Practice English Listening A2 Exercises – Listening to people talk about predicaments

Phil would take the money straight to the police.

Transcripts

PAT:   So, what would you do if you found $750,000?

PHIL:   Oh, you know me, Pat. I’m so honest, I scare myself sometimes. I’d take the money straight to the police.

PAT:   I guess that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Maybe you’d be luckier than the guy in the article. Maybe the owner of the money would give you a big reward.

PHIL:   Well, they say honesty pays. Right?

A

1   A friend lost all her money while traveling.

2   A friend has a serious shopping problem.

3   Two people were fighting in the street.

B

These suggestions were given

1   Jane and Burt would call their parents and ask them to send money. Burt might also try going to the embassy or consulate to see if they could help him. Susan would probably sell her watch and camera or get a job as a waitress.

2   Jane would talk to her friend about it. Burt wouldn’t say or do anything because it’s none of his business. Susan would probably talk to her friend’s family.

3   Jane would call the police. Burt would try to break it up or get someone to help him. He’s also shout for someone to call the police.

Transcripts

1

JANE:   I just got a postcard from my friend Kari. She lost all her money on vacation in Europe. Isn’t that horrible?

BURT:   Yeah, that’s terrible.

SUSAN:   Jane, what would you do if you were on vacation overseas and you lost all your money and credit cards?

JANE:   I guess I’d call my parents and ask them to send me some money right away. What about you, Burt?

BURT:   Yeah, I’d probably do the same thing … although maybe I’d try going to the embassy or consulate to see if they could help me. What about you, Susan?

SUSAN:   Well, I guess I’d probably sell my watch and camera … or I might get a job as a waitress somewhere till I made enough money to buy a plane ticket home.

2

BURT:   You know, I’m really worried about Carol.

SUSAN:   Why?

BURT:   Well, I think she has a serious shopping problem.

JANE:   Really?

BURT:   Yes, she keeps buying things and putting everything on her credit card. I don’t think she realizes how hard it’s going to be to pay all the money back. I don’t know what to do. What would you do if you discovered a friend had major financial problems?

JANE:   Oh, no question. I … I’d talk to her about it.

BURT:   Oh, I don’t think I would.

JANE:   Why not?

BURT:   Well, because it’s really none of my business. I wouldn’t tell a friend what to do in that type of situation … so I wouldn’t say or do anything about it.

SUSAN:   Well, I think I’d probably talk to her family about it. It’s a personal problem, and they should try to help her first.

3

SUSAN:   You know, I was faced with a tough situation the other day. I was walking down the street and saw two people fighting. It looked pretty violent, but I didn’t know what to do. So I just walked away. I figured it was none of my business, but now, I think I should have done something. What would you do if you saw two people fighting on the street?

JANE:   I’m not really sure, but I know I’d have to do something. I guess I would call the police.

BURT:   No, that takes too long. I’d try to break it up.

JANE:   But you could get hurt if you did that.

BURT:   Well, then I’d try to get someone to help me break it up. In the meantime, I’d shout for someone to call the police.

A

Caller 1

– daughter is dating older man; told her to stop seeing him

Caller 2

– borrowed father’s new car and had an accident

– sent an email; said someone had stolen car

Caller 3

– had a party where subject of politics came up

– got angry at a co-worker and asked him to leave

B

Caller 1

She should have spoken to the man; she should have asked him not to date her daughter for a couple of weeks; if he’s a nice man, she should let her daughter date him and not worry about age.

Caller 2

He should have told the truth; his father would understand and be glad his son wasn’t hurt.

Caller 3

He shouldn’t have talked about politics; he shouldn’t have gotten angry; he should apologize.

Transcripts

DR. HILDA:   This is Dr. Hilda. Welcome to today’s show. Now let’s get started right away with our first caller. Hello!

CALLER I:   Hello, Dr. Hilda. I’m calling about my daughter. She’s … she’s dating an older man.

DR. HILDA:   Oh? How old are these two people?

CALLER I:   My daughter’s 24, and this man is 42.

DR. HILDA:   Mm-hmm.

CALLER I:   I told her she had to stop seeing him, and … and now she won’t speak to me. I feel terrible. Tell me, Dr. Hilda, what should I have done?

DR. HILDA:   First, you should have spoken to this 42-year-old man. You should have asked him not to date your daughter for a couple of weeks – to give the situation some time to cool off. Then, if they still want to see each other, and if the man seems like a nice person, you should let your daughter date him. You shouldn’t worry so much about the age difference. OK, now let’s go to our next caller. Hello, caller!

CALLER 2:   Hello? Uh, I’m a first-time caller, and uh, well, my problem is that my father went away on a business trip, and I borrowed his brand-new car, and I had an accident.

DR. HILDA:   Where is your mother?

CALLER 2:   She’s away, visiting some friends.

DR. HILDA:   All right, go on.

CALLER 2:   Well, I sent an email to my father and I … I told him … well, I told him someone had stolen the car.

DR. HILDA:   Oh! You should have told your father the truth! Your father would probably understand about a car accident, and he would be glad you weren’t hurt.

CALLER 2:   I’m not too sure about that!

DR. HILDA:   Oh, give it a try, young man, because the truth is always better than a lie. OK, now let’s hear from our next caller. This is Dr. Hilda. You’re on the air.

CALLER 3:   Hi. Uh, I’m calling about a problem. It’s kind of a personal problem, but it also concerns work.

DR. HILDA:   Yes, go on.

CALLER 3:   Well, I invited some friends from the office to my house for a party a couple of weeks ago. And everything was fine until someone started talking about politics.

DR. HILDA:   Oh! You shouldn’t have let the subject of politics come up.

CALLER 3:   Well, it came up, and I, uh, … well, I got really angry at one of my co-workers, and, to prevent a fight, I asked him to leave.

DR. HILDA:   And? What happened after that?

CALLER 3:   Well, now it’s caused a big problem in the office. He won’t even speak to me.

DR. HILDA:   Again, you shouldn’t have talked about politics at a party! It’s not a safe topic.

CALLER 3:   That’s for sure.

DR. HILDA:   And you shouldn’t have gotten so angry either!

CALLER 3:   That’s true! But what should I do now?

DR. HILDA:   You should apologize.

CALLER 3:   Well, maybe that’s a good idea. I’ll give it a try.

DR. HILDA:   Good! Well, folks, that’s another show. I’m Dr. Hilda. Join us again next time.