hot14.pdf

Telephone conversations to help improve your listening skills.

Crank Calls

CD tracks 14 to 17 - Mr Bean

and British accents

Here are some more crank calls - those funny telephone calls that are designed

to wind people up . Have fun listening to these two. (Answers on page 24.)

Call I: The Museum

For this call, we called up a natural history museum with an unu-

sual offer. Listen to the conversation and answer this question:

What do we offer the museum?

Call II: The Tree

For this call, we phoned the local council enquiring about the

possible destruction of a tree. Listen to the conversation and

answer this question:

Why does the man want to destroy the tree?

Victim: The Brentworth Natural History Museum. How may I

help you?

Hot: Oh, hello.

Victim: Hello?

Hot: Yes, I was calling up with regard to some stuffed

animals .

Victim: Yes?

Hot: Yes, I have a number of stuffed animals and I was

wondering whether you’d be interested in purchas-

ing a few.

Victim: Well, you’d have to speak with our taxidermist .

Hot: I have a number of interesting specimens .

Victim: What exactly do you have?

Hot: I have approximately 649 stuffed cats .

Victim: Cats? What kind of cats?

Hot: Ordinary cats.

Victim: Ordinary cats? Where did you get them?

Hot: I have acquired them over time. They come in all

shapes and sizes. Lovely creatures, they are.

Victim: Erm, I think I’d better give you the number of…

Hot: So, how much then?

Victim: I really think…

Victim: Hello, Stumpford Council. How may I help you?

Hot: Oh, yes, hello. I am phoning in reference to a tree.

Victim: Yes?

Hot: Yes, there is a tree which is obstructing the view from

my bedroom window.

Victim: Obstructing a view?

Hot: Yes, I am unable to see the house in front of mine.

Victim: Oh, well…

Hot: So, what are you going to do about it?

Victim: Erm, all enquiries related to trees are…

Hot: Well, then how do I apply for permission to destroy

the said tree?

Victim: Well, it’s not that easy. You’ll have to come here and

fill in a form .

Hot: Alternatively, I could just cut it down myself, couldn’t

Victim: I’m afraid you can’t… Hello, sir? Excuse me?

Hot: (Sound of chainsaw .) I beg your pardon? I can’t hear

anything.

Victim: Hello? Sir? Hello?

I’m a

real cat.

The view is

much better

now.

GLOSSARY

to wind someone up exp

to irritate someone

a natural history museum n

a museum that has exhibitions about plants,

animals, dinosaurs, etc

with regard to exp

about; concerning

a stuffed animal n

a dead animal that has been illed with material

so it can be exhibited

I was wondering whether exp

I wanted to know if

to purchase vb

to buy

a taxidermist n

a person who stuffs dead animals (puts material

in them so they can be exhibited)

a specimen n

a single plant or animal which is an example of

that species

a stuffed cat n

a dead cat that has been illed with material in

order to be exhibited

to obstruct a view exp

to prevent you from seeing something out of

your window

an enquiry n

a question about something

to apply for permission to do something exp

to ask oficially if you can do something

to ill in a form exp

to write information on a form and to com-

plete it

to cut something down exp

to use a saw (a metal tool with “teeth”) to cut

a tree so it falls

I’m afraid exp

I’m sorry but

a chainsaw n

an electrical device for cutting trees

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