Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Sometimes, a difficult situation can come out of nowhere. Maybe, you were out for a relaxing drive, when suddenly, your car broke down. Maybe, you came in to work one day and found out that your company had to scale back on its employees… and now you no longer have a job! If you do have a problem, there is no shame in asking a friend for help. After all, everyone hits a rough patch sometimes!
We use the expression “rough patch” to talk about a problem or difficult time. Someone can either hit a rough patch (for example, if your phone just went missing) or go through a rough patch (for example, if your friend has been unemployed for a long time). Rough patches can be stressful, but don’t worry… they won’t last forever. Eventually, you will be able to solve your problem and feel happy again!
Andy has just discovered a strange problem with his office supplies. Can he and Jordin solve this mystery? Watch the video to find out!
3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Andy_H: Hey, Kelsey.
Kelsey: Hey.
Andy_H: Hey, Sheila.
Sheila: Mmm.
Andy_H: Hmm. That’s strange.
Jordin: What’s wrong?
Andy_H: All my pencils are gone.
Jordin: Huh. That’s weird.
Andy_H: It certainly is…. It certainly is…. Aha! A mystery.
Jordin: Andy, we must solve this mystery!
Andy_H: Indeed! What are the facts?
Jordin: Well, your pencils are missing.
Andy_H: That’s right. They were right there. I remember seeing them when I came into the office.
Dominique: Hello, Andy.
Andy_H: Good morning. How’s it going?
Dominique: Well, we’ve hit a rough patch. We’re going to have to scale back on office supplies this month. I didn’t take your pencils, Andy.
Jordin: Oh, really?
Andy_H: Interesting. And yet this morning, you said…
Dominique: All I was saying is that we were going through a rough patch and would need to cut back on the amount of supplies we were buying.
Andy_H: I see….
Dominique: So, there’s no reason why I’d take your pencils.
Andy_H: I see…
Jordin: Do we believe her?
Andy_H: For now. Then, there is Sheila…
Sheila: How many pencils do you need? I understand you’ve hit a rough patch without your precious pencils, Andy, but you should know one thing before you pin the blame on me. If I had wanted to take your pencils, I would have taken them a long time ago, and I would have made it quite clear that I was the one who took them.
Andy_H: That’s true.
Jordin: Yeah, that’s definitely true.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Third Conditional" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
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Discussion
Andy notices something strange at his desk. All of his pencils are missing. This mystery demands to be solved! Jordin volunteers to help Andy in his investigation. The first possible thief is Dominique. Andy remembers talking to her this morning. She said that Travel Bug had hit a rough patch and needed to cut down on office supplies. Perhaps, she took Andy’s pencils? However, after Jordin and Andy interview Dominique, they decide that she probably did not do it. The more likely pencil thief is… Sheila!
Sheila tells Andy and Dominique that she did not take the pencils. If she had, she would have made it quite clear that she was the one who took them. Jordin and Andy agree that Sheila is right. They will have to investigate further to find out the real answer to the case of the missing pencils!
Do you like mystery movies? Have you ever hit a rough patch?
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