?

Todd: Yeah, of course. You can use anything. You use the washing machine. You can use the Internet. You can use the TV. You can use anything you like.

Katie: Wow, excellent. That sounds great. Thank you so much.

Todd: Yeah, I will write down directions for my house, and I will send you a map, and you can check it out and get all the information, and just I will leave the key for you with my neighbor.

Katie: Excellent. Thank you very much!

Todd: Sure, no problem.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) She wants to stay about a _____ .              a      

•  a) week

•  b) month

•  c) year

2) Can she park her car at the house?  b

•  a) Yes, she can.

•  b) No, she cannot

•  c) Just on Monday

3) What can she use?    c

•  a) His car

•  b) The pool

•  c) The Internet

4) Can the dog stay in the house?  b

•  a) No, never

•  b) Yes, in a cage

•  c) Yes, freely

5) What does he say she cannot do?     b 

•  a) Have a party

•  b) Smoke inside

•  c) Use the washing machine

Where is everyone?

Part 1: Daniel goes to Hana's house.

Daniel: Hey, I'm really sorry I'm late. I came as fast as I could.

Hana: It's OK. Nobody has really come yet.

Daniel: Why? Where are they?

Hana: Well, John is shopping. He is getting some food.

Daniel: OK, what about Emma? Where is she?

Hana: Emma has an exam, so she is studying and she is going to come later.

Daniel: OK, how about Alex? I don't see him around.

Hana: Oh, Alex is over there. He is preparing for the BBQ.

Daniel: Oh, yeah, that's right. And how about Marcus and Emily?

Hana: They are over there. They are playing.

Daniel: Oh, so how many people are left? Who else is coming?

Hana: Uh, I don't know. No one has really contacted me yet.

Daniel: Oh, well, let's hope we can get around ten people maybe.

Hana: Yes, I hope so.

Daniel: Cool!

Part 2: Hana goes to Daniel's house.

Daniel: Hello, come in.

Hana: Where is everyone?

Daniel: Well, everyone is doing something right now.

Hana: Oh, really? Where's your mom?

Daniel: My mom? She's at the mall. I think she's shopping. I think she's getting the groceries for the week.

Hana: Oh! How about your dad?

Daniel: Well, every weekend he goes to the country club, so I think he's playing golf with his friend now.

Hana: Where's your brother and sister?

Daniel: My brother, he's upstairs. I think he's probably sleeping or playing video games as he always does. And my sister, she's at school. She's playing soccer cause she has a game today.

Hana: Oh, really? When does the game start?

Daniel: I think in twenty or thirty minutes.

Hana: Let's go watch it.

Daniel: Really, that sounds fun. Let's go.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) What is John doing? c

•  a) studying

•  b) resting

•  c) shopping

2) What is Emma doing? c

•  a) watching TV

•  b) shopping

•  c) studying

3) What are Marcus and Emily doing? c

•  a) working

•  b) having fun

•  c) studying

4) What is Alex doing? a

•  a) cooking

•  b) sleeping

•  c) leaving

5) What is his mom doing? b

•  a) cooking dinner

•  b) shopping

•  c) dancing

6) What is his dad doing? c

•  a) working

•  b) sleeping

•  c) golfing

7) What is his brother probably doing?    c

•  a) studying

•  b) playing soccer

•  c) playing video games

8) What is his sister doing?  b

•  a) studying at school

•  b) playing soccer

•  c) playing video games

Love it / Hate it

Todd: So, Meg, what do you like to do in your free time?

Meg: Actually, I love cooking. I like to try new dishes and I love baking as well.

Todd: Oh, nice. That's interesting. Because I hate cooking.

Meg: Oh, really?

Todd: Yeah. And I don't know anything about baking, but I like cleaning. Cleaning is relaxing.

Meg: Really? Is that true?

Todd: Yeah. Really, I like cleaning. So, my house is usually very clean.

Meg: My house is usually clean also, but I don't like cleaning very much.

Todd: Yeah, I think most people don't like cleaning. But some people think cleaning is relaxing. Like me.

Meg: That's true. What else do you like to do?

Todd: Well, I like exercising. I like going to the gym. I like listening to podcasts. So, I listen to a lot of podcasts a lot. I like surfing the internet. And sometimes, I enjoy reading books.

Meg: I also enjoy reading books when I have time.

Todd: But these days, I often listen to books instead. I listen to audio books.

Meg: Oh really?

Todd: Yeah, I like listening to audio books.

Meg: Why?

Todd: Because I can exercise at the same time.

Meg: So, exercising and reading at the same time.

Todd: Yeah, it's fun. So, I love jogging and I go jogging almost every day, usually for one hour. I listen to audio books when I jog.

Meg: So, you can do two things at once.

Todd: Very important. Multitasking. I love multitasking.

Meg: Sounds like you're good at multitasking.

Todd: Let's talk about outdoor activities. Do you like doing yard work?

Meg: I don't especially like doing yard work. But right now, I don't have a yard. So, doing yard work isn't something I have to worry about. What about you?

Todd: I like doing yard work. I think it's very relaxing. It's like cleaning. So, I enjoy it. But like you, I don't have a yard. So, now I don't do yard work very much. Or I can't do yard work.

Meg: So, you like gardening if you have a yard?

Todd: Yeah. I grew up on a big house. So, we have lots of yard work, lots of gardening. So, yeah.

Meg: Right.

Todd: But what about other things like hiking, do you like hiking?

Meg: I love hiking. Anything that is in nature, I love doing. I love hiking. I love kayaking. I love canoing. Any outdoor sports. Do you like hiking?

Todd: I do. I'm with you. I love hiking. What about things like rock climbing?

Meg: I have never been rock climbing. Have you gone rock climbing?

Todd: No. Rock climbing looks dangerous. So, I'm still scared.

Meg: Yeah,

Todd: So, I've never done rock climbing either. What about things like singing and dancing? Do you enjoy singing and dancing?

Meg: I enjoy singing, but I'm not very good at it. So, I like singing when I'm alone or in my car. Are you good at singing?

Todd: No, I'm terrible at singing. So, I hate singing. I really, really hate singing. But I like going to karaoke and listening to people sing.

Meg: Yeah, some people are really good at singing. What about dancing?

Todd: I hate dancing too. Yeah, I'm not good at dancing. So, dancing is very embarrassing for me. I don't like it.

Meg: I'm not good at dancing either.

Todd: Are there any other activities you really dislike doing? Like for me, I hate writing letters. For example, I don't like writing thank you letters. I don't like writing anything with my hand. Typing is okay. I don't mind typing things, but I hate writing.

Meg: So, using your hand to write, you hate writing?

Todd: Yeah, I like typing. Fingers is okay. Thumb is okay on the phone. I don't mind texting, I don't mind typing. I just don't like physically writing with a pencil or a pen.

Meg: Yeah. Pen or a pencil, like writing a letter.

Todd: Right. Because my writing is really bad, and it's hard to read. So, it's embarrassing.

Meg: I'm sure it's fine.

Todd: Yeah. How about you? For example, do you like iron in your clothes?

Meg: I don't like having my clothes, but my clothes usually don't need ironing, so I don't have to worry about it too much. I don't like doing laundry. It's related to ironing clothes. So, it takes a long time. And the clothes, I have to dry the clothes. So, doing laundry is a little bit boring for me.

Todd: I don't mind doing laundry if I go to the coin laundry, but I hate hanging my laundry out. I hate hanging out my laundry. It takes forever. I don't know why, you put it out, you take it back in, it just takes so much time.

Meg: That's funny. I'm kind of the opposite. I don't mind hanging out my laundry, because I like saving money, so I don't have to use money at the coin laundry.

Todd: Plus, you are helping the environment.

Meg: That's true. I like helping the earth.

Todd: Yeah, I should change. Okay. Thanks Meg.

Meg: Yeah.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) Who likes cleaning?   a

•  a) He does.

•  b) She does.

•  c) Both of them.

2) Who likes cooking? b

•  a) He does.

•  b) She does.

•  c) Both of them.

3) What do they both dislike? b

•  a) Singing

•  b) Dancing

•  c) Ironing

4) Who does not like yard work? a

•  a) Meg

•  b) Todd

•  c) They do not say

• 
  

5) What do they both enjoy? b

•  a) Audio books

•  b) Being in nature

•  c) Watching movies

Saving Money

Abidemi: Todd, are you good at saving money?

Todd: No, I'm terrible. I waste money. I waste so much money.

Abidemi: How?

Todd: Well, I don't buy things on sale. I don't use coupons. I buy anything I see.

Abidemi: So, when I shop, I don't look at prices. I just see the food or the thing and I get it and I buy it and I pay for it. And, then it's sometimes very expensive, so I just waste money. I don't budget. I need to budget my money but I don't budget my money.

Todd: What about you? Are you good at saving money?

Abidemi: I don't think I'm too bad at saving money. I look at prices a lot. I also buy a lot of things on sale, so I'm able to save some money.

Todd: So, you look for discounts?

Abidemi: Yes, I do.

Todd: Do you use coupons or special offers?

Abidemi: No, I don't, but if I see some I will use them.

Todd: So, do you waste money on anything? Like, maybe eating out, buying clothes, renting movies?

Abidemi: I waste money on buying clothes.

Todd: Oh, okay!

Abidemi: But, I save a little bit because I buy them on sale.

Todd: Ah, do you buy things online?

Abidemi: No, I don't. I usually go into the stores to shop.

Todd: I'm good with clothes too, so I don't spend much money on clothes. I only shop maybe once a year. Or, I only shop if I need something, like it's really cold and I need a jacket.

Abidemi: I see.

Todd: And, I'm really bad, so I often only wear clothes people give to me.

Abidemi: That's good!

Todd: Yeah, so I get shirts or ties for Christmas gifts or a birthday gift, and I do that. My mom often asks ... every year, my mom asks, "What do you want for Christmas?", "What do you want for your birthday?"

Todd: And I'll say, "Underwear and socks" or "Socks and T-shirts". And so, she buys them for me and then I don't have to buy them.

Abidemi: Wow. Sounds like you're an easy person to give a present to.

Todd: Yes, for clothes. Yes, for clothes. But, I waste money on computers and electronics and those things are expensive, so I buy a new computer every year. I have four computers now in my house.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: I have five mobile phones.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: I have an iPad. I have lots of electronic equipment. So, I spend so much money on those things.

Abidemi: I waste money on traveling.

Todd: Ah, yeah.

Abidemi: Every year, I take about one or two trips to different countries, so that's where a lot of my money go.

Todd: Yeah, traveling is expensive.

Abidemi: Yes, yes.

Todd: But, when you travel, do you save money? Do you stay at cheap hotels? Or, do you buy cheap plane tickets?

Abidemi: I try to. I try to all the time. But, usually the plane ticket is so expensive that a lot of my savings is already gone.

Todd: Yeah, I know. I buy my tickets online, usually with Expedia. And, it's cheap. It's pretty cheap. I waste money on food. I eat out almost every day.

Abidemi: Wow.

Todd: Or, I buy my dinner at the supermarket almost every day. Do you waste money on food?

Abidemi: No, I don't. I usually get bored if I eat out too much, because even though I am not a very good cook, there are some thing that I cook that I like to eat. So, I would miss those things. So, no, I don't waste money on eating out.

Todd: Ah, that's interesting. So, you save money, I waste money. You have to teach me your tricks. You have to teach me your tips on saving money.

Abidemi: Please teach me how to get cheap travel tickets.

Todd: It's a deal.

Abidemi: Thanks.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) Who is good at saving money?   a

•  a) She is.

•  b) He is.

•  c) Neither of them.

2) Who wastes a lot of money on food?       a

•  a) He does.

•  b) She does.

•  c) Neither of them.

3) What does she waste money on? b

•  a) Eating out

•  b) Clothes

•  c) Gifts

4) How does he save money on clothes?      a

•  a) He asks for gifts

•  b) He looks for sales

•  c) He buys used clothing

5) Who talks about money and traveling?  c

•  a) Just her.

•  b) Just him.

•  c) Both of them

Pack Rat

Todd: Meg, I'm going to give you a test.

Meg: Okay.

Todd: It's a personality test.

Meg: Uh-oh.

Todd: And we want to know, are you a pack rat?

Meg: Am I a pack rat?

Todd: Right. Do you save things, do you keep things, or are you a minimalist? Do you have very few things in your house?

Meg: Well, I think I try to be a minimalist, but I'm a little bit of a pack rat.

Todd: Okay. We'll take the test, let's see. Okay, the first question is, how many books do you have in your house?

Meg: Not counting Kindle?

Todd: Not counting Kindle. Physical books, how many books do you have?

Meg: Physical books, I think I have around 15 books.

Todd: Oh. Oh.

Meg: Is that a lot?

Todd: That's bad.

Meg: That's so many?

Todd: Yeah.

Meg: Really?

Todd: So negative-

Meg: Uh-oh.

Todd: Negative ... Boo. Negative one means pack rat [crosstalk 00:00:58] positive one means minimalist. Okay. Next question. How many shoes do you have?

Meg: Can I not answer that question?

Todd: No. You have to say.

Meg: Okay. I think I have 25 pairs of shoes.

Todd: Oh my gosh. I'm giving you negative two points.

Meg: No, just one.

Todd: All right. Next question is, how many blankets do you have?

Meg: Blankets? I think I have 10 blankets.

Todd: Oh my gosh. I knew you were a pack rat. I knew it, I knew it. Now you're negative five.

Meg: But you need blankets for the cold winter.

Todd: You only need one blanket.

Meg: But if you have friends visiting you, you need more blankets.

Todd: Okay.

Meg: I have a lot of friends.

Todd: Wow. That's a good point. Okay, next question. How many umbrellas do you have?

Meg: I think I have around five or six umbrellas.

Todd: Wow. And you live alone, correct?

Meg: Yes. I live alone.

Todd: Okay. So a pack rat is somebody who does not get rid of things they don't need. So, do you need five umbrellas?

Meg: I do need those umbrellas.

Todd: Why do you need ...

Meg: I'll tell you. I'll tell you why. One is a very small umbrella that's easy to carry. Another umbrella is very large for a really rainy day. A third umbrella is decorative and very pretty. The fourth umbrella is for the sun. And the fifth umbrella is clear, to use on a really windy day.

Todd: That's interesting. Now, the fourth umbrella, for the sun, that's called a parasol, correct?

Meg: I guess so, but that sounds a little old-fashioned.

Todd: Okay. I won't consider that. I consider an umbrella for the rain only. So, we'll say four.

Meg: Four.

Todd: So let's just ...

Meg: Do I get a point back?

Todd: You do. But let's do a recap. You are single, you live alone.

Meg: Yes.

Todd: You have four umbrellas.

Meg: Yes.

Todd: You have 10 blankets.

Meg: Yes.

Todd: You have 25 pairs of shoes.

Meg: Correct.

Todd: And you have 15 books?

Meg: 15 books.

Todd: I'm sorry, Meg, but you qualify as a pack rat.

Meg: Oh no.

Todd: You are not a minimalist. We're taking away your minimalist membership.

Meg: Oh. Well I guess I need to get rid of some things, huh? And what about you? Are you a pack rat or a minimalist?

Todd: I'm pretty much a minimalist, I think, because I only have two bags of stuff.

Meg: Only two bags?

Todd: Yeah. So, you can take everything I have and put it in two big suitcases.

Meg: So you don't have 15 books?

Todd: No, I have maybe four books.

Meg: Only four books.

Todd: And they're very small paperback books.

Meg: What about blankets?

Todd: I have one blanket.

Meg: Just one.

Todd: Just one.

Meg: So if visitors come to your house ...

Todd: That is true.

Meg: ... they're out of luck.

Todd: When somebody comes to my house, I ask my neighbor to borrow a blanket. I do. Why?

Meg: You borrow a blanket?

Todd: ... is that funny? Yes. This is-

Meg: Wow.

Todd: I am such a minimalist, my friend told me, he said I am the only person that has ...

Meg: One blanket.

Todd: No. A spoon and a fork.

Meg: A spoon and a fork?

Todd: That's it. I have one.

Meg: Okay. So basically, your house is not prepared for any visitors.

Todd: That's true.

Meg: Whereas my house is prepared for many visitors.

Todd: That's true.

Meg: Okay. Umbrellas?

Todd: I have maybe two.

Meg: Two. So why two?

Todd: Because I can't remember if I have one or I will leave the house and I won't take it, and so then I need to buy one and then...

Meg: And then you get rid of one?

Todd: No, then I just never buy another one. I'm pretty good.

Meg: Oh.

Todd: Only two.

Meg: Okay.

Todd: But shoes?

Meg: Shoes.

Todd: I only have four pairs of shoes.

Meg: What is the purpose of each pair of shoes?

Todd: I have one pair of shoes for work. Nice dress shoes. I have two sneakers, one pair of sneakers for running, jogging, one pair of sneakers for fashion, and one pair of Futsal shoes for soccer. That's it. That's it.

Meg: Wow. Well, I have to say, you really sound like a minimalist.

Todd: Yeah, and you really sound like a pack rat.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

1) How many pairs of shoes does she have?  b

•  a) 15

•  b) 25

•  c) 35

2) How many blankets does she have?  c

•  a) 1

•  b) 5

•  c) 10

3) How many umbrellas does she have?   c

•  a) None

•  b) Less than five

•  c) More than five

4) Who is sometimes a pack rat? a

•  a) She is

•  b) He is

•  c) Neither of them

5) Who is a minimalist?  b

•  a) She is

•  b) He is

•  c) Both of them

At the Mall

Todd: So Katie, I want to go to the mall.

Katie: Okay.

Todd: Have you been to the new mall?

Katie: Yeah, I actually went there just yesterday.

Todd: Okay. So, I want to buy some computer stuff. Is there a computer store?

Katie: There are two computer stores.

Todd: Really? Ooh, that's good.

Katie: There's a computer store on the first floor, and then very close to that there's also a Mac store.

Todd: Ooh, that's perfect. I want to buy a new Mac.

Katie: Oh, me too.

Todd: They're so expensive, though.

Katie: Mm-hmm.

Todd: Okay, what about books? I really like books. Is there a bookstore with English books?

Katie: There's a huge bookstore on the fourth floor.

Todd: Ooh, that's good.

Katie: It's really big. And there are lots of English books you can read there.

Todd: Oh, great. Nice. And how about the food there?

Katie: The food's okay. There's a big food court on the third floor, and you can get a variety of food. You can get a Subway.

Todd: Oh, that's good. I love sandwiches. Is the food good there, though?

Katie: They don't have any sandwiches that I like, basically.

Todd: Oh, really. Okay. So what else is there at the mall?

Katie: Oh, there's so much at the mall. There's a café on the ground floor.

Todd: Oh, nice.

Katie: If you like drinking coffee.

Todd: I do. I like to go and study and just relax.

Katie: That's the perfect place for you, then.

Todd: I like to people watch. Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe we can watch a movie.

Katie: Oh, it's a great people-watching place.

Todd: Oh, cool.

Katie: The windows are really big, and you can see out onto the street.

Todd: Oh, cool. What else is there? Is there a movie theater?

Katie: Mm-hmm. There's a movie theater on the fourth floor.

Todd: Oh, great. Now, do they have English movies?

Katie: They have English and Japanese movies.

Todd: Oh, that's good. I should watch some Japanese movies too.

Katie: They're interesting.

Todd: And how about food? I hear there's a new supermarket, a big supermarket there.

Katie: It's pretty big. And you can get lots of food there. It's on the first floor.

Todd: Okay. Is there anything else I should see?

Katie: What about the roof garden?

Todd: Oh, what is the roof garden?

Katie: It's on the fifth floor, and it's, well it's on the roof, and you can see a beautiful view of the city. And there's also places for you to sit and just enjoy the view.

Todd: Oh, nice. A roof garden, I like that.

Katie: It's really nice.

Todd: Now, do you buy clothes at the mall? Do they have nice clothing shops?

Katie: Yeah, they have nice clothing shops. Some of them are a little bit expensive.

Todd: Ah, yeah.

Katie: And I like buying cheap clothes.

Todd: Okay. When's a good time to go?

Katie: I think the best time to go is probably weekdays.

Todd: Okay. Why?

Katie: If you go on the weekend, there are so many children there.

Todd: Oh.

Katie: Ugh. It's hard to walk around.

Todd: Yeah, and we're teachers, we teach kids all day.

Katie: Mm-hmm.

Todd: Okay. I don't want to go then.

Katie: No, me neither.

Todd: Well, I want to go there next week, maybe Thursday night.

Katie: Okay.

Todd: Do you want to join me?

Katie: Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe we can watch a movie.

Todd: Cool. I'll buy you dinner.

Katie: Sounds great. 

Answer these questions about the interview.

1) How many computer stores are there? b

•  a) one

•  b) two

•  c) three

2) Where is the book store? b

•  a) First floor

•  b) Third floor

•  c) Fifth floor

3) Does he like the sandwiches there? c

•  a) Yes

•  b) No

•  c) He does not say

4) What is on the fourth floor?              a

•  a) Movie theater

•  b) Roof garden

•  c) Fitness center

5) When does she go to the mall? a

•  a) Weekdays

•  b) Weekends

•  c) Evenings

My English Town

Todd: So, Katie, you are from England, correct?

Katie: Uh-hmm, that’s right.

Todd: Are you from a big town?

Katie: I’m from a very small town.

Todd: Oh, what’s the name?

Katie: It’s in the southwest. It’s called Torquay.

Todd: Torquay.

Katie: Uh-hmm.

Todd: OK. Is it a fun place to live?

Katie: I think so. It’s, it’s very famous in the UK because we lots of beautiful beaches.

Todd: Oh, that’s nice.

Katie: Hmm.

Todd: So, in your town, where is a good place to go food shopping?

Katie: There are a lot of supermarkets that you can go to. Most of them you need to go by car.

Todd: Oh, that’s a problem.

Katie: It’s difficult to walk to a close supermarket. But I’m lucky because there is one very close to my house that I can go to.

Todd: OK. And can you recommend a good restaurant in your town? Where is a good place to eat dinner?

Katie: There are lots of amazing restaurants along the sea front. So, you can sit in a restaurant and you can look at the beach at the same time.

Todd: Oh, that’s nice.

Katie: Uh-hmm.

Todd: How romantic.

Katie: It’s beautiful.

Todd: Is it expensive?

Katie: It depends what restaurant you go to. If you go to an Italian restaurant, that’s going to be expensive.

Todd: What kind of foods do they have?

Katie: They have all kinds of foods, but the most popular food in my home town is Italian food and Chinese food.

Todd: OK. No British food?

Katie: Not really. (laughs)

Todd: OK. We don’t have American food either except hamburgers.

Katie: They’re good though.

Todd: In your town, where is a good place to exercise?

Katie: It depends on what kind of exercise you like. But we have lots of parks and people are always playing football in the parks.

Todd: So, there’s a, is there a big park in the middle of town?

Katie: Uh-hmm.

Todd: OK. Is it easy to get to?

Katie: It’s pretty easy to get to. Most people can walk there.

Todd: So, that brings us to nature. Where’s a good place to see nature?

Katie: Well, you can see beautiful beaches wherever you look. There are so many beautiful beaches in Torquay. But there are also lots of beautiful gardens and you can see lots of flowers.

Todd: OK. Nice.

Katie: It’s very nice. Yeah.

Todd: That is nice. So, are there walking trails on the beach?

Katie: Uh-hmm, and in the gardens too there are walking paths that you can take. And you can go in the mountains—

Todd: Oh, beautiful.

Katie: —and see stuff there too.

Todd: That’s lovely. So, in your town, where is a good place to meet people?

Katie: Well, I keep saying the beach but lots of people from all over the UK come to Torquay to see the beach, so you can meet lots of different. People come for their holidays.

Todd: OK. So, you can meet new people.

Katie: Lots of new people. Yeah.

Todd: That’s cool.

Katie: You can make lots of new friends.

Todd: Now, what about a quiet place? Where’s a good place to study or read or just relax?

Katie: Well, we have lots of cafés that you can go to if you want to just have a quiet moment or just to read some books. You can go to a café.

Todd: OK. And are the cafés easy to find?

Katie: They’re very easy to find. And we have lots of famous café brands as well.

Todd: OK. Are there cafés on the beach, too?

Katie: No. They’re in the town center but the town center is very close to the beach.

Todd: OK. Now, when is a good time to visit your town?

Katie: Well…

Todd: So, you say the beach, so summer?

Katie: Yeah. I would say summer is a good time. But in England, there is not usually a good time because it’s raining almost every day. But if you want to go to the beach, probably summer is a good time.

Todd: OK. What about the fall?

Katie: I mean, the fall is okay. Winter is good. Lots of people go to, go swimming on Christmas Day.

Todd: Well, I definitely want to go there.

Katie: Yes. It’s a lovely place.

Answer these questions about the interview.

1) She is from a _____ . a

•  a) small town

•  b) big town

•  c) big city

2) It is famous for its _____ . c

•  a) football team

•  b) castles

•  c) beaches

3) There are good _____ along the seafront. b

•  a) hotels

•  b) restaurants

•  c) performers

4) The most popular food is _____ . a

•  a) Italian

•  b) Mexican

•  c) French

5) They have lots of _____ . b

•  a) hotels

•  b) parks

•  c) cafes