General Listening Quiz

Listen to the recording on landscape secrets and read along with the conversation. Review the key vocabulary and the sample sentences.

Man: Hey, hey, neighbor. What are you doing with my trees? My wife planted those 25 years ago. Get off that ladder.

Neighbor: Listen. Even though the trees are in your yard, some of the branches hang over into mine, and I’m getting sick and tired of raking up your leaves and picking up all the branches that fall off during the storms throughout the year. [Yeah, but . . . ] And the walnuts off this tree . . . they litter my yard and damage my lawnmower when I cut the grass. And my dog eats them, and he ends up with terrible diarrhea.

Man: Yeah, but still. You can’t cut off those branches.

Neighbor: Watch me. It’s completely legal. I checked the city code and law regarding this issue, and I’m well within my rights.

Man: I’m not sure about that. Anyway, It’s just not right. You didn’t say anything to us about it . . .

Neighbor: I don’t have to.

Man: Yeah, yeah, but you could have said something. Anything! I mean anything. I want to stay on friendly terms with you, but the basic courtesy of informing your neighbors is the least you could have done.

Neighbor: Okay. I’m cutting down your branches. You’ve been informed . . . now, stand back!

Man: Hey, hey. Well, don’t expect an invitation to our next barbecue or book club!

Neighbor: See if I care. Hey, what are you doing? Stop shaking the ladder. You’re acting juvenile now. Help!

• ladder (noun): a piece of equipment used to climb up to high places 
  – Be careful if you use the ladder to get into the trees.
• get sick and tired of something (idiom): become exhausted and/or upset about something 
  – I just get sick and tired of picking up garbage in the yard.
• litter (verb and noun): make a place messy or untidy with trash or other objects left on the ground 
  – I hate it when people walk through the park and litter.
  – Please don’t throw litter out the window as we drive.
• right (noun): something you are legally allowed to do by law 
  – The government should protect our individual rights to the freedom of speech and to vote in public elections.
• inform (verb): tell, make aware, or notify 
  – It is often a good idea to inform your neighbors if you are planning to make major changes to your yard and landscaping.
• juvenile (noun or adjective): a young person, or someone who is acting inappropriate for an adult 
  – Several juveniles were arrested for destroying the landscaping of our company. 
  – Stop acting juvenile! You can’t play games and jump over seats in a movie theater.