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http://www.esl-lab.com/returns/returnsrd1.

htm
Returning Clothes Listening Activity

1. What is the man trying to return to the store?


A. a dress shirt
B. a sweatshirt
C. a sweater

2. What is one reason why the man wants to return the item?
A. It is the wrong size.
B. The fabric is coming apart.

C. It is stained.

3. What does the store clerk NOT offer to do for the man?
A. return his money

B. exchange the item


C. give him store credit

4. What reason is NOT mentioned why the sales clerk can't help the customer with his request?
A. The customer didn't follow the instructions for using the item.
B. The item was on clearance.

C. The man no longer has the store receipt.

5. How does the conversation end?


A. The store clerk eventually gives the customer a refund.

B. The customer is able to exchange the item.

C. The customer leaves the store without the item.

______________________________________________________________________________________
This radio doesn't work, so I'm going to return it for a _____________.
Be sure to read the _______________ on any ads or products so you understand what you are buying.
I think you are ____________ to try on the clothes before you buy them to see if they fit.
Paying $100 for a shirt at that store is _____________. You can buy the same thing elsewhere for only $15.
After I pulled my shirt from the dryer, I noticed it ____________ due to the heat.

Store Clerk: Hi. How can I help you?


Customer: Yes, I'd like to return this sweater for a (1)

Store Clerk: Well, first of all, what seems to be the (2)

. I bought a week ago.

Customer: Well, isn't it obvious by just looking at it? The first time I washed and dried it, the thing
(3)

at least five sizes. It wouldn't even fit an emaciated snake.

Store Clerk: Uh, I see what you mean, but did you follow the washing (4)

? I think it says

here . . . yeah . . . right here on the label to hand wash it and then to dry it on low heat.
Customer: How was I supposed to know that? The label is written in Chinese! And something else:
The (5)

is coming undone and the color faded from a nice dark blue to a seaweed green.

What kind of (6)

are you trying to sell here anyway?

Store Clerk: Listen, sir. We take a lot of pride in our clothing. What I can do is allow you to
exchange the sweater for another one.
Customer: I don't want to exchange it for anything! I just want my money back!
Store Clerk: Well, I can give you (7)

on your next purchase, and since the item you

purchased was on clearance [No wonder!], we can't give you a refund.


Customer: A clearance item! There wasn't anything on the price tag or on the clothing rack that said
anything about that.
Store Clerk: I guess you didn't read the fine print in our ad (. . . probably can't read anyway . . .).
Look. Here's the ad, and the information about the clearance sale is right here at the bottom on the
back page.
Customer: Where? [Here] There? What? That small print. You'd need an electronic microscope to
see those words. I want to talk to the (8)

Store Clerk: Uh, he's not here at the moment.


Customer: Look. This is (9)

Store Clerk: And anyway, you can only return items with a receipt within six days, and
unfortunately, that was yesterday in your case.
Customer: But, your store was closed yesterday because of the national holiday. [Sorry] What a rip
off. Listen. I give up. Your store (10)

are completely unreasonable, the quality of your

merchandise is shoddy at best, and your service, well, is non existent. And how do you expect people
to shop here?
Store Clerk: You did . . . Ha, ha . . .
Customer: Here. Take your sweater. You should open up a pet store and sell it as a dog sweater.
http://www.esl-lab.com/cosmetic/cosmeticrd1.htm
Cosmetic Surgery listening
1. According the mini lecture, which situation was NOT mentioned as an example for reconstructive
surgery?

A. A young child is severely burned in a house fire.


B. A woman isn't satisfied with the shape of her stomach.
C. A man lost part of his ear in a boating accident.

2. What other effects do physical deformities have on the individual who bears them?
A. a lack of self-worth
B. inability to find work

C. fewer educational opportunities

3. What other services do volunteers provide to the country where they perform reconstructive surgery?
A. fund-raising activities

B. physical therapy
C. local health care training

4. How does this volunteer work benefit the providers of such surgical procedures?
A. These experiences give doctors and nurses valuable in-field training opportunities.
B. Volunteers establish connections for future medical research.

C. Health care workers develop deeper understanding of the sufferings of others.

5. What is one way everyday people can help such causes?


A. educate themselves on the issues

B. make financial contributions


C. adopt unwanted children

Cosmetic or (1)

surgery often evokes images of famous personalities wanting to (2)

their

appearances through elective surgical procedures. However, reconstructive surgery is a procedure that makes
a similar, but different impact on the lives of many around the world, and many of these (3)

from either congenital (4)

suffer

like a cleft palate or from injuries sustained in accidents or as a result of

animal bites. Some disfigurements can also be due to the effects of (5)

or infection. Yet, the

individual with such defects often bares more than just outward physical marks: loss of (6)

and

self-worth as well as acceptance are commonplace.


In the past, such procedures were only available in developed countries where the medical (7)

and

financial resources were available to afford such operations. However, a number of worldwide organizations
made up of (8)

make regular visits to developing countries to provide reconstructive surgery to

those who could not otherwise receive such care. In addition to the care they provide, these volunteer
specialists also provide training to health care workers in these procedures so that local hospitals, nurses, and
doctors can become self-sufficient.
The end results of such efforts have transformed lives: the patient now can live with some normalcy and
hope for the future with less fear of being ostracized by neighbors and family, and the health care worker
who performs the procedure perhaps feels a greater understanding and (9)
from such defects.

for those who suffer

There are many ways for people to assist in supporting these volunteer efforts. Although most people do not
have the medical expertise to perform reconstructive surgery, they can still (10)

time, money, and

supplies to such organizations. A quick search on the Internet can get you started.

Key Vocabulary
1. ________ (verb): bring up, call to mind

- Seeing children in need of reconstructive surgery often _________feelings of sympathy


and concern.
2. _________ (verb): change

- The woman thought she could _________her looks and personality by undergoing
plastic surgery.
3. _________ (adjective): present at birth

- Some _________defects can be corrected with reconstructive surgery.


4. ________ (noun, also a verb, "disfigure"): a part of the body that has been damaged

- The fire in the crash left her face and hands _________, and now she is seeking
cosmetic surgery to repair the damage and give her more mobility to her fingers.
5. ________ (verb): have the financial means to do something

- A great number of people around the world are in need of reconstructive surgery to
improve their lives, but they can't _________the expense of such procedures.
6. _________ (adjective): able to provide for your own needs

- Many health care workers in developing countries are still learning to become
_________ in terms of handling the medial needs of their people.
7. _________(verb): be able to change something and turn it around.

-After completing therapy, Max ___________ his life and changed from a pessimistic to
optimistic person.
8. _________ (verb): expel or cast out from a group

- The local community _________the young boy and his family because of his medical
condition.

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