Basic Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition » Unit 18: The Weather

Word List
  • cloudy
  • cold
  • cool
  • cooler
  • dry
  • expecting
  • heavy (rain, snow)
  • hot
  • humid
  • pool
  • rain
  • rainy
  • snowing
  • snowstorm
  • storm
  • sunny
  • swim
  • warm
  • wet
  • windy
  • air conditioner
  • coming out
  • get warmer/cooler
  • go down (temperature)
  • No way!
  • put (something) on
  • Remember to wear your...
  • snowball fight
  • the high (temperature)
  • the low (temperature)
  • weather forecast
Vocabulary Worksheet

‣ Use the words and phrases in the box to complete the sentences below.

  1. a. cloudy
  2. b. humid
  3. c. cool
  4. d. rainy
  5. e. cold
  6. f. snowy
  7. g. dry
  8. h. sunny
  9. i. hot
  10. j. windy
  1. We wanted to go to the beach, but it was _____ and looked like it might rain.
  2. It's going to be _____ today, so make sure you bring an umbrella.
  3. The _____ weather was perfect for flying kites.
  4. I love the _____ fall weather. It's not too hot and not too cold.
  5. The Sahara Desert is very _____. It gets almost no rain.
  6. It's _____ and clear today, so be careful not to get sunburned.
  7. It's only 76oF today, but it's so _____ that it feels much warmer.
  8. It's _____ outside right now, which makes it hard to drive.
  9. It's so _____ today that I'm going to stay inside in the air conditioning.
  10. Some parts of Canada can be a bit _____ even in the summer.
Answer Key

What's the weather like in your town or city? Write the words under the correct month.

  • rainy
  • dry
  • warm
  • cloudy
  • cold
  • humid
  • hot
  • sunny
  • cool
  • windy
  • wet
  • snowy


  1. It is cold and snowy in January.

  2. It is cool, and windy in October.
JanuaryMayAugustOctober
____________________
____________________
____________________
Listening 1

‣ Listen to the weather reports. Check (x) the weather for each city.

CityWeather
1. Beijing cold_____ windy_____ snowy_____ cool
2. Mexico City_____ dry_____ warm_____ cool_____ wet
3. Tokyo_____ humid_____ cloudy_____ windy_____ rainy
4. New York_____ sunny_____ windy_____ wet_____ cold
5. Taipei_____ cloudy_____ cool_____ wet_____ hot
6. Los Angeles_____ rainy_____ hot_____ humid_____ dry
Listening 2

‣ Task 1

People are asking about the weather. What will they wear or take with them? Listen and check (x) the correct picture.

    • a.
    • b.
    • a.
    • b.
    • a.
    • b.
    • a.
    • b.
    • a.
    • b.
    • a.
    • b.

‣ Task 2

Listen again. Circle the answer that does not describe the weather now.

    • a. It's raining.
    • b. It's windy.
    • c. It's cloudy.
    • a. It's cloudy.
    • b. It's nice.
    • c. It's sunny.
    • a. It's cold.
    • b. It's warm.
    • c. It's snowing.
    • a. It's icy.
    • b. It's nice.
    • c. It's raining.
    • a. It's humid.
    • b. It's raining.
    • c. It's hot.
    • a. It's snowing.
    • b. It's windy.
    • c. It's cold.
Listening 3

‣ Task 1

What is the weather like now? Listen and circle the correct answer.

    • a. It's warm.
    • b. It's windy.
    • a. It's windy
    • b. It's getting warmer.
    • a. The sky is dark.
    • b. It's sunny.
    • a. It's windy.
    • b. It's sunny.
    • a. It's cold.
    • b. It's really nice.
    • a. It's raining.
    • b. It's not raining.
    • a. It's getting cooler.
    • b. It's hot.
    • a. It's raining.
    • b. It's snowing.

‣ Task 2

Listen again. Is the weather getting better or worse? Check (x) the correct answer.

BetterWorse
1._____
2.__________
3.__________
4.__________
5.__________
6.__________
7.__________
8.__________

✺ Pronunciation

Intonation of words in a series

‣ Pronunciation Help
Use falling intonation for the last item in a series of words and rising intonation for earlier items.

‣ Task 1

Listen and repeat.

  • 1. In Taipei it will be cloudy↗, wet↗, and hot↘ today.
  • 2. Tomorrow it's going to be sunny↗, hot↗, and humid↘.
  • 3. Remember to wear your boots↗, jacket↗, and hat↘.

‣ Task 2

Read the sentences to a partner. Be sure to pronounce there's and there are correctly.

✺ Dictation

‣ Task 1

Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.

A: What's the weather like outside?
B: It's sunny, humid, and (1)_____ (2)_____. I think it's about 98 degrees.
A: That sounds awful!
B: Do you want to go to the beach? Ann, Jo, and Jo's sister are going.
A: No, thanks. It's too hot for the beach. I'm going to stay inside and read, drink ice water, and sit in (3)_____ (4)_____ the air conditioner.
B: We might stop by Super Burger on the way home. Can I get you anything?
A: That would be great. I'd like a cheeseburger, fries, and a (5)_____ (6)_____.

‣ Task 2

Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to use the correct intonation.

✺ Conversation

Work in pairs. Think about the weather today. What kinds of activities can you do? Talk about them with a partner.

Answer Key
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