I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

What images come to mind when you read the title of this conversation, “Personal Security: Theft in the Park”? What people might be involved: men, women, and/or children? What time of day is it? What is stolen? Write down your ideas.

HELPFUL TIP: Taking classes in self-defence can protect you in case you are attacked. Check your local area for a school that teaches martial arts. You might need it coming home from work.

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

Listen to the conversation by pressing the “Play” button of the audio type you want to hear, and answer the questions. Press the “Final Score” button to check your quiz.

1. What was the man doing when he was robbed?

A. fishing by the stream

B. birdwatching in the park

C. coming home from work

2. What was the thief wearing?

A. a black striped dress

B. a light red sweater

C. tennis shoes

3. How tall was the thief?

A. about 170 cm

B. about 180 cm

C. about 190 cm

4. What did the thief take from the man?

A. his shoe

B. his leather briefcase

C. his hat


5. Who is the “bearded woman”?

A. a man who dresses up like a woman

B. a woman who robs men in the park

C. a man who lives in the park

Score =
Correct answers:



Man: Yes, I’d like to report a theft.
Police Officer: Okay. Can you tell me exactly what happened.

Man: Well, I was walking home from work two days ago, enjoying the nature all around me . . . the birds, the frogs, the flowing stream . . . [Okay, Okay] when this woman knocked me right off my feet, grabbed my stuff, and ran off through the trees. [Hmm]. I was so surprised by the ordeal that I didn’t go after her.

Police Officer: Yeah. Can you describe the woman for me?

Man: Yeah. He was about a hundred and ninety centimeters tall . . .

Police Officer: Wait. You said a woman robbed you.

Man: Well, I’m not really sure. [Hmm]. You see, the person was wearing a white and black polka dot dress, a light red sweater over it, and she . . . or he . . . was wearing a pair of basketball shoes.

Police Officer: Humm. What else can you tell me?

Man: Okay. Like I said, the person was about 190 centimeters tall, heavy build, with long wavy hair. She . . . or he . . . was probably in his or her late 30’s. I didn’t get a good look at the person’s face, but well … uh ….

Police Officer: What? Was there something else?

Man: Well, the person . . . had a beard.

Police Officer: Ah! What was, uh, taken . . . exactly?

Man: Well, just my left shoe. Bizarre, isn’t it?

Police Officer: Ah. The “bearded woman” has struck again!

Man: The “bearded woman”?

Police Officer: Yeah. It’s this man who dresses up like a woman and, for some unknown reason, removes the left shoe from his victims. He’s really quite harmless, though, and he usually returns the shoe to the crime scene a couple of days later.

Man: Hey, he can keep my shoe, and I’ll just take off my left shoe every time I walk through the park.