Unit 8: Mishaps

Developing Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition » Unit 8: Mishaps

Word List

apology
break
charge
clogged
deserted
directions
dishwasher
dripping
drycleaner
flooded
horrified
ink
locksmith
manager
offend
offer
plumber
puddle
reschedule
ruined
soaked
soda
solution
spill (something)
suggest
tray
tricky
trip
unfortunately
catch the bus
catch the next one
checkout counter
dry out
emergency number
flat tire
get locked out
get lost
leave the water running
look (something) up
make sense
tow truck

Vocabulary Worksheet

Look at the words and the definitions below. Make a sentence using each word.

WORD	DEFINITION	MY SENTENCE
apologize	verb, to say you're sorry	_____
charge	verb, to collect a fee for goods or services	_____
clogged	adj., to be blocked, like a drain pipe	_____
directions	noun, instructions on how to get to a place	_____
ink	noun, substance used to pens and printers	_____
manager	noun, boss	_____
mishap	noun, a mistake; an accident	_____
puddle	noun, a small pool of water	_____
soda	noun, a sweet flavored drink with bubbles in it	_____
solution	noun, the way to fix a problem	_____
spill	verb, to turn over a glass filled with liquid	_____
suggest	verb, to say what you think someone should do	_____

Answer Key

A mishap is a small accident. Match each mishap on the left with the solution on the right. Have any of these mishaps happened to you? Compare answers with a partner.

You spill something on your clothes.
Your phone falls in a puddle. _____
You get lost going to an appointment. _____
You break a friend's vase. _____
Your sink drain gets clogged. _____
You get locked out of the house. _____
Your car won't start. _____
You forgot about an appointment. _____

a. call a tow truck
b. apologize and reschedule
c. call a locksmith
d. call for directions
e. offer to buy a new one
f. go to the store and exchange it
g. go to the drycleaner
h. call a plumber

Listening 1

‣ People are talking about mishaps. Listen and number the pictures.

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

Listening 2

‣ Task 1

People are discussing mishaps. Listen and circle the correct answer.

- a. He spilled tomato sauce on the floor.
- b. He spilled tomato sauce on the rug.
- a. He broke a teapot.
- b. He spilled tea on her clothes.
- a. He has an ink stain on his shirt.
- b. He has a food stain on his shirt.
- a. She lost her jacket.
- b. She spilled coffee on her jacket.
- a. He lost his keys.
- b. He lost his wallet.
- a. There's something wrong with the car.
- b. They're lost.

‣ Task 2

Listen again. Are these statements true or false? Check (x) the correct answer.

	True	False
1. The woman suggests pouring water on the stain.	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2. The man thinks an apology is a good solution.	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3. The man doesn't agree with the woman's solution.	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4. The woman is going to buy a new jacket.	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5. The man is going to call a locksmith.	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6. The man is going to call the restaurant for directions.	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

Listening 3

‣ Task 1

Four people are describing mishaps. Listen and check (x) the correct information.

1. Katie
What is the mishap?	She missed the bus. ⁽¹⁾	She dropped her cell phone. ⁽²⁾
When did it happen?	this morning ⁽³⁾_____	this afternoon ⁽⁴⁾_____
What was the solution?	get a new battery ⁽⁵⁾_____	dry it out ⁽⁶⁾_____
Did it work?	yes ⁽⁷⁾_____	no ⁽⁸⁾_____
2. Joe
What is the mishap?	He lost his key. ⁽⁹⁾ _____	He lost his phone. ⁽¹⁰⁾_____
When did it happen?	last night ⁽¹¹⁾_____	at lunchtime ⁽¹²⁾_____
What was the solution?	go back to the store ⁽¹³⁾_____	call the manager ⁽¹⁴⁾_____
Did it work?	yes ⁽¹⁵⁾_____	no ⁽¹⁶⁾_____
3.
What is the mishap?	She spilled coffee. ⁽¹⁷⁾ _____	She broke a picture. ⁽¹⁸⁾_____
When did it happen?	this morning ⁽¹⁹⁾_____	at the end of the day ⁽²⁰⁾_____
What was the solution?	soda ⁽²¹⁾_____	a rug cleaner ⁽²²⁾_____
Did it work?	yes ⁽²³⁾_____	no ⁽²⁴⁾_____
4.
What is the mishap?	He got ink on his shirt. ⁽²⁵⁾ _____	He got food on his shirt. ⁽²⁶⁾_____
When did it happen?	last week ⁽²⁷⁾_____	yesterday ⁽²⁸⁾_____
What was the solution?	take it to the drycleaner ⁽²⁹⁾_____	pour soda on it ⁽³⁰⁾_____
Did it work?	yes ⁽³¹⁾_____	no ⁽³²⁾_____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. What phrase completes each statement? Write the correct letter.

Kaite
Joe's manager _____
Hannah _____
Eric _____

a. charges a fee to unlock a door.
b. was running to catch the bus.
c. called his friend for a solution.
d. knocked some things off her boss's desk.

✺ Pronunciation

Reduction of did you

Pronunciation Help
How we spell it	How we say it
Did you	Didja

‣ Task 1

Listen and repeat.

1. Did you call a plumber?
2. Did you try pouring plain soda on it?
3. Did you offer to replace it?
4. Did you call a locksmith?
5. Did you take it to the dry cleaners?
6. Did you buy a new one?

‣ Task 2

Read the questions to a partner. Be sure to reduce did you.

✺ Dictation

‣ Task 1

Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.

A: I heard you had a terrible ⁽¹⁾_____ ⁽²⁾_____. What happened?
B: I slipped on the steps. I dropped my phone and my cup of coffee!
A: Wow! ⁽³⁾_____ ⁽⁴⁾_____ ⁽⁵⁾_____ your phone?
B: Yes, but I got a new one.
A: What happened to the coffee? ⁽⁶⁾_____ ⁽⁷⁾_____ ⁽⁸⁾_____ it?
B: Yes. Now I have a stain on my new pants.
A: Did you take them to the dry cleaners?
B: Yes, I hope ⁽⁹⁾_____ ⁽¹⁰⁾_____ comes out!

‣ Task 2

Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to reduce did you.

✺ Conversation

Work in pairs. Think of two more mishaps. Think of possible solutions for each one. Then take turns describing the mishaps and giving possible solutions.

Answer Key

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