Last-minute shopping before the weekend
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Speaking
Dialog
Lisa: Hey, Tim. So, are you doing some last-minute shopping before the weekend, or is there some special occasion coming up? I saw you grabbing a cart full of random items and got curious.
Tim: Well, actually, I’m looking for supplies to put together 72-hour kits for each member of my family. You know, just in case something unexpected happens and we need to rely on our own resources for a few days.
Lisa: A 72-hour kit? What’s that exactly? I’ve never heard of it before. Is it like some kind of travel bag or survival thing?
Tim: Basically, a 72-hour kit contains emergency supplies you would need to sustain yourself for three days in case of an emergency, like an earthquake or any situation where normal services are disrupted. It’s meant to keep you safe, fed, and hydrated until help arrives.
Lisa: An earthquake?! We haven’t had an earthquake in years. I mean, isn’t that a bit extreme? It sounds like you’re preparing for something that might never even happen.
Tim: Well, you never know; you have to be prepared. Hey, if earthquakes don’t get you, it could be a flood, hurricane, snowstorm, power outage, fire… or even an alien attack.
Lisa: Alien attack?!
Tim: Hey, I’m just saying, you never know. The idea is to think of any situation where you might suddenly lose access to basic necessities like shelter, food, or clean water for an extended period of time.
Lisa: Um… okay, that actually makes a little more sense. So, what exactly do you keep in a 42-hour, uh, I mean, 72-hour kit? I’m guessing it’s more than just snacks and bottled water.
Tim: Yeah, definitely more than that. You should have enough food and water to last at least three days, and it’s a good idea to include a basic water filter or purification tablets. That way, if your only option is some murky, questionable water source, you can still make it safe to drink.
Lisa: Ugh, that sounds disgusting!
Tim: Yeah, not ideal, but sometimes you don’t have a choice. As for food, you want things that are simple, non-perishable, and don’t require cooking. Avoid canned goods if possible, they’re heavy and bulky.
Lisa: Okay, that makes sense.
Tim: And unless you have a can opener, or the can has one of those pull-tab lids, you’d have to improvise with something like a rock.
Vocabulary
| Word / Expression | Definition | Example Sentence | Portuguese Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| last-minute shopping | Buying things just before you need them, often in a hurry | I did some last-minute shopping before the trip. | compras de última hora |
| coming up | Happening soon or in the near future | We have an important meeting coming up tomorrow. | prestes a acontecer |
| flood | A large amount of water covering land that is usually dry | The city experienced a severe flood after the storm. | enchente / inundação |
| shelter | A place that provides protection or safety | They found shelter during the storm. | abrigo |
| canned goods | Food preserved and stored in metal cans | We stored canned goods for emergencies. | alimentos enlatados |
| bulky | Large, heavy, and difficult to carry | That backpack is too bulky to take on a hike. | volumoso |
| grabbing something | Taking or picking something quickly | I’m just grabbing something to eat before class. | pegar algo rapidamente |
| non-perishable | Food that does not spoil quickly | Rice and pasta are non-perishable foods. | não perecível |
| supplies | Necessary items needed for a particular purpose | We bought medical supplies for the trip. | suprimentos |
| power outage | A period when electricity is not available | The power outage lasted for several hours. | queda de energia |
| bottled water | Water stored in bottles for drinking | Always keep bottled water in your emergency kit. | água engarrafada |
| fed | Having eaten; not hungry | After dinner, everyone felt full and fed. | alimentado |
| disrupted | Interrupted or stopped from continuing normally | The storm disrupted our travel plans. | interrompido / prejudicado |
| purification tablets | Tablets used to make water safe to drink | We used purification tablets to clean the river water. | pastilhas de purificação |
| murky | Dark, dirty, or difficult to see through | The water looked murky and unsafe to drink. | turvo / sujo |
| pull-tab lids | Can lids that can be opened by pulling a tab, without a tool | These cans have pull-tab lids, so you don’t need a can opener. | tampas com aba para puxar |
Exercises
Reading comprehension
Answer the questions based on the dialog:
Why is Tim doing last-minute shopping at the store?
What is the purpose of a 72-hour kit?
Why does Tim think it is important to be prepared for emergencies?
Why does Tim suggest avoiding canned goods in a survival kit?
How does Lisa feel about the food included in the emergency kit?
Fill in the Blanks
Fill in each blank with the correct word or expression from the vocabulary list.
I had to do some __________________ before the trip because I forgot a few important items.
There’s a big storm __________________ this weekend, so we should prepare.
After the heavy rain, the streets were covered by a __________________.
During the storm, the family looked for __________________ in a safe building.
We always keep __________________ like beans and corn for emergencies.
This box is too __________________ to carry by myself.
I’m just __________________ a quick snack before heading out.
Rice and pasta are __________________ foods that last a long time.
We need to buy medical __________________ for the trip.
The __________________ lasted all night, so we had no electricity.
Make sure to bring __________________ in case you get thirsty.
After eating a full meal, I felt completely __________________.
The flight was __________________ due to bad weather conditions.
These __________________ can make unsafe water drinkable.
The lake water looked __________________, so we didn’t drink it.
These cans have __________________, so you don’t need a can opener.
Sentences
Create one specific sentence for each word or expression from the vocabulary list.
Challenge Section
Story telling
Storytelling is the art of communicating ideas, emotions, or messages through a story instead of just giving information.
Include the words provided in the vocabulary section.
Role play
For this exercise, you will practice using the vocabulary related to this dialog by acting out a role-play scenario.
Include the words provided in the vocabulary section.
Produce
Create Your Own Dialog
Instructions:
Using the new words/expressions you’ve learned.
Personal experience
Talk about your past experience with the topic.
