General Listening Quiz

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

Brandon: Hey, James. Glad you could make it. Come on into the living room.

James: Yeah, uh, thanks for inviting me. As I said, I’m looking for a place where I can have a homestay experience and pick up some English and culture, and . . . who is that on your sofa?

Brandon: Oh, that? Ah Randall. Ah, man. He’s my roommate.

James: What? How many people live in this house?

Brandon: Well, let’s see. There’s my American mom and dad, and they have 13 kids. Uh, the family has four dogs, three cats, a rabbit, and a, oh yeah, a large snake named Phil. And then there are three international students that share a room with one of the dogs.

James: No, I don’t think this is a good idea. I can’t live here.

Brandon: No, man. You’ll like it. You and Randall can be roomies.

James: Nnnn. No way. I mean, what is Randall like anyway?

Brandon: Oh, Randall? Ah, he’s so laid-back, and he gets along with everyone . . . when he’s awake.

James: What?

Brandon: Yeah, he plays video games about, well until about four in the morning, but the noise won’t bother you much. Just wear earphones. And he can give you a ride to school . . . uh, when he goes.

James: No, forget it. I’ll live with my brother in the dorms.

• make it (verb): arrive at
  – I don’t think I can make it to the party tonight.
• pick up (verb): learn something
  – My sister picked up Russian very quickly during her time in the country.
• roomie (noun): informal for roommate
  – Our roomie never cleans the kitchen and leaves his dishes in the sink.
• laid-back (adjective): easy-going, casual, or relaxed personality
  – My teacher is very laid-back about everything. I can turn in my homework late, and she doesn’t mind at all.
• get along with (verb): have a relationship with
  – Why don’t you get along with your roommate these days?
• dorm (noun): short for dormitory, a building usually a college or university where students live
  – Are you going to live in the dorms at college next semester?