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Views #879 | Mid Intermediate 5

Dogs

Lindsay talks with her friend Jake about the possibility of getting a dog.

Script
Vocab
Quiz



Lindsay	Jake

Lindsay: So Jake, we are thinking of getting a dog. What do you think about that?

Jake: Well, that could be a good idea. Dogs can make good companions.

Lyndsay: Yeah, I think so. That's why we want to get one, but the problem is our apartment is really small. Do you think my apartment is too small for the dog?

Jake: It could be. Dogs can get very lonely too is don't take care of them.

Lindsay: Yeah, everyone keeps warning me about the fact that not only is my apartment small but I'm not home a lot and either is my fiance so the dog will be home a lot of the time by itself.

Jake: Well, then maybe you'd better reconsider getting one.

Lyndsay: But they're so cute and I'll walk it in the morning and when I come home from work. I mean, do you think that that will be OK for the dog?

Jake: Well, I'm not so sure. Personally, I don't really see what's so great about having a dog anyway.

Lindsay: Oh, what! You don't like dogs?

Jake: Not really. I mean, well, first of all, I'm a little bit afraid of them. I think maybe I was attacked when I was very young, but I don't like them very much.

Lyndsay: So you're afraid of them or you don't like them, or both?

Jake: Both. I think also, sometimes they're kind of dirty inside of the house. They leave lots of pet hair and sometimes they're not properly toilet trained.

Lindsay: Well, of course. They're like babies. You have to train them to go outside, but once they're trained they can be wonderful companions, and I don't know they're pretty soft and cute and lovable.

Jake: But I don't think it's worth the extra work. You have to clean up after them and of course, like you said, you have to train them.

Lyndsay: But a dog will always love you. There's not another animal that's like that? That will always love you no matter what. Don't you think so? Can you think of another animal that will always love you?

Jake: Cats maybe.

Lindsay: No way. Cats are so finicky. Cats don't really like you, I feel like. I feel like the dog is there right when you walk in the door waiting for you to come home. A cat is out next door walking on the fence. They don't care about you.

Jake: Yeah, you're right. I think dogs are more friendly than cats overall.

Lyndsay: I think you're just afraid of dogs because you haven't had a good experience with a dog, but if I get a dog than you can come to my house and play with my dog.

Jake: I am sure I would like your dog.

Lindsay: Oh, good. OK. So please come to my house and play with my new dog, if I get one. I'm not sure yet.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

everyone keeps warning me

Everyone keeps warning me about that.

People 'warn' others when they want them to be careful and avoid danger. Notice the following:

Everyone keeps warning me about smoking.
My teacher keeps warning me about talking in class.

you'd better reconsider

You'd better reconsider getting one.

When we 'reconsider' something, that means we think again about a decision we have made or an opinion we have. Sometimes we decide to do or think about things in a different way. Notice the following:

If you want quit school, you'd better reconsider.
Laptops are expensive. You might want to reconsider buying one.

toilet trained

Sometimes they're not toilet trained.

Pets of course can't use a toilet so we must teach them to go outside instead. Once they learn, we say they are 'toilet trained.' Notice the following: