Back to School Supplies
Activity 1.
Listen to the file.
Activity 2.
Listening Comprehension. Answer the following questions.
1. Which item did the girl NOT mention about her needed supplies for school? 2. Why doesn't the father want to buy his daughter some of these supplies? 3. For which specific class does the girl mention that she needs these supplies? 4. What specific argument does the girl give her father to persuade him to buy these things? 5. Why does the father eventually give in to his daughter?
A. pencils
B. computer
C. calculator
A. The items are far beyond his financial means.
B. He feels his daughter really doesn't need them.
C. The family already owns some of these supplies.
A. geometry
B. chemistry
C. physics
A. They are on sale until the end of the week.
B. Her teachers require them as part of the curriculum.
C. She volunteers to use some of her own money.
A. He discovers he had more money than he thought.
B. He concludes that she will provide for him when he is older.
C. The girl promises to help her mother in exchange for the supplies.
Activity 3.
Listening to Details. Listen to the file for the last time and fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
Girl: Dad, I need a few supplies for school, and I was wondering if . . . . Dad: Yeah. There are a couple of pencils and an (1) in the kitchen drawer, I think. Girl: Dad, I'm in eight grade now, and I need REAL supplies for my (2) classes. Dad: Oh, so you need a ruler too? Girl: Dad, I need some high-tech tech (3) like a calculator, a Palm Pilot, and a laptop computer. Dad: Uh. I didn't have any of that when I was in middle school, and I did just fine. Girl: Yeah, and they weren't any cars either, WERE there. [Hey] And things are just more (4) now. Dad: Well, we can rule out the hand pilot [Palm Pilot, Dad]. Whatever, AND the computer . . . unless mom lets you sell the car. And as for the (5) machine [Calculator]. Yeah, I think mine from college is kicking around here somewhere. Girl: Dad, I need a calculator for geometry, and I have heard you can download free software from the Internet. Dad: Great. My daughter will be playing video games in geometry class. Girl: Dad. Dad: Okay. How much is this thing going to (6) me? Girl: Well, I saw it at the store for only $99, WITH a $10 mail-in (7), or you could buy it online. Dad: Oh. Do they throw in a few aspirin so your father can (8) from sticker shock? Girl: Dad. Please!!!. Everyone has one [I've heard that before.] and you always say you want me to (9) in school, and I'll chip in $10 of my own, and I'll even clean up my room [Hey!!]. Dad: Hmmm, 100 buck. Well, you'll be (10) me in my old age, so, I guess so. When do you need it? Girl: Now, right now. [Now!] Mom's already waiting in the car for us. [Huh?] She said she would buy me an ice cream if I could talk you into to buying it for me today.
Activity 4
Vocabulary. Read and study the following words.
- My history teacher is very demanding. She expects student to memorize so many facts.
- It took two months to receive my mail-in rebate from that company.
- The computer store threw in a free set of speakers when I bought a computer.
- I can't get over the sticker shock of seeing the price of cars these days.
- If you really work hard, you can excel in many things in life.
- My father chipped in money so I could buy my first laptop.
- It only costs a few bucks to buy some folders and notebooks for school.
Activity 5.
Discussion. Answer the following questions related to the conversation.
- Most students enjoy having new school supplies at the beginning of every year. What kinds of schools supplies do you usually need to buy before the start of a new academic year? Which supplies do you really need and which ones do you want, if money isn't an object? Where do people usually buy these supplies: at school, at a local store, or on the Internet? Discuss these ideas.