Listening Exercise: Ask Dr. Laura
Dr. Laura Schlessinger Radio Call-In (5)
Theresa and Dave

Caller #3 Theresa
Vocabulary:

parenting style
suggestions
Bless you!
to dream of having
to win
substantial
provincial
lottery
Canada
tax-free
interest
principal
amount
married
to write a check
so-and-so
ashamed
to discuss with
to share
both of their
to jump off a bridge
to make a check out to s.o.
decision
whose
suppose
 nefariousness
to participate
whichever
legitimate
in-law
so to say > so to speak
to intend
happiness
to take/leave out
own
to abandon
to make sure
creep
exactly
to have sex with
farm animals
every neighbor within 4 miles
the worst part of it
That is not your issue.
to get involved in
to deal with it
to make sure
to be treated different(ly)
to be related to
spouse
 thou = thousand
to belong to
to cheat s.o.
to raise a family
backbone
to say something nice
honey (= lover)
to find out
should be rewarded
to contribute to
to back s.t. up
till the divorce is final
attorney
to protect s.o.
sufficiently
to put money in trust
your understanding is
to worship
calm
peaceful
to retire
this is it
to sedate
to smack my face to wake me up
appreciate

Listening comprehension questions:
1. What event has caused a major change in Theresa's life?
2. What is Theresa planning to do with the windfall?
3. What problem has this event created for Theresa?
4. What does Dr. Laura suggest to Theresa so she can be sure the money isn't used for a bad purpose?
5. How does Dr. Laura respond when Theresa tries to 'say something nice' in praise of Dr. Laura?
6. What kind of attitude does Dr. Laura express toward the brother in question?
7. How does Theresa say she feels about suddenly having so much money?
8. How does Dr. Laura react to these comments?
9. What would you do if you won this much money from a lottery?

Caller #4: Dave
Vocabulary:

background
moral dilemma
to break up with s.o.
to attempt suicide
to come pretty close
paramedics
fire (department)
to respond
to be in a coma
to transfer x from y to z
hospital
psych (= psychiatric) ward
currently
to hurt herself
to finish the job
to go on
to upset one
 		ability
to lock s.o. up
to threaten
to be a danger to oneself
to finagle to get s.t.
ultimately
to be committed to
to feel obligated to
psychiatrist
to be held hostage by
to make babies
previous marriage
to throw off = to kill
to burn oneself
to hurt
cautious
extent		 to commit your life to
moving
counseling
to make a boo-boo (= mistake)
to have a forwarding address
to get away from
to scoop out
parts of your brain
to be worried about
safety
extreme end of town
post office box
to pull oneself back together
to stalk s.o.
take care
literally

Listening comprehension questions:
1. What is Dave worried that his ex-girlfriend might do?
2. What does Dr. Laura advise Dave to do to try and protect this woman?
3. What is the ex-girlfriend's own family situation?
4. What kind of responsibility does Dr. Laura think Dave should bear regarding the ex-girlfriend?
5. What did Dave think he maybe should do for his own well-being in this situation?
6. What does Dr. Laura advise Dave to do to protect himself?
7. What would you do in this situation?

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