Unit 16 Fixing up the place
Vocabulary Task
Answers/Script
A I want a room that is soothing and relaxing ,not sterile. I want a nice thick braided rug and some lava lamps. I think I’d like to get an overstuffed rattan chair.
B I want a room that is useful for hanging out and studying. I want to be able to work on my computer in a comfortable chair. I want lots of bookshelves to hold all my books and papers.
C I don’t like my room the way it is. Right now, it’s full of a bunch of junk. I ought to get rid of the junk and fix it up. Then I could rearrange the furniture and make it more attractive.
Listening Task
1) First Listening
Answers
1. Buying a computer.
2. Painting the walls.
3. Rearranging the furniture.
4. Adding plants to the room.
2) Second Listening
Answers
1. She agrees with it.
2. He doesn’t care.
3. She agrees with it
4. She may be against it.
Script
1. A: You know, I was thinking. We really need to get a home computer. And probably a computer desk too
B: Yeah? Do you think we really need that?
A: Yeah, I need to be able to work on a computer at home. We should’ve gotten one a long time ago.
B: But where would we put it?
A: In the bedroom maybe?
B: Our bedroom is already too crowded, though. And I don’t want you to keep me awake while you’re studying.
A: I know! How about if I buy a loptop computer and use it at the dining tale?
B: That makes more sense. Our apartment is too small for lots of furniture.
5. A: Hey, I’m thinking of painting our room. What do you think?
B: Sure. Whatever.
A: Here’s my idea. We paint the two end walls wine red and the side walls tan.
B: Sounds cool to me, kinda like a checkerboard. But isn’t it going to be too dark?
A: I don’t know. If it is, we can always repaint it something lighter.
B: Well, who’s gonna pay for it?
A: I thought we could share the cost. If you think it’s a good idea.\
B: Yeah. I guess so.
3. A: Hey, Jenny…
B: Yeah?
A: I was thinking. I’d really like to rearrange the furniture in our living room.
B: Oh, yeah, how?
A: Move the TV into the corner. Where it is now, in the middle of the room, it looks like it’s the most important thing in our lives.
B: Yeah, you’re tight. And if we move the chairs closer together, people can talk.
A: Exactly.
B: Ooh, hey, I like that!
4. A: Suzy, this room is just too sterile. You know what would make it look more cozy?
B: What’s that?
A: A bunch of plants. There’s nothing alive in this room.
B: Speak for yourself. I’m alive.
A: You know what I mean… I would just like to have some green in the room. It’s soothing and relaxing.
B: Well, suit yourself – go get some plants. But don’t expect me to water them.
2. Second Listening
1.Predict
Answers
Sarah suggested some chairs and some plants. Richard suggested psychedelic posters, a lava lamp and a black light.
2.Get the main idea
Answers
R A room is just a room.
X I just want it to show our personalities.
S I want to get a few things to make it feel like it’s our home.
X I really like your idea!
R How about a couple of psychedelic posters?
S We don’t have any time for parties.
X I was thinking of a rattan chair and some hanging plants.
R At least we can agree on that.
Script
Sarah: You know, Richard, I really think we ought to fix up our apartment a little.
Richard: What for? What’s wrong with it the way it is?
Sarah: Are you kidding? It’s so empty.
Richard: Come on. A room is just a room. Why do we have to fill it up with a bunch of junk? Besides, it costs money.
Sarah: Well, it doesn’t have to be that expensive. I know this really neat little thrift store around the corner. We can go there and get a few simple things, just make it feel like a home.
Richard: A few things? Oh, man, this is going to cost money.
Sarah: it doesn’t have to cost a lot.
Richard: Why can’t we just leave it the way it is? I like it. I feel comfortable here. You start putting a lot of nice things around and it’s going to be a museum.
Sarah: But, Richard, we’re not the only ones that are going to be here. We want to have friends over, you know, have people over to study. They’ve got to have places to sit.
Richard: Hey, that’s a good idea. We could get a couple of psychedelic posters and a lava lamp. Get a black light. Crank up the stereo. We could have cool parties here.
Sarah: Parties, Richard? Richard, we are not going to have any time to party. We are going to be way too busy studying. That's what we’re in college for!
Richard: College is about having parties about having friends over. I don’t want something that looks like my parents’ house.
Sarah: Look. It doesn’t have to look like your parents’ house. We just need a few simple things like chairs. Maybe some plants you know, it’ll just make it nice and homey.
Richard: Homey? Okay, I’m not looking for homey. I’m a college student.
Sarah: At this rate, we’re never going to find anything that we both like.
Richard: Yeah, well, at least we can agree on that. |