ESL Podcast 257 – Finding a Book at a Bookstore

Question 1

a type of writing about things that are true and are not imaginary

Answer 1

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Adrian: Yes. Can you tell me where the ….. books are?
Clerk: Are you looking for hardbacks or paperbacks?

Most textbooks used in college and university classes are non-fiction.

Question 2

a book with a hard cover that does not bend easily

Answer 2

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Adrian: Yes. Can you tell me where the non-fiction books are?
Clerk: Are you looking for …… or paperbacks?

• This hardback costs almost $40, so I’m going to wait until the cheaper
  paperback copy is available.

Question 3

a book with a flexible paper cover that bends easily

Answer 3

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Adrian: Yes. Can you tell me where the non-fiction books are?
Clerk: Are you looking for hardbacks or ……?

• Paperbacks are lightweight and easy to pack, but they get damaged easily if
  you’re not careful.

Question 4

– a book that has recently become available for sale

Answer 4

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Adrian: Yes. Can you tell me where the non-fiction books are?
Clerk: Are you looking for hardbacks or paperbacks?
Adrian: I’m not sure. I think hardbacks.
Clerk: Well, the non-fiction …… are at the front of the store. The nonfiction
section is behind the fiction shelves on your right. The hardbacks are on
the top shelves and the paperbacks on the bottom ones. Is there a specific book
I can help you find?

• This book is one of our most popular new releases. Our store received 100
  copies yesterday, but today, we have only two copies left.

Question 5

a type of writing about things that are imaginary and are not true

Answer 5

Clerk: Can I help you find something?
Adrian: Yes. Can you tell me where the non-fiction books are?
Clerk: Are you looking for hardbacks or paperbacks?
Adrian: I’m not sure. I think hardbacks.
Clerk: Well, the non-fiction new releases are at the front of the store. The nonfiction
section is behind the …..shelves on your right. The hardbacks are on
the top shelves and the paperbacks on the bottom ones. Is there a specific book
I can help you find?

• What kind of fiction do you like to read? Mysteries, science fiction, or
  romances?

Question 6

– the name of a publication, such as a book, magazine, or article

Answer 6

Clerk: Well, the non-fiction new releases are at the front of the store. The nonfiction
section is behind the fiction shelves on your right. The hardbacks are on
the top shelves and the paperbacks on the bottom ones. Is there a specific book
I can help you find?
Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the …… It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”

• The title of Lucy’s favorite book is “I, Claudius.”

Question 7

– the person who wrote a book

Answer 7

Clerk: Well, the non-fiction new releases are at the front of the store. The nonfiction
section is behind the fiction shelves on your right. The hardbacks are on
the top shelves and the paperbacks on the bottom ones. Is there a specific book
I can help you find?
Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the …?

One of my father’s favorite authors is Leo Tolstoy

Question 8

International Standard Book Number – a number assigned to each book
that is published that no other book has

Answer 8

Clerk: Well, the non-fiction new releases are at the front of the store. The nonfiction
section is behind the fiction shelves on your right. The hardbacks are on
the top shelves and the paperbacks on the bottom ones. Is there a specific book
I can help you find?
Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
….., but I can’t find it now

The ISBN for this book is 978-0325000633.

Question 9

– no longer being published; not in print anymore

Answer 9

Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
ISBN, but I can’t find it now.
Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be……t, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.

You won’t be able to find that out-of-print book in a normal bookstore, but you
might be able to buy it online or in a used bookstore.

Question 10

to search for something in a directory or a reference

book, such as a dictionary or phone book

Answer 10

Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
ISBN, but I can’t find it now.
Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me …. it …. in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.

• If you have a phone book, you can look phone numbers up by the person’s last
  name.

Question 11

a very popular book that is bought by many people

Answer 11

Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
ISBN, but I can’t find it now.
Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a ……r at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.

• The “Harry Potter” books are bestsellers in many countries.

Question 12

– still being printed by the publishers; still being made or published

Answer 12

Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
ISBN, but I can’t find it now.
Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s ……..
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.

Question 13

– to produce or make a book, newspaper, or magazine and sell it to
the public

Answer 13

Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
ISBN, but I can’t find it now
Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was …… in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.
.
* Chuck has written three books, but none of them have been published yet.

Question 14

secondhand; already bought once and is now available for sale again

Answer 14

Adrian: I’m looking for an old book and I’m not sure of the title. It’s something
like, “The Literary Crisis.”
Clerk: Do you know the name of the author?
Adrian: No, I don’t. I saw it mentioned online and I actually wrote down the
ISBN, but I can’t find it now.
Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a ….. bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.

• Davida likes to buy used books because they’re less expensive than new books
  and they’re usually in good condition

Question 15

– to do something to see if it will work; to try to do

something; to try something to see if it is pleasing

Answer 15

Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.
Adrian: Thanks, I’ll …….. I’m also looking for a biography. Can you
tell me where they are?

• Mrs. Fritz suggested that I get a new pair of glasses so I can see better. I’ll give
  it a try, but I don’t think it will help.

Question 16

– the story of someone’s life, written by another person

Answer 16

Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.
Adrian: Thanks, I’ll give them a try. I’m also looking for a ….. Can you
tell me where they are?

• This biography of Linus Pauling is fascinating. Have you read it?

Question 17

– related to looking for information; a book that has information about
specific topic(s)

Answer 17

Clerk: Well, if it’s an old book, it may be out-of-print, but let me look it up in our
system. If it was a bestseller at one time, there’s a chance that it’s still in print.
Let me check…Okay, here it is. It was published in 1982, and unfortunately, it is
out-of-print. You may want to try a used bookstore, like Bookwoman’s down the
street.
Adrian: Thanks, I’ll give them a try. I’m also looking for a biography. Can you
tell me where they are?
Clerk: Sure. The biographies are behind the ……section over there. Let
me know if you need any more help.

• The library’s reference section includes dictionaries, encyclopedias, college
  guides, and telephone books.