LESSON 7
Offering Help I
PART A Micro-Listening
The Alphabet
Directions: You will hear the names of ten American states and their abbreviations spelt out for you. Listen carefully and write them down quickly. 20 points
Example: Texas — TX
Name of the State Abbreviation
1 ________ 2 ________
3 ________ 4 ________
5 ________ 6 ________
7 ________ 8 ________
9 ________ 10 ________
11 ________ 12 ________
13 ________ 14 ________
15 ________ 16 ________
17 ________ 18 ________
19 ________ 20 ________
PART B Macro-Listening
Dialogue 1
Is This a Travel Agency?
I. Tapescript
Woman Excuse me... Is this a travel agency?
Man It certainly is, madam.
Woman Have you got lots of information about travel?
Man We certainly have, madam.
Woman Great! Perhaps you can help me...
Man What would you like, madam? A weekend in Las Vegas?
Woman Oh, no. I don't think my husband would let me do that.
Man Well, what do you want?
Woman Do you have any interesting program for the two-day weekend?
Man Oh, yes. We have lots of interesting programs for the weekend. You certainly don't seem to like a long trip, do you?
Woman No, we don't. We feel tired after a week's work.
Man Then, what about St. Monica Beach? There you can swim, lie in the sun on the soft sand and play beach volleyball.
Woman Sounds nice. What about the price?
Man $ 200 each.
Woman Good. But I have to talk to my husband first.
II. Language and Culture Notes
1. Excuse me is a polite form often used as an apology when one has to interrupt others.
2. Madam is a polite way of addressing a woman, often used to address a female customer.
3. Las Vegas is a city in the State of Nevada, U.S.A., famous for its many gambling casinoes, night clubs and big hotels. More than ten million visitors from around the world arrive here every year. The city has become a major tourist attraction in the United States.
4. St. Monica Beach, a beach in Los Angeles, U.S.A., is an ideal tourist spot for relaxation on the western coast of the Pacific.
III. Exercises with Key
1. Directions: Listen to the dialogue and write 'T' true or 'F' false in the brackets for each of the following statements. 10 points
1 The woman needs some information about a trip for the weekend. _________
2 The travel agency has lots of good weekend programs for the customers. _________
3 The woman says she doesn't want to make a long trip because it's too expensive. _________
4 The woman seems to have more say in the family. _________
5 The woman does not have enough money with her, so she has to go home to ask her husband for money. _________
2. Directions: Listen to the dialogue again and fill in the blanks with the words you hear. 10 points
1 Great! Perhaps ____________.
2 I don't think my husband would ____________.
3 Then what about St. Monica Beach? There you can ____________, ____________on the soft sand and ____________.
4 ____________. What about the price?
5 Well, then. I have to ____________.
Dialogue 2
Do You Think You Can Help Me?
I. Tapescript
Jessie Mike, I've got a problem.
Mike What's that, Jessie?
Jessie I've bought a big sofa. But I can't move it up.
Mike You certainly can't do it by yourself.
Jessie Do you think you can help me?
Mike Yes, of course. But where do you want it moved, Jessie?
Jessie Would you mind helping me to get it upstairs?
Mike No, of course not. But why do you want it upstairs?
Jessie I have a sitting room upstairs and I want to set it on the corner. Mike, will you take the front end?
Mike Sure. But wouldn't it be better if you went first? You know where you're going. I'll hold the back end and it's heavier.
Jessie Good idea, Mike. Let's go.
II. Language and Culture Notes
1. Would you mind doing...? This is a polite way to make a request. One is expected to respond with 'Not at all', 'Of course not', etc., which mean 'No, I don't mind', 'I'll be glad to', etc.
Notice also a gerund is used after the verb 'mind'.
2. The sitting room is also called the living room. It is a room for general use, such as receiving guests, spending leisure time, etc.
III. Exercises with Key
1. Directions: Listen to the dialogue and write 'T' true or 'F' false for each statement you hear. 10 points
1 Jessie wants to buy a big sofa, but she is short of money.
2 Mike is surprised to hear that Jessie wants to set her sofa in the sitting room.
3 Mike is ready to help because he knows that Jessie can't do it by herself.
4 Jessie wants Mike to take the back end of the sofa because she thinks Mike is very strong.
5 Mike suggests that Jessie take the front end because she knows the way.
2. Directions: Listen to the dialogue again and write down what the second speaker says in response. 10 points
1 ___________.
2 ___________.
3 ___________.
4 ___________.
5 ___________.
PART C Oral Practice
Directions: Work in pairs and use the structure 'Would you mind...?' and 'Do you think you could ...?' to make requests and give proper responses.
Suggested situations:
1. A wants B to close the window.
2. A wants B to lend him / her a dictionary.
3. A wants B to show him / her the way to the new library.
4. A wants B to answer the door.
5. A wants B to turn down the radio a bit. |