ESL Podcast 497 – Shopping for Bedding

Question 1

to make something more beautiful by changing it or adding things
to it, often by making something a different color, covering something, or hanging
something on a wall

Answer 1

Xavier: Thanks for helping me …… my new apartment. Hey, where are you
going?
Crystal: I’m going to the bedding department. Now that you have a new bed,
you’ll need new bedding.

• They decorated their living room with beautiful artwork.

Question 2

the fabric and other things put on a bed

Answer 2

Xavier: Thanks for helping me decorate my new apartment. Hey, where are you
going?
Crystal: I’m going to the …. department. Now that you have a new bed,
you’ll need new ……

We’ll need to get some warmer bedding for the winter.

Question 3

– the large, thin pieces of fabric placed over a bed that one lies between
while sleeping

Answer 3

Xavier: Thanks for helping me decorate my new apartment. Hey, where are you
going?
Crystal: I’m going to the bedding department. Now that you have a new bed,
you’ll need new bedding.
Xavier: Right, okay, but can’t I just get some ……, a couple of pillows, and a
blanket?

• How often do you wash the sheets in your guest room?

Question 4

– the large, soft thing that one rests one’s head on while sleeping

Answer 4

Xavier: Thanks for helping me decorate my new apartment. Hey, where are you
going?
Crystal: I’m going to the bedding department. Now that you have a new bed,
you’ll need new bedding.
Xavier: Right, okay, but can’t I just get some sheets, a couple of ……, and a
blanket?

• If your husband or wife snores at night, try putting a bigger pillow under his or
  her head

Question 5

a large, warm, thick piece of fabric used to keep one warm, usually put
on a bed

Answer 5

Xavier: Thanks for helping me decorate my new apartment. Hey, where are you
going?
Crystal: I’m going to the bedding department. Now that you have a new bed,
you’ll need new bedding.
Xavier: Right, okay, but can’t I just get some sheets, a couple of pillows, and a
…..?

• They use a cotton blanket during the summer and a wool blanket during the
  winter.

Question 6

the number of strings in a given area of fabric; a measure of how
tightly a fabric is made, where high-quality fabrics have a higher thread count

Answer 6

Xavier: Right, okay, but can’t I just get some sheets, a couple of pillows, and a
blanket?
Crystal: That’s only the beginning. Oh, feel these sheets. No wonder they’re so
soft. They have a very high ……

• The best hotels in the world use sheets with a thread count of 800 or higher.

Question 7

the large, thin piece of fabric that one lies on while sleeping and
that has elastic at the corners so that it doesn’t move off the bed

Answer 7

Crystal: That’s only the beginning. Oh, feel these sheets. No wonder they’re so
soft. They have a very high thread count.
Xavier: Thread count?
Crystal: You’ll need a …….., a flat sheet, and pillowcases. Did you get a
queen- or a king-size bed?

• Yesinia didn’t buy the right size fitted sheet for her new bed, and it’s too big.

Question 8

the large, thin piece of fabric that one lies under while sleeping

Answer 8

Crystal: That’s only the beginning. Oh, feel these sheets. No wonder they’re so
soft. They have a very high thread count.
Xavier: Thread count?
Crystal: You’ll need a fitted sheet, a ……. and pillowcases. Did you get a
queen- or a king-size bed?

• Ali’s wife always rolls over in the middle of the night, taking the flat sheet with
  her

Question 9

the rectangular piece of fabric that is open at one end so that a
pillow can be placed inside it, used to protect a pillow and keep it clean

Answer 9

Crystal: That’s only the beginning. Oh, feel these sheets. No wonder they’re so
soft. They have a very high thread count.
Xavier: Thread count?
Crystal: You’ll need a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and ……. Did you get a
queen- or a king-size bed?

• Becca forgot to wash her face before going to bed, so in the morning, there was
  make-up on her pillowcase.

Question 10

a large piece of fabric that is filled with feathers or a manmade
material, placed over a bed and used to keep one warm at night. A type of blanket, filled with natural or synthetic insulative material and encased in a shell/covering

Answer 10

Crystal: You’ll need a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and pillowcases. Did you get a
queen- or a king-size bed?
Xavier: It’s a full-size bed.
Crystal: Okay, you’ll need a …. and a duvet cover, too, and this bed skirt
will make your bed look really nice.

• I’d like to use a warmer comforter, but I’m allergic to goose feathers.

Question 11

the large, rectangular piece of fabric that is open at one end so
that a comforter can be placed inside it, used to protect a comforter and keep it
clean

Answer 11

Crystal: You’ll need a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and pillowcases. Did you get a
queen- or a king-size bed?
Xavier: It’s a full-size bed.
Crystal: Okay, you’ll need a comforter and a ……, too, and this bed skirt
will make your bed look really nice.
* You don’t need to buy a new comforter to re-decorate your bedroom. Just buy
a new duvet cover in a different color.

Question 12

he large piece of fabric that covers the bottom mattress and hangs
down to the floor, used for decoration

Answer 12

Crystal: You’ll need a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and pillowcases. Did you get a
queen- or a king-size bed?
Xavier: It’s a full-size bed.
Crystal: Okay, you’ll need a comforter and a duvet cover, too, and this ….
will make your bed look really nice.

• They use a bed skirt to hide the boxes that they keep underneath the bed.

Question 13

the large, soft, padded surface that one lies on; usually one of two on
a bed

Answer 13

Crystal: Okay, you’ll need a comforter and a duvet cover, too, and this bed skirt
will make your bed look really nice. Xavier: Bed skirt?
Crystal: Of course! You can’t leave your …… exposed. That would look so
tacky.

• Foster’s back hurts whenever he sleeps on a mattress that is too soft.

Question 14

shown; visible; able to be seen or touched

Answer 14

Crystal: Okay, you’ll need a comforter and a duvet cover, too, and this bed skirt
will make your bed look really nice. Xavier: Bed skirt?
Crystal: Of course! You can’t leave your mattress …… That would look so
tacky.

• While she was working in the garden, her lower back was exposed whenever
  she bent over, so she got sunburned.

Question 15

ugly and unpleasant to look at; without good style, taste, or fashion

Answer 15

Crystal: Okay, you’ll need a comforter and a duvet cover, too, and this bed skirt
will make your bed look really nice. Xavier: Bed skirt?
Crystal: Of course! You can’t leave your mattress …… That would look so
……

• Lynn says it’s tacky to wear socks with sandals.

Question 16

a large piece of fabric that hangs high above the bed, used for
decoration and/or to keep insects away

Answer 16

Xavier: Bed skirt?
Crystal: Of course! You can’t leave your mattress exposed. That would look so
tacky.
Xavier: If you say so…
Crystal: Wow, look at these ….. Don’t you think…?
Xavier: You want to put a …. over my bed?! No, that’s where I draw the
line.

• Canopies are good for beds in castles and palaces, but not in regular homes

Question 17

to identify the limit of something, indicating that one will not do
or have any more than that amount of something

Answer 17

Xavier: Bed skirt?
Crystal: Of course! You can’t leave your mattress exposed. That would look so
tacky.
Xavier: If you say so…
Crystal: Wow, look at these canopies. Don’t you think…?
Xavier: You want to put a canopy over my bed?! No, that’s where I ….

I’ve listened to you complain about your job, house, and friends for hours, but I
draw the line at listening to you complain about your husband