Listening task 1: How often?
A Listen. People are talking about their free-time activities. How often do they do them? Write always, often, sometimes, hardly ever, or never.
1 He _________ plays sports in the afternoon.
2 She _________ goes to the movies on weekends.
3 He _________ watches TV at night.
4 She _________ goes to a club.
5 He _________ goes out for lunch.
6 She _________ visits relatives on Sunday.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 hardly ever 2 sometimes 3 always
4 never 5 often 6 always
Audioscripts in B below
B Listen again. Circle the reasons.
1 The man
a. doesn’t like to exercise.
b. works in the afternoon.
2 The woman
a. thinks movies are more exciting at the theater.
b. doesn’t have a DVD player.
3 The student
a. likes many kinds of programs.
b. doesn’t have to study very much.
4 The woman thinks clubs
a. are too expensive.
b. aren’t enjoyable.
5 The man likes
a. to cook for friends.
b. to go out for lunch with friends.
6 The woman likes to visit
a. her grandparents.
b. her cousins.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 b 2 a 3 a 4 b 5 b 6 a
Audioscripts
1
Woman: Do you ever play spores in the afternoon?
Man: Me? Oh, hardly ever. I work from one to six during the week, so I can’t play sports in the afternoon. Once a month, l have the afternoon off – then I go swimming.
2
Man: How often do you go to the movies on weekends?
Woman: On weekends? Well, sometimes I go to the movies on weekends, and sometimes I go during the week, especially if there’s a movie I really want to see. I like to watch movies on the big screen. They’re just not as exciting at home on DVD.
3
Woman: How often do you watch TV at night?
Man: At night? Well, I guess I always watch TV. I watch every night. I know I should study, but there are so many programs I like. So, I have to say I watch TV a lot. More than I should!
4
Man: How often do you go to a club?
Woman: Me? Never! I went to a club once with some friends, but it wasn’t my thing. I haven’t gone back. I didn’t enjoy it at all. I hate dancing in front of people. As a matter of fact, I never plan to go back again.
5
Woman: Do you ever go out for lunch?
Man: Do you mean out to a restaurant? Yeah, I do. Often, actually.
Woman: How many times a week would you say?
Man: Oh … 1navbe three or four tin1cs. I like to eat lunch with my friends. Sometimes we go out to a fast food place; sometimes we go to the student union. Yeah, I’d say about three or four times a week.
6
Man: Do you ever visit relatives on Sunday?
Woman: Yes, my cousins and I visit my grandparents every Sunday. My grandmother likes to make a big dinner for us, and we talk about the week. I love my grandmother’s cooking, so I always visit my grandparents on Sunday.
Listening task 2: What’s popular?
A Listen. People in the U.S. spend their free time in the evening in different ways.
Number the activities from 1 to 9.
|
Free-time activities |
Percent |
|
|
|
__ |
reading |
____ |
|
|
__ |
staying home with family |
____ |
|
|
__ |
getting together with friends |
____ |
|
|
__ |
resting or relaxing |
____ |
|
|
__ |
eating out |
____ |
|
|
__ |
playing a sport or exercising |
____ |
|
|
1 |
watching TV or DVDs |
26% |
|
|
__ |
going to the movies or a play |
____ |
|
|
__ |
other |
____ |
|
|
Source: The Gallup Organization |
|||
Answer & Audioscripts
1 watching TV or DVDs
2 staying home with family
3 resting or relaxing
4 reading
5 getting together with friends
6 going to the movies or a play
7 eating out
8 playing a sport or exercising
9 other
Audioscripts in B below
B Listen again. What percent of the people do each activity? Write the percents in the chart.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 26% 4 9% 7 5%
2 25% 5 8% 8 3%
3 9% 6 5% 9 10%
Audioscripts
1
Husband: What do you want to do tonight?
Wife: Well, I’m not sure. I guess I was just planning to watch TV like we usually do.
Husband: Well, a lot of other people are doing the same thing.
Wife: What do you mean?
Husband: According to this survey in the newspaper, a lot of people in the U.S. choose to watch TV or DVDs in the evening.
Wife: Really?
Husband: Yeah. Twenty-six percent of the people say that’s their favorite way to spend their free time in the evening.
2
Wife: What else does the survey say? What’s the second most popular activity?
Husband: Let’s see here. Ah, it says the second most popular activity is staying home with family. Yeah. Twenty-five percent of the people in this survey think so.
3
Wife: This is interesting. I mean, I like finding out what other people do in the evening. So, what’s the third activity?
Husband: Number three on the list is … just resting or relaxing.
Wife: Hmm. That’s what I really like doing after a long day at work.
Husband: Well, you’re not alone. Nine percent of the people chose that one.
4
Wife: OK. Keep going. What do other people do in their free time?
Husband: Let’s see here. [rustling of newspaper] Aha! Here’s my favorite way to spend an evening.
Wife: Wait – don’t tell me … reading!
Husband: Yes! Reading is number four. And another nine percent of the people said they spend their evenings reading.
5
Wife: Hey, all those activities are things people: do at home. Doesn’t anybody go out in the evening?
Husband: Yes, they do. In fact, the next most popular choice was getting together with friends.
Wife: How many people chose that?
Husband: Eight percent.
Wife: Eight percent, huh? You know, we should get together with our friends more often.
6
Husband: You want to know where else people go in the evening?
Wife: Sure. Where else do they go?
Husband: Next on the list is going out to the movies or a play.
Wife: Oh, yeah? Do a lot of people do that?
Husband: Five percent of them do.
7
Wife: Hey, I’m getting hungry. What should we have for dinner tonight?
Husband: Funny you should say that. The next thing on the survey is eating out. Five percent of the people in the U.S. chose that one.
8
Wife: That seems like a lot of different activities. I can’t imagine what else people do with their free time.
Husband: Well, some people say they spend the evening playing a sport or exercising.
Wife: That’s a great idea. Let’s get out there and join them!
Husband: Whoa, wait a minute. It’s not that popular of an activity. Only three percent say they do that.
9
Wife: OK, so what do all the rest of the people like to do?
Husband: That’s a good question. It doesn’t really say. Ten percent of the people chose “other.” It could be anything, really…. So, honey, what do you want to do tonight? You name it!
