Listening
exercise
NPR:
A Nation in Debt
Access audio
file from this page:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=947915
Start from the 0:50 minute point and listen to the
6:00 minute point
NPR's
Scott Horsley | financial
consultant it turns out... closer to professionals to make a good income to face up (to) + N consumer same fraction of their income payments to dig oneself into a debt hole personal bankruptcy to jump to a record filings rarely purchases to get s.o. in trouble to tend to V rather accumulation casual client latte typically indulgence to deserve s.t. to add up to can afford to V somewhat more to counsel rich clients to spend beyond their means a lot of income to feel entitled to to get to the point where to start realizing for debt to mount to lose sleep, hair a night out a nailbiting ordeal maxed-out to cover restaurant meal who wants to live like that stress enough supposed to to have a good time which you really don't you're praying that slip of paper to sign embarrassing to not have enough funds to cut up with the help of counselor to negotiate a plan to repay to owe to take (time) debit card to sleep better a whole lot better to make (money) as soon as s.t. comes in marriage savings to worry about nephew |
Listening
comprehension questions:
1. a.
What would be reason for Anne Dixon to breathe a sigh of relief each month? b.
Why did the sense of relief not last very long?
2.
How did the Dixons get into debt?
3. How
did Anne Dixon rationalize applying for a new credit card?
4.
What's the average US couple's credit card debt, according to this report?
5. What kind of purchases tend to get people
into debt?
6. Why may wealthy people get
into debt?
7. What effect did their mushrooming
debt have on the Dixons?
8. How did the
Dixons finally deal with their debt, and how long did it take to get out of debt?
9. a. How do the Dixons now handle their monthly
finances? b. What does this suggest about
how they managed their money previously?
10.
Share a story you know of regarding a debt problem.