General Listening Quiz

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

Receptionist: Hello. Jones Detective Agency. How can I help you?

Caller: Yes. I’d like some help on solving a serious mystery at my home.

Receptionist: Okay. What seems to be the problem?

Caller: Well, you see, I think my roommate is eating my homemade chocolate chip cookies behind my back, and he’s just blaming it on some mice around the house and . . .

Receptionist: Yeah. Okay, sir?

Caller: Yeah, and, and, and . . . I’m finding crumbs all around my computer, and, well, just last night, I caught a mouse eating one of my (cookies) . . . .

Receptionist: Sir, I’m sorry, but we don’t work on these types of cases.

Caller: What do you mean?

Receptionist: Sir. This is something you might have to work out with your roommate. [ Well, you don’t . . . ] Maybe, you can see a counselor to help deal with your issues. And if you actually have mice, maybe, I don’t know. Get a cat?

Caller: WHAT?

Receptionist: Yeah, uh, or you could take up a new hobby, like fishing, instead of baking? Yeah. We don’t have time to catch every cookie thief out there. We have paying clients. Have a nice day.

Caller: [ Sigh.]

• solve (verb): to find a solution to a problem 
  I’d like to solve these math problems before I go home today. Let’s talk to the teacher.
• crumbs (noun): very small pieces or particles of bread, cookies, or other baked items 
  Please clean up the crumbs kitchen counter before we have dinner.
• take up (verb): to begin to do something 
  – My father took up running to get into shape and improve his health.