ESLPod 1110 guide Want to be Fluent in English?

English as a Second Language Podcast
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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

GLOSSARY
drought – a very dry period of time with little or no rain
* If this drought continues, all the orange trees will die.
desert – a hot and dry area with little or no rain, with a lot of sand, few trees, and
cacti (plants that have thorns or needles and need very little water)
* If you have to walk through the desert, move at night when it’s coolest and try to
rest during the day.
precipitation – rain, snow, and hail; water that falls from the sky
* The ski resorts are saying that it should be a good ski season, because there
was a lot of precipitation in the fall.
rainfall – the amount of rain, measured in inches, that falls from the sky during a
certain period of time
* Seattle gets an average of 38 inches of rainfall each year.
livelihood – how one earns money to live; one’s career; one’s way of financially
supporting oneself
* Being a doctor is not only his livelihood, but also his passion.
water supply – the availability of water to meet one’s needs, especially as
provided by a city
* How does the city keep dangerous bacteria out of the water supply?
crop – a type of plant that is grown for food or to make products
* He grew up on a large farm with tobacco, cotton, soybeans, and other crops.
Dust Bowl – an area with a lot of dust, because plants have died and soil (dirt) is
moved by wind, especially referring a period in the 1930s, when many people
had to leave Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas
* John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, describes the struggle of people
living in the Dust Bowl.

water table – water found below the surface of the earth, especially the depth at
which that water is found
* An oil spill trickled through the rocks and soil and contaminated the water table.

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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

reservoir – a large area used to store water for use by a town, city, or region
* No one is allowed to use boats in the reservoir, because it’s the source of
drinking water for several towns
reserves – a supply of something that is being stored for future use, especially
for use when the regular source of something is not available
* The country has significant oil reserves, but it will use them only when oil is no
longer available for import.
dust storm – a period of time with very strong winds that carry a lot of dirt and
dust through the air, making it difficult to see and breathe
* The dust storm made it difficult to see and to drive through the outskirts of town.
thunderstorm – a period of time with heavy and dark clouds, loud noises in the
sky, strong winds, and possibly rain and lightning
* The children were frightened by the thunderstorm and ran into their parents’
bedroom.
to over farm – to engage in the bad agricultural practice of growing crops
repeatedly on a particular piece of land, reducing the number of nutrients and the

quality of the soil (dirt) so that it is no longer good agricultural land
* People have been over farming that property for years. We need to apply some
natural fertilizer and let the soil rest for a few years.
deforestation – the practice of cutting down forests (areas with many trees),
especially to make room for the expansion of cities or to provide grassy areas for
cows to live on
* The organization is trying to prevent deforestation by teaching people how to
make a living from eco-tourism in local forests.
relief – a period of relaxation or time when one faces less pressure or fewer
demands than usual
* After working so hard to meet the deadline, going back to their regular work
schedules was a relief.
water conservation – efforts to use less water, either to reduce costs or to
reduce one’s negative impact on the natural environment
* The county’s water conservation efforts include a ban on washing cars and
sidewalks.
to bathe – to clean one’s body; to take a shower or bath
* Do you use bubble bath every time you bathe?
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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1.

a)
b)
c)

Which of these things would be associated with a drought?
An increase in precipitation
A low water table
Many thunderstorms

2. What are water conservation efforts?
a) Attempts to keep the water cleaner
b) Attempts to increase water reserves
c) Attempts to establish less water
______________
WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?
reserves
The word “reserves,” in this podcast, means a supply of something that is being
stored for future use, especially for use when the regular source of something is
not available: “Toward the end of the race, the runners were drawing on their
energy reserves.” To keep something “in reserve” means to have it be ready in
case it is needed in the future: “They always keep a few extra computers in
reserve, just in case one of the machines stop working.” A “nature reserve” or a
“wildlife reserve” is a natural area where people are not allowed to build
structures, intended to provide a place to live for plants and animals: “Many
people enjoy bird-watching at the nearby nature reserve.” Finally, when talking
about an auction, the “reserve price” is the lowest price at which something will
be sold: “The painting will not be sold for less than the reserve price of $350.”
relief
In this podcast, the word “relief” means a period of relaxation or time when one
faces less pressure or fewer demands than usual: “It was such a relief when the

department finally agreed to hire two new administrative assistants to handle
much of the workload.” The phrase “relief effort” refers to organized efforts to
help people who have little money, housing, or clothing: “The American Red
Cross organized a massive relief effort for the people who were affected by the
earthquake.” The phrase “comic relief” refers to a humorous moment in a serious
situation in a TV show, movie, or book: “That character provides some muchneeded comic relief during the tensest parts of the play.” Finally, when talking
about maps, “in relief” describes a three-dimensional map that has raised parts to
show the height of geographic features: “Only a map in relief can show how tall
Mt McKinley is.”
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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

CULTURE NOTE
The 1936 North American Heat Wave
In 1936, North America experienced the most “severe” (strong; intense) “heat
wave” (period of time with extremely high temperatures) in “modern history”
(human history; recorded history). The “timing” (when something happened)
could not have been worse, because it “hit” (happened) when people were
already suffering significant “hardship” (difficult and challenging experiences)
associated with the Great Depression (a very bad period of financial problems;
see English Café 327) and the Dust Bowl (a very bad period of farming; see
English Café 357).
The heat wave began in June and “peaked” (reached its highest point) in July,

with temperatures as high as 121°F (49 °C) in North Dakota. Many cities reported
temperatures over 100°F (38 °C) for long “stretches” (something that happens
over a long period of time) of “consecutive days” (with something happening on
many days, without a break in between them). Many of those high temperatures
remained “on record” (were recorded as being the highest temperature) until the
2012 North American heat wave.
Temperatures returned to normal in September, but the hot summer days “took
their toll” (caused significant damage and suffering). Many crops were
“destroyed” (ruined) by the drought and “extreme” (very strong; very high) heat.
The “soil” (dirt) temperature was so high in some places that it reduced the “soil
fertility” (ability for land and soil to support plant growth).
More than 5,000 people died during the heat wave, largely because the high
temperatures occurred at a time when very few homes and office buildings had
“air conditioning” (equipment in a building that blows cool or cold air and that
helps to lower the temperature of the air).
______________
Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – c

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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 1,110 –

Experiencing a Drought.
This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 1,110. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.
Go to our website at ESLPod.com. Become a member of ESL Podcast and
download a Learning Guide for this episode. What is a Learning Guide, you ask?
Well, it is an eight- to ten-page guide we provide that gives you a complete
transcript of everything we say here on the episode, as well as a vocabulary list,
definitions, sample sentences, cultural notes, and a whole lot more.
This episode is a dialogue between Fabian and Lia about not having enough
water where you live – what we would call a “drought.” Let’s get started.
[start of dialogue]
Fabian: How long do you think this drought is going to last?
Lia: I have no idea, but I’m not worried. I grew up in the desert. Not having
enough precipitation was just a fact of life.
Fabian: Yes, but people here aren’t used to getting this little rainfall. Their
livelihood depends on having a reliable water supply for their crops.
Lia: You make it sound like we’re experiencing another Dust Bowl when the
water table is just a little low.
Fabian: I think it’s a little more serious than that.
Lia: What we need here is a reservoir. That would give this town the water
reserves it needs in case of a drought.
Fabian: What we really need are fewer dust storms and more thunderstorms.
Lia: And for people to stop over farming. That and deforestation are half the
problem.

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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

Fabian: You may be right, but that’s not what people want to hear right now.
They need some relief.
Lia: Maybe the town’s water conservation efforts will make a difference.
Fabian: Well, I’m certainly willing to stop bathing if it’ll help.
Lia: I thought you already had.
[end of dialogue]
Fabian asks Lia, “How long do you think this drought is going to last?” How long
will it be? A “drought” (drought) is a very dry period of time with little or no rain.
Here in California, we have a history of droughts. In fact, as I record this episode,
we are in the middle of another drought – a long period of time with little or no
rain. Lia says, “I have no idea,” meaning I don’t know how long this drought will
last. “But,” she adds, “I’m not worried. I grew up in the desert.” The “desert”
(desert) is a hot, dry area with little or no rain.
She says, “Not having enough precipitation was just a fact of life.” “Precipitation”
(precipitation) refers to water in any form that falls from the sky, from clouds. That
would include rain, snow, and “hail” (hail), which is basically small little balls of
frozen rain. Lia says not having enough precipitation was “a fact of life” for her,
meaning it was a reality. It was just something you had to deal with when she
was growing up.
Fabian says, “Yes, but people here aren’t used to getting this little rainfall.”
“Rainfall” (rainfall), one word, is the amount of rain – which in the U.S. is usually
measured in inches – that falls from the sky during a certain period of time.
Fabian says, “Their livelihood depends on a reliable water supply for their crops.”
Fabian is talking about the people in the area where he lives, who are apparently

farmers – people who grow things and sell them.
Well, Fabian says that the “livelihood” of the people in this area depends on
having “a reliable water supply for their crops.” “Livelihood” (livelihood) is how
you make money, how you earn money to live. In an area that has a lot of
agriculture, a lot of “crops” (crops) – which are plants that are grown for food or to
make other products – you need a lot of water. That’s why Fabian says that they
need a “reliable,” that is dependable, “water supply” – something that will give
them the water they need.

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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

Lia responds, “You make it sound,” meaning you make it appear, you make it
seem, “like we’re experiencing another Dust Bowl when the water table is just a
little low.” The term “Dust Bowl” (bowl) refers to a specific period of time in the
1930s in the United States, when there was a drought in the middle part of the
United States, causing a lot of people who lived there to leave. In fact, many of
the people who lived in this area moved to California in order to find work. Lia is
saying that the situation now is not like the Dust Bowl. It’s not that bad.
She says, “The water table is just a little low.” The “water table” (table) refers to
the water that is below the surface of the ground – how deeply below the ground
the water is found. Lia is saying it isn’t really a serious drought. Fabian disagrees.
He says, “I think it’s a little more serious than that” – that is, than how you are

describing it, Lia. Lia says, “What we need here is a reservoir.” A “reservoir”
(reservoir) is a large area used to hold or store water that is used by a town or a
city. Many cities have reservoirs. Los Angeles has a couple of reservoirs, but
apparently where Lia and Fabian live, there is no reservoir.
Lia says, “The reservoir would give this town the water reserves it needs in case
of a drought.” “Reserves” refers to a supply of something that is being stored for
use in the future, especially in a situation where you may not have enough of
something. The United States used to (perhaps it still does) have something
called “oil reserves,” where the country would store a certain amount of oil in
case there was a crisis or an emergency in which we couldn’t get enough oil for
our needs. Lia is proposing something like that for water.
Fabian says, “What we really need are fewer dust storms and more
thunderstorms.” A “dust storm” is a period of time when you have a lot of very
strong wind that is blowing or carrying a lot of dirt and dust through the air.
Usually we associate dust storms with a very dry area. “Thunderstorms” are
storms where you have a lot of rain that comes down, often in a very short
amount of time. “Thunderstorms” also produce loud noises called “thunder.”
Fabian thinks the area needs more rain. Of course, we already know this.
Lia says, “And for people to stop over farming.” “To over farm” would be to try to
grow similar kinds of plants, similar kinds of crops, in a certain area that might be
bad for the soil, for the dirt. Lia is suggesting that the farmers have to change
their practices. Lia also says that “deforestation” is part of the problem.
“Deforestation” (deforestation) has, in the middle of it, another word, “forest”
(forest). A forest is an area with many trees. So, “deforestation” is cutting down
those trees. Apparently Lia thinks that that is part of the problem in terms of
having enough water in the area.
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these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

Fabian says, “You may be right, but that’s not what people want to hear right
now” – that’s not what people want you to tell them. “They need some relief”
(relief). “Relief” can mean a couple of different things. Here, it means a period of
time after a very bad experience, when the experience stops. When the pain
stops, for example, you get a period of relief when you no longer hurt – or in this
case, no longer have a bad situation.
Lia says, “Maybe the town’s water conservation efforts will make a difference.”
“Water conservation” refers to efforts to use less water in your home, in your
place of business, in farming, and so forth. The word “conservation” comes from
the verb “to conserve” (conserve) which means to save something or to prevent it
from getting worse.
Fabian says, “Well, I’m certainly willing to stop bathing if it’ll help.” “To bathe”
(bathe) means to clean your body. Fabian is suggesting that maybe he should
stop bathing himself. Lia makes a joke and says, “I thought you already had,”
meaning I thought you already had stopped bathing, because perhaps she is
jokingly saying that he smells or that he looks dirty.
Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.
[start of dialogue]
Fabian: How long do you think this drought is going to last?
Lia: I have no idea, but I’m not worried. I grew up in the desert. Not having
enough precipitation was just a fact of life.
Fabian: Yes, but people here aren’t used to getting this little rainfall. Their
livelihood depends on having a reliable water supply for their crops.
Lia: You make it sound like we’re experiencing another Dust Bowl when the

water table is just a little low.
Fabian: I think it’s a little more serious than that.
Lia: What we need here is a reservoir. That would give this town the water
reserves it needs in case of a drought.
Fabian: What we really need are fewer dust storms and more thunderstorms.

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these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.


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ESL Podcast 1110 – Experiencing a Drought

Lia: And for people to stop over farming. That and deforestation are half the
problem.
Fabian: You may be right, but that’s not what people want to hear right now.
They need some relief.
Lia: Maybe the town’s water conservation efforts will make a difference.
Fabian: Well, I’m certainly willing to stop bathing if it’ll help.
Lia: I thought you already had.
[end of dialogue]
Our thanks to our wonderful scriptwriter, Dr. Lucy Tse, for her wonderful scripts.
From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come
back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.
English as a Second Language Podcast was written and produced by Dr. Lucy
Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2015 by the Center for Educational
Development.

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These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2015). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.