5. Je ssica a n d Al a re buyin g a house .

Jessica and Al are buying a house. They've lived in an

apartment for the last four years, but now that they
have a baby, they think they need more space, so
they've made an offer on a house, and the offer was
accepted.
After looking for a few months, they found a threebedroom rambler that they are able to afford. It has a
big kitchen, a fireplace, two large bathrooms, a full
basement, and a two-car garage. It also has a covered
deck, so they can sit outside, even when it rains.
The price for the house was $209,000 when they first
looked at it. That was too much for them to pay. Then
the sellers lowered the price to $189,900. Suddenly,
the house seemed affordable. They offered $185,000
and their offer was accepted.
They estimate their monthly mortgage payment will be about $1400. That
includes the cost for insurance and property
taxes.
They'll move in at the end of the month after
they attend the closing. The closing is the
time at which they sign all the necessary
documents and agreements for purchasing the
house. They're a little nervous, but they
believe that this is a good decision for their
family.
Vocabulary
closing: a meeting during which ownership of a house is transferred from seller
to buyer. The buyer(s) can move into the house after the closing.
afford = to be able to buy or pay for something
rambler = a one-story house. This style was very popular in the 1950s and
1960s, but some new houses are still built in this style. See the picture of the
house to the right? That's a rambler.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Now you try it. Read the paragraph above. If you have a microphone, you can
record your voice. Then click on "Play" and compare your recording to mine.
How much do you remember from the reading?
Fill in the blanks.
1. Jessica and Al __has_____ __lived_______ in an apartment for the last
four years.
2. They need more _____space_______ for their family.

3. They estimate the monthly mortgage payment will be about

___$1400_________.
4. Before they move into the house, they have to attend a
____closing_________.
5. They think that buying this house is a good _decision_______.

2 . T he police w e re ca lle d to t he sce n e of a crime la st

nig ht .
The police were called to the scene of a crime last night. Apparently, there was
a burglary committed in a house down the
street. Someone broke into the house late at
night when the homeowners were gone and
stole a lot of things from the homeowners.

None of the neighbors saw who did it. The

burglars came and left very quickly. A TV and
a computer were stolen. There was also some missing jewelry, and about $500
were taken from inside of a bedroom.

Normally this is a quiet, safe neighborhood but now everyone who lives here is
very concerned by what has happened. Some people on the street have
decided to get new, stronger locks installed on their doors. Others said the
streets need to be patrolled by the police more often to discourage theft.
Now you try it. Read the paragraphs to your left. If you have a microphone, you can record
your voice and compare it to my voice.

1A: What happened last week?

1B: A burglary was __committed_____ in a house down the street.
2A: Were the homeowners there at the time?
2B: No, the homeowners were _gone_____.
3A: Was anything stolen?
3B: Yes, a computer and a TV were ___stolen____.
4A: Was there any money taken?

4B: Yes, about ___$500____ were taken.

5A: Did the neighbors find out about the burglary?
5B: Yes, and they are very ___concerned_______.

Do-It-Yourself: Growing Potatoes

Topic: Another in a series of reports for home vegetable gardeners. Transcript of radio broadcast.
Source: VOA
Escucha el audio y completa los recuadros.
Click aqu para escuchar
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

True or false? Potatoes are root vegetables.

False. Potatoes are underground

called tubers.
stems

Most kinds of potatoes can be planted during cool weather. But John Masiunas of the University of
Illinois Extension says it may be best to wait until after the last winter
. The
freeze

extension service says the best formation happens when the

is between fifteen
soil

and twenty-one degrees Celsius. Tubers will not form if the soil temperature reaches twentyseven degrees.
Potatoes are started from "seed pieces." These are either small

potatoes or
w hole

potatoes cut into pieces. Each piece should weigh about forty to sixty grams. The experts at the
University of Illinois say pieces that
less than thirty grams may not produce as
w eigh

much.
Each piece must have at least one good "eye," the small dark

where a sprout will

spot

grow. Soon after the pieces are cut, plant them twenty-five to thirty centimeters apart. Cover
them in a
between two and one-half and seven and one-half centimeters deep.
furrow

The rows should be spaced about sixty to ninety centimeters apart.

For potatoes, the best soil is fertile and well

, not wet. To improve clay soils,

drained

mix in garden waste or other organic matter and turn the soil deeply in the fall. If possible, in the
year before you plant potatoes, plant a cover crop to improve the soil and the potato production.
The extension service suggests a crop such as
, buckwheat or winter rye.
clover

After the potato plants appear, organic

can be spread around to hold moisture,

mulch

help suppress weed growth and cool the soil. John Masiunas says water management is extremely
important. Potatoes do not grow well in very dry conditions.
Some gardeners plant potatoes under

, or stems of dried grain. Instead of

straw

burying the seed pieces, place them at the surface. Then spread

straw ten to
loose

fifteen centimeters deep over the seed pieces and between the planted rows. The potatoes
should send up sprouts through the straw cover.

You can wait till the fall to harvest potatoes, or harvest them during the growing season as new
potatoes. But whatever you do, make sure to handle potatoes carefully. They can
bruise

easily, and damaged potatoes can quickly go bad.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. For more advice
about growing potatoes and other vegetables, go to voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Bob Doughty.