英語口語對話(中高級) lesson 8: Piercing

Summary: Lisa and Alexander are chatting about piercing. Lisa and Alexander are chatting over coffee.
Listen to their conversation and answer the question that follows about the main idea.
Dialogue:
Lisa: So, guess what I’m going to get done?
Alexander: Oh, I can only imagine! What’s it this time?
Lisa: No need to get nasty! If you have to know, I’m going to get my belly pierced! Alexander: C’mon, you’re not serious?!
Lisa: Dead serious! I’ve asked around and checked out a few piercing parlors. Did you know it’s one of the oldest forms of body modification … and all my girlfriends say that guys like it?
Alexander: I think it’s gross!
Lisa: Well, anyway, I I’ve got a professional piercer who’s clean and safe … This man follows all the sterilization procedures.
Alexander: I sure hope so, ‘cause from what I’ve heard, it’s real dangerous and you can easily catch something. Would you want it go septic and filled with pus and…
Lisa: Oh, don’t be so melodramatic!!! If this guy’s as good as they say he’ll take all the proper precautionary measures so there’ll be no problem.
Alexander: Did you make sure that a sterile needle is used for each client?
Lisa: Yes, the piercer allowed me to check everything out, so I’m not worried! To tell you the truth, it’s the pain that worries me a little.
Alexander: A little? Have you forgotten how low your pain threshold is? Remember how you squealed when you had your ears pierced?
Lisa: Do I ever! Maybe I’ll just stick to the ears!
Alexander: Sigh…!
Now answer the following question…
What was Lisa thinking of having done? She was thinking of having her belly button pierced, until Alexander talked her out of it.
Now listen again to the dialogue in parts. After each part there will be 3 to 4 questions on some details...
Part 1
Lisa: So, guess what I’m going to get done?
Alexander: Oh, I can only imagine! What’s it this time?
Lisa: No need to get nasty! If you have to know, I’m going to get my belly pierced! Alexander: C’mon, you’re not serious?!
Lisa: Dead serious! I’ve asked around and checked out a few piercing parlors. Did you know it’s one of the oldest forms of body modification …and all my girlfriends say that guys like it.
Alexander: I think it’s gross!
Lisa: Well, anyway, I think I’ve got a professional piercer who’s clean and safe… Now get ready to answer some questions…
1. Which part of her body does Lisa want to pierce? Her belly. In particular her bellybutton, which is the small opening in your stomach – also known as navel.
2. Lisa says, “No need to get nasty!” What does she mean? She wants Alexander to be supportive of her.
3. Alexander says, “I think, it’s gross!” What does he mean? He means he doesn’t find stomach piercing attractive. ‘Gross’ is an informal adjective and it means unpleasant.
Now listen to the second part again:
Part 2
Lisa: This man follows all the sterilization procedures.
Alexander: I sure hope so, ‘cause from what I’ve heard, it’s real dangerous and you can easily catch something. Would you want it to go septic and filled with pus and…
Lisa: Oh, don’t be so melodramatic!!! If this guy’s as good as they say he’ll take all the proper precautionary measures so there’ll be no problem.
Alexander: Did you make sure that a sterile needle is used for each client?
Lisa: Yes, the piercer allowed me to check everything out, so I’m not worried! To tell you the truth, it’s the pain that worries me a little.
Alexander: A little? Have you forgotten how low your pain threshold is? Remember how you squealed when you had your ears pierced?
Lisa: Do I ever! Maybe I’ll just stick to the ears!
Alexander: Sigh…!
Now answer some questions…
1. Alexander says, “Would you want it to go septic?” What does septic mean? He is trying to frighten Lisa by telling her that her piercing may become infected by bacteria which produce pus. ‘Pus’ is thick yellowish liquid that forms in and comes from an infected cut or injury in the body.
2. Lisa says, “He’ll take all the proper precautionary measures …” What are precautionary measures? Steps you take in order to avoid something bad from happening.
3. Alexander says, “Did you make sure that a sterile needle is used…” What kind of needle is sterile? A sterile needle is one that has been disinfected and is free of germs.
GLOSSARY
1. belly (noun) is the informal word for stomach. Belly is also short for bellybutton which refers to the small opening in the stomach.
2.dead serious (expression) is another way of saying very serious.
3.modification (noun) is the act of changing something. (e.g. Did you know body piercing is one of the oldest forms of body modification?)
4.nasty (adjective) is to be unkind (e.g. You don’t have to be so nasty! I just asked you a simple question.)
5.precautionary (adjective) describes an action which is taken to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous from happening (e.g. The company is withdrawing the product as a precautionary measure.)
6.pus (noun) is a thick yellowish liquid that forms in and comes from an infected cut (e.g. a pus-filled wound)
7.septic (adjective) When something goes septic, it is infected by bacteria which produce pus. (e.g. I’m afraid my belly will go septic if I get it pierced.)
8.squeal (verb) is to make a very high pitched sound or cry (e.g. I squealed when I had my ears pierced, even though it was not that painful.
9.sterile (adjective) is completely clean and free from dirt and bacteria (e.g. A sterile needle should be used for each piercing.)
10.threshold (noun) is the level at which something starts to happen. (e.g. My pain threshold is very low. I start screaming at the slightest hint of pain.)
Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the words from the glossary.
1. I can suffer a lot of pain before I react, so one could say I have a high pain ………………………….
2. Why are you so………………….? You shouldn’t have kicked your little brother.
3. All operations must be carried out under……………………….conditions.
4. He felt fine but was kept in hospital overnight as a……………………..measure.
5. After I pierced my ears, one of them went……………………….
6. The little girls were running around……………………….with excitement.
7. Please don’t laugh! I’m being………………………..…….
8. Tattooing is a very old form of body………………………..
9. He fell asleep with a full ……………………….and a happy heart.
10. After she pierced her ears, one of them got infected and was filled with…………………..

1. threshold 2. nasty 3. sterile 4. precautionary 5. septic 6. squealing 7. dead serious 8. modification 9. belly 10. pus