Skip to: site menu | section menu | main content

ActivELP LLC
Main page » Skills » Listening » Problems » Vocabulary

Problem 1 - Vocabulary

B1-1

Listening for the gist / listening for the main idea

TRAVELLING

Problem :

Vocabulary – not knowing the meaning of individual words you hear. It hinders understanding of the gist.

Story 1

  • To rob
  • To count
  • A gun
  • Terrified
  • Alone

Story 2

  • A puncture
  • A boot of a car
  • A spare tyre
  • A breakdown service
  • To give a lift

Story3

  • Hammering
  • Banging
  • A hule

Story 4

  • Delayed
  • A sickness pill
  • Luggage
  • A nightmare

Story 5

  • A pillow
  • A cockroach
  • To spray
  • Disgusting

Back to top


  1. Students click on the word and listen to its pronunciation
  2. Students see pictures describing the meaning of each word.
  3. Students read the definitions of each word.
  4. Students listen again to the words
  5. Students listen to the same tapescript again.
  6. Students have another listening about travelling problems with a similar vocabulary. Listening for the gist.

Story 1

  • To rob – to take the property of a person or organization illegally, using violence
  • To count – to say the numbers in order one by one
  • A gun – a weapon from which bullets are fired
  • Terrified – very much afraid
  • Alone – without or separated from others

Story 2

  • A puncture – a small hole made with a sharp point through a soft surface in the tyre
  • A boot of a car – an enclosed space at the back of a car for bags and boxes
  • A spare tyre – not in use but kept in use if needed, rubber that fits round the outside of a wheel
  • A breakdown service- a business that helps customers with car problems
  • To give a lift – to give a free ride in a private vehicle

Story 3

  • Hammering- to hit repeatedly (with a hammer )
  • Banging – to beat or move violently and with a loud noise
  • A hole – an empty space inside something solid

Story 4

  • Delayed – moved to a later time
  • A sickness pill – a small piece of medicine that helps in the condition of feeling sick
  • Luggage – the cases, bags ,boxes of a traveller
  • A nightmare – a terrible experience or event

Story 5

  • A pillow – an object used for supporting your head when sleeping
  • A cockroach – a large black insect which lives especially in old or dirty houses
  • To spray – to through or force out liquid in very small drops on something or somebody
  • Disgusting- very unpleasant or bad, awful

Back to top