Learn English meaning of snowplows

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• unpredictable
• winter wonderland
• plow
• throw one’s back out

• driveway
• snow shovel
• soaked
• car accident

• spade
• snow tire

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Winter weather can be very unpredictable. It can be clear and sunny one day, but then you might wake up to a wintery wonderland the next day. People who live in snowy places need to be ready for these storms. If it snows a lot, they will need to plow or shovel their driveway. In very snowy places, some people even own their own snowplows.

A snowplow is a truck that pushes snow out of the way. Cities must own snowplows so they can clear the streets after snow falls. However, many people just use a snow shovel around their house. If you use a snow shovel, you need to be careful! Lifting too much snow might throw your back out. Of course, you could always take a snow day and just stay home instead.

Andy was surprised by a nighttime snowstorm. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear him tell Gary all the details.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Andy_H

Gary

Andy_H:  Gary, I was up at 5 am plowing my driveway. I cannot wait for this snow to melt!

Gary:  Oh, man! How much snow fell?

Andy_H:  At least a foot. My pants were completely soaked. See, I wasn’t expecting that much to fall last night.

Gary:  Sure.

Andy_H:  And so, when I wake up, and I see this wintery wonderland, my kids are happy, school’s closed, they have a snow day. And guess what Dad gets to do…. He gets to plow the driveway so that he can get his car out onto the unplowed roads and almost get into a car accident on his way to work.

Gary:  Oh, wow! I’ve only ever used a spade to shovel and dig out dirt and things. Is there a different type of shovel? Is it different?

Andy_H:  It’s called a snow shovel.

Gary:  A snow shovel.

Andy_H:  It’s rectangular. It allows you to be able to pick up more. But man, does it just really pull your back out.

Gary:  Do you hire people to help with that, or…?

Andy_H:  You can hire a snowplow driver, and he’ll come and plow your driveway, but when it just happens overnight, it’s really unpredictable. I think I’m going to have to invest in snow tires.

Gary:  I think I’m glad I grew up with no snow around me.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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