Transcripts & Answer keys

Free Music – Podcast Hosting – Track 28

Transcripts

1.

Los Angeles is really beautiful. Everyone is so healthy and perfect ­looking, but kind of unfriendly. This afternoon I was parking my car at the beach when this man in a pickup truck started yelling at me. He said it was his parking space. At a public parking lot! We had to find another parking space, which wasn’t easy, and it really scared my kids. When we finally got to the beach, it was just beautiful. We watched one of those great, slow California sunsets, then we had a delicious seafood dinner. After that, we drove back to our hotel and ordered dessert in our room—apple pie and vanilla ice cream! The hotel staff was helpful, and they were very nice to my kids. 1 really appreciated that.

2.

When my friends and I arrived in Paris last week, we took this awful taxi from the airport to the hotel. We got in an accident, but no one was hurt! When we finally got to the hotel, the room was really small and dirty. And there was only one bed for three people! So, we asked them to give us a different room. For dinner, we went to this little restaurant across the street. 1 had the most delicious onion soup! The waiters were really friendly and helpful. They helped translate the menu for us and suggested some really delicious dishes.

3.

The buses in India are horrible! Today it took us twelve hours to go only 100 kilometers. The seats were really small, and it was much too crowded. The bus broke down, and we had to wait by the side of the road for a few hours. After an hour or so, the people on the bus started singing songs—you know, to pass the time—and some of them were even dancing. They asked me a lot of questions about my family back home, and that felt good. Then some kids came by selling these delicious melons and crispy fried snacks. I’d never tasted anything so spicy! I’m really looking forward to sleeping in my hotel room tonight—the bed is really soft and comfortable, and you can see the mountains from the window.

4.

I arrived here in Bangkok a couple of days ago. At first, I was sure I was going to have a horrible vacation, because I had this awful toothache! Luckily, the man at the tourist office was really helpful He found a great English-speaking dentist for me. The people have all been really friendly like that. I got my tooth fixed this morning, and then I went sightseeing and saw all of the wonderful old temples in the city.

I took so many beautiful pictures. And the shopping! I’ve found a lot of great designer clothes for cheap prices. The only problem is the buses. They aren’t air conditioned! Tomorrow, I’m taking taxis everywhere.

Answer keys

Task 1: 
1. the people, the beach, the food, the staff
2. the taxi, the hotel, the food, the waiter
3. the bus, the people, the food, the hotel
4. the people, the sightseeing, the shopping, the buses
Task 2: 
1. Positive: the beach, the food, the staff
Negative: the people
2. Positive: the food, the waiters
Negative: the taxi, the hotel
3. Positive: the people, the hotel, the food
Negative: the bus
4. Positive: the sightseeing, the shopping, the people.
Negative: the buses.