General Listening Quiz

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

Dave’s Sister: Hey, Dave. Um, can we talk for a minute?

Dave: Sure what about? I’m kind of busy, but yeah . . .

Dave’s Sister: Well, . . .  it . . . um, well, I’m not sure what to say, but um . . .

Dave: Come on. come on.

Dave’s Sister: Well, . . .

Dave: What is it? I’ve never known my sister to be [at] a loss for words.

Dave’s Sister: Well, you know Dave. I’ve got to be honest. I’m getting really, really concerned about your drinking.

Dave: What are you talking about?

Dave’s Sister: Well, um, it’s . . .

Dave: Can’t a person just have a few drinks without people getting on their case? I mean, first, Dad, then you!

Dave’s Sister: Dave, Dave. Seriously. Listen, Dave. You’re my brother. I love you, but you’ve had two DUIs, you lost your last job because you showed up drunk, [No . . . it . . . wasn’t.] your girlfriend’s gonna [going to] dump you because you’re drinking too much. Dave.

Dave: You don’t understand. I have it under control.

Dave’s Sister: Dave, you don’t.

Dave: That was the old me.

Dave’s Sister: Dave. You got your last DUI three weeks ago. You can’t, you can’t keep doing this. Dave, you’re gonna [going to] kill someone.

Dave: I thought . . .

Dave’s Sister: You might kill yourself.

Dave: I thought siblings were there to support each other, and that’s not what you’re doing right now.

Dave’s Sister: Dave. I love you, and I’m trying to help you. I really care about you. And these friends that you hang out with . . . they’re not friends. A friend is a person who’s honest and frank with you, not these so-called friends, these buddies you’ve got that encourage you to go and buy booze for any old party.

Dave: You, you just know ’em [them] like I do. I mean . . .

Dave’s Sister: I know them well enough. Come on. Wake up. These guys are dragging you down.

Dave: I’ve had enough.

Dave’s Sister: No, no. Listen, listen. The truth hurts; it stings. Listen. I know. I’ve seen what’s happening to you, and look, there’s a . . . 

Dave: You don’t, you don’t understand.

Dave’s Sister: You know what? AA. Alcoholics Anonymous. You can go there and you can meet other people, and they can help you to be sober.

Dave: That’s for people who have problems.

Dave’s Sister: You’ve got problems, Dave. AA. They’re no membership fees, anyone can attend, the meetings are very confidential. I’ll even go with you. I’ll help you. What do you say? Come on.

Dave: Right. Like I said, I’m in control. I just need more time to deal with this. It just takes a little bit more time.

Dave’s Sister: Dave. How long? You can’t do this alone. You’re not doing it.

Dave: No, I’m done. You’ll see, you’ll see.

Dave’s Sister: Dave, No. I can’t . . . it’ll kill me if there’s another DUI, an accident, something, I’m really worried, Dave.

Dave: I’m done, I’m done. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.

• be at a loss for words (idiom): not knowing what to say
  – My parents are at a loss (for words) to know how to help my younger sister with the drug addiction.
• get on someone’s case (idiom): criticize or give someone a hard time
  – If you don’t get on his case for speeding, he’ll end up causing a serious accident.
• dump someone (verb): end a relationship 
  – Sarah decided to dump her boyfriend because he was involved in self-destructive behaviors.
• siblings (noun): brothers or sisters
  – Many siblings experience problems as they grow up.
• frank (adjective): direct or open
  – You often have to be frank with people who are struggling with serious financial problems, so you can help them get out of debt.
• booze (noun): alcohol (informal)
  – They were giving out booze at that party to kids who were drinking illegally.
• confidential (adjective): private
  – Marriage therapists always keep conversations confidential, so you don’t have to worry that your problems don’t become the gossip of the town.