I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

What are some ideas on how to assign household chores in a family? Should parents give money to their children as a reward? Use the Internet to search for ideas on this topic.

HELPFUL TIP: Kids need to learn how to budget and save money. Consider giving them allowance for completing household chores, but deduct a percentage that goes into their long-term savings. This also helps them delay gratification for something they really want to buy in the future.

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

I. Listen to the conversation by pressing the “Play” button and answer the questions. Press the “Final Score” button to check your quiz.

1. What does the boy want to do at the beginning of the conversation?

A. go play outside

B. watch TV

C. play video games
2. What is one thing the boy is NOT assigned to do around the house?

A. clean the bathroom

B. vacuum the floors

C. wash the walls

3. What does the boy have to do in his bedroom?

A. put away his books

B. make his bed

C. pick up his dirty clothes

4. What is the father going to do while the boy is doing his household chores?

A. wash the car

B. paint the house

C. work in the yard

5. Where will the father and son go after the housework is done?

A. to a movie

B. out to eat

C. to a ball game

Score =
Correct answers:

Son: Dad. Can I go outside to play?
Dad: Well, did you get you Saturday’s work done?

Son: Ah, Dad. Do I have to?

Dad: Well, you know the rules. No playing until the work is done.

Son: So, what is my work?

Dad: Well, first you have to clean the bathroom including the toilet. And don’t forget to scrub the bathtub.

Son: No, I want to do the family room.

Dad: Well, okay, but you have to vacuum the family room and the hall, and be sure to dust everything. Oh, and don’t for get to wipe the walls and clean the baseboards. [Okay.] And after that. [Oh, no.] Next, sweep and mop the kitchen floor and be sure to polish the table in the living room.

Son: Okay. Okay.

Dad: And make your bed and pick up all your toys and put them away. And . . .

Son: More?

Dad: Yeah. And then, how about going out for lunch and getting a big milk shake, but you probably don’t want to do that.

Son: No, No. I want to.

Dad: Okay. While you’re doing your work, I’ll be out in the yard raking leaves and pulling weeds.

Key Vocabulary [Top]
  • scrub (verb): clean thoroughly by rubbing hard
    – You’ll need to scrub really hard to remove that stain from the table.
  • dust (verb): to remove small pieces of dirt
    – Please dust all the furniture in the front room.
  • baseboards (noun): a piece of wood or molding attached along the bottom of a wall where it touches the floor; also called “skirting board” in Britain and Australia
    – We need to remove the baseboards to put down new tile on the floor.
  • sweep (verb): to clean a floor by using a broom or brush to collect dirt
    – Be sure to sweep the floor before you mop it.
  • rake (verb): to gather with a garden tool with a row of plastic or metal teeth at the head
    – I spent all yesterday raking the leaves in my backyard.

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