UNIT 20: Describing Things

1. Getting ready
Find these items in the picture. Write the letter next to each item.
 1. Getting ready
Find these items in the picture. Write the letter next to each item.

D
E B
C F
 2. Let’s listen
These people are describing items they left in a taxi. Listen and check
() the correct picture.

next
 Number 1
A: Hello. City Taxi.
B: Yes, I left a briefcase
in a taxi coming back
from the airport.
 A: Can you describe it?
B: Yes, it’s black leather,
with the initials PWD
on it.

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and the answer next
 Number 2
A: Hello. City Taxi.
B: Hello, has anyone
turned in a lady’s
handbag? I left one in a
 taxi about an hour ago.
A: Can you describe it?
B: Yes, it’s a small blue
and white striped bag
with a long red strap.
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and the answer next
 Number 3 A: Hello.
B: Is this City Taxi?
A: Yes, it is.
B: I’m calling about a
wallet. I think I left it in
 a taxi this morning. It’s
a black wallet. It had all
my credit cards in it.
A: Oh, dear

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and the answer next
 A: Hello. City Taxi.
Number 4 B: Hello. I left a pair of
glasses in a taxi this
morning.
A: Sunglasses? Black
frames with initials on
 them?
B: No. No, they’re regular
glasses. They were in a
brown leather case. I
can’t see a thing
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and the answer
without them.
next
 3. Let’s listen
People describing these items. Listen and number the pictures.

next
 Number 1

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and the answer next
 Number 2

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and the answer next
 Number 3

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and the answer next
 Number 4

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and the answer next
 Number 5

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and the answer
next
 Number 6

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and the answer
next
 3. Let’s listen
2. Listen again. Why does each person like the item? Circle the
correct information.

next
 Number 1
I wear it instead of sunglasses
because sunglasses make
me look so stupid. I always
wear it when it’s sunny
outside. If I don’t wear it,
the sun hurts my eyes. It’s
not too good on windy
days, though.

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and the answer next
 Number 2
It’s excellent for work because
it’s pretty big and I can get
all my business papers in it.
It’s not one of those cheap-
looking plastic ones. It’s
made of real leather.

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and the answer next
 Number 3
I use it to put my things in
when I play sports. It’s
pretty big, so I can get all
my clothes and my running
shoes into it.

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and the answer next
 Number 4
It’s an expensive one, but I use
it a lot because it’s very wet
here in the fall. I love the
colors, too. People can
easily find me in a crowd
when I’m using it.

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and the answer next
 Number 5
It’s great when you’re on a trip
somewhere, especially when
you’re taking a flight, because
you can take it on board the
aircraft. It’s not so big, so you
can put it in the overhead
compartment or under the seat
in front of you. It’s also got
wheels and a handle that you
can pull out.
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and the answer next
 Number 6
They’re very comfortable for
jogging or walking. That’s
good because I jog and walk a
lot. But they’re really old. I’ve
had them for about three
years. I hate the color. But I’ll
use them until I can afford a
new pair.

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and the answer next
 4. Let’s listen
1. People are talking about items they lost. Listen and check () the
item each person describes.

next
 Number 1

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and the answer next
 Number 2

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and the answer
next
 Number 3


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and the answer
next
 Number 4

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and the answer
next
 Number 5


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and the answer
next
 Number 6

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and the answer
next
 4. Let’s listen
2. Listen again. Where was each item lost? Circle the correct answer.

next
 Number 1
It’s a brown leather one. I keep all my
money and my credit cards in it. I
usually keep it in my back pocket.
It probably fell out when I was
getting off the bus. I hope I get it
back because it also has my ID
card in it, and that’s very
important.

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and the answer next
 Number 2
I’m always losing them or putting
them down and forgetting where I
put them. I think I was wearing
them when I was on the bus. Then
I stopped for a cup of coffee at a
coffee shop. I think I took them off
then because I don’t need them
when I read, and I was reading a
magazine. Yes, maybe that’s where
they are.
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and the answer next
 Number 3

I’m sure I had them when I left school

because I remember putting them
in my purse. I’m sure I had them
when I came home or I couldn’t
have driven the car or opened the
front door. So that means they’re
somewhere inside the house.

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and the answer next
 Number 4

I’m sure I used it to pay the bill at the

restaurant when I had lunch there.
After that I went to the department
store, and I think I used it when I
bought my jacket. I’m sure that’s
the last time I used it, so it’s
probably there.

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and the answer next
 Number 5
I usually keep it at home in a drawer in
my desk because I only use it when
I travel abroad. But it’s not there, so
I wonder where I put it. Oh, maybe I
left it at the office when I came back
from my trip to France. I think
that’s where it is, because I went
straight from the airport to my
office.

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and the answer next
 Number 6

I thought it was in my briefcase. I

usually put it there when I get one
from the newsstand and then read it
when I get home. Now I
remember! I was on the subway! I
took it out to read the sports
section. I’m sure I left it there.

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and the answer next
 What does it look like?
Work in pairs. Take turns describing one of the items in each set of
pictures. Can your partner guess which item you are
describing?
What does it look like?
 What does it look like?
Work in pairs. Think of three items in your classroom. Give short
clues and have your partner try to guess the items.
 Learning review
What did we learn in Unit 20?

Themes Skills
Objects Listening for gist
Possessions Listening for details