ESL Podcast 205 – Shopping for Shoes

Question 1

formal shoes worn with formal or business clothes

Answer 1

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some ….. for work, something with a low
heel

• My brother asked me to help him pick out a pair of dress shoes to go with his
  new suit.

Question 2

the back part of a shoe under the ankle; the bottom back part of the foot

Answer 2

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
…..

• She stepped on some gum with the heel of her left shoe and had trouble getting
  it off.

Question 3

the name of the company that makes the things you find in stores

Answer 3

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
heel.
Clerk: Have you tried this …..? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot,
and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in
the back.

Question 4

a type of shoe made with straps so that the foot is easily seen

Answer 4

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
heel.
Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a ….., a low boot,
and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in
the back.
* Summer is the perfect time of year to wear sandals.

Question 5

a type of shoe with a tall top so that part of your leg is covered

Answer 5

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
heel.
Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low …..,
and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in
the back.

• Make sure you wear your winter boots if you plan to be out in then snow all
  afternoon.

Question 6

a type of shoe that is flat or has a low heel, with no shoelaces or buckles

Answer 6

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
heel.
Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot,
and a ….. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in
the back.

• He prefers wearing a loafer because they are easier to put on and to take off.

Question 7

a type of shoe that doesn’t cover the toes

Answer 7

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
heel.
Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot,
and a loafer. These right here are…… and those over there have a strap in
the back.

• People do not normally wear open toe shoes in the winter.

Question 8

a long, thin piece of material, such as leather or cloth

Answer 8

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Alissa: Yes, I’m looking for some dress shoes for work, something with a low
heel.
Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot,
and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a ….. in
the back.

• When she got on the crowded subway, she held on tightly to the strap of her
  bag so that no one would be able to steal it from her.

Question 9

any type of shoe without shoelaces or buckles that someone can put
on simply by putting their foot into the shoe

Answer 9

Clerk: Have you tried this brand? They make really comfortable shoes. This
company makes several styles of dress shoes, including a sandal, a low boot,
and a loafer. These right here are open toe and those over there have a strap in
the back.
Alissa: Oh, I like these ….., but they seem too narrow. My feet are pretty
wide.

• Slip-ons for young kids are a good idea because many of them haven’t learned
  how to tie shoelaces yet.

Question 10

size of the foot when measured across, from side to side

Answer 10

lissa: Oh, I like these slip-ons, but they seem too narrow. My feet are pretty
wide.
Clerk: Those actually come in three …..: narrow, medium, and wide. Do you
want to try them on?

• She liked the shoes, but none of the widths it came in fit her correctly.

Question 11

a thin space that is longer than it is wide

Answer 11

Alissa: Oh, I like these slip-ons, but they seem too …… My feet are pretty
wide.
Clerk: Those actually come in three widths: narrow, medium, and wide. Do you
want to try them on?

• Those big trucks are having problems driving through the narrow streets of
  London.

Question 12

a large or big distance from side to side

Answer 12

Alissa: Oh, I like these slip-ons, but they seem too narrow. My feet are pretty
……
Clerk: Those actually come in three widths: narrow, medium, and wide. Do you
want to try them on?

• The purpose for building this bridge is to make it possible for cars to cross that
  wide river between the two cities.

Question 13

to be the right size and shape for something

Answer 13

Clerk: Those actually come in three widths: narrow, medium, and wide. Do you
want to try them on?
Alissa: Sure. Do you have them in a 6-and-a-half or a 7, in black or brown?
Clerk: I’m not sure. I’ll have to check in the back…Here you are. How does the
6-and-a-half ……?

• She didn’t buy the sweater because it wasn’t a good fit.

Question 14

not enough room for something; too little space

Answer 14

Clerk: I’m not sure. I’ll have to check in the back…Here you are. How does the
6-and-a-half fit?
Alissa: They’re a little too ….in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but
now the heel is a little too loose.

• The jacket looked like it was the right size, but when he tried it on, he thought it
  was too tight.

Question 15

too much room for something; too much space; not strongly fixed or
attached onto something

Answer 15

Clerk: I’m not sure. I’ll have to check in the back…Here you are. How does the
6-and-a-half fit?
Alissa: They’re a little too tight in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but
now the heel is a little too …….

• Some of the book’s pages are loose and keep falling out of the book.

Question 16

to remember; to think about; to consider

Answer 16

Alissa: They’re a little too tight in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but
now the heel is a little too loose.
Clerk: …… that since they’re leather, they’ll stretch a little.

• My wife decided to buy a large couch to replace a smaller one even though I
  told her to keep in mind that there may not be enough space in the house for it

Question 17

the dried skin of an animal used to make clothes, shoes, bags, and
other things

Answer 17

Alissa: They’re a little too tight in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but
now the heel is a little too loose.
Clerk: Keep in mind that since they’re ….., they’ll stretch a little.

• He’s a vegetarian and he doesn’t buy anything made of leather.

Question 18

to make wider, longer, or larger by pushing or pulling

Answer 18

Alissa: They’re a little too tight in the toe. Let me try the 7. Oh, that’s better, but
now the heel is a little too loose.
Clerk: Keep in mind that since they’re leather, they’ll ….. a little.

• I don’t want to try on your sweater. I’m bigger than you are and I’ll probably
  stretch it.

Question 19

– when a salesperson adds up and records on a cash

register the things you want to buy

Answer 19

Alissa: In that case, I’ll take the black pair in the 6-and-a-half.
Clerk: Great. I can …..over here

• You look like you’re ready. I can ring you up over here