Expanding Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition » Unit 23: Predicaments

Word List
  • anonymous
  • apologize
  • autograph
  • aware
  • awkward
  • borrow
  • breath
  • broke
  • cheated
  • cheats
  • depressed
  • dropped
  • forget
  • guy
  • invite
  • lend
  • manager
  • mention
  • predicament
  • psychologist
  • salesclerk
  • snores
  • stereo
  • unfortunately
  • acting weird
  • ask (someone) out
  • brother-in-law
  • came up to (someone)
  • cleaning up
  • got stuck in traffic
  • graduation party
  • house guest
  • looking over (someone's) shoulder
  • pay (money) back
  • send (some) a note
  • signed (someone's) name
Vocabulary Worksheet

‣ Part 1: Match the words and phrases on the left with their definitions on the right.

  1. predicament _____
  2. cheated _____
  3. aware _____
  4. borrow _____
  5. forget _____
  6. apologize _____
  7. unfortunately _____
  8. awkward _____
  9. anonymous _____
  10. weird _____
  1. a. having knowledge or understanding of something
  2. b. unluckily
  3. c. very strange
  4. d. a difficult situation with no easy solution
  5. e. to take something from someone for a limited time
  6. f. to be unable to remember
  7. g. uncomfortable or embarrassing
  8. h. did something that is not honest or fair
  9. i. to say you are sorry
  10. j. having no known identity

‣ Part 2: Complete the sentences. Use the words and phrases from Part 1.

  1. I had to _____ to my friend for ruining her favorite shirt.
  2. David's mother was very disappointed when she found out that he had _____ on the test.
  3. _____, the sudden rainstorm caused the game to be cancelled.
  4. When walking alone at night, it is important to be _____ of your surroundings.
  5. My friend has been acting _____ lately, and I'm worried about him.
  6. Unable to identify the donor, the foundation accepted the _____ donation.
  7. Being in the middle of a fight between friends is a terrible _____.
  8. We had nothing to talk about, so our first date was kind of _____.
  9. He wrote himself a note so he wouldn't _____ his wife's birthday.
  10. My neighbor asked to _____ my power tools for two or three days.
  1. a. having knowledge or understanding of something
  2. b. unluckily
  3. c. very strange
  4. d. a difficult situation with no easy solution
  5. e. to take something from someone for a limited time
  6. f. to be unable to remember
  7. g. uncomfortable or embarrassing
  8. h. did something that is not honest or fair
  9. i. to say you are sorry
  10. j. having no known identity
Answer Key

What would do you if you were in these predicaments? Write your answers in the chart and compare them with a partner.

PredicamentSolution
1. Your neighbors make a lot of noise at night._____
2. You forgot a friend's birthday._____
3. You damage a friend's car._____
4. A classmate asks you for a loan._____
5. A classmate cheats on tests._____
Listening 1

‣ Listen to the conversations. What is each person's predicament? Circle the correct answer.

    • a. He doesn't want his guest to leave.
    • b. He doesn't know when his guest will leave.
    • a. Her friend forgot to pay some money back.
    • b. She forgot to pay back some money to a friend.
    • a. She wants to invite a co-worker out.
    • b. A co-worker is always inviting her out.
    • a. His friend never lends things.
    • b. His friend never returns things.
    • a. He forgot about his friend's party.
    • b. He forgot to bring a gift to the party.
    • a. The neighbors play really loud music at night.
    • b. The neighbors play really bad music at night.
Listening 2

‣ Task 1

People are telling stories about things that happened to them. Listen and number the pictures.

  1. _____
  2. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. How does each story end? Circle the correct answer.

    • a. She ran away.
    • b. She had to pay for the plate.
    • c. She didn't have to pay for the plate.
    • a. He had to pay for everything.
    • b. He had to pay for the things he ordered.
    • c. He didn't have to pay for anything.
    • a. His girlfriend was very upset.
    • b. His girlfriend wasn't upset.
    • c. His girlfriend left before he arrived.
    • a. He said that he wasn't Tom Cruise.
    • b. He signed Tom Cruise's name.
    • c. He signed his own name.
    • a. They had the party in a restaurant.
    • b. They cleaned the apartment.
    • c. They didn't have the party.
    • a. He asked to sit somewhere else.
    • b. He told the teacher the guy was cheating.
    • c. He wrote the wrong answers on his test.
Listening 3

‣ Task 1

People are talking about predicaments. How does each person fell? Listen and circle the correct answer.

    • a. embarrassed
    • b. annoyed
    • c. amused
    • a. concerned
    • b. angry
    • c. embarrassed
    • a. embarrassed
    • b. angry
    • c. confused
    • a. annoyed
    • b. unconcerned
    • c. depressed
    • a. worried
    • b. annoyed
    • c. amused
    • a. angry
    • b. worried
    • c. embarrassed

‣ Task 2

Listen again. What is each person planning to do about the situation? Write the correct letter.

  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____
  1. a. nothing
  2. b. call the manager
  3. c. talk to her cousin's parents
  4. d. speak to his wife
  5. e. sleep in a different room
  6. f. send an anonymous note

✺ Pronunciation

Word stress in compound nouns

Pronunciation Help
Stress the first syllable of the word in a compound noun.

‣ Task 1

Listen and repeat.

  • 1. We have hoúse guests this weekend.
  • 2. I got stuck in a tráffic jam.
  • 3. Her clássmate is preparing a presentation for tomorrow.
  • 4. My grandparents are sleeping in my bédroom.

‣ Task 2

Read the sentences to a partner. Be sure to stress the compound nouns correctly.

✺ Dictation

‣ Task 1

Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.

A: What's wrong? You look exhausted.
B: I am. I have a (1)_____ (2)_____ (3)_____ with me right now. He's a friend from my English class. He was going to stay for a week, but he's been here for four weeks now.
A: Oh, no! Why has he been staying with you for so long?
B: Well, there was a fire in (4)_____ (5)_____ (6)_____, so he has to find a new place to stay. The problem is, he can't afford to pay the deposit for a new place until he gets money from the (7)_____ (8)_____.
A: That's terrible. The poor guy.

‣ Task 2

Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to stress the compound nouns correctly.

✺ Conversation

Work in pairs. Think about a time you were in a difficult situation. Tell your partner what happened.

Answer Key
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