Professional Documents
Culture Documents
02. Family
1. So, what does your father do for a living? (He's an architect.)
2. How many people are in your family? (There are five people in my family.)
3. How old is your sister? (She turned 10 in May.)
4. Where do your parents live now? (They live in London.)
5. How many brothers and sisters do you have? (I have two sisters.)
6. What is your brother's name? (His name is Chris.)
7. Where does your mother work? (She works in a library.)
8. How long have you been married? (Since 1993.)
9. Do you have any children? (Yes, two daughters.)
10. Where did you and your wife meet? (We met at a Christmas party.)
03. Restaurants
1. May I take your order please? (No. We're not ready yet.)
2. Would you care for something to drink? (I'll take a large Sprite.)
3. How would you like your steak? (Medium, please.)
4. Would you like bread or potatoes with your meal? (Bread, please.)
5. Would you like anything else? (Yes. I'd like more water.)
6. How many people are in your party? (Three.)
7. What kind of dressing do you want on your salad? (What kinds do you have?)
8. Is everything okay with your meal? (So far, so good.)
9. Would you like a carryout container for the rest of your meal? (No. I think I'm done.)
10. Do you accept personal checks? (No. Only cash or credit cards.)
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04. Hobbies
1. I like to walk in the mountains with my dog. (hiking)
2. My dad goes to the city pool twice a week. (swimming)
3. He rides his bike to work because it is a good way to get exercise. (bicycling)
4. She usually uses watercolors in her artwork. (painting)
5. They went to the lake to see if they see any wild ducks. (bird watching)
6. How about getting out the board and pieces so we can play? (chess)
7. He hit his ball into the water. (golf)
8. She loves to plant flowers and vegetables in the spring. (gardening)
9. I checked out three very interesting books from the library. (reading)
10. You really take beautiful pictures with that camera. (photography)
1. I think you can buy some cough medicine at that store. (pharmacy)
2. He's going to drop by and buy a rose for his wife. (flower shop)
3. She's washing her clothes for the week. (laundromat)
4. Hey. Tell me where you got your hair cut. (hairdresser)
5. We should pick up some paper, pencils, and pens for the new school year. (stationary
store)
6. That's a nice tie. Where did you buy it? (clothing store)
7. I'd like to order a salad. I'm trying to eat a good diet. (restaurant)
8. Why don't you grab some bread while I look for a pizza in the frozen food section? I'll
meet you at the cashier. (supermarket)
9. I think we should buy a new kitchen table. The old one is falling apart and won't last
much longer. (furniture store)
10. I bought a beautiful necklace for my sister's birthday. Do you think she'll like it?
(jewelry store)
• across from
• behind
• between
• in front of
• near
• next to
• opposite
Key Vocabulary:
wrap up (phrasal verb): to finish
- We need to wrap up this project by the end of the day.
drop by (phrasal verb): to visit
- Please drop by my place on your way home from work.
swing by (phrasal verb): drop by, stop by
- I need to swing by the store and pick up some food for dinner.
[Phone ringing . . .]
Paul: Sara, I've been looking forward to our yearly campout for three weeks. [Me too] It's
going to be a wonderful day for hiking tomorrow. The great outdoors. Camping under
the stars . This is the life.
Sara: Yeah, but Paul, I'm a little bit worried about the weather though. The weatherman said
it was going to rain later tonight.
Paul: Ah. nonsense. Nothing can spoil our adventure. Those weather reports are never right.
Sara: And it said there was a chance of high winds.
Paul: Ah. Don't worry.
[thunder]
Sara: Paul. Paul. Did you remember to bring our raincoats just in case, like I told you?
[light rain]
Paul: Uh . . . no. I left them on the front porch.
[heavy rain]
Sara: What are we going to do now?
Paul: We'll have to sleep in the car! Hurry get in!
[door shut]
Sara: So, Paul, what are we going to do now?
Paul: How about playing a card game?
Sara: Uhh. I left them next to the picnic table. [Hmmm] Hey, you don't want me to go out in
this rain and get them, do you?
Paul: No. That's okay. So what now?
Sara: Well, we could head down the mountain and stay at that hotel we passed on the way
up, or go home.
Paul: Hmm, why don't we just make the best of it here and hope the weather clears.
Sara: That's a good idea.
Key Vocabulary:
nonsense (noun): untrue or incomprehensible statement or idea
- Stop talking nonsense and tell us exactly what happened.
spoil (verb): ruin; frustrate; block; prevent
- I hope this bad weather doesn't spoil our picnic this afternoon.
porch (noun): a small area just outside the front door of homes where you can sit and relax
- Let's go sit on the porch and enjoy the cool evening breeze.
head down (phrasal verb): go down
- I'll head down to the store after dinner to pick up some milk.
make the best of it (idiom): do what you can under the circumstances
- We've had to make the best of it ever since dad died last year.
Jake: People say that the fall can still be warm until November, so I'm going to buy some
jeans and a few casual shirts.
Ashley: Will you need any warm clothes for the winter?
Jake: Well, the weather doesn't get too cold, but it often snows in the mountains, so I'm
going to buy a couple of warm sweaters, a jacket, and a hat. I don't have room in my
suitcase to pack a coat, so I'm going to wait until I get there and buy it when I really
need it.
Ashley: Are you going to take anything else?
Jake: They say it rains cats and dogs in the spring, but again, I'll probably just wait and pick
up a raincoat or an umbrella later on. But, I'm going to take a good pair of shoes
because I plan on walking to and from school everyday.
Ashley: Do you need any clothing for formal occasions?
Jake: Well, you never know when you might needs something on the spur of the moment for
a wedding or maybe someone's graduation, or a nice date, so I'll probably take some
nice slacks, a dress shirt, and a couple (of) crazy ties or two.
Ashley: Um, that makes sense.
Jake: And I'll just rent a suit or tuxedo if I need anything more formal. Hey, maybe I'll get
married.
Ashley: You? Married? Hah!
Jake: Wait. What are you trying to say?
Ashley: I just can't imagine you decked out in a tuxedo for any formal occasion. [What?!] I
mean, for high school graduation, you wore an old pair of jeans and tennis shoes.
Jake: Hey, there was a reason for that, so let me explain. [Yeah, ha, ha.] No, really. You see,
it goes like this . . .
Key Vocabulary:
rest (noun): what is left over after everything else has be used, eaten, etc.
- Wow. Your suitcase is already full of shirts and shoes. What are you going to do with
the rest of your clothing?
room (noun): space
- Do you have any room in your backpack for a couple more books?
pack (verb): fill a suitcase, box, or another container
- You'd better start packing your bags tonight so we don't have to rush out the door
tomorrow.
rain cats and dogs (idiom): rain very hard
- Last night, I was walking home from work when it began raining cats and dogs.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my umbrella with me.
pick up (phrasal verb): buy something
- Could you pick up some white socks from the store on your way home from work?
formal occasion (noun): an important event where people wear special clothing and
behave politely
- I sometimes rent a tuxedo for formal occasions. I don't want to buy one that I will
only wear once every few years.
on the spur of the moment (idiom): without planning or preparation
- She always makes decisions on the spur of the moment, so you never know what
she's planning.
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Key Vocabulary:
brochure (noun): pamphlet, small booklet
- Could you send me a brochure of your laptop computers?
detail (verb, also noun): to explain
- The manager decided to detail his recent visit to our parent company
Key Vocabulary:
hectic (adjective): very busy
- Life is always very hectic when you're trying to work and go to school at the same
time.
major (noun): course of study
- I'm thinking about majoring in computer science next year.
land (a job) (verb): to secure, win, or get a job
- It is becoming increasingly difficult to land a job in the field of language teaching.
work (your way) through (school) (verb): think through, in this case, work while
going to school to support yourself
- Since my parents had no money, I had no choice but to work myself through school
- Sometimes we just have to work through many new experiences before we
understand the language and culture.
Key Vocabulary:
catch (verb): to get on
- I have to catch a bus in front of the bus station.
get off work (verb): finish work
- She seldom gets off work before 6:00 p.m.
dinner (noun): sometimes supper
- We seldom eat dinner after 8:00 p.m.
stay up (verb): not go to bed
- I almost never stay up past midnight.
set aside (verb): reserve, allow, or give a certain amount to
- You have to set aside enough time to study for your classes.
toughest (adjective): most difficult, hardest
- The toughest part about being a parent is setting aside time for both work, family,
and self.
take care of (verb): watch, look after
- You should take care of yourself so you don't get sick.
groceries (noun): food and other items at a supermarket
- Mom is going to pick up some groceries from the store for dinner.
Key Vocabulary:
have in mind (verb): to think about
- What activities do you have in mind for tomorrow's picnic?
crazy about (phrasal verb): to like something very much
- Carla is crazy about rock music.
Key Vocabulary:
finest (adjective): excellent, high quality
- These are the finest glasses I have ever seen.
additional (adjective): extra, added
- Buy now and receive an additional two dollars off the regular price.
Key Vocabulary:
yeah (adverb): informal for yes; also yep
- May I use your pen.
Yeah, sure.
mommy (noun): an informal word for mother usually used by children; also mom.
- Mommy. May I watch TV?
Key Vocabulary:
cool (adjective): someone who is good-looking or attractive
- She thinks the guy is really cool, but she doesn't know him like I do.
PG (noun): parental guidance
- My PG your Website by making it easier to navigate.
come on (phrasal verb): used to express that something said is unreasonable
- Come on, Mom. You can't expect me clean up my room before I go out tonight, can
you? .
Tom: Mostly, we were overseas. We spent a total of ten years in Korea, Germany, and
Okinawa, Japan. We were transferred back to the States three years ago, but I think
my parents would have liked to live overseas for at least 20 more years.
Jenny: Wow. It sounds like you've had an interesting life. So, what do you do now?
Tom: I'm a student at Purdue University.
Jenny: Oh really? What are you studying?
Tom: I'm majoring in psychology. How about you? What do you do?
Jenny: Well, I'm working as a sales representative for Vega Computers downtown.
Tom: No kidding! My brother works there too.
Key Vocabulary:
destination (noun): the place to which you are going
- It took four hours to arrive at our destination.
platform (noun): a raised area where you can get on and off a train
- Please meet me on the platform 15 minutes before the train is scheduled to leave.
Key Vocabulary:
deluxe (adjective): of higher quality than similar products
- She ordered a deluxe shake from the menu.
to go: takeout
- We ordered the food to go because we didn't have time to sit down and eat.
down something (verb): eat quickly
- No one could believe that the woman downed fifteen hotdogs in twelve minutes.
grow on someone (verb): develop a liking for someone or something over time
- Eating raw fish is something that will grow on you if you eat it enough.
not agree with someone (verb): become sick from something you eat
- Boy, I feel really sick. That soup didn't agree with me at all, and I feel like I'm going
to throw up.
hearty eater (noun): someone who enjoys eating a lot
- That baby is a real hearty eater and eats constantly.
Key Vocabulary:
reeze (verb): become cold to the point of changing water to ice
- It was so cold out last night that I thought I was going to freeze to death.
tag (verb): touch a player, usually as part of a game
- I tried to get away during the game at the park, but she tagged me on the back, so I
was it.
Key Vocabulary:
suite (noun): a group of connected rooms at a hotel
- I decided to reserve a suite for our honeymoon.
kitchenette (noun): a very small kitchen
- My first apartment was very small and only had a kitchenette.
26. Immigration and Customs
Customs Officer: Next. Uh, your passport please.
Woman: Okay.
Customs Officer: Uh, what is the purpose of your visit?
Woman: I'm here to attend a teaching convention for the first part of my trip, and then I
plan on touring the capital for a few days.
Customs Officer: And where will you be staying?
Woman: I'll be staying in a room at a hotel downtown for the entire week.
Customs Officer: And uh, what do you have in your luggage?
Woman: Uh, well, just, just my personal belongings um, . . . clothes, a few books, and a CD
player.
Customs Officer: Okay. Uh, please open your bag.
Woman: Sure.
Customs Officer: Okay . . . Everything's fine. [Great]. Uh, by the way, is this your first visit
to the country?
Woman: Well, yes and no. Actually, I was born here when my parents were working in the
capital many years ago, but this is my first trip back since then.
Customs Officer: Well, enjoy your trip.
Woman: Thanks.
Key Vocabulary:
attend (verb): to be at or go to
- I'm planning on attending a language class before I go to China.
book (verb): to make arrangements in advance
- You ought to book a room at least a month in advance.
luggage (noun): bags used during traveling to carry your things
- You are only allowed two pieces of luggage on this flight.
belongings (noun): your personal property or possessions
- Be sure to collect your belongings before you leave the plane.
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"Hello Shoppers. We have a lost boy named Marshall who was found in the sporting goods
section of our store, and he's looking for his mom. He's five years old, and he's wearing a blue
and white sweat shirt, tan pants, and a black and white baseball cap. You can find him at the
check-out counter at the main exit. Thank you."
Key Vocabulary:
section (noun): area
- You'll find the orange juice in the drink section over there.
tan (adjective): a light brown
- My brother is the man wearing the tan shirt.
cap (noun): a tight-fitting hat often used in sports by baseball players
- Joshua wore his baseball cap to keep the sun out of his eyes during the game.
Key Vocabulary:
keep straight (verb): remember clearly
- You need to keep the facts straight if you want to pass the test.
nah: no (informal)
Do you want to come to the party?
Nah. I have other plans that evening.
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Key Vocabulary:
good to see you could make it : happy to see you could come
- It's really good to see you could make it.
full swing (idiom): at its high point
- The party really got into full swing around midnight.
eat someone out of house and home (idiom): they're eating all of my food
- My teenagers have huge appetites and are eating me out of house and home.
hit it off (idiom): get along well
- My roommate and I hit it off from the very first day we moved in.
a. outgoing (adjective): very friendly and sociable
- He is very outgoing and always makes newcomers feel comfortable at a party.
adventurous (adjective): willingness to try new things
- If I were more adventurous, I think I would try mountain climbing.
flashy (adjective): brightly colored or unusually decorated beyond normal standards
- She tends to wear flashy ski wear during the winter season
Key Vocabulary:
supermarket (noun): a place where you buy food or other household goods, also grocery
store
- She went to the supermarket to buy food for dinner.
talk about (phrasal verb): discuss
- Let's get together after class to talk about tonight's party.
pound (noun): a common measure of weight in the US, also 16 ounces
- The turkey weighs over 25 pounds, so there should be enough to feed all our guests.
package (noun): a container often used for food
- He said he bought three packages of cookies to feed the kids an afternoon snack.
you better (modal of advice): informal for "you had better" or "you'd better" and is
generally used when there could be a negative consequence or result if the advice isn't followed
- I told her that she better make enough food for 20 people, or some of the guests
won't be happy or satisfied.
whip up (phrasal verb): prepare quickly
- There's no time to fix a big dinner, so I'll just have to whip up a simple salad.
bet (verb): strongly believe or have faith in
- This cake has a nice flavor. I bet she added some cinnamon to the recipe.
knockout (noun): a very attractive or beautiful woman
- Hey, you'll love her roommate. She's a real knockout, and she isn't dating anyone.
nah: informal for "no"
- Nah, I don't want to go out to eat. Let's just eat something easy at home.
hit it off (phrasal verb): get along well
- I thought they would hit it off and go on another date, but it turns out that they didn't
have much in common.
Key Vocabulary:
section (noun): a separate part of a book or newspaper
- Be sure to read this section of the book carefully. It will help you understand the story better.
boring (adjective): not interesting
- Many advertisers use almost any means to persuade customers to buy their products.
whoa: used to show surprise
- Whoa! You can read really well. That's great!
count (verb): be included, allowed, or accepted
- You are supposed to read 300 pages before the end of the school year, but remember
that comic books don't count. You have to read story books.
bedtime (noun): the time when you normally go to bed
- I often read a book or watch TV before bedtime.
Key Vocabulary:
issue (verb): provide or give something usually to members of a group
- This video only cost me a buck to rent for three days.
keep track of (phrasal verb): watch and pay careful attention to what is happening
- We need to keep track of the video we have checked out. Otherwise, we might have to
pay a late fee.
anyway (adverb): used to say you will do something regardless of something else
- I know the DVD is expensive, but I'm going to buy it anyway.
release (noun): a new movie or CD that has just been available for purchase
- This is a new release, so it will cost a little more to rent.
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Woman: Well, to tell the truth, I'm not really interested in going there. [Really?]. Yeah. Why
don't we go shopping instead? There are supposed to be some really nice places to pick
up souvenirs.
Man: Nah, I don't think that's a good idea. We only have few travelers checks left, and I only
have fifty dollars left in cash.
Woman: No problem. We can use YOUR credit card to pay for MY new clothes.
Man: Oh, no. I remember the last time you used MY credit card for YOUR purchases.
Woman: Oh well. Let's take the subway down to the seashore and walk along the beach.
Man: Now that sounds like a wonderful plan.
Key Vocabulary:
recommend (verb): to suggest something would be good or suitable for a particular
purpose or to suggest some action
- I recommend you visit the palace during your visit.
blocks (noun): the distance and area between roads or streets
- Walk down this road three blocks, and you'll see the science museum on the
righthand side of the street.
to tell (you) the truth (phrase): to be honest
- To tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid to try new foods.
pick up (verb): obtain or get
- I picked up this doll during my last trip to China.
souvenir (verb): something you give or receive to help you remember a visit to
another place
Key Vocabulary:
snack (noun): an informal light meal
- My wife often gives the kids a snack right when they come home from school.
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Key Vocabulary:
flu (noun): informal for influenza, like a very bad cold with chills and fever
- Sometimes, doctors have to be very discreet when talking with their family about
patients.
stuffy (adjective): closed or blocked
- I have a really stuffy nose and can't breathe very well.
be supposed to (verb): expected to do something
- She was supposed to stay in bed and rest, but she went to work instead.
seem (verb): appear
- My dad didn't seem very sick this morning, but he got worse during the rest of the
day.
stay off your feet (idiom): put into action
- If you want to get better, you have to stay off your feet for a few days.
get rid of (phrasal verb): do away with, eliminate
- Try my garlic soup. It'll help get rid of your bad stuffy nose.
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Hi. My name's Greg, and I'm originally from Denver, Colorado, but my family
moved to Arizona when I was about 3, so I grew up in there. I graduated from
high school about three years ago, and I am currently attending a university in
my city. I'm a junior, and I am majoring in economics with a minor in Spanish. I
also work part time as a cashier at a grocery store. Life is really busy, but I enjoy
hiking, reading, and hanging out with friends in my free time. When I graduate,
I want to work for a company in this area.
Key Vocabulary:
originally (adverb): in the beginning, in the first place
- My mom is originally from a small town in Texas.
currently (adverb): now, at this time
- She is currently working as a server at a restaurant.
attend (verb): go to
- I want to attend a school near my family.
junior (noun): third-year student
- He is only a junior, so he has another year to graduate.
major in (verb): have as one's main field of study
- I'm thinking about majoring in restaurant and hotel management.
cashier (noun): a person who receives and pays out money at a store
- Kathy found a job as a cashier at a restaurant.
grocery store (noun): supermarket
- My brother works full time as the manager of a grocery store.
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Key Vocabulary:
nah: informal for no
- Nah. I don't want to go, but thanks for asking.
not make heads or tails of (idiom): not be able to understand something at all
- I can't make heads or tails of this train map.
platform (noun): the place next to the railroad tracks where you wait for a train
- Please meet me on the platform 15 minutes before the train is scheduled to leave.
get something (verb): understand something
- Most of the time, she doesn't get what the teacher says.
no problem: used after someone thanks you for your help, similar to "You're welcome"
- A: Thanks for helping me buy a train ticket.
- B: No problem.
Key Vocabulary:
destination (noun): the place a trip ends
- We'll reach our destination by 3:00 PM.
available (adjective): not busy, ready for use
Are there any seats available on the next train?
catch (verb): get
- You can catch a taxi outside of the hotel lobby.
go with (phrasal verb): choose something
- I think I'll go with the budget tour to Hawaii on this trip.
transfer (verb): change to a different transportation line
- You'll need to transfer to a city bus when you arrive at the train station.
departure (noun): the act of leaving
- Passengers should check in two hours before their departure time.
vegetarian (noun): one who eats little or no meat, fish, or animal products
- Although Charles considers himself a vegetarian, he sometimes eats chicken.
Captain: Hello everyone, this is the captain speaking, and I want to welcome you to Flight
18 bound for Seattle.
Our flight time today is 2 hours and 14 minutes, and we will be flying at an average altitude of
29,000 feet. The local time in Seattle is a quarter to twelve (11:45), and the current weather is
sunny, but there is a chance of rain later in the day. We will be arriving at Gate 13, and we will
be announcing connecting flights on our approach to the Seattle airport.
On behalf of Sky Airlines and the crew, I want to wish you an enjoyable stay in the Seattle
area or at your final destination. Sit back and enjoy the flight.
Key Vocabulary:
bound (adjective): going to or heading for
- The plane is bound for London with stops in Atlanta and New York City.
feet (noun): 12 inches or 0.3 meters
- The flight attendant was only few feet a way when I got her attention.
announce (verb): give information
- We need to wait at the gate until they announce our flight.
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connecting flight (noun): when you arrive at the airport, your next plane is there to
get on so you can continue your trip
- We didn't arrive in time to catch our connecting flight.
crew (noun): all of the people who work together on a ship, train, or plane
- The plane's crew were very friendly and helpful.
destination (noun): the place you are going to
- What is your final destination on this trip?
altitude (noun): height
- This plane flies at an altitude of 31,000 feet..
approach (noun, also a verb): nearing or coming to
- It started to snow very heavily as the airplane started its approach to the airport.
- The plane is approaching the airport.