ESL Podcast 574 – Shopping for Produce

Question 1

a large store that sells many types of food to be cooked or

prepared at home

Answer 1

On my way home from work, I stopped at …… My doctor has been
telling me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, so I finally decided to follow
her advice.

• Please go by the supermarket on your way home from work to pick up bread,
  milk, and eggs.

Question 2

recently picked; recently made or cooked; not old, stale, or rotten

Answer 2

My doctor has been
telling me to eat more …..fruits and vegetables, so I finally decided to follow
her advice. I resolved to eat better, so I could feel better.

• Wouldn’t it be great to have our own orange tree, so that we could have fresh
  oranges each morning?

Question 3

to make a firm decision to change something, usually to improve
one’s quality of life

Answer 3

My doctor has been
telling me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, so I finally decided to follow
her advice. I …..to eat better, so I could feel better.

• Each New Year’s Eve, Miles resolves to stop smoking, but he always starts
  again within a few weeks.

Question 4

to go directly to a particular person or place, without

stopping to look at anything or anyone else

Answer 4

My doctor has been
telling me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, so I finally decided to follow
her advice. I resolved to eat better, so I could feel better. I …. for
the produce department.

Question 5

– fresh fruits and vegetables; fruits and vegetables that are not cooked,
canned, or prepared in any other way

Answer 5

My doctor has been
telling me to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, so I finally decided to follow
her advice. I resolved to eat better, so I could feel better. I made a beeline for
the …… department.

• My doctor said that one of the best ways to prevent cancer is to eat more fresh
  produce.

Question 6

to continue to mature and become ripe (ready to eat)

after something is picked from the plan

Answer 6

First, I looked at some bananas. Since they ……., I picked out some
that were already ripe and others that were still green.

• Does cantaloupe ripen off the vine, or is it important to buy cantaloupe that’s
  already ready to be eaten?

Question 7

unripe; not yet fully mature or ready to be eaten

Answer 7

First, I looked at some bananas. Since they ripen off the vine, I picked out some
that were already ripe and others that were still ….

• These plums are still green, but I think they’ll be ready to eat within a few days.

Question 8

with many items already selected for purchase, so that the

remaining items aren’t very desirable

Answer 8

I picked out some
that were already ripe and others that were still green. Next, I looked for some
tomatoes. They looked ….., but then I saw some organic tomatoes and
decided to give those a try.

• The store had a great sale, but by the time we got there most things had
  already been picked over and we couldn’t find anything we liked.

Question 9

grown naturally, without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers

Answer 9

the vine, I picked out some
that were already ripe and others that were still green. Next, I looked for some
tomatoes. They looked picked over, but then I saw some ….. tomatoes and
decided to give those a try

• If we had a garden in our backyard, we could make sure all our fruits and
  vegetables were organic.

Question 10

with leaves that are weak and bent, not crisp, usually because they are
too dry or old

Answer 10

Then, I went to look for the spinach. I found it, but it
didn’t look fresh at all. The leaves were brown and ….. I decided to pass on
the spinach and checked out the mushrooms.

• These houseplants are really wilted. We need to water them more often.

Question 11

– to decide not to buy, use, or have something

Answer 11

Then, I went to look for the spinach. I found it, but it
didn’t look fresh at all. The leaves were brown and wilted. I decided to…..
the spinach and checked out the mushrooms

• Alexey decided to pass on the movie and instead stay at home to study all
  evening.

Question 12

to decay and decompose when something has been dead or separated
from a plant for a long time

Answer 12

Then, I went to look for the spinach. I found it, but it
didn’t look fresh at all. The leaves were brown and wilted. I decided to pass on
the spinach and checked out the mushrooms. The mushrooms didn’t look any
better. In fact, some were beginning to…..
* All the vegetables in our refrigerator are rotting. We should really clean it out
more often.

Question 13

the part of a grocery store where one pays for everything one
wants to buy

Answer 13

Then, I went to look for the spinach. I found it, but it
didn’t look fresh at all. The leaves were brown and wilted. I decided to pass on
the spinach and checked out the mushrooms. The mushrooms didn’t look any
better. In fact, some were beginning to rot. I picked up some lettuce instead and
headed for the …..

• This checkout stand is “express,” so you can use it only if you are buying 12 or
  fewer items.

Question 14

– row; one of the long parts of a store that one can walk through, looking at
the products for sale on both sides

Answer 14

I was feeling pretty good about my new decision to eat better. But then, I passed
the cookie …. My resolve weakened.

• Peanut butter and jam are in aisle eight.

Question 15

to become less strong

Answer 15

I was feeling pretty good about my new decision to eat better. But then, I passed
the cookie aisle. My resolve ……

• Julia’s eyesight has gradually weakened over the years, and now she can
  hardly see anything.

Question 16

a large metal basket on wheels that one uses inside a store

to carry all the things one wants to buy

Answer 16

But then, I passed
the cookie aisle. My resolve weakened. I spotted my favorite type of cookies.
Before I knew what I was doing, I’d put a bag of those cookies in my …..

• Victor’s cart was filled with ice cream, cookies, and chocolate candies. I guess
  he really likes sweets!

Question 17

something that one buys without having planned to buy it, just
because it looks good when one sees it in the store

Answer 17

was feeling pretty good about my new decision to eat better. But then, I passed
the cookie aisle. My resolve weakened. I spotted my favorite type of cookies.
Before I knew what I was doing, I’d put a bag of those cookies in my cart.
I know I should be able to resist ……, especially of things I’m likely to
eat all in one sitting, but don’t forget, I’m eating more fruits and vegetables.

• Lucas bought that sweater as an impulse buy, but he’s really glad he did!

Question 18

– all at once; all at one time

Answer 18

I was feeling pretty good about my new decision to eat better. But then, I passed
the cookie aisle. My resolve weakened. I spotted my favorite type of cookies.
Before I knew what I was doing, I’d put a bag of those cookies in my cart.
I know I should be able to resist impulse buys, especially of things I’m likely to
eat ….., but don’t forget, I’m eating more fruits and vegetables.

• Have you ever eaten an entire half-gallon of ice cream all in one sitting?

Question 19

– to resume a bad habit when one has been trying to stop

it, usually used when talking about drinking alcohol

Answer 19

know I should be able to resist impulse buys, especially of things I’m likely to
eat all in one sitting, but don’t forget, I’m eating more fruits and vegetables. With
my new healthy diet, aren’t I allowed to …. now and then?

Hal had stopped smoking for almost two weeks when he fell off the wagon and
started again.