#0366 – Talking About Prices, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF

#0366 – Talking About Prices

#0366 – Talking About Prices, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 366 – Talking About Prices
GLOSSARY
price –
cost; the amount of money that must be used to buy something; the
amount of money for which something is sold
* The price of chicken is usually less than the price of beef.
recession –
a period of time when a country’s economy slows down and there is
less business activity
* The United States had a recession in the 1980s and many people think that the
country is entering another recession now.
necessity –
something that one needs; something that one must have to live;
something that is more than just a want or desire
* If you don’t find a job, how will you pay for your basic necessities, like food and
housing?
to skyrocket –
to increase very much and very quickly
* When the band made its third CD, its popularity skyrocketed and soon its music
was heard on the radio all the time.
shortage –
a lack of something; the state of not having enough of something;
having less of something than one needs
* That country has a lot of gold and zinc, but a shortage of copper.
produce –
fresh fruits and vegetables
* There are a lot of apples in the produce section of the grocery store at this time
of year.
to gouge –
to extort; to charge more money than usual; to charge an unfair price
* The university is gouging its students, charging $6,000 more in tuition this year
than it did last year.
at the drop of a hat –
very quickly, without cause or reason; without advance
notice and/or without a reason for doing something
* They said that they were going to buy the house, but then they changed their
minds at the drop of a hat, without giving any explanation.
par for the course –
normal; usual; typical; to be expected
* Some parents think it is par for the course that their children drink alcohol in
college.
1
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these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 366 – Talking About Prices
you said it –
an informal phrase used to show that one fully agrees with what
another person has just said
* Hermione said that she thought the government should spend more money on
education and health care. Her sister nodded her head and said, “You said it!”
supply –
the amount of something that is available, especially for sale
* My economics professor said that when the supply of something increases, the
price usually drops.
dirt cheap –
extremely inexpensive; very low price
* During the summer, tomatoes were dirt cheap, only $0.75 per pound!
to pass (something) on to (someone) –
to share something with someone; to
give something that one has received to another person
* Mindy heard some great ideas for saving money and she decided to pass them
on to her friends.
to have a mind to –
a phrase used to show that one is thinking about doing
something, or that one is tempted to do something
* I have a mind to quit my job, but I don’t want to do that until I’ve found another
place to work.
boycott –
an agreement not to buy or use something until conditions change
* The families in this neighborhood decided that a boycott of that store was
necessary to force them to stop selling adult magazines.
to keep (something) up –
to continue to do something; to be able to do
something
* Gunther recently started exercising for two hours every day, but I don’t think
he’ll be able to keep it up for very long.
2
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2008). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 366 – Talking About Prices
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. What prices are increasing?
a) The prices of skyrockets.
b) The prices of produce.
c) The prices of hats.
2. What does Rosalba think should happen?
a) When there is a lot of something, it should cost more.
b) Stores should do what they can to make extra money.
c) When the store saves money, customers should too.
______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
produce
The word “produce,” in this podcast, means fresh fruits and vegetables: “Doctors
say that we should eat at least five servings of produce each day.” As a verb, “to
produce,” the pronunciation is different, with the accent on the second syllable.
“To produce” means to manufacture, make, or create something: “This factory
produces thousands of tires every day.” The verb “to produce” can also mean to
cause something, or to cause something to happen: “This medication produces
headaches in 5% of the patients who take it.” Or, “The government’s decision
produced a rise in interest rates.” “To produce” can mean to show something to
another person: “The lawyer produced very compelling evidence in court.”
Finally, “to produce” can mean to provide the money for a movie to be made: “Do
you know who produced that film?”
to keep (something) up
In this podcast, the phrase “to keep (something) up” means to continue to do
something or to be able to do something: “Kulon is working three jobs. How long
will she be able to keep that up?” The phrase “to keep (something) going”
means to manage a business or organization so that it continues to operate:
“When the value of the dollar fell, so did the company’s sales, but the president
was able to keep it going for several years.” The phrase “to keep at (something)”
or “to keep at it” means to continue to do something even though it is difficult,
and is used to encourage other people so that they don’t stop doing something: “I
know that playing the violin is difficult, but if you keep at it, you’ll soon be playing
beautiful music!”
3
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2008). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 366 – Talking About Prices
CULTURE NOTE
The phrase “consumer protection” refers to laws and government actions that
help “consumers” (people who buy or use things). Consumer protection can
include getting customers the information they need to make educated buying
decisions and stopping companies from “taking advantage of” (doing things that
will hurt another person) consumers.
In the United States, there are many consumer protection “acts” (laws). Some of
them are “federal” (national) and other are at the state level. The Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act, for example, limits how companies can collect “debts”
(money owed to another person or organization) from consumers. It limits when
companies can call consumers, states that they have to stop contacting them if
they are requested to do so “in writing” (with a written letter), and prevents them
from using “threatening” (making one feel fearful for one’s safety) language,
among other things.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act is another consumer protection act. It controls how
consumers’ credit information can be used. Certain companies have detailed
information about how individuals use “credit” (money that is loaned to a person
or organization), including whether they are good about paying that money back
when and how they are supposed to. The Fair Credit Reporting Act limits who
can “access” (see copies of) that information.
The Truth in Lending Act creates rules for “lenders” (organizations that give
money to people and other organizations for a short period of time so that they
will be paid back that money and more in the future). It requires “full disclosure”
(a statement that contains all the facts) about how the loan is made and how
much it really costs to borrow the money.
These are just a few of the acts that are designed to protect American
consumers.
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – c
4
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2008). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
English as a Second Language Podcast
www.eslpod.com
ESL Podcast 366 – Talking About Prices
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 366: Talking About
Prices.
This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 366. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Visit our website at eslpod.com and download a Learning Guide for this episode.
The Learning Guide is an 8 to 10 page PDF file you can download for all of our
current episodes. It gives you the vocabulary, definitions, sample sentences,
comprehension questions, additional definitions and cultural notes, and a
complete transcript of everything we say on this episode.
This episode is called “Talking About Prices,” when you buy and sell things, as
well as some general vocabulary related to the economy. Let’s get started.
[start of dialogue]
Rosalba: Can you believe these prices? I know we’re in a recession, but the
cost of everyday necessities shouldn’t skyrocket overnight.
William: I think it has something to do with the shortage of produce. I don’t know
why I’m surprised that stores like this one try to gouge customers at the drop of a
hat. I guess it’s par for the course – anything to make a little extra money.
Rosalba: You said it! Even when there’s a good supply, the prices are never dirt
cheap. Any savings the stores get are never passed on to the customers.
William: I have a mind to stop buying fruits and vegetables until the prices go
down.
Rosalba: You mean a boycott?
William: Yeah, I won’t eat any fruits and vegetables until these high prices come
down.
Rosalba: How long do you think you can keep that up?
William: I don’t know, but let’s find out!
5
These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2008). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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