3️⃣0️⃣ Provider Overbills Customer


Simon got a monthly bill that he didn't like. His Internet service provider, Wink, automatically withdrew $15 from his checking account each month. This was called direct payment. It made things simpler for him because it meant one less check to write each month.

In fact, Simon had direct payments with his gas company, his phone company, and his electric company. So that was four fewer checks that he had to write each month.

This month, instead of $15, Wink had withdrawn $75. Simon went online and looked at his account. Part of the increase was because he had switched from a slow dial-up connection to a fast DSL connection. Wink charged him $45 just to make that switch.

Simon thought that this charge in itself was ridiculous. It probably took them about five seconds to make the switch. But any time a corporation can gouge you, they will.

In addition to the $45, Wink had charged him $15 for his dial-up account, but had also charged him $15 for his DSL account. This was a double-charge, since a computer uses dial-up or DSL, but not both.
We'll see about this, Simon thought, as he searched for Wink's 800 number.

📚#Vocabulary:

✨account ~~~ حساب مصرفي
✨automatically ~~~ آلياً/تلقائياً
✨charge ~~~ يسدد/يشحن
✨connection ~~~ شبكة اتصال
✨corporation ~~~ شركة
✨in addition to ~~~ بالاضافة الى ذلك
✨ridiculous ~~~ سخيف
✨switch ~~~ يحوّل
✨withdraw ~~~ يسحب


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3⃣0⃣ Provider Overbills Customer


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✨Well done, dear friends!👏🏻👏🏻

🔻The correct answers are:

1️⃣ C, 2️⃣ A, 3️⃣ B, 4️⃣ B, 5️⃣ C

Listen to the recording and read along with the conversation. Review the key #vocabulary and the sample sentences.👇🏻

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👨🏼: I wonder if this is going to be an interesting class.

👩🏻‍🦰: Yeah. Me too. So, what's your major?
👨🏼: Well, I've been batting around the idea of going into business, but I haven't decided yet. And my dad keeps telling me I have to choose a major, but I'm undeclared at the moment.

👩🏻‍🦰: Ah, that's what happened to me my freshman year.
👨🏼: Oh, so what year are you in school?
👩🏻‍🦰: I'm a senior, and I only have to take 10 more credits to graduate. Yeah!

👨🏼: Well. That must feel great to be almost finished with school.
👩🏻‍🦰: You can say that again, but once I graduate, I have to start repaying a student loan, so I'm not looking forward to that.

👨🏼: But didn't your parents help you out with your college tuition?
👩🏻‍🦰: No. My dad said he wasn't made of money, so he thought I should earn my own education, so I worked like crazy in the summer and part-time during the school year to cover most of my costs. [Well, that's parents for you.] And, I received some financial aid and a scholarship one year, which really saved me. [Ah, that's nice.] But this past year, school has been more demanding, so I haven't been able to work as much.

👨🏼: Well, you know, at least you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
👩🏻‍🦰: That's true.
👨🏼: Well, have you lined up a job yet?
👩🏻‍🦰: Not yet, but I'm trying to line up a few interviews at the job fair next month.

👨🏼: Well, at least you have some ideas on your future. I mean, I'm taking a business class right now, and the teacher always lectures us by saying that life is difficult, and we should prepare for our futures by setting realistic goals. And the only place that success comes before . . .

👩🏻‍🦰: . . . work is in the dictionary. {Yeah!?] Yeah. I've heard that all before. Let me guess. Is your teacher Paul Jones?
👨🏼: Yeah. How do you know? I mean, did you have him too? I mean, the guy is, you know, he's just really . . .

👩🏻‍🦰: He's my dad. Yeap.
👨🏼: Your dad? I mean, I didn't mean anything by what I said. I wasn't bad-mouthing him or anything. I mean he's a good teacher and all. It's just that . . .
👩🏻‍🦰: . . . he's a dad. That's what dads do. Lecture. He has about a thousand sermons on life, and he always shares them in his classes.

👨🏼: Yeah. Well, um . . . , nice talking with you. I have . . . I have to go.
👩🏻‍🦰: Same here. Bye. I'll tell Mr. Jones you said hello, and maybe we can study together at my house? [Nah, nah, nah . . .]

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📚#Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

🔻so: often used when changing the topic of the conversation 
✨إذن: غالباً تستخدم لتغيير موضوع الحوار

✨So, what do you want to do after you graduate?

🔻bat around (idiom): consider different choices, including the positive and negative points of each option 
✨يجول بفكره حول (تعبير مجازي) يستخدم للنظر في الخيارات المختلفة ، بما في ذلك النقاط الإيجابية والسلبية لكل خيار

✨My daughter batted around a few ideas on where to travel over the holidays until she settled on Hawaii.

🔻you can say that again (idiom): used when completely agreeing with someone 
✨(تعبير مجازي) يستخدم عند الموافقة التامة مع الطرف الاخر

✨So, you think the teacher is too difficult? You can say that again.

🔻help out (phrasal verb): help someone who is in need, especially when they have problems 
✨(فعل مركب) يساعد شخص في مأزق، خصوصاً عند وجود مشكلات

✨Because my parents are old, I try to help them out whenever I can.

🔻see the light at the end of the tunnel (idiom): something that gives you hope for the future after a period of difficult problems or challenges 
✨(تعبير مجازي) شيء يبعث على التفاؤل بعد تحديات و عقبات صعبة

✨College life was difficult, but by my last semester, I felt more relaxed because I could see the light at the end of the tunnel: graduation was just around the corner.

🔻line up (phrasal verb): arrange 
✨يرتب/ينظم

✨I need to line up an appointment with my school advisor by the end of the week.

🔻realistic: actually possible 
✨واقعي

✨My younger brother isn't very realistic; he thinks he can get a great-paying job right out of high school without any training.

🔻bad-mouth (idiom): criticize
✨(تعبير مجازي) ينتقد أو يغتاب

✨He always bad-mouths people behind their backs. If you have anything to say about people, it's best to say it to their faces.

🔻sermon (noun): a talk with moral advice about life
✨موعظة/ خطبة

✨The minister gave an interesting sermon at church this past week about serving others in need.

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3⃣2⃣ Let's buy some paint 🎨


"Let's go to Wal-Mart," Elizabeth told Kenneth. She wanted to buy some paint supplies. He suggested that they go to Home Depot instead because employees there could tell them exactly what to buy. After arriving there, Elizabeth found a friendly looking worker who was momentarily free.

"Excuse me," she said. "Could you help us?" She explained that she wanted to paint her office. "Neither me nor my husband knows how to do it, so please tell us the basics," she added. He smiled and told her that it was simple. All they needed were two gallons of white glossy paint, a roller, a tray and an insert to pour the paint in, and an extension -handle to reach the high parts of each wall.

"Don't we need primer?" Kenneth asked.

"Oh, yes, of course. I was getting to that. If you don't put primer on first, the paint won't stick to the walls. Here are two gallons of good, but inexpensive, primer. And a brush would be a good idea for use in the corners and edges. And that should take care of it. Just put the primer on first. Let it dry for a couple of hours. Then put on one coat of paint. Let it dry. Then, if you want to, put on another coat, but it shouldn't be necessary."

As they were putting the items into the trunk, Kenneth told her they should buy a ladder, too. "We're going to have to use the brush to paint up near the ceiling. The roller won't do in a corner," Kenneth said.

"We don't need a stepladder. I can sit on your shoulders," Elizabeth laughed. They went back inside and bought a stepladder.

#Vocabulary:

✨ceiling~~~سقف
✨edge~~~طرف/حافة
✨extension~~~إضافة
✨glossy~~~لمّاع
✨insert~~~مدمِج
✨item~~~مادة
✨momentarily~~~لحظي
✨pour~~~يسكب
✨primer~~~طبقة أساس/أولية
✨stepladder~~~سلم نقّال
✨stick~~~عصا


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3️⃣3⃣ Driver's License 💳

🔉Listen to the recording and read along with the conversation. Review the key #vocabulary and the sample sentences.👇🏻

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👱🏻‍♀️: Guess what, Mom. I got it.
👩🏼: Great. That's super.
🧔🏻: What's going on? So, what did you get me?
👱🏻‍♀️: Nothing. I got my driver's license. Okay. Bye.

🧔🏻: Wait, wait, wait. Where are you going?
👱🏻‍♀️: Mom said I could take the car to school this morning, and . . .
🧔🏻: Hold on here. I've prepared a few rules regarding the use of the motor vehicles in this house.
👱🏻‍♀️: Like what?
🧔🏻: Let me get my notes here.
👱🏻‍♀️: Dad! That looks like a book? Mom, Dad's being mean to me.

🧔🏻: Okay, let me get my reading glasses here. Okay, here we are. Rule number one: No driving with friends for the first six months.
👱🏻‍♀️: What?
🧔🏻: Teenagers often lack the judgment to drive responsibly, especially when several teenagers are involved. I mean they speed, they joyride, they cruise around town way past midnight.

👱🏻‍♀️: But that's not me! Do I really need this lecture? This is such a drag!
🧔🏻: Furthermore, who really needs a car when a pair of shoes will work? I mean, life was different when I was your age. In fact, I used to walk to school . . .
👱🏻‍♀️: Yeah, yeah. I know. Both ways uphill in ten feet of snow. I've heard this story many times.

🧔🏻: Yeah. Oh, where were we? Oh yes. Rule number two: You always must wear your seat belt and obey the rules of the road.
👱🏻‍♀️: Duh. I wasn't born yesterday.

🧔🏻: Okay, rule number three: You can't drive long distances at night because you might get drowsy and drive off the road. But driving to the movie theater is fine.
👱🏻‍♀️: But the movie theater is right across the street from our house.
🧔🏻: Exactly, so you can just park in the driveway and walk there.
👱🏻‍♀️: Mom! Dad's being unreasonable.

🧔🏻: And rule number four: You should never use a cell phone while driving. That could cause an accident.
👱🏻‍♀️: But YOU do.
🧔🏻: That's different.
👱🏻‍♀️: How's it different? You even need my help to turn your cell phone on.

🧔🏻: And rule number five: Remember that I love you, and I'm just a protective father who wants his daughter to always be safe.
👱🏻‍♀️: Does that mean I can take the car now?
🧔🏻: Well, I don't know.
👱🏻‍♀️: Please dad, please. You're the best dad in the whole wide world.
🧔🏻: That's not what you said earlier.
👱🏻‍♀️: Hey, having the car keys in my hands changes my whole perspective on life.
🧔🏻: Well, okay. I guess if I'm considered the best dad in the world for five minutes, then I'll accept that.
👱🏻‍♀️: Yeah.
🧔🏻: Okay, but drive carefully and don't forget to fill up the car with gas before you come home. [Bye. Love ya guys.] Okay. Hon, do you think I did the right thing?
👩🏼: Yeah. She has to grow up sometime.

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📚#Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

🔻joyride (verb): take a car without permission and drive it around for pleasure, sometimes in a reckless way 
✨يتنزه بالسيارة من اجل المتعة (غالباً تكون السيارة مسروقة أو مأخوذة بدون إذن صاحبها)

✨If teenagers joyride and violate other laws, they will be arrested and charged.

🔻cruise (verb): drive a car around an area with no particular destination in mind
✨يطوف/ يتمشى/يتجول بالسيارة

✨A lot of youth cruise the streets downtown at night.

🔻lecture (noun): a long, serious talk often used to criticize 
✨محاضرة وعظية (عادة للتوبيخ)

✨My dad always gives me a lecture about the way I drive, and I don't like it at all.

🔻drag (noun): something that is really annoying 
✨مزعج

✨Driving with my parents is such a drag because they are back-seat drivers---always telling me what to do.

🔻duh (interjection): used to say that what someone else said is unnecessary because it is just common sense 
✨كلمة تستخدم للتعبير عن ان ما يقوله الشخص الآخر شيء غير ضروري بل هو شي عادي

✨So, you're saying she's going to lose her license if she drinks and drives? No duh. Everyone knows that.

🔻drowsy (adjective): sleepy 
✨نعسان

✨You need to pull the car over and rest if you start to feel drowsy.

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