General Listening Quiz

Businesses and homes often fall victim to crime, particularly robbery and burglary, and having methods of protecting your life and property such as burglar alarms can be important. So, what are some common methods that businesses use to protect their property? How about homeowners or even yourself if you are living in an apartment or dormitory at school? In this conversation, how was the man caught?

“get worked up” = become upset or emotional
“My mom got all worked up when she found out that someone broke into her car and stole her purse.”

“keep someone on” = continue to employ someone in a job
“After the flower shop was robbed, the owner realized he didn’t have enough money to keep some of the employees on for a while.”

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:

• stick-up (noun): a robbery where a gun is often used
  – Three men burst into the story and announced it was a stick-up, and they demanded that everyone get on the floor.
• stuff (verb): fill a space completely, often in a quick and careless manner
  – The shoplifter stuffed the stolen merchandise in his socks and pants before she left the store.
• good grief: an expression of disgust or surprise
  – Good grief! I can’t believe you’re hiding your money.
• get worked up about something (idiom): become upset or emotional about something
  – There was nothing we could have done to stop the robber from taking our money, so we shouldn’t get worked up about the theft. We just learn from the situation and move on.
• chit-chat (noun): informal conversation about unimportant or trivial matters
  – Be sure to read carefully the terms of the lease before you sign it because you will be bound to the agreement.
• cranky (adjective): easily annoyed or angered person
  – Our manager was very cranky this morning when he found out someone had stolen money from the cash register.
• keep someone on (idiom): allow someone to remain in a position
  – The company decided not to keep my boss on because he was somewhat responsible for not protecting merchandise from shoplifters.
• tow (verb): remove illegally parked vehicles
  – The police have warned shoppers in the downtown area that if they park illegally, they can expect to have their cars towed without notice.
• poor devil (noun): someone you feel sorry for
  – My roommate trashed our place while I was gone on vacation.

If you found yourself in a similar position as in the conversation (you are being robbed at home, in the street, or at work), what would you do to protect yourself and your valuables?

What devices are available for purchase in your area (or that can be found online) to protect yourself against attack or intruders to your home or while you are walking in public? One example could be a loud whistle or can of mace. Find three things that can be used legally in your area for self protection. How much do they cost? How effective are they?