LISTEN with understanding
→ After listening to the recording, sum up what you heard in a few sentences. You can use the questions to help you summarize. Read the transcript if needed.

The Phone Call

Sum up what was said by answering the following questions. The final summary should be in sentence form.

  1. Who called the narrator?

  2. What idiom described how they faced the problem?

  3. What phrasal verb explained what they did with the charges?

IDIOM USE

Bite the bullet – We use this idiom when facing something difficult or unpleasant with courage.

Ways we use it:

  1. Work: accepting a hard task.

  2. School: doing a boring assignment.

  3. Daily life: facing a problem without delay.

Examples:

  • “He had to bite the bullet and pay the fine.”

  • “I finally bit the bullet and cleaned the garage.”

  • “They will bite the bullet and tell the truth.”

PHRASAL VERB USE

Figure out – We use this phrasal verb when solving or understanding something.

Ways we use it:

  1. Solving a mystery or problem.

  2. Understanding instructions.

  3. Realizing the reason for something.

Examples in different tenses:

  • Present: “I always figure out problems quickly.”

  • Past: “She figured out the answer yesterday.”

  • Continuous: “He is figuring out how the system works.”

  • Future: “We will figure out a solution tomorrow.”

TRANSCRIPT

“Last night, I received a phone call from my bank saying there was suspicious activity on my account. My heart raced as I listened to the representative explain the charges. I knew I had to bite the bullet and deal with the problem right away, even though I hated talking about money issues. She helped me figure out which purchases were mine and which were fraudulent. After answering questions and confirming details, the account was secured. I felt nervous at first, but by the end of the call, I was relieved to know the situation was under control and my money was safe again.”