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.
In 2003, a terrible fire occurred at a nightclub in Rhode Island, a small state in the northeast United States. The band that was playing that night set off fireworks and the walls of the club caught on fire, killing 100 people and injuring many more.
Fires like these are so scary to think about, particularly when you’re at a crowded concert or party. Do party organizers or business owners take enough precautions to make sure that people will be safe if a fire breaks out? Learn safety English and hear Jason and Sara discuss fire safety in this English lesson.
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.
Sara: I just heard a news report the other day about the anniversary of that terrible fire at that rock music club in Rhode Island. Do you remember that?
Jason: Oh, yeah. I think about it all the time, especially when I’m at a really crowded house party.
Sara: Uh huh.
Jason: Because there’s not really security or laws making sure that it’s safe there.
Sara: Do you, like, look to see if you can spy a fire extinguisher on the wall or something?
Jason: I do. And I think about that night in Rhode Island.
Sara: I know, I mean, I just imagine those people being packed in there, and then the band set off these fireworks, and then I guess the material they had on the walls just burst into flames.
Jason: Wow. Yeah. It’s just so strange. I mean, one minute you’re just in a building, like you are every day, and the next thing you know it’s trying to kill you. You know?
Sara: I think…I feel like businesses need to be more responsible about that kind of thing, you know?
Jason: I think it’s hard for them, because it just doesn’t happen that often.
Sara: Right.
Jason: But when it does happen, it’s so horrific that it definitely… I don’t know, I think there’s a lot of laws about it. Like I know people who have tried to open businesses and not been allowed to because they didn’t have proper fire exits in place.
Sara: Oh right, it wasn’t up-to-code or something like that.
Jason: Yeah.
Sara: Yeah, I think it’s just better to be prepared, even if it costs you a little bit more money in the beginning. You know, to put it more economically, at least you’re avoiding a major lawsuit if you’re just prepared right from the beginning.
Jason: Yeah.
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Discussion
Sara mentions to Jason that she recently heard a news story about the anniversary of a terrible fire at a club in Rhode Island. Jason says that he actually thinks about that fire frequently, particularly when he’s at a crowded house party. He thinks about how prepared he would be if a fire broke out there.
The two then think about how terrible it would be to be in a fire like that. One minute everything is normal, and the next, the whole place is up in flames.
Sara thinks that businesses need to be responsible about making sure they are prepared for a fire. Jason agrees, but says that sometimes it can be difficult, and expensive, for business owners to follow fire laws perfectly. Sara thinks it’s worth it, no matter what the cost, particularly because it could save a business from a future lawsuit.
Are you afraid of fires? Has you or anyone you know ever experienced a fire? How do you keep your house or business safe from fires?
Comments
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