Advanced English Conversations (2) - Robert Allans, Matt Edie, A. Mustafaoglu 2020

Set 38 - you would be okay with breaking even?

Jack: I’ve recently bought a house in a very up-and-coming area. The kicker is — I want to move to another state for a new job. Life happens, you know.

Mike: Are you aiming at making money or you would be okay with breaking even?

Jack: Well, even if I sell my house for what I purchased it for, with the commission for the realtors - I will be in the hole. The house is in decent shape, but definitely needs some updating. I am going to be refinishing the cabinets in the kitchen and getting a new water heater installed.

Mike: You’re on the right track with updating or refinishing the kitchen cabinets and doing some work to add to curb appeal. Have you thought about renting it out?

Jack: Well; that seems like a huge hassle given that I would be moving five hours away.

Mike: Don’t sell the house. Rent it out - I would advise renting it through a good rental agency. No headache for you, someone else maintains it.

Jack: The truth is I have had my share of setbacks. That’s is why I am exploring all avenues!

Vocabulary;

up-and-coming: (adjective) promising; likely to achieve success in the near future.

kicker: something surprising.

life happens: everything can happen in life, as change is the nature of life itself.

break even: to reach a point in a business venture when the profits are equal to the costs.

in the hole: in debt.

in decent/good shape: in good condition physically and functionally sound and sturdy.

on the right track: progressing in a way that is likely to succeed.

curb appeal: the qualities of a building that make it attractive.

hassle: an irritating inconvenience.

headache: a thing or person that causes worry or difficulty; a problem.

have one’s share of: to have a sufficient amount of something.

setback: something that happens that delays or prevents a process from developing.

avenue: a method or way of doing something.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. It is an opportunity to expand the responsibilities of John Langley, an up-and-.......... salesman getting some great results in the north.

2. Only two .......... are open to us - either we accept his offer or we give up the fight completely.

3. Sally had been recovering well from her operation, but yesterday she suffered a ..........

4. That little girl is just eight years old, and she's already had her .......... of hardship, unfortunately.

5. No wonder you’ve ended up in the .......... That’s what you get when you keep spending your carelessly and aimlessly.

6. Their son is going astray from some reason. He is a constant ............................. to them.

7. Dream Doors is a one-stop shop, taking up less time, causing you less .......... - and less money too.

8. Before purchasing the property, it pays to think about .......... appeal: location, transport, government amenities and other structures.

9. Dole was on the .......... track when he talked about tolerance, but he mysteriously dropped it once he got the nomination.

10. The TV was acting up earlier, but it seems to be in .......... shape ever since I smacked it.

11. The airline hopes to break .......... next year and return to profit the following year.

12. You caught your husband flirting his assistant! Life ..........!

13. And here’s the real .........., if you buy one you get the second one free.

1. coming 2. avenues 3. setback 4. share 5. hole 6. headache 7. hassle 8. curb 9. right 10. good 11. even 12. happens 13. kicker