PRO-ED, Inc.

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Austin, TX 78757-6897
www.linguisystems.com
Order Number 31629
 WALC 3 TM

Everyday Problem Solving

by Linda Bowers, Rosemary Huisingh, Paul F. Johnson,
Carolyn LoGiudice, and Jane Orman

Skills Ages
■ problem solving ■ adults

Evidence-Based Practice
■ Problem-solving skills include identifying problems, goal setting, planning, strategic thinking, and generating
alternative solutions (Kennedy & Coelho, 2005).

■ Problem-solving difficulties are associated with neurological damage and disease (Ylvisaker & Feeney, 1998).

■ Problem-solving skills are necessary to complete everyday tasks of daily living. In fact, deficits in problem
solving may impact independent living more than physical or cognitive limitations (Lezak, Howieson, &
Loring, 2004).

■ Effective cognitive rehabilitation improves functioning in areas relevant to the individual’s everyday life
(Cicerone et al., 2000).

■ Speech-language pathologists’ roles in treatment of individuals with cognitive-communication disorders

include training discrete cognitive processes, teaching specific functional skills, and developing
compensatory strategies and support systems (ASHA, 2005).

WALC 3 Everyday Problem Solving incorporates these principles and is also based on expert professional practice.
References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2005). Roles and responsibilities of speech-language pathologists in
diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of individuals with cognitive-communication disorders [Position Statement]. Retrieved
March 26, 2009 from www.asha.org/policy

Cicerone, K., Dahlberg, C., Kalmar, K., Langenbahn, D., Malec, J., Bergquist, T., et al. (2000). Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation:
Recommendations for clinical practice. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 81(12), 1596-1615.

Kennedy, M.R., & Coelho, C. (2005). Self-regulation after traumatic brain injury: A framework for intervention of memory and
problem solving. Seminars in Speech and Language, 26, 242–255.

Lezak, M.D., Howieson, D.B., & Loring, J.L. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Ylvisaker, M., & Feeney, T.J. (1998). Collaborative brain injury intervention. San Diego, CA: Singular.

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 About the Author s

Rosemary Huisingh, M.A., SLP, is a LinguiSystems co-owner and co-author of many

therapy and testing materials including Expressive Language Kit, Expressive Language Test, TOPS
Kit—Adolescent, TOPS—Adolescent Test, WORD Test-R (Elementary), and ACHIEV-Revised.

Jane Orman, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a test developer and customer care representative for
LinguiSystems. She is co-author of many testing and therapy materials including WORD
Kit—Elementary, WORD Test-R (Elementary), Expressive Language Test, Listening Test, Listening
Kit, TOPS Kit—Elementary, TOPS-R (Elementary) Test, and Just for Adults Reading Comprehension.

Paul F. Johnson, B.A., is an editor and writer for LinguiSystems and the author of many
LinguiSystems titles, including 125 Ways to Be a Better Writer, WRITEopoly, Category Scramble, 50
Quick Play Language Games, and Word Scramble.

Carolyn LoGiudice, M.S., CCC-SLP, is an editor, writer, and acquisitions coordinator for
LinguiSystems. She is co-author of numerous therapy and testing materials including That’s
Life! Social Language Skills, 100% Grammar, 100% Grammar LITE, 100% Punctuation, Expressive
Language Kit, Expressive Language Test, and Grammar Play by Play.

Linda Bowers, M.A., SLP, is a LinguiSystems co-owner and co-author of many therapy and
testing materials including Grammar Scramble, Expressive Language Kit, Expressive Language Test,
TOPS Kit—Adolescent, TOPS—Adolescent Test, and ACHIEV-Revised.
Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Section One
Unit 1: Problem Solving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Unit 2: Analyzing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Unit 3: Understanding & Applying Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Unit 4: Paraphrasing & Summarizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Unit 5: Making Inferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Unit 6: Empathizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Unit 7: Evaluating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Section Two
Unit 8: General Problem Solving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

 Introduction

The authors who have created this book have varied backgrounds, but they
have one thing in common: each is committed to building and enhancing
cognitive skills. The abilities to reason, to think critically, and to problem
solve not only enhance our ability to survive, they also enhance our lives.
Someone who has temporarily lost these skills due to a brain trauma will
benefit from the activities in these pages in a variety of ways. Not only will
your clients begin to relearn the cognitive survival skills they have lost, but
they may eventually enhance their previous skills by systematically rebuild-
ing them on a stronger foundation.

The activities in Walc 3 are split into two sections. The first section (Units 1-
7) includes isolated practice in the following skills:
• Identifying Problems & Generating Solutions
• Analyzing Problems
• Understanding & Applying Information
• Paraphrasing & Summarizing
• Making Inferences
• Empathizing
• Evaluating

In addition to the breakdown of skill areas, the situations are also separated
by interest areas: Money, Work, Family & Social Relationships, Health &
Safety, and Sports & Leisure. Each page of the first section of the book is
coded with a symbol in the upper left-hand corner of the page to guide you.
You might find that matching these interest areas with those of your clients
will produce even more successful results.

The second section of the book (Unit 8) includes practice in integrating the
cognitive and problem-solving skills included in the first section. Each situ-
ation includes a photograph and brief story, much like you'd find in a news-
paper, followed by several questions about the passage. This type of practice
allows your clients to use the isolated skills they've already practiced in the
book along with their own experiences to respond to a real-life situation.

We hope this book will help your clients rebuild their problem-solving and
cognitive skills and enhance their quality of life in the process. Good luck!

WALC 3 4 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 1 Problem Solving

Poor problem solvers, or those who have lost their ability to break a
problem into its components, often skip the most essential step in the
process. No problem can benefit from a successful resolution if it
isn't clearly defined.

Most problems are very clear. If you are having lunch with a friend
and she begins choking on a piece of chicken, you know what the
problem is—food is blocking her airway. Once you’ve identified the
problem, you can immediately begin working toward a solution.

Other problems aren't so clear. On a different day, you're having

lunch with another friend, and something seems wrong. There is
tension between the two of you. You're both cordial, you have polite
conversation, but you know something isn't right. What's the prob-
lem here? Is your friend angry at you for something? Is your friend
preoccupied with another problem? Or is everything actually fine
with your friend and might something else be subconsciously both-
ering you?

Approaching this problem requires you to think carefully about what

the problem is as you perceive it. Once you clearly state the problem
in your own words, you can begin working toward a solution. In this
case, the problem might be stated, “There may be a problem between
my friend and me.” This is a simple statement, but it opens the door
to the generation of several possible solutions or further analysis.

In this unit, you’ll practice identifying a clear problem statement

based on a brief scenario. Then you will use the information from the
problem statement to generate a solution that you think will work
best. As you move through the book, you'll practice analyzing prob-
lems at a deeper level; but for now, simply generate a quick solution
for each problem based on the limited information you have.

WALC 3 5 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

1. You own your house and enjoy caring for it. You need to make some emergency repairs but
you don’t have enough money in your savings account.

What is the problem?

a. You have the money, but it’s expected to rain this weekend.
b. You can make the repairs but you need another person to help you.
c. You don't have enough money to fix the house right now.

What should you do?

a. Make the repairs yourself regardless of expense.
b. Put the repairs on a credit card and hope you can pay for it later.
c. Call a reputable home repair company, make all the repairs now, and ask the company
to let you make payments as your income allows.

2. A man from a window company stops by your house. The company is offering a 50%
discount if you sign the contract and give them a $100 deposit today.

What is the problem?

a. You need new windows.
b. The company may not be reputable.
c. The man is not wearing a tie.

What should you do?

a. Call friends or the Better Business Bureau to find out if the company is reputable.
b. Write the representative a check for $100.
c. Find out if they have the window you need.

3. You received a credit card application that offers lower rates for customers over 65.
You have a limited income. If you get the card, you will have six credit cards.

What is the problem?

a. You need another credit card.
b. Another credit card may cause you to go too deeply into debt.
c. The company has a lower rate for people under 65.

What is the solution?

a. Sign and send the application immediately.
b. Call the company and accuse them of targeting seniors.
c. Do a budget to determine if you can get another card.

WALC 3 6 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

4. You planned well for your retirement and have enough spendable income to live as you
wish. Recently, several family members have asked for loans.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Your daughter is a full-time student and works nights. She wants to buy a house but can't
make the down payment requirements. She’s asked you for help in making the down
payment.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. The IRS is going to audit your tax return for the year you retired. You've never gone
through an audit.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. The doctor you‘ve gone to for years is dropping her affiliation from your insurance plan.
You don't want to change doctors but you need the cost advantage of the insurance.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 7 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

1. You work at home running a catering business. The codes of your town have changed so
that you are no longer able to run a commercial business in a residential neighborhood.

What is the problem?

a. You can't run your catering business from your home anymore.
b. You need a new kitchen.
c. You need to hire more employees.

What should you do?

a. Complain to your friends that the world’s unfair.
b. Keep operating your business and hope no one says anything.
c. Consider looking for a new place to live in a commercial zone.

2. You have just returned to work after a long illness. Your boss seems distant and cold about
your return and he assigns you work you’re not familiar with.

What is the problem?

a. You want to be friends with your boss.
b. The company doesn't pay you enough.
c. You’re confused by your boss' behavior and don't know what to do.

What should you do?

a. Complain to a co-worker about your problem.
b. Ask for an appointment to speak with your boss about your confusion.
c. Quit your job.

3. You have returned to work after having a stroke. You still have a slight speech defect that
makes your speech slurred.

What is the problem?

a. You dribble on your chin when you drink coffee.
b. You can't talk fast enough.
c. People might have difficulty understanding your speech.

What should you do?

a. Explain to people about your speech and do your best to make yourself understood.
b. Ignore people's reactions to you.
c. Don't drink coffee.

WALC 3 8 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

4. Since you need the assistance of a cane to walk, your physician has advised you to stay
home from work on icy days.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Your company has a toll-free number for customer service. At least once a week, your
daughter uses this toll-free number to call you at work to chat.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You and your spouse do word-processing and graphic design from your home. You have
many clients coming to your house to pick up their work. The constant foot traffic through
the house bothers your young daughter.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Your boss asks you to play golf with him. You’ve already made plans that day but don’t
want to offend your boss by refusing.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 9 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

1. For 30 years you have prepared the traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the 24 members of
your family. You haven't been feeling well lately, and Thanksgiving is just two weeks away.

What is the problem?

a. You don't want to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner.
b. You think it's time someone else took a turn for a change.
c. You don't think you are physically well enough to prepare the dinner.

What should you do?

a. Ask another family member to prepare and host the dinner.
b. Order out from a fast-food restaurant.
c. Cancel the traditional dinner.

2. Your grandson comes back to your town from college about once a month. You write to him
every week, but he doesn't stop to see you when he's home.

What is the problem?

a. Your grandson misses you.
b. You feel he owes it to you to stop and see you when he’s in town.
c. Your grandson never comes home.

What should you do?

a. In your next letter, ask your grandson to call you.
b. Stop writing.
c. Complain to his mother that he never visits anymore.

3. A friend is visiting you at your house one afternoon. The doorbell rings and your eight-
year-old grandson and his dog are at the door. Your friend doesn’t like dogs.

What is the problem?

a. The dog doesn’t want to play with your guest.
b. The dog’s paws are too muddy.
c. If the dog comes in, your guest will feel uncomfortable.

What should you do?

a. Ask your guest to leave immediately.
b. Ask your grandson to take the dog to the backyard.
c. Make sure the dog stays quiet when he comes inside your house.

WALC 3 10 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

4. You’d like to invite a group of eight friends to come over for lunch and card games. You
know that two of the women don't like each other very much.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Your son and daughter and their families gather once a month at your house to eat dinner
and watch a video. Usually all four of your grandchildren bring friends who are noisy and
rambunctious.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Your next door neighbor's son parks his rusty old car in front of your house most of the time.
You are mortified by its dirty appearance.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You spent most of yesterday planting flowers in your garden. This morning you open the
curtains and the plants are uprooted or broken off. You see the neighbor's dog rolling in
your flower bed.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 11 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

1. While you’re watching TV one night, you feel a sharp pain in your arm and you're suddenly
short of breath.

What is the problem?

a. You have indigestion.
b. You might be having a heart attack.
c. You've broken a bone in your hand.

What should you do?

a. Call 911.
b. Relax and wait for it to pass.
c. Start waving your arm around until it starts to feel normal again.

2. Your doctor suggests you need to become more physically active. He advises that you take
up a low-impact, nonstrenuous sport.

What is the problem?

a. You are getting plenty of exercise.
b. You aren't getting enough exercise.
c. You're getting too much exercise.

What should you do?

a. Take up handball.
b. Take up jogging.
c. Take up walking.

3. Your kitchen has a linoleum floor. You have fallen twice in your kitchen in the past year.

What is the problem?

a. Someone keeps mopping the floor and not telling you it’s wet.
b. The linoleum is too slick.
c. There is too much foot traffic in your kitchen.

What should you do?

a. Keep your kitchen floors waxed.
b. Keep your floors cleaner.
c. Have your kitchen floor carpeted or replaced with wood.

WALC 3 12 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

4. You have an eye doctor appointment at the same time as your dental appointment.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You're looking out your front window and you see a two-year-old neighbor girl walking
down the street all by herself. Her parents are nowhere to be seen.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. A friend tells you he’s developed a rigorous workout regimen. You remind him to consult
his doctor before beginning the program. He waves you off and tells you he’s not worried
about it.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You're eating lunch with a friend. He suddenly stops talking, his face turns red, and he
begins pointing at his throat.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 13 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

1. You want to send a birthday invitation to an old friend who has just moved to a different
apartment. You don't know his new address but you do know the phone number.

What is the problem?

a. You don't know which bus to take to visit your friend.
b. You miss your friend.
c. You don't know where your friend lives now.

What should you do?

a. Write a letter to your friend and ask for the new address.
b. Call your friend. Ask for the new address.
c. Wait for your friend to call you.

2. After a plane flight, you wait in the baggage claim area and watch other passengers from
your flight collect their luggage. Your suitcase doesn't show up.

What is the problem?

a. You need a new suitcase.
b. You don't have the clothes and items you brought for the trip.
c. You'll have to take someone else's suitcase instead.

What should you do?

a. Report your missing suitcase to the appropriate airline.
b. Take someone else's suitcase.
c. Cancel the rest of your trip.

3. Your friend’s daughter is on a volleyball team. As she tells you about her game today, she
uses words like spike and kill. You're not sure what she means.

What is the problem?

a. You think she might have killed someone with a spike.
b. You’re sure someone on the volleyball team must be seriously injured.
c. You are not familiar with these volleyball terms.

What should you do?

a. Call the police to report the crime.
b. Ask her what the words mean.
c. Tell her parents their daughter is acting strangely.

WALC 3 14 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

4. A neighbor invites you over to see his prize-winning orchid collection. His orchids will be in
a contest later today. As you examine one plant closely, you sneeze and break off one of the
flowers.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You're in a stadium to watch your favorite team play. The people in front of you keep
standing up and yelling at the players. They are also sloshing their drinks as they wave
their arms around.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You and a friend are watching a movie in a theater. The language in the movie offends you.
You don't want to watch the rest of the movie.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You have received two dinner invitations for the same evening. Both of the invitations are
from good friends.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 15 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Problem Solving

8. You and a friend are at a shopping mall. You each go your separate way to do some shop-
ping. You can't remember where you're supposed to meet your friend, but you remember
what time to meet.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. You are traveling in a rental car on a road miles away from a town. You get a flat tire. You
look for the jack, but you can't find it. You have never driven this make of car before.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

10. You and your spouse want to enjoy some vacation time together. Your spouse wants to
enjoy shows and nightlife. You want to get up early and take walks in quiet, natural sur-
roundings.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

11. Most evenings, neighborhood boys play touch football on the street outside your window.
They have a habit of yelling and cursing excessively.

Problem: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Solution: ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 16 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 2 Analyzing Problems

Many people describe themselves as intuitive problem solvers. They

see a problem; they trust their gut feeling; they immediately put a
solution into motion. When this hasty approach to problem solving
happens to work, it's usually because the problem is very easy, or
you just got lucky. This “Ready, FIRE, aim” approach to problem
solving is rarely useful, and people who employ it would more accu-
rately be described as impulsive rather than intuitive.

Good problem solvers take the time to analyze a problem that comes
their way. Before reacting with impulsivity to something such as an
overdue notice on a bill, a Closed sign on a store, or a lost hotel reser-
vation, a good problem solver takes a moment to examine all that is
happening in the situation before reacting. For example, in the case
of a lost hotel reservation, an experienced problem solver might con-
sider these (often obvious but overlooked) factors:
• Am I in the right hotel on the right day?
• Does someone else know the reservation system better?
Could he/she help me?
• Do I have the proper documentation to prove my reservation?
• I understand that this type of thing happens often and is almost
always resolved to the customer's satisfaction. I'm not the first
person in the world to face this problem!

The last factor is an important one in analyzing a problem—

realizing that what you’re facing probably isn't unique. There is a
solution available, and finding it is a matter of taking the proper
steps.

In this unit, you’ll practice answering questions about the details

of several problems. As you work through the exercises, challenge
yourself to think of other details present in each situation that might
help you solve the problems.

WALC 3 17 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

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 Analyzing Problems

Read this page of a phone bill and answer the questions that follow.

Previous Payment Total Balance Current Total

Balance Received Credits Forward Adjustments Balance Amt. Due

31.52 31.52 - 0.00 0.00 0.00 37.47 37.47

Billing period 8/01 - 8/31

Previous Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.52

Payments Received Through 7/31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.52
Balance Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.00
Monthly Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32.01
Local Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.16
State Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.04
Federal Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.26
Total Amount Due by 9/15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.47

For questions/concerns regarding your account, please call 1-555-555-2000.

1. How much money do you owe the phone company for the month of August?
a. $21.52
b. $33.01
c. $37.47

2. Do you owe any money from previous bills? Yes _____ No _____

3. Why are the amounts in the Current Balance and Total Amount Due boxes the same?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 18 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read this bank statement and answer the questions that follow.

BANKING INSTITUTION OF AMERICA, INC.

1200 Tress Street
Richmond, VA 01997
1-555-555-5482

Dear Customer,

An ATM charge of $ 3.00 has been applied to your

account (0123456789) due to out-of-area service fees.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Mr. Hank R. Crumb.

Thank you.

1. Why is the bank charging you $3.00?

a. The bank just feels like it.
b. It’s for out-of-area service fees.
c. You are overdrawn $3.00 on your account.

2. What do you think an out-of-area service fee might be?

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Which one of the following situations could explain the $3.00 fee?
a. You wrote a check for groceries for more money than you had in your account.
b. You were on vacation and had to withdraw money from a bank that was not the Banking
Institution of America, Inc.
c. The bank is merging with another bank and charging all customers $3.00.

WALC 3 19 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Your 401(k) retirement plan account at work has about $2000 in it. Under the plan’s rules, you are
allowed to borrow up to 10% of the balance. Your energy bill for a cold winter month is due in a
week and you don’t have a lot of cash on hand. The bill is $189.

1. If you borrowed the money from your 401(k) plan, would you have enough to pay the
energy bill?
a. no, because there are penalties associated with borrowing
b. yes, because it’s under 20%
c. yes, because your bill is $189 and you can borrow up to $200

2. Your company advises you not to borrow this money from your 401(k) plan. What do you
need to ask to understand why they are saying this?
a. “Why don’t you want me to borrow my own money?”
b. “What are the pros and cons to borrowing the money?”
c. “Can I take the day off to go and pay my energy bill?”

3. What could you do to avoid having to borrow from your retirement account in the future?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

You and your spouse are moving from your house into a smaller apartment. You are looking at
two apartments that you like. The first is a one-bedroom that rents for $400 per month. The
other is a two-bedroom that is $550 per month. You have three grown children with families.
Each family visits about twice a year and they like to stay with you.

1. What are the advantages of taking the larger apartment over the smaller one?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. If you and your spouse really like the smaller apartment, what can you do when your
children’s families visit?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 20 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read this receipt and answer the questions that follow.

Frank's Records
1942 Columbia Street
555-1350

2/16 2:25 PM Store 130

Qty. Item Price

1 Pixies - Surfer Blanca 0713 13.99
2 Best of Count Basie 6321 2/9.99
1 Ellery Eskelin - Jazz Noise 4207 17.99

SUBTOTAL 51.96
TAX 4.95
TOTAL 56.91
Cash 60.00
Change 3.09

1. What store is this receipt from?

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. How were the records paid for?

a. cash
b. credit card
c. traveler’s check

3. Which record did the customer buy two of?

a. Pixies
b. Count Basie
c. Ellery Eskelin

WALC 3 21 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You see the following listing in a local college bulletin for a computer class you’d like to take.
Your company offers a 100% tuition reimbursement benefit. Read this bulletin and answer the
questions that follow.

Microsof t Word Class

Join the computer world! In this class, you’ll learn to
set up pages and create, edit, save, and print docu-
ments. You’ll also learn to use various menu functions
such as inserting, formatting, and editing to create or
modify documents. This class is limited to 15 students.

Fee: $495
Days: M-T-Th
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Dates: Oct 1-Oct 22
Site: Mink Community College
Teacher: staff

1. How much will the class cost you? __________________________________________________

2. How many days will the class meet each week? ______________________________________

3. On what date will the class end? ____________________________________________________

4. How many hours will you be in class per week? ______________________________________

5. Where will the class meet? ________________________________________________________

6. Will you learn to type? ____________________________________________________________

7. How many students will be in the class? ____________________________________________

WALC 3 22 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

As a real estate agent, you get a 7% commission for selling a house. You recently sold a house for
$200,000, which was $12,000 less than the asking price. The buyer will pay the closing costs and
other fees amounting to about $2,500.

1. What was the selling price of the house?

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. As the agent, what will you get?

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. How much did the seller get?

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. How much will the buyer pay totally?

__________________________________________________________________________________

Late Friday, your boss asks you to prepare a report for her which she needs for a meeting next
Thursday morning. She wants the report by noon Wednesday to review. You know the report
will take a full day and a half to prepare. Sunday afternoon you get the flu and are unable to go
to the office on Monday.

1. How much time does your boss want to review the report?
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. If you start on the report immediately at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, what's the earliest you will have
the report ready?
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. If you can’t work on the report at the office, where’s another place you might finish it?
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 23 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read the following classified ad and answer the questions that follow.

300 HELP WANTED

SALESPERSON — AJAC
Teleservices. Our top sales-
people earn $350-$450 per
week. Average salespeople
earn $280 per week. Hot
market! Products in the
mortgage and financial
industry. Excellent benefits
for full-time employees after
90 days. Paid weekly. Only
professional, mature indi-
viduals need apply. 1st and
2nd shifts available. Please
call 1-800-322-3562, ext 246,
or fax 1-800-322-8992.

1. What will you sell? ________________________________________________________________

2. How could you find out more information about the products? ________________________

3. What can a top-notch salesperson expect to make in a month? __________________________

4. What kind of benefits do full-time salespeople receive? ________________________________

5. If you’re an average salesperson, what will you make each week? ______________________

WALC 3 24 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You manage an apartment complex with 50 two-bedroom and 75 three-bedroom apartments. The
smaller units rent for $375 per month and the larger ones are $500 per month. Each apartment
requires a one year lease. Prior to moving in, renters must pay one month’s rent and a one month
deposit equal to one month’s rent. Housebroken pets are allowed for an extra $150 deposit. Two
references are required. There is a laundromat in the apartment complex.

1. How many apartments do you have to oversee? ______________________________________

2. How much does a two-bedroom unit rent for per month? ______________________________

3. How much does it cost to rent a three-bedroom unit for a year? ________________________

4. What does it cost to have a pet at this complex? ______________________________________

5. What is the deposit for the smaller apartment? ________________________________________

6. How many references must a renter have? ____________________________________________

7. Where can a renter do laundry? ____________________________________________________

8. What is the deposit for the larger apartment? ________________________________________

9. If a renter wants to rent an apartment for six months, will you let him? ___________________

10. How many two-bedroom apartments do you have to manage? __________________________

11. A potential renter calls you and says she’d like to rent a larger apartment. She says she has
$900 and is ready to move in tomorrow. You say no. Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 25 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You’re recently divorced and would like to begin dating again. You see the following newspaper
ad that interests you. Answer the questions that follow.

Need Someone to Talk to?

Call 1-900-555-1111

$2.00 for the first minute and $.50 for each additional minute

Minimum of one minute charge

Meet friends in the area

Listen to personal ads

Call today!

1. What's the least amount of time you can be charged for a call?
a. one minute
b. two minutes
c. three minutes

2. What's the least amount of money this call will cost you?
a. $2.00
b. $2.50
c. $3.00

3. The ad says that you will be able to meet people from where?
a. locally
b. from any state
c. from around the world

WALC 3 26 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You want to buy a coat from a catalog for a family member. Here's the information you see:

Insulated Wool Parka

SYD’S CLOTHES CATALOG

Description
Zip-front
Full-length
100% Wool Shell
100% Polyester Lining and Insulation

Sizes
Men’s: S M L XL
Women’s: S M L XL
(1-800-555-2222 for Big & Tall Sizes)
Colors
Black
Teal
Navy Blue
Red
Gold

Price $69.99
(order more than one for $59.95 each —
Save $10 per item!)

1. How many sizes can you choose from? ______________________________________________

2. What number do you need to call about larger sizes? __________________________________

3. How many parkas do you have to order to get the discount? __________________________

4. How much would you save if you bought three coats? ________________________________

5. Is it possible to buy a purple parka? ________________________________________________

6. The family member wants a fleece-lined parka. Is this the one for him? __________________

WALC 3 27 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You want to schedule a family picture. You see this ad in the newspaper.

Goldman Studios
Fine Family and Professional Portraits
Monday thru Friday
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Call for evening and weekend appointments.

✓ $45.00 sitting fee, refunded at time of portrait

package purchase
✓ 50 print package available from $139.95,
including free 11”x14”

5656 Verde Street

555-3434

1. How many hours is the studio open each day?

a. six
b. seven
c. eight

2. What's the lowest cost package you can purchase? ____________________________________

3. How many pictures are included in the package? ____________________________________

4. How much extra do you pay for the 11”x14”? ________________________________________

5. How much is the sitting fee? ________________________________________________________

6. What do you need to do in order to have your picture taken on the weekend? ____________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 28 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You and a friend have lunch together. The server gives you your check.

LOU’S DINER
564 Shorn Blvd.
555-6539

Clerk 003 Date: 11/10

Item Qty Price

Chicken Salad Sandwich 1 5.50
Iced Tea 1 .85
Soup and Salad 1 4.95
Coffee 1 .65

Subtotal 11.95
Tax .87
Amount Due 12.82
Check 12.82

Thank you!

1. What is the total you have to pay?

a. $11.95
b. $5.50
c. $12.82

2. How much was the tax? __________________________________________________________

3. What was the more expensive meal? ________________________________________________

4. About how much would you tip the food server if you left 20%? ________________________

WALC 3 29 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read this prescription and answer the questions that follow.

Crowe Pharmacy
222 Arrow Drive
East Bluff, IL 61555
(309) 555-2222
doctor: Jones, Kevin

for: Berger, Shirley

TAKE FOSAMAX® (Alendronate Sodium
Tablets) WITH 6-8 OZ. OF PLAIN WATER AT
LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRST
FOOD, BEVERAGE, OR MEDICATION OF THE
DAY. DO NOT LIE DOWN FOR AT LEAST 30
MINUTES.
10MG Qty: 30 Prescription # 785023-569
3 REFILLS MSD 06/19/01
KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

1. What is this medicine called?

a. Kevin Jones
b. Fosamax®
c. Crowe

WALC 3 30 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

2. Who is this prescription for?

a. Kevin Jones
b. Fosamax®
c. Shirley Berger

3. Which doctor prescribed the medicine?

a. Dr. Crowe
b. Dr. Jones
c. Dr. Berger

4. How many tablets are in this prescription?

a. 10
b. 20
c. 30

5. Can this prescription be refilled? _____________ If so, how many times? ________________

6. What does Shirley need to know to order a refill of this medicine?

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. What time should Shirley take the medicine?

__________________________________________________________________________________

8. Should Shirley use coffee or juice to help her swallow one of these tablets? Why or why not?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. Why shouldn't Shirley take this medicine before she goes to bed at night?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 31 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read the hospital directory and answer the questions that follow.

Kanga Medical Center

DIRECTORY
Boden, Dr. Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Dentist
Center for Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G100
Day Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G25
Employee Health Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Johnson, Dr. Stephen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Internal Medicine
Kanga Area Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G75
Kanga Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Kanga Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Mangili, Dr. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Pediatrics
Prenatal Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G50
Social Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Surgery Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

1. Where would you go to see Dr. Mangili?

a. first floor
b. second floor
c. third floor

2. Which floor is the Center for Nutrition located on?

a. ground floor
b. first floor
c. second floor

3. Who is the doctor of internal medicine? ______________________________________________

4. If you needed to go to the Kanga Credit Union and the Kanga Laboratory, would you stay
on the same floor? ________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 32 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read this phone message from your doctor and answer the questions that follow.

MESSAGE

To John
From Dr. Walters
Of Mercy General
Telephone
In re: test results
Pager 555-1792

■ TELEPHONED ■
✓ PLEASE CALL
■ CAME TO SEE YOU ■ WILL CALL AGAIN
■
✓ WANTS TO SEE YOU ■
✓ IMPORTANT
■ RETURNED YOUR CALL ■
✓ PAGE

Date 4/20 Time 8:52 PM AM

1. Who is this message for?

a. Dr. Walters
b. John
c. Mercy General

2. What should you do now that you have received the message. Check one.
telephone the doctor __________ page the doctor __________

3. Did Dr. Walters call in the morning or the afternoon? __________________________________

WALC 3 33 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read the following schedule and answer the questions that follow.

BIG TOWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

1999
Date Opponent Location Time
Aug 24 Valley View HOME 8:00 PM
Sept 7 Lakeland AWAY 8:00 PM
Sept 14 Ontario HOME 8:00 PM
(Parent’s Day)
Sept 21 Pleasant Springs HOME 8:00 PM
Sept 28 Rockstar AWAY 8:00 PM
Oct 5 Mentville AWAY 8:00 PM
Oct 12 Jefferson HOME 8:00 PM
(Homecoming)
Oct 26 Lakeland HOME 8:00 PM
Nov 2 Fillmore AWAY 8:00 PM
Nov 9 Hayes HOME 8:00 PM
Nov 16 Spann Town HOME 8:00 PM
(Senior Day)
Nov 23 Mayes AWAY 8:00 PM

Call for tickets! 1-800-555-4758

1. Whose schedule is this?

a. Big Town's football team
b. Valley View’s team
c. Big Town’s basketball team

WALC 3 34 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

2. When do the games start?

a. eight o'clock at night
b. eight o'clock in the morning
c. eight o’clock in the afternoon

3. Who does Big Town play twice?

a. Lakeland
b. Spann Town
c. Mayes

4. What is a homecoming game?

a. a game where the players go home afterward
b. a game where alumni come to watch the game and be in a parade
c. a game where the quarterback yells, “Come home!” to his receivers

5. What season of the year does this schedule cover?

a. winter
b. spring
c. summer
d. autumn

6. Where would you go to watch the Big Town vs. Ontario game? ________________________

7. On what date does Big Town play Mentville? ________________________________________

8. What number should you call if you want tickets?

a. 1-800-555-4759
b. 1-800-555-4753
c. 1-800-555-4758

9. Who is Big Town playing on Parent’s Day, and what is the date?
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 35 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

Read this advertisement and answer the questions that follow.

Swanee Beach Resort and Spa

Rated in the Top Ten Fitness Spas by Fitness for Life Magazine

“Excellent” Rating by USA Spas and Resorts Journal

Five star cuisine rating by Chef Michael of Ritz Restaurant, Miami

Named “Best Decor” by Inside Resort Magazine

We’re located in beautiful Swanee, FL, only 30 miles up the coast from Miami.

Weekend packages start at $290 per person. Breakfasts are included.

Prices are based on double occupancy.

All major credit cards accepted.

Call us at 1-800-555-3400, or fax us at 1-800-555-3500.

Make your reservations now!

WALC 3 36 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

1. What is this an advertisement for?

a. restaurant
b. fitness spa
c. bed and breakfast

2. Who rated the spa in the top ten of fitness spas?

a. Fitness for Life magazine
b. USA Today
c. Chef Michael of the Ritz Restaurant

3. What restaurant rating did Swanee Resort’s cuisine receive?

a. ★★★★
b. ★★★
c. ★★★★★

4. What is the quality of the decor at this spa? How can you tell?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are the ways you can contact this spa?

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. What does the minimum package cost?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. What does based on double occupancy mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 37 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Analyzing Problems

You are going to your daughter's field hockey game today. The gates to the stadium open at 2:00
p.m. and the game starts at 3:00 p.m. Your tickets are in Section F, Row 8, Seats 36 and 37.

1. Who is going to the game?

a. you and someone else
b. just you
c. your son

2. Who is playing in the game?

a. your son
b. your daughter
c. your stepdaughter

3. What seats do you have?

a. Seats 36 and 37, Row 8, Section F
b. Seats 36 and 37, Row 19, Section F
c. Seats 38 and 39, Row 8, Section G

4. What time does the game start?

a. three o'clock in the afternoon
b. two o'clock in the afternoon
c. three o'clock in the morning

5. What time does the stadium open? __________________________________________________

6. Can you get into the game if you forget your tickets? __________________________________

7. Are seats in Row 8 probably farther away or closer to the action? ______________________

8. Is field hockey played on ice? ______________________________________________________

9. It’s autumn. What type of clothing should you wear to the game?
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 38 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 3 Understanding &
A p p l y i n g I n fo r m at i o n

As human beings we're plagued by fears. Most of them are small

(where did I put my keys!) and others are very serious and deep-
rooted (fear of illness or mental incapacity). Somewhere in between
these extremes lies a fear almost everyone seems to have these
days—the fear of being wrong.

Maybe it's the incredible amount of information that buzzes in and

out of our eyes and ears every day that convinces us that we have to
be experts at everything! The fear of being wrong causes many prob-
lems that could simply be avoided by asking the questions, “What
does this mean,” or “I don't quite understand that; could you repeat
it?” One of the keys to better problem solving is admitting when you
need more information or when you simply don't understand all the
facets of a complicated problem.

Here’s an experiment: ask an impulsive, knee-jerk problem solver to

reach into your toolbox and grab you a Rogers open-ended
socket driver. I bet he'll hand you a tool and say, “Here you go!” But
since there is no such tool, he won't be handing you the right thing.
It’s a silly example, of course, but close to the point. Being impulsive
often results in inaccuracies because you don't really understand the
vocabulary or details of the problem you're facing. Good problem
solvers take the time to understand new information that might be
part of the problem.

If you simply smile and nod while a banker, broker, or pension plan
administrator talks to you about risk-management, return on invest-
ment, or tax-sheltered earnings, you'll find yourself not only unen-
lightened, but perhaps lighter in the wallet. Successful problem
solvers ask for more information about something they know only a
little about.

In this unit, you’ll identify information that will potentially help you
solve problems. You'll also use information you might already know
to begin problem solving or problem analysis.

WALC 3 39 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

1. Your financial advisor suggests you move some of your money from one of your savings
accounts to another account to increase your earnings. He says fluctuating interest rates will
make you more money than fixed interest rates.

What is a fluctuating interest rate? ____________________________________________________

What is a fixed interest rate? ________________________________________________________
What will happen if you don't change anything? ______________________________________

2. You see an advertisement for a play. The tickets are listed at $30 each. When you buy the
tickets, the agent at the box office charges you $96 for three tickets.

Why do you think she might have charged you $6 more than you expected?
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Your grandniece and grandnephew are teenagers and live in another state. You don't know
their clothing sizes or preferences for birthday gifts.

What are some possible gifts you could send that wouldn't require knowing sizes or likes
and dislikes?
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________

4. You receive your phone bill and see that you have been charged with three long distance
calls to the same phone number in Ottawa. You don't know anyone in Ottawa.

What will happen if you send a note with your check explaining why you aren't paying for
the calls to Ottawa?
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You receive your bank statement and see that your balance is greater in your checkbook than
the bank’s balance.

What might happen if you don't resolve the difference?

a. You will always have a little more in your account.
b. You might be overdrawn, and the bank will charge your account an overdraft fee.
c. You have a good chance to win the lottery with that little extra money.

WALC 3 40 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

6. Your credit card bill indicates your balance is due December 15, and you have a grace period
of five days.

To avoid finance charges, your check must be received by:

a. 12/19
b. 12/20
c. 12/21
d. 12/22

What is a grace period? ______________________________________________________________

7. You just purchased an electric screwdriver from a catalog with a credit card. There is a lim-
ited warranty on the tool. When you receive the screwdriver, you discover that it doesn’t
work. You call the customer service number in the catalog, but it’s disconnected.

What will you do?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

8. You plan to purchase a new clothes dryer. You can buy one for $495, with 25% down, and 90
days same as cash; or, you can get one for the same price, with nothing down, and 120 days
with no interest.

Which is the better buy?

__________________________________________________________________________________

9. You want to buy a phone card. You can purchase a five-minute card for $6.50 or a ten-
minute card for $12.50.

Which is the better buy?

__________________________________________________________________________________

10. You just bought a new toaster and discovered it is broken. What will you do?

a. Give it to someone you don’t like too much.

b. Try to make the best toast you can given the circumstances.
c. Return it to the store where you bought it.

WALC 3 41 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

1. You want to rearrange your living room, but you aren't sure if you can move all the furniture
by yourself.

What might happen if you try to move the furniture by yourself? Choose two answers.
a. You could hurt yourself.
b. The room will be bigger.
c. It might take a long time.

How could you move the furniture safely? Choose two answers.
a. Ask a friend to help you.
b. Ask a family member to help you.
c. Hope it moves itself.

2. You and some people you work with are taking a co-worker out to lunch tomorrow.

What information do you need to know before you go? Choose two answers.
a. your friend's favorite meal
b. what time you'll go to lunch
c. what restaurant you're going to

What might happen if you don't have the information you need about meeting for lunch?
Choose two answers.
a. You might not make it on time.
b. You might go to the wrong restaurant.
c. You might order the wrong food.

3. Your boss asks you to complete a project as soon as you can.

What are some questions you might ask about the project? Choose two answers.
a. “When exactly will the project need to be finished?”
b. “Will I get a raise if I do a good job?”
c. “Can I get help from co-workers if I need it?”

What might happen if you don’t ask good questions about the project?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 42 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

4. You’d like to clean your bathroom today. You realize you don't have any bathroom cleaner
in the cupboard. You don't want to take the time to go to the store.

What is something else you can use to clean the bathroom?

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. One of your co-workers has a much faster computer than yours. You’re using it while she is
on vacation. You accidentally open a file that shows the company's confidential salary infor-
mation for all employees. You know this person shouldn't have this information.

What might happen if you don't say anything to anyone about this file?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What might happen if you report this information to a supervisor?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You've been having someone from the neighborhood come in and help you with housework
once a week. You think you pay this person very well for the work he does. Over the past
couple of weeks, though, you haven't been able to find valuables like an antique pocket
watch and some of your jewelry. You've known this person for a long time and have always
known him to be very trustworthy.

What are some things you could do before jumping to conclusions about this person?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What are some questions you could ask this person about the missing items that wouldn't
make him feel defensive?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 43 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

1. You have invited several friends to a dinner party. One friend is a vegetarian, one is allergic
to dairy products, and one doesn't like tossed salads. Which foods listed below would be
good to serve if you want to fix one meal for all these guests? Choose all appropriate
answers.

a. roast beef
b. carrots and celery
c. cottage cheese
d. mixed fruits
e. pasta with marinara sauce
f. shrimp cocktail

2. Your sister loves surprises and family get-togethers. You want to arrange a surprise birthday
party for her at your house. What do you need to do to arrange the party for her? Choose
all logical answers.

a. Find out when your sister is available.

b. Tell your sister about the party.
c. Decide what to serve.
d. Invite the guests.
e. Figure out how to make sure your sister arrives on time without knowing about
the party.

3. You were in your friend’s wedding party years ago. You haven't seen the couple for years,
but you hear they live in different states now.

What could have happened since you last saw them?

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. You want to move to a smaller home. You won't be able to fit all your furniture into your
new place.

What can you do with the extra furniture?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 44 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

5. You want to buy a birthday present for your cousin. She’s lost a lot of weight lately, so she
needs new clothes. She usually wears casual pants and tops. You also know the colors she
likes to wear.

What other information do you need to have before you buy her a present?
__________________________________________________________________________________

What could happen if you buy her clothes that don't fit her?
__________________________________________________________________________________

If you're not comfortable buying clothes for her, how else could you help her get clothes that
fit her?
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Two families of your relatives live near you. Each family has asked you to spend Thanks-
giving with them. You enjoy being with each family, but you don't want to have to visit
both of them on the same day.

What choices do you have for Thanksgiving Day?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What other information would help you decide what to do for Thanksgiving?
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You're rehashing a recent football game with some friends. You disagree about which player
scored the winning touchdown.

How could you settle this disagreement?

__________________________________________________________________________________

8. A neighbor's dog is allowed outdoors without a leash, and it often relieves itself in your
yard. You've complained about it several times to the dog's owner, but nothing changes.

What could you do to keep the dog out of your yard?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 45 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

1. You want to lower your blood pressure and improve the functioning of your heart and
lungs. Of these suggestions, which make sense for you? Choose the correct answers.

a. Do aerobic exercise at least three times a week.

b. Walk two miles a day.
c. Smoke exceedingly.
d. Eat foods low in fat and cholesterol.
e. Eliminate alcoholic beverages.
f. Take medication.

2. You live alone and want to avoid accidents. What are some ways you can change your home
so it is safer? Choose the suggestions that apply to you.

a. Install a handrail on the stairway.

b. Don’t put non-skid mats under area rugs.
c. Keep your driveway or sidewalks clear.
d. Install and frequently check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
e. Keep doors and windows unlocked.
f. Keep drapes closed at night.
g. Don't smoke in bed or lying on the couch.

3. You bend over to pick something up and feel a twinge in your back. When you stand up, it
is painful.

What might have happened? ______________________________________________________

What should you do? ______________________________________________________________
What is the correct way to pick something up? ________________________________________

4. It's hurricane season and a tropical storm is brewing. You live near the coast.

How can you secure your belongings and prepare your family if the storm gets destructive?
__________________________________________________________________________________
What information should you have? ________________________________________________
What choices do you have? ________________________________________________________

WALC 3 46 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

5. You want your neighborhood to be safe for the kids when they trick-or-treat. Many of your
neighbors don't have kids at home anymore, but they are grandparents.

What do you need to do to rally support for your idea?

__________________________________________________________________________________

How could you involve the grandparents in your neighborhood?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What kinds of activities can you arrange so the kids and your neighbors enjoy the evening?
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You're going on a vacation with a tour group. The brochure suggests getting in shape for the
hiking and walking you'll be doing on the tour.

How will you prepare?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What resources are available in your community to help you prepare?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What information do you need to know from the tour group before you begin?
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You started on a diet and want to lose ten pounds. Your doctor suggests you take vitamin
supplements and gives you a list of ten to take throughout the day. You don't think you'll
remember to take them at the times your doctor prescribed.

What can you do?

__________________________________________________________________________________

Who might be able to help you?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 47 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

1. You like to take adventure vacations. You and a friend have signed up for a hiking trip
through the northern mountains of Costa Rica. Both of you know very little about the
weather or the terrain.

What might happen if you don’t investigate the weather and terrain?
a. You might get lost.
b. You might not pack the right clothing or equipment.
c. You might not have anywhere to stay.

How do you investigate about a country you're to visit?

a. Go to the library, use the Internet, or buy a travel book about the country.
b. Don’t study. Just assume that you know best.
c. Don't worry. Your travel guide will tell you everything you need to know.

2. You are just beginning to understand the game of football. The referee calls one team
offside and assesses them a penalty.

What do you think offside might mean?

a. A player runs onto the sidelines.
b. A player moves forward at the line of scrimmage before a play is initiated.
c. A player runs into the wrong end zone.

What’s the best thing to do when you don't know the meaning of a sports term?
a. Ask someone who really knows the game.
b. Call a sports commentator on your local TV station.
c. Just watch and hope you'll figure it out eventually.

3. Florence Griffith-Joyner was an Olympic gold medalist in track who died of suffocation
after experiencing a seizure while sleeping. She was 38 years old.

What else would you like to know to understand her death better? Choose two answers.
a. how her eating habits contributed to her death
b. how she grew her fingernails to be six inches long
c. what family history or drug regimen might have been factors in her death

WALC 3 48 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

How would authorities be able to investigate her cause of death?

a. Do an autopsy.
b. Take a family health history from her father’s and mother's families.
c. all of the above

4. You want to sign up for an aerobics course. You don't know if you should take a basic
aerobics course, a step aerobics course, or a water aerobics course.

What do you need to do to make the best decision? Choose two answers.
a. Close your eyes and pick a name out of a hat.
b. Talk to your physician about each one.
c. Try each one and then decide.

What other information do you need to gather to decide? Choose two answers.
a. the aerobic difficulty of each class
b. the type of clothing required for each class
c. how well-dressed the other participants are

5. You think you and your spouse might enjoy taking an ocean liner cruise. Many of your
friends have taken one, but they've all gone to different destinations.

What do you need to find out to make a decision about your destination?
a. the size of the boat, the name of the captain, and the cost per person
b. the cost per person, the activities at the ports of call, and the length of the cruise
c. the activities aboard the boat, the activities at the ports of call, and the cost and length
of the cruise

What do you need to find out to plan for the major costs of the trip?
a. round trip airfare or mileage to and from the ship, cost of the cruise, and cost of
activities in the ports of call
b. what new clothes you'll need, the cost of drinks in port, and the cost of airport parking
c. if your kids will give you the cruise for your anniversary

What are some things you need to bring with you on an ocean liner cruise?

___________________________________ ___________________________________

___________________________________ ___________________________________

WALC 3 49 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Understanding & Applying Information

6. You want to spend this beautiful autumn day outside. You enjoy being with people, getting
some exercise, and doing a variety of activities.

How should you plan your day to provide for all of the above considerations?
a. Golf 36 holes of golf with your best friend.
b. Go bowling first.
c. Drive to a nearby nature preserve with some friends. Call ahead to go horseback riding,
canoeing, and picnicking.

What else would you like to know about the nature preserve?
a. if the leaves are changing
b. the cost of various activities and the entrance fee
c. the names of the rangers

What are some other outdoor activities you can do with people?
a. Watch a football game.
b. Play a game of bridge.
c. Play horseshoes.

7. You just bought your grandson a new mountain bike. Now you can go biking together.
He wears a helmet and wonders why you don’t.

What should you say?

a. “Don’t tell me what to do!”
b. “Thanks for reminding me. We should both wear helmets if we’re going to ride.”
c. “Only babies wear helmets. Are you still a baby?”

You ride up behind some people on the bike path. They are taking up the whole path. What
can you say to them?
a. “Get out of our way!”
b. “Excuse us, please, we’re coming through.”
c. “We’re going to tell the ranger if you don’t move out of our way instantly.”

What are some safety concerns you should check for before you ride a bike?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 50 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 4 Pa r a phr asing
Summarizing
&

Perhaps the most automatic skills our brain uses to solve problems
are paraphrasing and summarizing. A person whose metacognitive
problem-solving process doesn't include an automatic filter for
restating problems and boiling them down to their salient, or ob-
vious points is at a real disadvantage. As problem solvers, we need
to automatically look at challenging, unfamiliar information and
rearrange or restate it so our minds can process the facts in a familiar
way.

Many people consider paraphrasing and summarizing to be syn-

onyms. Although both skills allow us to process information in
order for it to be more useful, there is a distinct difference. When we
paraphrase, we use synonyms and words familiar to us to restate and
simplify complicated sentences and difficult vocabulary.
Summarizing allows us to reduce a large volume of information into
its most important points. A daily to-do list is basically a
summary of our activities for an entire day. If a boss asks you to
summarize an important phone call you took from a client, it’s
imperative that you are able to relay the conversation to your boss
clearly, correctly, and gracefully.

In this unit, you’ll practice paraphrasing information in problems by

choosing alternate vocabulary and restating sentences in your own
words. These small steps are the kind of practice required to make
paraphrasing skills an automatic metacognitive process.

You'll also practice summarizing by pulling only the most important

information contained in a problem and ignoring factors that aren't
related to a solution. As you become more skilled at summarizing
information, you will find yourself solving problems quicker and
with less confusion.

WALC 3 51 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

1. You receive a notice from the bank that says, “There are insufficient funds in your account to
cover the checks you've written.”

What's another way to say that?

a. Your checking account is in good shape.
b. You don't have enough money in your checking account.
c. You can go ahead and write checks.

What word describes the status of your checking account?

a. fortified
b. withdrawn
c. overdrawn

2. You are working on your budget because you're considering buying a new car. Currently,
you pay $250 a month for your car. The car you're looking at would cost about $300 a
month. You'll be able to afford it if you don't increase your spending on other things in
your budget.

What best summarizes this situation?

a. You watch your budget carefully.
b. You can't afford a new car.
c. You can afford to buy a new car if you watch your budget carefully.

What's another way to say, “Your car payment will increase $50 per month”?
a. Your new car costs $50 more a month than your old car.
b. Your new car costs about the same as your old car.
c. Your new car payment is $50 a month.

3. You see the following sign at your bank:

All noncustomers of First Bank will be required

to pay a $3 service charge for each
check cashed.

What's another way to say that information?

a. Anyone who cashes a check has to pay $3.
b. There is no charge for check cashing.
c. If you aren't a customer, you have to pay for check cashing.

WALC 3 52 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

4. You get a notice from the phone company that reads, “If we do not receive payment in full
by May 13, your phone service will be disconnected.”

What's another way to say that?

__________________________________________________________________________________

The second part of the notice reads, “If service is discontinued, you may incur additional
fees for reconnection of service.” What's another way to say that?
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You have an insurance premium of $150 to pay on the 21st of next month. There is a penalty
for making a late payment. You often forget about this bill.

What's the important information you need to remember?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. A friend wants some information about an investment. She asks you to call the bank for her.
The person at the bank says, “We’re having a special on Certificates of Deposit. The current
rate is 5.9% for a three-month CD and 6% for a six-month CD.”

What would you say to relay this message to your friend?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You receive your credit card statement and notice something is wrong. There is a charge on
your account for $200 to a music store. You know you didn't make this purchase and think
someone else might be using your number. You don't think you should pay for this pur-
chase. Pretend you're calling your credit card company and explain the situation to them.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 53 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

1. Your boss says, “You're not the slowest worker in the department, but you're not exactly fast,
either.”

What's a better way to say that?

a. “Why are you so slow?”
b. “What's the matter with you?”
c. “I'd like you to work a little faster.”

2. You like to keep your radio on while you're at your desk. A co-worker next to you says,
“You think it's great to listen to that radio. What about the rest of us? You just don't care
about anyone but yourself.”

What does your co-worker want you to do?

a. Play a different radio station.
b. Ask your co-workers' permission before you play your radio.
c. Take your co-workers to lunch.

3. You receive the following memo from the owner of your company: “We've experienced a
recent rise in sales, coupled with a decline in overall expenses. The net result has had a
positive impact on our bottom line.”

What’s the best restatement of this memo.

a. Our sales are up and our expenses are down. We're making more profit.
b. We're selling less and spending more. We need to make more profit.
c. If we keep spending so much, this company will sink.

4. You accuse a friend of spending her money foolishly. Your friend replies, “I wouldn't talk if
I were you.”

What does your friend mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s a more polite way to say, “Don’t spend your money foolishly”?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 54 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

5. A friend of yours is looking for a job as a receptionist. You see this want ad below.

RECEPTIONIST WANTED
Mailing company seeks take-charge, detail-oriented person. Must be articulate, have
good grammar skills, and be able to handle a variety of tasks. Duties include main
switchboard, data entry, and appointment scheduling. Must be computer literate.
Competitive salary and benefits. Call Pat Kiyoto (900) 555-7177 or fax (615) 555-7178.

Summarize what you would say on the phone to tell your friend about this job opportunity.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Your boss tells you the following information during your performance review:

• You get along well with your co-workers.

• You are punctual.
• You are rarely sick or out of the office for personal reasons.
• Your errors have cost the company lots of money.
• You will have another performance review in one month.

Summarize what you would say to a good friend to summarize your performance review.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Matt, a young friend, asks your advice about choosing a career. He enjoys working with
computers. He often modifies software programs to suit his needs. Many of his friends ask
him to problem-solve troubles with their computer hardware and software. Matt is also an
exceptional writer. He has excellent grammar skills, and he writes in a clear style that's easy
to understand. No one gets lost when Matt writes the directions for going someplace!

What types of careers would you suggest to Matt?

_____________________________________ ______________________________________
_____________________________________ ______________________________________

WALC 3 55 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

1. Your friend says, “I don't have a free weekend for two months, and then it's holiday time.”

What could she mean?

a. I don't have time to visit for at least four months.
b. Let's get together for the holidays.
c. I can't visit until after the holidays.
d. Why don't you visit me?

2. Your son-in-law lost his job. Your daughter tearfully told you the story and she’s not sure
they’ll be able to meet all of their financial obligations.

What might your daughter really be saying?

a. She's hoping you'll help her financially.
b. She needs someone to understand and listen.
c. She'd like to get your advice on how to handle their financial situation.
d. all of the above

3. You hear a man's voice behind you say, “Down in front, bud. We can't see back here.”

Why is he saying this? ____________________________________________________________

What is a better way for him to handle the situation? __________________________________

4. You attend your first high school class reunion in 20 years. One of your classmates says, “I’d
recognize you anywhere!”

What does she mean by this? ______________________________________________________

5. You've been invited to attend a political fund-raiser in the governor's mansion. It’s a
black-tie affair.

What is a black-tie affair? ____________________________________________________________

6. You've been asked to bring dessert to a family dinner. Your family knows you'd rather cook
than bake, so you're upset they asked you to bake something. You've mentioned your pref-
erence several times but nothing changes.

What's another way to make your preference known?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 56 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

7. Your son's science teacher speaks highly of your son's work. His teacher particularly likes
the questions he asks in class and his willingness to discuss class topics.

How will you summarize the conference to your son?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

8. Your parents are recently retired. Your mom dove into hobbies and projects she's put off
doing for years. She's busy every day and is often gone for the entire day. Your dad has
a hobby, but it doesn't take him away from home very often. In fact, he's upset that your
mom’s away so much. He came to see you after he'd had a serious disagreement with your
mom about her schedule.

What is your dad's complaint?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. You are recently divorced. Your friend insists on introducing you to her best friend and
hopes you two will hit it off. You're not ready to make conversation with a stranger, much
less get back into the dating scene. You're getting used to being single again and find you
like that lifestyle very much. You know your friend means well so you don't want to hurt
her feelings.

How can you tell her about your decision?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

10. Your brother has recently remarried. His grown children do not like his new wife. You sat
with your nieces at the reception and calmly listened to their complaints. During the recep-
tion, one daughter criticized your brother's wife so that others could hear. Your brother and
niece fought, and your mother got involved. Everyone became angry with you for leaving
the scene.

Write a sentence to summarize the incident at the reception.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 57 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

1. Your physician says your cholesterol is too high.

What does that mean?

a. You weigh too much.
b. You are diabetic.
c. You are eating too much fat.

2. Your physician tells you to lower your fat intake to about 30 grams a day.

What’s another way of saying this?

a. Read food labels to find out the saturated fat content and adjust your fat intake
accordingly.
b. Lose 30 pounds.
c. Eat less sugar and more red meat.

3. You pass a sign on the highway that says, “Our state has zero tolerance for drunk drivers.”

What does that mean?

a. “We don't like drunk drivers.”
b. “We'll give you a ticket for being drunk and driving.”
c. “We’ll give you our stiffest penalty for drunk driving.”

4. You have a small mole on your hand that has changed color and size recently. You go to
your doctor who says she wants to do a biopsy to find out its status.

What might biopsy mean?

a. She'll put a patch over it to see if it changes color.
b. She'll remove it to see if it is malignant.
c. She'll put acid on it to make it go away.

The biopsy report comes back and your physician leaves you this message: “The biopsy
was negative.” What does that message mean?
a. “You have cancer.”
b. “The results are nonmalignant. Your biopsy did not show any cancer cells.”
c. “The results are inconclusive.”

WALC 3 58 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

5. Fitness experts say that a 12-minute mile is better than a 14-minute mile or a 10-minute mile.

What do they mean?

a. Don't ride your bike too hard.
b. Walk just one mile a day.
c. A quick, steady walking pace is preferred over a too rigorous or too casual pace.

Fitness experts also say that walking causes less hard impact than running. What does that
mean?
a. Walking isn't as good for you as running.
b. Walking isn't as hard on your skeletal and muscle structures as running.
c. Running and walking are just as easy on you as biking.

6. You receive a call from the fitness center regarding your membership. It has expired and
you have a one-month grace period before you have to reapply and pay an extra start-up fee.

What does this mean?

a. You missed your deadline to pay your membership, and if you don't pay within a month,
you'll have to pay more money.
b. They want you to sign up again.
c. You can't be a member anymore.

What's important about this message?

a. You used to be a fitness club member.
b. You need to take a new class.
c. You have a time line to meet before you're penalized.

7. You had your house tested for radon. The test came back positive.

What does this mean?

a. Your house has a radar detector.
b. Your house contains a dangerous, odorless gas.
c. Your house has been condemned.

Why are these test results important?

a. You will need to rid your house of radon in order to live in it safely.
b. The city will give you a fine.
c. No one will want to come to visit you because your house smells terrible.

WALC 3 59 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

1. You have a collection of limited edition porcelain figurines. You don't have one of the orig-
inal choir boys, made in 1915, in your collection. Only 500 of these figurines were made,
and now they are only available from antique dealers or secondary market dealers.

What is a limited edition?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What is an antique dealer?

__________________________________________________________________________________

Summarize the above paragraph in one sentence.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. You volunteer to tutor at your neighborhood elementary school. The principal tells the
volunteers that information about the children who are considered slow learners “must
not go beyond these doors.”

What does the principal mean by slow learner?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What does the principal mean when he says, “must not go beyond these doors”?
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. You decide to go on a one day mystery bus trip to an unknown destination. You have to
dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes. The package price is $25 , but lunch
and snacks are on your own. You want to invite a friend to go on the trip.

What does it mean that lunch and snacks are on your own?
__________________________________________________________________________________

What do you say to your friend?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 60 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

4. After your exercise class today, you went to your doctor for a volunteer screening for heart
rate, blood pressure, temperature, etc. The nurse says you are as fit as a fiddle.

What does she mean by as fit as a fiddle?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. After your grandson's school musical, the people seated next to you enthusiastically say,
“The show went off without a hitch!”

What's another way to say that? Circle every logical answer.

a. The performance was error-free.
b. The group was well-rehearsed.
c. The performance flowed smoothly together.
d. The performance had its lapses.

6. The softball game took a long time to finish. It seemed like the players “moved slower than
molasses in January.”

What does that mean?

a. The players responded too quickly.
b. The players didn't understand what to do.
c. The players took their time.

7. Your friend calls to ask if you'd be interested in going to Ireland. The cost of the ten-day trip
is $2300, round trip, double occupancy, taxes and tips not included.

What are other ways to say round trip and double occupancy?
round trip: ________________________________________________________________________
double occupancy: __________________________________________________________________

What is not another way to say $2300?

a. twenty three thousand dollars
b. two thousand three hundred dollars
c. twenty three hundred dollars

WALC 3 61 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Paraphrasing & Summarizing

8. You are watching a baseball game on TV. The announcer says, “The bases are loaded; there’s
no more room to put anyone on base.” Then a player gets a hit and the announcer says,
“The batter hit a grand-slam home run—he’s cleared the bases!”

What does bases are loaded mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What does grand-slam home run mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

The announcer then says, “They should have pulled that pitcher before he gave up that
dinger.” What do you think he means by these two words?
pulled: __________________________________________________________________________
dinger: __________________________________________________________________________

9. The local Boys and Girls Club is having a hobby day to introduce children to a variety of
hobbies. They ask you to demonstrate and teach children paper making. The organizers
want an interactive program so the children have something to take home.

What does interactive mean in this context?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Describe what your interactive paper-making program might be like.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 62 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 5 M a k i n g I n fe r e n c e s

Some problem-solving skills are more easily taught than others. For
example, there are specific strategies one can use to paraphrase infor-
mation or even analyze a problem. A skill like making inferences,
however, isn't so easily approached. But an inference is often a key
factor in how you will approach a problem. A correct inference can
be a solution in itself. For example, consider that a friend of yours
has been treating you very rudely lately. If you ignored the situation,
it probably wouldn't get any better, but if you examined the situation
closely, you could certainly make some inferences about why she
might be mad.

An inference is a guess, basically. Sometimes our guesses are correct;

other times we're way off base. Many situation comedies base their
whole plots on inferences gone wrong. The key to making inferences
is not to jump into the deep end with an assumption. Dip your toe
in the water instead and keep examining the problem until you've
made the most educated guess possible. In the example above, you
might jump to the conclusion that your friend is just a nasty person
who enjoys being mad at you. But if you look closer, you'll probably
infer a different reason for your friend's anger. Did you break a
promise to her, borrow something and never return it, or say some-
thing behind her back? A good inference is based on a fact. The key
is to find that fact and connect it with your inference.

A good inference is often based on more than just words. Other peo-
ples' body language, gestures, or eye contact can help you make an
inference as well. When you get dressed up for a special occasion
and ask, “How do I look?” you'd better listen and watch carefully for
your real answer.

In this unit, you'll make inferences in a variety of situations.

Consider all the factors available to make your best guess about
what's going on.

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 Making Inferences

1. A friend treats you to lunch at a nice restaurant. The atmosphere is pleasant and the waiter
is friendly. Your food is served promptly and it's delicious. Your friend pays the bill with a
credit card. The waiter looks unhappy as he reads the signed receipt.

What might explain the waiter's expression?

a. His shoes hurt.
b. He can't read the signature on the receipt.
c. He expected a bigger tip.

2. You're shopping for a leather purse as a gift for someone special. Some purses are on a table
with a sign that says 50% off. You ask the salesperson, “How do these purses compare to the
ones that aren't on sale?” She says, “These sale purses are okay, especially if you don't mind
scratches or loose stitching. Most people don't notice.”

What does she mean? Choose two answers.

a. The sale purses aren't as good as the others.
b. You should buy a sale purse to save money.
c. These purses are just as good as the others.

3. In a job interview, you ask about salary. The interviewer says, “Our salaries are competitive,
considering our benefit package.”

What does that mean?

a. We don't offer very many benefits, but our salaries are higher than other companies'
salaries.
b. Our employees compete with each other for salaries.
c. We offer better benefits than other companies, but our salaries may be lower than other
companies' salaries.

4. You see an ad for new pianos. It says, “90 days, no interest, no payments to qualified buy-
ers. Call store for details.”

Can anyone buy one of these pianos on credit? ________________________________________

How do you know?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Making Inferences

5. You ordered a sweater from an old catalog. When you get the sweater, you notice the price
for the sweater is less than you expected.

What might be the reason?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Read this ad and answer the questions that follow.

Mariel’s Custom Framing

Free estimates
50% deposit required
Call 555-9879

Do you have to pay for an estimate? How can you tell?

__________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think the framers charge such a large deposit for their work?
__________________________________________________________________________________

Does Mariel’s Framing have only certain sizes of frames? How can you tell?
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You offered to balance a friend's checkbook for her while she's in the hospital. You notice
two deposits on her bank statement that aren't listed in her checkbook.

What might have happened?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What will you do if you notice that her account is overdrawn?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 65 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Making Inferences

1. Your co-worker's annual review is today. She's prepared a list of her accomplishments but
she’s worried she won't get a raise because one of her projects was over budget. Her review
lasted about 45 minutes. When she came back to her desk she was smiling.

What might explain her expression? Choose two answers.

a. She got a positive review and a raise.
b. She got a positive review.
c. She was fired.

2. You showed your new design to your boss. You had worked on this for weeks and thought
this was your best work ever. Your boss looked at the design and asked you to take it to the
engineering department immediately. As you were leaving, you heard him call the engineer-
ing manager and tell him that an ingenious design was on its way.

What did he think of your design?

a. He thought it was wonderful.
b. He wanted an engineer's opinion because he wasn't sure it would work.
c. It was satisfactory.

3. You'd like to do some volunteer work for the Hospice Group in a neighboring community.
You told your friend that you sent for information and an application. Your friend said you
should volunteer closer to home and that your home community needs your talents with
fund-raising events. You noticed her arms were folded across her chest.

What message was she sending?

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. You hired a new assistant who will file confidential salary information. The man who was
in that position moved to a different department. However, he'd like to continue filing the
salary information rather than letting the new assistant assume the responsibility.

What message is he sending?

__________________________________________________________________________________

Do you think he is happy about the hiring of the new assistant?

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Making Inferences

5. You eagerly accepted several additional responsibilities at work. Your boss said, “Thanks,
you'll be handsomely rewarded.”

What does she mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You asked a co-worker to head up a new project. You believe she's capable. She responded
by saying, “I feel like a square peg in a round hole.”

How does she feel about her ability to tackle the project?
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. The company your son works for seems very progressive. For example, there are no limits
on how much vacation or sick leave an employee can take.

What does progressive mean in this context?

__________________________________________________________________________________

8. Your pager goes off for the third time this evening. Your spouse says, “You're married to
your work.”

What does your spouse mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________

9. You received a promotion recently. When the promotion was announced, a co-worker said,
“Some people have all the luck.”

What is your co-worker implying?

__________________________________________________________________________________

10. You have the qualifications for a job you read about in the classified ads. The ad says, “qual-
ified, serious inquiries only please.” You have a great job but you’re curious about this one.

Given the information in the ad, should you apply?

Yes _____ No _____

WALC 3 67 Copyright
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2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Making Inferences

1. Your mother-in-law invites you to lunch. During the lunch at a fancy restaurant, all she talks
about is how concerned she is about her finances.

What will your mother-in-law expect you to do when the waiter brings the bill?
a. pay your half of the bill
b. pay the whole bill
c. pay the gratuity

What do you think your mother-in-law really meant to communicate to you?

a. that she would like some help financially
b. that she likes to complain about money
c. that she wants to sell her house and move to a different city

2. A person you sit next to at work keeps talking about how she'd like to celebrate her wedding
anniversary, but she can't find anyone to baby-sit for her two children.

Why do you think she keeps talking about this?

a. She likes to talk about her kids.
b. She wants to be your friend.
c. She wants to find a baby-sitter.

What do you think she really wants you to do?

a. just sit and listen to her
b. offer to baby-sit
c. offer to find a baby-sitter

3. You've just finished a delicious dinner you and your spouse cooked together. You have sev-
eral guests and they get up to help you in the kitchen. When you've finished, you all gather
to relax. One guest says, “Gee, I really have a sweet tooth.”

What does this guest mean?

a. She has a toothache.
b. She likes sweets.
c. Her dog is named Sweet Tooth.

You haven't served dessert yet. What do you think this guest really means?
a. She'd like some dessert.
b. She saw dessert on the counter.
c. She is offering to make some coffee.

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 Making Inferences

4. You have several friends who smoke. You'd like them to quit. You often send them articles
about smoking or tell them about a documentary you watched, but you've never mentioned
to them how much their smoking bothers you.

What do your friends think about the articles you send and the conversations you have?
a. You are a nice person with many interests.
b. You are thinking about smoking, too.
c. You are concerned about their smoking habit.

What do you think your friends will do now?

a. They probably won’t do anything.
b. They'll quit just because you want them to.
c. They'll ask you if you want to start smoking.

5. You're getting dressed for a party. Your wife comes into the bedroom and says, “Are you
wearing that to the party?”

Why do you think your wife asked you that?

a. She wants to dress in something that matches what you’re wearing.
b. She's not sure what you're wearing is appropriate.
c. She likes what you're wearing.

What do you think your wife would like you to do?

a. pick something else to wear
b. ask her opinion about what you should wear
c. just wear what you already have on

6. “Pretzel sure is whining a lot,” you say to your daughter as the dog stands at the door.

What does your daughter think the comment about your dog probably means?
a. Pretzel needs to go out.
b. Pretzel is sad.
c. Pretzel is a pest.

What do you think your daughter might say next?

a. “Hey, who's Pretzel?”
b. “Get Pretzel.”
c. “I'll take Pretzel out.”

WALC 3 69 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Making Inferences

1. Your recent hearing test showed a moderate hearing loss in one ear and a less significant loss
in the other ear. The audiologist said, “Two hearing aids are the preferred treatment, but one
aid should help significantly. It’s your choice.”

What does the audiologist mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. You are 30 pounds overweight, and your doctor says you need to begin a diet and an exer-
cise program right away. He gives you information and a phone number for the Excell
Fitness and Rehab Center. He'll see you again in three months.

What do you think your doctor expects will happen during the three months?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. You have arthritis and it's difficult for you to move around, but your doctor feels you should
exercise regularly. She says water exercises are less harmful for joints than walking or
biking.

What exercises will the doctor likely recommend for you?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Your friend is in the hospital trying to get her diabetes regulated. A sign on her door says,
“Note to Visitors: Restricted Diet—No Food Allowed in Room.”

What is the reason for the sign?

a. Harmful food could be brought in.
b. Bringing in food makes more work for the hospital staff.
c. The patient's food intake is being monitored.

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 Making Inferences

5. Read this advertisement and answer the questions that follow.

Harbor Crest Village

Catered Living
Personalized Service as Special as You Are
Catered living residents are provided with daily assistance in the areas of their
lives where it's needed, such as meal preparation, monitoring medications,
housekeeping, and physical therapy. Residents live in their own apartments
on a floor with special amenities, including their own dining room and the
security of a 24-hour emergency nursing response service. Call 555-2300
today for complete information.

Would you have to share an apartment? Yes _____ No _____

Does someone make sure you take your high blood pressure medicine? How do you know?
__________________________________________________________________________________

Are all meals prepared for you? How do you know?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What could you do if you become ill in the middle of the night?
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. After a recent fall, you begin physical therapy. The physical therapist recommends you rent
a walker rather than buy one since your recovery is “like the speed of lightning.”

What does that mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. There is a blizzard in progress, and the owner of your apartment complex calls to see if you
need anything. He says, “Don't venture out; you can't see your hand in front of your face!”

What does he mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 71 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Making Inferences

1. You're on the phone purchasing tickets for a concert. You're going to pick up the tickets at
the box office. The customer service person tells you to make sure you bring a photo I.D.
when you pick up the tickets.

Why would you need to bring a photo I.D?

a. to prove your age
b. to prove you are the person who ordered the tickets
c. to make sure you get good seats

2. You're planning a vacation at a resort hotel. The brochure says, “Check-in time is 3:00 p.m.
No early check-ins. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m. Extra fee for late check-out.”

Why do you think you can't check in early?

a. Most people don't want to check in until that time.
b. The hotel never makes special arrangements.
c. The rooms won't be cleaned and ready until that time.

How do you know the hotel discourages people from checking out late?
a. It charges an extra fee to discourage people.
b. It doesn't practice good customer service.
c. There is a law against it.

3. You see this sign on the golf course:

No fivesomes allowed.
Let faster players play through.

Why don't you think fivesomes are allowed?

a. Because four is a good, even number.
b. A group of five plays too slowly and will hold up play.
c. It's difficult for five players to get along well.

What do you think would happen if slower players didn't let faster players play through?
a. The slower players would get mad.
b. The golf course would get ruined because too many people would be on it.
c. Faster players would get mad because they'd have to wait.

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 Making Inferences

4. You've rented a video. There's a sticker on it that reads, “Be kind. Please rewind.”

What does this mean? Why would you need to do that?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You're playing cards with a partner against two other people. When your hands are dealt,
your partner picks up his cards, smiles, and winks at you quickly.

What could this gesture mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Your spouse collects antique postcards. One afternoon your spouse says, “I saw a beautiful
set of cards in a store today but I just couldn't spend that much on myself, especially with
Christmas coming up so soon.”

What do you think your spouse means by this?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You've decided to take piano lessons. At one lesson, you play a song that you've been prac-
ticing a lot. You think it sounds pretty good. When you finish, your teacher smiles and says,
“This piece is really going to sound great once you've worked out the kinks.”

What does your teacher mean by that statement?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s another way the piano teacher could have said this?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 73 Copyright
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2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Making Inferences

8. You're listening to a baseball game on the radio. The announcer says, “Rodriguez has been
having a wonderful year with the bat. He's only hitting .215 with runners in scoring posi-
tion, though. Let's see if he can improve on that average here in the seventh.”

What can you assume from the announcer's statement?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. You go to the theater with a group of friends. You think the play was well-performed and
you really enjoyed it. After the show, one of your friends says, “Well, there's two hours of
my life I'll never get back.”

What can you infer from your friend's comments?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

10. You’re at a major league baseball game. As you take your seats near the field, you notice this
sign:

Fans in field-level boxes:

Keep your eye on the ball!

We are not responsible for accidents.

What does this sign mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What might happen if you ignore this sign?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 6 E m p at h i z i n g

Most of the problems we face every day can't be plotted on a flow

chart or punched into a computer and solved based solely on the
“facts.” The majority of our problems involve lots of personal feel-
ings—our own and those of the people we deal with. When we fail
to consider the emotional implications of a problem, we usually fail
to solve the problem successfully.

How many times (especially as a child when you had little control
over a situation) have you felt you were being treated unfairly?
When we impose blanket rules on people or situations, the outcome
is usually viewed as unfair or at least incomplete by someone.
Problem solving isn't necessarily about exerting your control over
what's happening, but about your ability to create solutions that are
appropriate for all involved.

Consider that you have two hard-to-get tickets to a concert by an

extremely popular music group. You know at least half a dozen peo-
ple who would give anything to go to the show. How do you decide
who you will invite to accompany you? Whose feelings will be hurt
by not being asked? Will you decide not to go at all and give the tick-
ets to someone else? How will you decide who will get the tickets?

This problem is simple on the surface but it begins to become com-

plicated when you start considering the emotions of everyone who
might be involved in the solution. An empathetic problem solver
considers both the logic of a solution and the emotional impact it will
have on others as well as himself.

In this unit, you'll consider problems from an empathetic point of

view. You'll practice examining your own feelings about situations
and begin to factor the emotions of others into your problem
analysis.

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 Empathizing

1. You’ve found a house for sale that you like. It's in your price range, is in a perfect location,
and has been nicely cared for. You'd like to make an offer but you want more information
about the house. The owner says he has two other families looking at the house tomorrow,
and if one of them makes an offer, he'll take it and sell the house.

What might help you make an objective decision? Choose the best answer.
a. if the realtor would promise to get the information you need before the other families
look at the house
b. if no one else was looking at the house
c. if you knew the owner personally

How would that make you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. You have four grown grandchildren and would like to treat them to a weekend at a resort.
Two of them are married and you can’t afford to pay for their spouses.

How might your grandchildren feel if you ask them to buy their spouses’ portion of the
cost?
a. glad to be away from them
b. insulted that you didn’t pay for their spouses
c. sad that you’re paying for the trip

How might the spouses feel if they are excluded?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. You get $200 in cash at the ATM machine before renting a movie with your family at the
local video store. The next morning you realize your wallet is missing.

How do you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________

What might have happened?

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Empathizing

4. Your daughter is paying her way through college. The last time she was home, she men-
tioned some things she'd like to have but can't afford.

How would that make you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Your spouse wants to donate $500 to a charity you don't like. Your spouse wants you to
support this decision.

How does his request make you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You opened a checking account with the bank in your small town. You told them you
wanted a checking account with no minimum balance and free checks. When you got the
first statement, there was a $5.00 monthly charge for the no minimum balance feature.

How does this make you feel? Why?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Your latest phone bill shows three long distance charges to numbers you don’t recognize.
You found out they were made by people staying at your house a couple of weekends ago.

How do you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

8. You took your mom shopping. She found a necklace she liked and argued with the sales-
person about the price. The store manager finally came over and asked your mom to leave
the store.

How does your mom feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 77 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Empathizing

1. You and a co-worker are job-sharing. Lately, you feel like you've been doing most of the
work. You wonder why your co-worker is falling behind.

What could you say to your co-worker to find out why her work is falling behind?
a. “I'm concerned about you. Is everything okay?”
b. “Keep up your end of the job or I'll report you.”
c. “Why are you leaving me all the work to do, you jerk?”

Once you find out why your co-worker is falling behind, what could you say to help?
a. “You should see a psychiatrist.”
b. “Let's get together and review what each of us should do.”
c. “You should quit this job if it's too much for you.”

2. Your husband is self-employed. He works from your house running a lawn care business
and a gutter cleaning service. During the winter months, he doesn't have much to do and
he's always pestering you to keep him company. You have your own home-based telemar-
keting business that keeps you very busy.

How do you think your husband feels about not working during the winter?
a. He thinks it's okay.
b. He likes all the free time.
c. He gets bored and lonely.

What could you do to help him think of things to keep busy?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. You're working as a volunteer on the Holiday Parade. The executive director of the arts
council is getting impatient and bossy with all the volunteers, causing them to talk of quit-
ting before the project is complete.

Why do you think the executive director is being bossy and impatient? Choose two
answers.
a. She doesn't like the volunteers.
b. She wants everything to go perfectly.
c. There may be things she's dealing with that you don't know about.

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 Empathizing

4. Your wife has been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. She's been very busy transporting
your ten children to their activities, volunteering in the community, and helping you to grow
your career. Now that the children are all in school, she wants to go back to work at least
part-time. You're not crazy about the idea because it will put an extra burden on you.

Why do you think your wife wants to work outside the home?
a. She wants to get away from all her parental responsibilities.
b. She wants to fulfill another part of her life.
c. She needs money because you don't give her enough.

How does your wife probably feel about your concerns?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You've just hired a new receptionist to answer phones and greet visitors. He's been trained
to screen all your visitors and phone calls. He deals well with the visitors but can't seem to
direct unwanted calls to your voice mail. He sends them all through to your desk phone.

Why do you think your receptionist is putting unwanted calls through to you?
a. He has a hard time telling people you're busy when you're really not.
b. He doesn't like to take orders from you.
c. He doesn't know how to operate the switchboard yet.

What could you say to your receptionist to help him understand how important it is to
screen your phone calls?
a. “Just do as I ask.”
b. “Let's talk about the types of calls I get and which people I need to talk to.”
c. “Put everyone on hold and hope they hang up.”

What could you say to your receptionist to solve the problem?

a. “Go home and study the switchboard and don’t come back until you’ve learned it.”
b. “Learn how to use the switchboard on your unpaid lunch hours.”
c. “I’ll spend an hour with you this afternoon and show you how to use the switchboard.”

WALC 3 79 Copyright
Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Empathizing

1. Your grandson insists on bringing his dog along every time he comes to visit you. The dog
sheds and you have to vacuum each time after they leave. This creates extra work and is a
tiring task for you to finish.

What will you say to your grandson when you ask him to leave his dog at home?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How do you think he will feel when you ask him not to bring the dog along?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Your local PTA is having a luncheon and craft fair. One of your friends makes a negative
comment about the dry-looking brownies on the dessert table. The woman who baked the
brownies hears the comment.

How does the woman who baked the brownies feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What could your friend say to make her feel better?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Your granddaughter is home from her job in another state for a long weekend, but she
doesn't stop by to see you. You tell your daughter you are hurt by this neglect.

How does this make your daughter feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What might your daughter say to make you feel better?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Empathizing

4. Your next-door neighbor, who has diabetes, fell and broke a bone in her foot. She’s in skilled
care and will be there for about six weeks because of an infection. This is the third time this
has happened. The doctor says your neighbor should permanently move to a nursing home
because she doesn't watch her diet or take care of herself properly.

How do you think your neighbor feels?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How do you think the doctor feels?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How do you feel about this recommendation, knowing this is the third time this has
happened?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You decide to give away some of your possessions as gifts. You ask one of your grand-
daughters what she would like to have from your china cupboard, and she says she doesn't
want “any of that old stuff.”

How do you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What could your granddaughter have said that wouldn't seem so ungrateful and cutting?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How will you respond to your granddaughter?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Empathizing

1. A good friend is coming over to visit. Your friend is a smoker, and you hate the smell of
cigarette smoke.

What is the best way to handle this situation without hurting your friend's feelings?
a. Place “No Smoking” signs around your home.
b. Just let your friend smoke and deal with the smell.
c. Tell your friend how you feel and ask him to go outside to smoke.

2. You're visiting a friend in the hospital who just had a knee replacement. Your friend loves to
play golf so you brought him a new putter as a gift. Your friend opens it and looks sad. He
says, “Thank you, but I don't know if I'll ever get to use it. My doctor said I'll probably have
to walk with a cane from now on.”

What could you say to repair this situation? Choose two answers.
a. “Oh, forget what he said. You'll bounce right back.”
b. “I'm sorry if the gift made you feel bad. I just hope you'll get to use it soon.”
c. “Let me take that back and get you something more appropriate.”

3. You and your spouse have been talking about spending more time together and improving
your fitness. You're in a bad mood when your spouse mentions that he signed you both up
for an exercise class. You say, “Have fun going by yourself. I don't have time for that.” You
see the look on your spouse's face and realize that this was a moment of excitement that you
have deflated.

Why do you think your spouse might have been excited about this news? Choose two
answers.
a. You are both out of shape and need to exercise.
b. It was supposed to be a nice surprise for you.
c. It would have been a chance to spend time together and get in shape.

What might be a more appropriate response to your spouse's question, even if you still
don't want to do it?
a. “I'm not sure I'm ready for that. Tell me more about the program.”
b. “You know I don't like that kind of stuff. Let's just forget it.”
c. “It would have been nice if you had asked me first. I'm not going.”

WALC 3 82 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

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 Empathizing

4. You're talking to your daughter on the phone. You haven't seen her for a while, but you
know she's very busy with work and taking care of her family. She says with a sigh, “I just
don't have the time to do the things I like anymore, and I feel so pressured into doing things
I really don't want to do. I've been so stressed lately and I just don't feel like myself.”

What advice could you give her?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Your friend is very excited about her new grandson. She shows you some pictures of the
baby. The baby is not very attractive. In fact, he is pretty odd-looking. Your friend says,
“Isn't he just the cutest little thing? He looks just like my son, don't you think?”

How would you respond to this question?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You've been sitting in the doctor's examination room for 45 minutes and you're getting very
upset about the length of the wait. Finally, your doctor comes in with his head down. You
say, “It's about time. I could have died in here.” Your doctor looks up and says, “I'm sorry.
I just had to give some very bad news to a good friend and patient of mine. It took a little
longer that I'd thought.” You feel terrible when you see the look on your doctor's face.

What could you say to repair this situation?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Your son just bought a new house. He's very proud of it and asks you to come over and
help him do some repairs. You walk in and find him on the top step of a stepladder replac-
ing a lightbulb. Before even saying hello, you yell up, “Get off that top step; you're going to
kill yourself!” You notice your son become very embarrassed and say, “Leave me alone. I'm
not a kid anymore.” Suddenly, there is a lot of tension in the air.

How could you have handled this situation differently?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Empathizing

1. You play cards with the same group of friends every Thursday. Today you’re playing a new
game, and Gus is having trouble catching on to the rules. Everyone else catches on quickly.
Gus throws down his cards and leaves the table.

How do you think Gus feels?

a. glad he doesn't have to play the game anymore
b. hungry for snacks
c. frustrated that he doesn't get the rules

What might help Gus enjoy the evening again?

a. Play a game he knows well.
b. Introduce another new card game.
c. Tell Gus not to be such a bad sport.

2. It's the bottom half of the ninth inning. Your favorite baseball team is at bat, and the score is
tied. The first batter strikes out. The next batter hits the ball but he's out at first base.

How do you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

The next player hits a home run. How do you feel now?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Your friend brought his favorite CDs to a party. When the host plays the first one, a guest
says, “Don't you have any decent CDs?”

How does your friend feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s something that the guest could have said that would have been more polite?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Empathizing

4. A basketball player wins the Most Valuable Player award. He sends his coach a brand new
car.

How does the player feel about his coach?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How do you think the coach feels when he gets the car?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You're watching the Winter Olympics on TV. The medalists for the men's slalom are stand-
ing at attention while the band plays the national anthem of the gold medalist. The silver
medalist is crying.

What do you think the silver medalist is thinking?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. A neighbor says, “My in-laws are coming to visit next week. I'll have to listen to the same
old stories they always tell, and nothing I do is ever good enough for them. They always
say my food is either undercooked or overcooked.”

How does your neighbor feel about her in-laws?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s a way the neighbor could express her displeasure with her in-laws’ constant
complaining without causing any hard feelings?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Empathizing

7. You board an airplane for a trip. You locate your seat, but a man is already sitting in it,
reading a book. You say, “Excuse me, I think you're sitting in my seat.” The man grumbles,
“Is that so?” and keeps reading his book.

How do you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How do you think the other passenger feels?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What could you do to make the other passenger happy?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

8. You borrowed a friend's basketball to take to the park, but you forgot to bring it home with
you. You call your friend to let her know.

How do you feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How does your friend feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How could you repair this situation with your friend?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Now how does your friend feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 7 E va l u at i n g

The ability to successfully evaluate possible solutions might be the

highest-level problem-solving skill you can develop. It's also
usually the last step in solving a problem. When we evaluate a solu-
tion, we weigh the pros and cons of each solution in front of us.
As you evaluate, you ask yourself many questions:
• Which solution completely solves the problem?
• What are the drawbacks of this complete solution?
• What advantages does Solution A have over Solution B?
• What am I sacrificing by choosing Solution A?
• Who benefits most from Solution A? Does anyone suffer?

A big part of a successful evaluation is anticipation. Not only do you

need to choose the best solution for the problem, but you have to
look into the future and see how that solution will play out in the
long run.

Imagine a friend's child runs his bicycle into your new car in the
driveway and leaves a big scrape in the paint. One solution might be
to demand that your friend pay for the repairs in full. What might
that do to your friendship with the child's parent in the long run?
But what if you always allowed this kid to ride his bike in your drive-
way and today you forgot to put your car in the garage? That might
put a little different spin on the situation and require a different
approach to the solution. A person who evaluates solutions and
anticipates their implementation will be a more successful problem
solver than someone who doesn't practice these skills.

In this unit, you'll weigh the value of solutions to a variety of prob-

lems. Pay close attention to the details of each problem and take
notes if necessary. Remember to use some of the other skills you've
practiced up to this point, especially summarizing and making
inferences.

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 Evaluating

1. You're looking to buy a new house. You find one that’s a bit small but within your budget.
You find a second house that's just perfect for your needs but costs about 10% more than you
are willing to pay.

What should you think about in making the decision between the two homes?
a. Don't worry about paying just 10% more. You'll enjoy the larger home.
b. Think about what kind of swimming pool you’d like.
c. Talk to your banker about a larger mortgage.

Why might you buy the first house instead of the second?
a. Paying 10% more than you had planned on affects other things you like to do.
b. You think small is cute.
c. The larger home was infested with termites.

2. Chicken breasts are on sale for 99¢ per pound if you buy them in a package of 12. You live
alone and eat chicken about twice a week. Usually you just buy a package of three or four
for $1.49 per pound. The sale price is a great deal, but you don't know what to do with all
that chicken!

If you buy the bag for 99¢ per pound, how can you figure out how much you'll save?
a. Subtract 99¢ from $1.49 to get the savings per pound.
b. Multiply the number of pounds you want by the sale price.
c. Divide 99 into 149.

If you buy the chicken on sale, what will you do to make sure that the pieces you're not
ready to eat don't spoil? Choose two correct answers.
a. Give the rest of the chicken away.
b. Put the rest in the freezer.
c. Let the rest sit on your counter.

3. Your 20-year-old son is a carpenter's apprentice. The car he bought when he was 18 has
just died, and now he needs a reliable truck to use for work. He wants to buy a brand new
truck, but you disagree. He can't get a car loan without an adult as a co-signer.

What do you need to ask your son in order to feel comfortable about co-signing his car loan?
a. “How much gas did your old car use?”
b “Could you get to work without a car?”
c. “How much can you afford to pay per month?”

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 Evaluating

What is a good reason you could give him to buy a used truck?
a. It costs less than a new one of the same model.
b. It has all of the “kinks” worked out.
c. It’s better looking.

4. It's holiday time and your employer is sponsoring an “angel tree.” Each employee picks a
paper angel off the tree. Each piece of paper has the name of a disadvantaged youth and a
present he wants. The time has almost come for the gifts to be ready, and there are still ten
paper angels hanging on the tree.

What will happen if no one claims the remaining angels?

a. Those kids won't get any presents.
b. Those kids will go to a big football game.
c. Those kids will get presents from someone else.

What could you do to convince the rest of your co-workers to take the remaining angels?
a. Write them each a nasty E-mail about how selfish they are.
b. Get the boss to make them take one.
c. Help give them ideas about where to shop for the best prices.

5. Your daughter is a freshman in college and is complaining that she doesn't have a computer
to use. You barely have enough money to pay her tuition, board, and transportation back
home, let alone to buy her a new computer.

What could you do to encourage your daughter to solve her problem?

a. Find out if there's a computer lab on campus.
b. Tell her to get a job to earn the money for a new computer.
c. both of the above

Your daughter says there's no computer lab at college, and she doesn't have time to get a
job because of her studies and campus activities. What could you ask her to do so that she
establishes her priorities?
a. “What are the three most important things to you about going to college?”
b. “Why can't you be more like your older sister?”
c. “Do you want a computer or not?”

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 Evaluating

1. You are an electrician and considering a job change because you want to make more money.

What things will you consider before you make your decision?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Your baby-sitter requested a $20 a month increase to take care of your daughter.

How will you decide whether to keep this sitter or get a new one?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Your company is reorganizing, and you have a choice to make. You can stay in your current
position or move to a different state and accept a promotion and pay increase of $7,500.

What things must you consider as you make your decision?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Your customer service team was asked to make a recommendation on a new $75,000
automated phone system. You prefer people answering customer service calls — not an
automated system. The new system would save at least $40,000 and allow your company
to handle more calls.

What are two pros and two cons of having the new service installed?
Pros Cons
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________

5. It’s your birthday. Traditionally, anyone at your company who has a birthday brings treats
in for everyone. However, many people are on diets.

What will you consider as you plan your birthday treats?

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Evaluating

6. Your company switched from three courier companies to two for delivery of packages to
your customers.

How will you evaluate the performance of each courier company?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Your company is expanding and adding a second shift. Second shift workers will work M-F,
4 p.m.-midnight, and receive $.50 extra per hour.

What should a worker consider as he decides whether or not to switch to second shift?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

8. Your company allows paternity leave. After using your sick leave, you may stay at home for
an additional three weeks, but your pay will be only $150 per week.

What things must you think about as you consider this option?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. You want to quit your sales position at a department store and open a day care center in
your home.

What things must you think about as you make your decision?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

10. You are a single parent with two grade-school-aged children. Your boss asks you to repre-
sent the company at a sales seminar at a resort a thousand miles away. It will last four days;
you'll be gone six days with travel time. All expenses will be paid.

What things will you consider as you make your decision?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Evaluating

1. You never know what kind of gift to give a certain friend. You take a chance on her birthday
and give her a wild-looking sweater.

How will you know if she really doesn’t like the gift?
a. She sends you a thank-you note.
b. She never wears the sweater.
c. She says, “Thank you. I never would have bought this for myself.”

What might be her expression if she likes the sweater?

a. a beaming smile
b. a confused grimace
c. an angry scowl

2. Some friends of yours go on a long vacation and ask you to keep an eye on their house.
You're over there one day and notice that newspapers are stacked up in the garage for
recycling. You figure you'll help out by taking a load to the recycling center. When your
friends return, they ask you if you know what happened to the back-issues of newspapers
they'd been saving for their grandson.

What should you have done differently?

a. just ignored the newspapers
b. waited until they got back and offered to take care of the newspapers for them
c. cleaned their house for them

3. One of your children is having trouble learning to read. You talk to the teacher, and he sug-
gests some ways to help your child at home. You begin working with your child and think
things are going well.

What's the best way to find out how well your child is doing?
a. Wait and hope things get better.
b. Ask your child if he or she thinks reading is getting easier.
c. Ask for a weekly update from your child's teacher.

What might be a sign that your help isn't working?

a. Your child looks forward to working with you.
b. Your child's teacher calls to tell you there has been little improvement.
c. You are enjoying the time you and your child spend together.

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 Evaluating

4. Everyone in your family is very busy. No one seems to have time to do chores at home or
keep the place clean. It's getting on your nerves, so you make up a job chart and assign each
family member different tasks. You put the board on the refrigerator and tell them what
they need to do. No one seems too excited about the idea, and no one follows through doing
the chores.

What might you have done differently?

a. Tell everyone the situation and ask for suggestions.
b. Just do all the work yourself.
c. Ask someone else to be responsible for assigning the chores.

5. You surprise a group of friends by offering to take them out for lunch. You take them to
your favorite Mexican restaurant. When you arrive, you overhear a couple of your friends
talking about a bad experience they'd had at this restaurant.

What might have been a better way to choose the restaurant?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Your spouse asks you what you'd like as a birthday gift. You mention that you've had your
eye on a particular set of tools. When your birthday arrives, you open your gift. It's the
tools you had mentioned, but a less expensive, lower-quality set than you had hoped for.

What could you have done to make sure you got the set of tools you wanted?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You and a friend have decided to host a party. You want people to have a good time and
dance at your party. There will be people of different ages there, and you want to choose
music that a lot of people will enjoy.

How will you make sure you choose music that will be popular with everyone?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Evaluating

1. You have a family history of high blood pressure and heart disease.

What are some ways you can monitor your blood pressure and the condition of your heart?
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Your doctor tells you to lose 30 pounds.

How will you choose a healthy way to lose weight?

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. You have agreed to baby-sit a two-year-old for the weekend in your home.

How will you make sure your home is safe for a toddler?
__________________________________________________________________________________

4. You have just begun a class for water exercising.

How will you know if the instructor is doing a good job?

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. You're visiting a large city for the first time. You want to go out for the evening.

How will you find out which areas are safe to walk around in at night?
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. You want to buy a leather couch.

How will you know which couches are well-made?

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. You have been on a salt-free diet for three months.

How will you know if the diet has been worth it?
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Evaluating

8. There are two large grocery stores in your area. Your doctor has advised you to eat lots of
fresh fruits and vegetables.

How will you decide which grocery store is a better place for you to shop?
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. Your stockbroker gives you some brochures to review for pharmaceutical companies you
might want to buy stock in.

How will you decide which company or companies to invest in?

__________________________________________________________________________________

10. You are a judge in a low-fat baking contest.

How will you decide how to rate the different desserts?

__________________________________________________________________________________

11. You're going to the mountains for a vacation. You plan to spend most of your time outdoors
but you’d like the resort you choose to have an indoor swimming pool. You sent away for
brochures from several resorts.

How will you decide which is the best resort for your needs?
__________________________________________________________________________________

12. You live in an earthquake zone.

How will you know if you've done enough to prepare for a major earthquake?
__________________________________________________________________________________

13. You've just begun a new, rigorous exercise program.

How will you know how quickly to advance the difficulty level of the exercises?
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Evaluating

1. You want to get more exercise by being on a sports team. Several team sports are available
through the Parks and Recreation Department.

How will you decide which sport or team is right for you?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. You are buying a new camera to take on vacation.

What criteria will you use for choosing a camera?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. You're single again and would like to meet people your own age.

What’s the best way for you to meet new people?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

4. You live in a rural area. Each fall you get several requests to hunt on your property. You are
not anti-hunting but you are concerned about your personal safety since your home is in the
middle of a heavily wooded area. You've posted “No Hunting or Trespassing” signs every-
where. When you came home yesterday, you found a broken window and an empty shot-
gun shell in your living room.

What will you do next?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Evaluating

5. Your daughter wants you to enroll at the Senior Day Care Center. She believes you need to
get out socially now that your spouse is deceased.

What does your daughter think you’re going through?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Emma's retirement party is next week, and you’re in charge of organizing the celebration.
Emma has worked for the company for a long time. After she leaves, you'll take over her
responsibilities. Yesterday, you overheard Emma tell a co-worker she thinks you're pushing
her out because you want her job.

What does Emma think of you?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What is Emma thinking about her retirement?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Your teenage son is on the Internet all the time. He's meeting people in chat rooms. You’re
concerned about these contacts because he's dropped all his regular activities and doesn’t see
his friends any longer.

How can you decide if the Internet is influencing the changes in your son’s behavior?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

How will you feel if your son spends a lot of time alone and doesn’t see his friends much?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Evaluating

8. At your daughter’s softball game last Saturday, a father of one of the other girls on your
team yelled loudly at his daughter after she struck out. She walked slowly to the dugout
with her head down.

How did the girl who struck out feel when her father yelled at her in public?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What was the father thinking while he was scolding his daughter?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What would you have said to him?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

9. Your older friend Gabby was jogging recently when she tore a tendon in her right ankle.
Now she can’t run for six months. When Gabby relayed this story to you and Agnes, Agnes
said, “That’s what you get for exercising too much. I told you something like this would
happen if you lived too active of a lifestyle!”

What does Agnes think about Gabby’s exercising?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s another way Agnes could have conveyed the message that she was concerned about
Gabby’s health?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 8 General Problem Solving

Up to this point, you've practiced problem-solving skills in isolation.

That's a good way to work on building your skills to reach the next
level. This section is that next level. On the following pages, you'll
encounter many open-ended situations—many of them don't contain
problems that are immediately evident. In those situations, you'll be
asked to anticipate solutions to problems that might happen. In
other cases, a problem will be very clear, and you'll need to answer
several questions about its solution.

It's important to work on separate skills. A pitcher who is rehab-

ilitating a bad arm makes it stronger by pitching simulated games.
But eventually that pitcher will have to face batters in a real game.

This unit is meant to prepare you to face and solve problems in real
life. Each pair of problems on the following pages includes a brief
article, similar to those you might find in a local newspaper, and a
picture that illustrates the situation. Use the information in the
article, the picture, and your own experience to approach each situa-
tion. It might help to place yourself in each situation. Pretend you
are experiencing the situation, and you might find that facing the
problems will become that much easier.

A good problem solver uses several skills—analyzing, evaluating,

empathizing, and the other skills you've practiced to create an inte-
grated, holistic approach to problem solving. Use all the skills you
have practiced, and those you already use, to tackle the problems
ahead. Good luck!

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 1
Congratulations!
Grace enters contests and sweepstakes every
chance she gets. Once in a while, she wins a
prize or two. Last year, she won a digital cam-
era and cashed in over 15 lottery tickets. Last
week, Grace won her biggest prize ever—a
check for $500,000 from Publisher's Treasure
Chest.

Last Monday, an official from Publisher's

Treasure Chest notified Grace by phone that she
had won first prize in their campaign this year.
At first, Grace thought it was just a prank call.
But when the official explained the details
about sending the check, Grace’s heart skipped
a few beats.

Three days later, Grace received the check in the mail. She and her husband, Phil, are over-
joyed. She already has plans to use most of the money to help others. “We plan to use part of
the money to help fund our grandchild's college expenses, but there are other people we’d like
to help, too.”

Both Grace and Phil are life-long community volunteers. They contribute their time and ener-
gies as hospital volunteers, tutors for at-risk readers, meal deliverers for Meals on Wheels, and
organizers for local fund-raising events.

Questions
1. Think of some words that describe Grace. Write each word and explain why you think
the word applies to her.

Word: __________________________

Reason: __________________________________________________________________________

Word: __________________________

Reason: __________________________________________________________________________

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 Congratulations! , continued 1
Word: __________________________

Reason: __________________________________________________________________________

2. Why do you think Publisher’s Treasure Chest notified Grace by phone instead of in person?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. How could Grace have checked to be sure the caller was telling the truth?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. The article says that Grace’s heart skipped a few beats when she heard about winning the
money. Does that mean she should check with her doctor? Explain your answer.

Yes _____ No _____ Why or why not? ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. List some things Grace needs to think about now that she has received the check.

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

6. If you won $500,000, what would you do with the money? List two choices and tell why
you would make those choices.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

7. What did Grace mean by prank call?

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 101 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 2
Family Reunion
The Becker Family Reunion is held every five
years, and this year Faye and Marv Becker will
host the event at a park near their home.

They’ve made a lot of preparations for the

reunion, including designing and mailing invi-
tations to 60 relatives and planning a menu.
Marv made arrangements with a local motel for
special room rates for family members. They
reserved the park pavilion and rented tables
and chairs for the event. They have arranged all
the details except for entertainment. Last
Saturday, they got an idea for the entertainment
when their daughter, Carolyn, stopped by with
a large box of pictures.

Carolyn is interested in genealogy and is assembling a pictorial Becker family tree. She has col-
lected hundreds of photos from members of the family and is preparing a written report
of her findings with copies for everybody at the reunion. But Carolyn has several pictures she
can’t identify.

This gave Faye an idea for the entertainment. Each family will get a blank family tree form and
will fill it out during the reunion. Families can work alone or together with other families to
complete it. The most accurate family tree will get a prize. Prizes can be awarded to relatives
who are able to identify the people in Carolyn's pictures, too!

Questions
1. The Becker reunion is held every five years. What can the Beckers do to make sure they
have current addresses of those who will attend this year?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Family Reunion , continued 2
2. What arrangements would you make if you were organizing a large party like the Becker
reunion? Check all that apply. The first one is done for you.

✔ find a location design invitations

b. prepare your house pick music only you will like

c. have a garage sale that day prepare/cook food

d. buy a new puppy make hotel plans for guests

e. call guests include directions

f. cook only spicy foods plan a menu

g. arrange for entertainment plan to be out of town

3. How could the Beckers plan a menu to satisfy the tastes of most of the guests?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Faye's granddaughter helped Faye the last time she hosted the Becker reunion. This time,
Faye’s granddaughter thinks her cousins should do some of the work. How does Faye’s
granddaughter feel about doing the work for the reunion?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. If you were planning a family reunion, what are some activities that would be fun and inter-
esting for your family?

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

d. ____________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 3
Does TV Run Your Life?
The average American adult now watches nearly
six hours of TV a day. That means besides sleep-
ing and working, most of our waking hours are
spent watching TV, or having a TV on in the back-
ground.

Dave and Sheryl Maxwell felt they were watching

too much TV. “It was always on,” Sheryl said.
“We'd flip it on as soon as we woke up and have it
on in the background while we got ready for work.
The minute I walked in the door at the end of the
day, the TV came on. It stayed on until we went to
sleep. TV was ruling our lives.”

The Maxwells decided to make some changes in

their habits. “There were four TVs in our apart-
ment, and often they were all on. I boxed up three of them and stuck them in a closet,” Dave
said. “Then we decided we would only turn on the TV if something was on that we really
wanted to see. That forced us to plan our TV watching time, rather than just having it on con-
stantly.”

So how does this couple spend its time now? “We've been playing a lot of music,” Sheryl said,
smiling. “And we've actually been having conversations with each other. When the TV was
going in the background, we just had question and answer sessions. It's been nice.”

Dave and Sheryl are in the second month of their experiment. They're still amazed at all the
other things they've been doing since the TV isn't ruling their lives anymore.

Questions
1. Why did Dave and Sheryl decide to make a change in their lives?

a. They wanted to reduce their electricity bill.

b. They missed talking to one another.
c. They felt they were watching too much TV.

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 Does T V Run Your Life? , continued 3
2. What steps did Dave and Sheryl take to put their plan into action?

a. ________________________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________________________

3. What does Sheryl mean when she says, “TV was ruling our lives”?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think people like to have the TV on in the background, even when they aren't
watching it?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. If you decided to only turn on your TV for special shows, which shows would you want to
make sure you see?

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

6. What are some other things you think Sheryl and Dave do with their time now?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

7. Do you think Dave and Sheryl will stick with their experiment?

Yes _____ No _____ Why or why not? ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 4
The Proofreader’s Problem
Elaine is a proofreader for a large daily
newspaper. She's been at her job a long
time. She’s known as an excellent proof-
reader who is also very reliable. She has
not missed a day of work in 31 years, and
everything she proofreads is letter-perfect.

In the last five years, Elaine's newspaper

has become totally automated. The writers
and reporters now use computers to write
their stories and create graphics. A prob-
lem has arisen, however, when Elaine goes
to proofread. She refuses to use a com-
puter and she demands that writers print
their stories on paper and make copies for
her to proofread. It has the other writers confused, and has her boss concerned.

Elaine's boss has spoken with her about learning to proofread on-line and has offered extensive
computer training for her. But Elaine still insists that proofreading hard copy is the most reli-
able way to do it. She says she’s been doing it this way for years without error and wonders
why the company can’t accommodate her style. She defends her methods by saying, “You can
lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”

Questions
1. What is Elaine's major problem?
a. She's been at the same job for 31 years.
b. She doesn't want to do her job using a computer as her company expects.
c. She's a stickler about grammar.

2. What could Elaine do about her problem?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 The Proofreader’s Problem , continued 4
3. What does Elaine mean by “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What might Elaine's boss tell her about her future with the newspaper?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. If Elaine's boss says she'll have to start proofreading on-line or be fired, what is the best posi-
tion for Elaine to take?
a. Give up and quit.
b. Take her boss to court for harassment.
c. Set goals for herself to proofread on-line by a certain date.
d. Ask for a different job at the newspaper.

6. The newspaper is a large company with many services available to help employees. Which
of the following services might Elaine take advantage of to help her adjust to her new work
demands? Check yes or no. The first one is done for you.

Yes No
Maternity advice ✔
Job counseling
Adjusting to change
How to invest your 401(k) funds
Technology for Today

7. If you were Elaine, how might you feel about your new job demands? What would you do?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 5
A New Treatment
Lynn Lu hopes she will lead a long normal life
after her treatment on Thursday. Until now, her
thirteen years have been severely restricted
because Lynn suffers from severe angina result-
ing from poor blood circulation to the heart.
So far, she hasn't responded to traditional proce-
dures and medicine.

But doctors want to try a new treatment. For this

procedure, they will first use a laser to drill tiny
holes into the walls of the heart's main pumping
chamber. After they drill the tiny holes, doctors
will then insert catheters which are easily pushed
through the arteries into the heart. Doctors hope
that this will relieve Lynn’s crippling chest pain
and help her begin to recover.

The experimental new technique is intended to help Lynn and others with heart disease so
severe that it can't be corrected by traditional surgery. Based on preliminary studies by the
Academy of Cardiology, the technique seems to be very safe and effective. No patients have
died during the procedure. The Academy reports that two-thirds of patients treated appear to
improve enough to resume normal lives.

Although there has been some skepticism about the procedure within the medical community,
Lynn and her mother are game to try the new procedure. Lynn says, “I don't mind being a
guinea pig. My quality of life isn’t great now because of my heart and the pain in my chest.
What have I got to lose?”

Questions
1. If you were in Lynn's position, would you opt for this procedure?

Yes _____ No _____ Why or why not? ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 A New Treatment , continued 5
2. What does Lynn mean by, “I don't mind being a guinea pig”?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Put the following phrases into correct chronological order. The first one is done for you.

a. Catheters will be pushed through to Lynn’s heart. ____________

b Lynn will be prepped for surgery. 1
____________
c. Doctors will insert catheters into Lynn’s arteries. ____________
d. Doctors will drill tiny holes to relieve the pressure. ____________
e. Lynn will get to go home. ____________

4. What do you think a catheter might be?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. How do you think Lynn will feel right before the procedure?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Do you think alternative medical procedures or new treatments are a good idea, or should
you always be suspicious of new treatments?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. What does Lynn mean by, “What have I got to lose?”

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 6
Shopping Blues
It's four o'clock on a December afternoon,
and the stores are filled with
holiday shoppers looking for bargains.
Wade and his wife, Ellen, have been shop-
ping for three hours. Ellen is still full of
energy, happily buying presents for their
children and grandchildren. Wade, on
the other hand, has had it! His back
aches, his feet hurt, and he has a headache
that won't quit.

Wade has been searching for a place to sit

and rest for almost an hour. He has just
found the right place. He found a nice,
comfortable couch in the furniture section of a department store. Ordinarily, Wade might be
self-conscious about sitting here and nodding off. Today, though, he's just grateful to have a
place to take a load off his feet for a while.

Ellen was so busy shopping, she didn't even notice that Wade wasn't with her anymore. She
bought a leather purse for their daughter and sweaters for their sons. Then she stopped at a
candy display. When she turned to ask Wade's opinion about which candy to buy for a neigh-
bor, Wade was nowhere in sight.

Questions
1. What is Ellen's biggest problem right now?
a. She doesn't know which candy her neighbor would like.
b. She can't carry any more packages.
c. She doesn't know where Wade is.

2. What could Ellen do about the problem?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Shopping Blues , continued 6
3. What do you think Ellen will say to Wade when she sees him?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Check each problem Wade is facing now. The first one is done for you.

a. His feet hurt. ✔

__________
b. His head aches. __________
c. His back aches. __________
d. He wants to sit for a while. __________
e. He doesn't know where his wife is. __________
f. He's angry. __________
g. He's embarrassed to sit on the couch. __________

5. What do you think Wade will say to Ellen when he sees her?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. If Wade were more self-conscious, which behavior would he do?

a. yell at his wife when she finally finds him
b. squirt perfume at customers from sample bottles
c. not sit on the couch

7. When you shop with someone else, what are some strategies to make sure each of you has a
pleasant shopping experience?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 7
The Scribe of Little Creek
Harvey has always been an avid reader and
writer. As a boy, he read every book in the
small library in Little Creek, South Dakota.

In junior high school, Harvey started keeping

a journal. He recorded everything from the
weather and current events to his hopes and
dreams for the future. Everyone in Little Creek
was in the journal, but no one knew Harvey was
writing about them and their lives in Little Creek.

Harvey graduated from college and worked for a

newspaper in Omaha until he retired in 1975. He
married and had two children. All the while,
Harvey kept in touch with the folks in Little
Creek and kept adding stories, thoughts, and
adventures to his journal. A few months after he retired, Harvey decided to start a lifelong
dream. He used the stories from his journal to write a novel. He worked on the book for two
years and submitted the manuscript to a publisher. It was accepted, and Harvey's book about
life in rural South Dakota was on the bookshelves.

Shortly after the book was published, Harvey had a stroke and was moved to a nursing home
near his boyhood home of Little Creek. Although he had some difficulty because of the stroke,
he was able to read. His daughter brought a copy of his book to the nursing home, and Harvey
read it to the residents. They looked forward to each chapter, and many of them added their
own stories as Harvey read his book. For these residents and Harvey, the book became a won-
derful book of memories.

Questions
1. What is a journal?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 The Scr ibe of Little Creek , continued 7
2. Some people in Little Creek were surprised Harvey published a novel about them. Why
might they be surprised?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What might happen if someone from Little Creek doesn't like what Harvey wrote about
them? What might Harvey have to do?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. How would you feel if you were a character in a book that was written by someone you
knew?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why did Harvey's pals in the nursing home enjoy the book so much? Why might older folks
like to reminisce?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Pretend you’re writing a novel about people in your town. List four interesting people you
know to be the characters in your novel.

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

d. _____________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 8
Life on the Road
Some people might be envious of Diane Weiland.
She spends nearly 40 weeks a year away from
home, traveling all over the world. She's been in
every state of the U.S.

Diane might be more excited about all her travels

if she were doing it for fun. But for Diane, it's her
job. “I work for an interesting company,” Diane
said. “We buy small businesses, build them up,
and then sell them for a profit. My job is to
research and visit companies we might want to
purchase.”

The variety of companies she's visited over the

years is incredible. “Two years ago, I looked at a
business in Kansas that made dental products for
dogs,” Diane laughed. “Just last week, I walked into a factory in the middle of the desert in
Nevada. They make ice cube trays, believe it or not.”

Diane says the work is interesting and she gets to meet a lot of people, but the job has its down-
side, too. “My husband and I are thinking about starting a family,” she says. “And I don't want
to try to raise a child while I'm traveling all over.” Diane figures she'll do this job for another
year or so. Then she'll try to find a position in the home office. What won't she miss about trav-
eling? “That's a no-brainer,” she said. “Waiting in airports.”

Questions
1. Which statement is not true about Diane's feelings toward her work?
a. She doesn't like waiting in airports.
b. She likes the variety of companies she visits.
c. Her job won't interfere with her ability to raise a family.
d. She likes meeting new people.

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 Life on the Road , continued 8
2. Diane mentions two companies that she has visited. Which of the following products do
these companies make? Choose two.
a. ice sculptures
b. dental products for dogs
c. ice cube trays

3. How might Diane's work keep her from enjoying her family?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Diane wants a job in the home office before she begins a family. What are some other
options she might have?

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

d. _____________________________________

5. What ways do you think Diane uses to stay in touch with her husband when she's traveling?

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

d. _____________________________________

6. What does it mean if something is a no-brainer?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 9
Fashion Fanny
Frances Riordon, known to her friends as Fanny,
is a costume designer and seamstress for the
local theater. Fanny is a paraplegic who is con-
fined to a wheelchair as a result of a car accident
that happened when she was seventeen. This
physical impairment hasn't stopped Fanny's
entrepreneurship or creativity, though. Her
business is thriving. Fanny's business is doing
so well, in fact, that she needs to make a decision
about expanding.

Currently, she works out of her small house,

having turned the entire place (except for her
bedroom and bath) into a production studio.
She employs two other women who sew for her
while she concentrates on design. The demand
for her work has crossed the boundaries of
theater.

Now, local women want her to design and make clothing for their career and entertainment
wardrobes. Fanny would like to expand her business into this area while still keeping her the-
ater business. To expand or not to expand—that is the question Fanny needs to answer.

Questions
1. What do you think is Fanny's biggest challenge in making the decision between expanding
her business and keeping it the size it is now?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is a paraplegic?

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Fashion Fanny , continued 9
3. What things should Fanny consider when making the decision? Choose all answers that
apply.
a. the date of her birthday
b. the cost of adding on to her home or buying another house
c. the cost of paying additional employees
d. whether she wants to supervise more people
e. whether she wants to spend more time on operating the business and spending
less time on actual design work
f. whether her mother goes to Florida this winter

4. What are some good reasons not to grow a business?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

5. If Fanny decides to buy a larger house, what will she need to consider doing to it to make it
wheelchair accessible? Choose all answers that apply.
a. Build a ramp to the door.
b. Make the doorways wide enough to accommodate the wheelchair.
c. Get new drapes for the windows.
d. Make sure her bedroom and bath are on the first floor.
e. Install an elevator.
f. Provide enough parking for her employees and clients.
g. Have two kitchens—one for her and one for her employees.

6. If you were Fanny, would you work from your home, or have a studio in a commercial area?
Explain your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 10
Big Brother
The first thing Big Brother Jared Rock does with
each of his Little Brothers is to go to the library.
“A sharp mind can do anything,” he says.

Jared is a Big Brother. This morning he’s spend-

ing some time with his Little Brother, Marcus
Pence. Marcus was already reading one book a
week when the two were hooked up together in
the Big Brother-Big Sister (BBBS) program—now
Marcus is reading five or six books per week.

“We get two books on whatever subject he’s

studying at the moment,” Jared said. “Right
now, it’s the rain forest. After he reads the
books, we’ll go to the library and local museums
to look at objects, films, and other materials to
make the material come alive.” Right now, they’re looking at the topography of a Brazilian rain
forest.

The two spend three to four hours a week together. After the library, they usually go to Marcus’
home to read and continue the mission of the BBBS program, which is “one-on-one friendship-
building; the companionship between mature adults and children who need more adult influ-
ence in their lives.”

Jared has been involved in the BBBS program for about 20 years. “I’ve been involved since I
was an undergraduate in school. Marcus is my seventh Little Brother. I’ve always enjoyed
young people. That's probably why I got involved in education,” said Jared, who is a science
teacher at Colton Jr. High. “It gives me as much gratification as anything I’ve ever done.”

Questions
1. What is the purpose of the BBBS program?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Big Brother , continued 10
2. Why is it important for a child to be able to confide in and trust an adult?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. When Jared says “since I was an undergraduate in school,” he means since:

a. high school
b. college
c. graduate school

4. If you were a Big Brother or Big Sister, what are some activities you would do to help a
young person?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

e. _______________________________________________________________________________

5. Think of two adults that had a positive influence on you as you were growing up. Describe
your relationships and how they influenced you.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

6. What might happen to Marcus if Jared stops being his Big Brother?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 11
Subway Adventure
Today is a big day for the Parker
family. Ms. Parker and her three
boys are visiting the big city for
the day. They are going to see a
children's musical in the city.

At breakfast this morning, Ms.

Parker reminded her children of
the schedule for their trip. She
told them, “We'll leave the hotel
at 10:00. We'll take a bus to the
subway station, then catch the
subway downtown. We'll get
there at about 12:30, just in time
to get some lunch before the show. The show starts at 2:30 and ends at about 4:00. We'll take
the subway back to the bus, then take the bus back to the hotel.”

Ms. Parker also reminded her children of a few safety tips to remember during their trip. For
example, she told them to wear matching sweatshirts, so they could spot each other easily if
they got separated. She also asked them to stay together, and she cautioned them not to accept
food or candy from any stranger.

They left promptly at 10:00 and caught the bus to the subway. The boys had never ridden the
subway before and they enjoyed buying their tickets and watching the stations as they sped by.
Just as they got out at their subway stop, one of the boys, Mark, became sick and threw up. His
forehead was hot and he looked pale. Ms. Parker thought about what to do next.

Questions
1. What do you think Ms. Parker asked Mark after he became sick?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Subway Adventure , continued 11
2. What does Ms. Parker need to think about now that Mark is sick? Choose all appropriate
answers.
a. helping Mark feel comfortable
b. what restaurant to go to for lunch
c. whether to continue as planned or return home
d. how the other children feel
e. the subway schedule for a return trip
f. cleaning up the mess Mark made
g. taking Mark to the nearest hospital for surgery

3. Later, Ms. Parker told a neighbor about the trip to the city. Her neighbor said, “You should
never have tried to take all three children by yourself.” How did that make Ms. Parker feel?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What could the neighbor have said that would have supported Ms. Parker?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are some other safety tips you need to consider if you’re taking children to a big city?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

6. Would you be comfortable taking care of three children on a short trip? Explain your
answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 12
A Special Valentine
Henry was in his early twenties when World
War II began. He enlisted in the army and was
stationed in Alaska. The work he did on the
Alaskan Highway was hard, and the weather
was wet and cold. Henry and many other
young soldiers were away from home for the
first time, and they were very homesick. Their
morale was often as low as the temperature.

Henry's sergeant was concerned about the

morale of the young men in his company. He
noticed that nothing made his men happier than
getting mail from home.

The sergeant knew if he could get mail to his sol-

diers every day, it would go a long way to boost-
ing their morale. Then he thought of a solution.
He recruited young women from all over the
country to write to his men. The women wrote every day, and eventually, some exchanged pic-
tures and phone numbers with the soldiers. Some made arrangements to meet when the sol-
diers were home on leave. The sergeant's plan worked. Morale was high among the soldiers
even under the dreariest of conditions. The work was hard, but the letters the soldiers received
helped keep them going and buoyed their spirits.

In this picture, Henry and his wife are reading one of the letters that Henry sent his pen pal
friend during the war. The two are having such a warm laugh because the woman sitting next
to him is his wife and his pen pal from the war. They’re reading a letter that Henry sent to her
on Valentine’s Day 1947, a letter in which he asked her to marry him. Today is special for the
couple because it’s February 14, 1997—exactly 50 years after Henry proposed to his wife by
mail.

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 A Special Valentine , continued 12
Questions
1. What was the sergeant's dilemma and how did he solve it? Choose the best answer.
a. Henry was lonely and homesick.
b. The Alaskan Highway was in need of repair.
c. His men just refused to fight.
d. The sergeant required more hours of work than the men were willing to give.
e. The sergeant was concerned about the morale of his men and initiated a pen pal
program to boost their spirits.

2. What are some other ways that the sergeant could have boosted the morale of his men?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

3. How would you describe the sergeant's personality? Do you think he was an effective
sergeant? Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Think back on a special Valentine’s Day and describe the day as best you can.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 13
The Book of Your Life
A new class is being offered for adults at Big
River Community College next month. It's
called “Your Book of Life: Creating Memory
Volumes.” The goal of the class is to allow stu-
dents to organize photographs and mementos
from their past into interesting scrapbooks.

Instructor Judy King (shown here on the left)

says this class is a good opportunity for people
to finally organize the boxes and boxes of photo-
graphs they have at home. “People come in here
with a mess and walk out with a document of
their own history,” Judy said. “That's the excit-
ing part of this class.”

Creating a Memory Volume isn't just about

cleaning up a mess, though. Students can take
their books home to share with their families
and friends. The people who benefit most from these classes are the younger generations who
get to share this newfound history. Older students will find a whole new way to connect with
younger family members once their books are completed.

Judy stresses that the contents of the Memory Volumes aren't restricted to just photographs.
“Many students put diplomas, award certificates, even military medals and honors in their
books. Some of the most interesting books have contained very personal items, such as favorite
recipes and love letters.”

If you've ever thought your past was boring or uneventful, this might be the class for you.
You'll find there is much more worth remembering about your history than you could have
ever imagined.

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 The Book of Your Life , continued 13
Questions
1. What is the goal of the class mentioned in the story? Choose all appropriate answers.
a. to give older people something to do with their time
b. to help older adults connect with younger family members
c. to allow students to organize items from their past into scrapbooks

2. Why is this class aimed more toward older adults than teenagers?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. This is an unusual class. What special qualifications do you think a teacher would need to
teach this class?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Who are some people in your life you like to share stories of your past with?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

5. What things in your life would you put in a “Memory Volume”?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

e. _______________________________________________________________________________

f. _______________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 14
A Business Venture
Murray Sanders and Yashi
Yakamora are businessmen.
They were recently on a flight
together from New York to Los
Angeles. The two men hadn’t
met each other until this occa-
sion. They were sitting in the
same row and struck up a con-
versation about tariffs.

It turns out they had a lot in

common. Each man has two
daughters. Each man studied at
the same American University.
And both Murray and Yashi
love baseball. They’re in dif-
ferent businesses, though. Murray owns a tire retreading company in Indiana, and Yashi owns
a farm implement business in Tokyo.

By the end of the flight, they had decided something momentous. They decided to merge their
companies. Now they’re having a meeting in Los Angeles to make decisions about the merger
and to decide how to approach shareholders about the deal. They need to consider the work-
ers of both companies and how a merger might affect the workers’ lives. They have many
things to discuss before a decision to merge can be made.

Questions
1. What does it mean to merge two companies?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 A Business Venture , continued 14
2. What could happen to the workers of both companies if the companies merge?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. How do you think their two businesses can compliment one another? Circle all the answers
that apply.

a. The farm machine tires could be made from retreads.

b. The employees could teach each other a new language.
c. They could share resources such as personnel and purchased services.
d. One business could help out the other in tight financial situations.
e. They could travel together.

4. Suppose Murray and Yashi agree to merge their companies. What are all the ways they
could conduct business? Circle all answers that apply.

a. by phone, FAX, and E-mail

b. One could relocate to their other's site.
c. by carrier pigeon
d. via mail
e. person-to-person
f. singing telegram

5. What are some of the reasons companies buy out other companies? Circle all the answers
that apply.

a. for an influx of capital

b. to make work more fun
c. to pool resources
d. to downsize
e. to acquire new products
f. to become famous
g. to gain market share
h. to learn how to speak another language

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 15
Retirement Party
After 42 years, Sarah Plumbly
will be absent from school.
She's been in the classroom for
7,980 days. In all that time,
she’s been absent only five
days. Her teaching career is
finally coming to an end, and
Sarah is celebrating with fel-
low teachers at a party in her
honor.

Sarah spent her whole career

teaching fourth grade. When
she began her career, she
taught everything: science,
math, English, art, and music.

In her teaching, Sarah used slides, photos, and the computer to further enhance learning oppor-
tunities. But visual aides were hard to acquire in the early days of her career. Now techno-
logy is helping to make learning easier and quicker. “The context makes gaining information
much easier for students,” Sarah says.

Sarah is among an increasing number of educators who plan to retire from teaching in the next
ten years. So many experienced staff members will be retiring that school administrators pre-
dict a hiring crisis as the pool of applicants dwindles and the number of vacancies increases.
Sarah isn't sure the public is aware of the impending crisis in education. She is sorry to see the
crisis happen.

Sarah looks back on her career with positive thoughts. “I ran a tight ship where everyone was
expected to work and learn,” she says. “I came to work each day loving my job and the chil-
dren. I’m nervous about retiring and I’ll miss the kids. I’m not sure what I’ll do with my time!”

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Retirement Par ty , continued 15
Questions
1. Based on the story, why do you think there will be a shortage of teachers in the near future?
Choose all appropriate answers.
a. The school district is laying off thousands of teachers soon.
b. Fewer young people will become teachers.
c. A lot of older teachers are retiring.
d. Teachers are quitting at a higher rate these days.
e. Students just don’t like to learn as much as they did in the old days.

2. Why would visual aids have been difficult for Sarah to get early in her career?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What things could school boards and state governments do to ensure that more people
pursue careers in education?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What do you think Sarah means by, “I ran a tight ship”?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are your feelings about retiring from work? Will you be relieved or nervous about too
much time on your hands? If you’re retired already, how is it going?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 16
The Big Sale
Decker's Department Store is known for high-
quality merchandise and great customer service,
but they rarely have sales. The store made less
money than expected for most of this year, so
Decker's decided to plan a special holiday sale to
attract more customers during peak shopping
hours.

The week before the sale, Decker's ran ads in all the
local papers and on radio and television. All mer-
chandise would be discounted from 10%-60%.
Decker's hoped hundreds of customers would take
advantage of their sale.

The night before the sale, employees worked late,

marking down prices and arranging special sale
displays. Everything was ready by the time the doors opened at 10:00 Saturday morning.
There was just one hitch—Decker's didn't have enough salespeople to take care of all the cus-
tomers.

This picture shows one of many lines of shoppers waiting for their turns to buy things. You
might think all the waiting in line resulted in cranky customers. When we interviewed shop-
pers, though, not one was out of sorts about the experience. “With these great prices, I knew
the store would be really busy,” said one customer. “And people were mostly patient because
they know that's just part of the deal when a good store offers great bargains.”

All things considered, Decker's sale was a huge success. In fact, they plan to have a holiday sale
every year from now on!

Questions
1. Which departments in the store were probably busy during the holiday sale?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

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 The Big Sale , continued 16
2. Why do you think some shoppers help other shoppers, even though they're strangers?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Several shoppers offered these tips to make the most of a busy day during a good sale. Tell
the reason behind each suggestion.

a. Wear loose, comfortable shoes!

________________________________________________________________________________

b. Wear comfortable clothing.

________________________________________________________________________________

c. Be patient.

________________________________________________________________________________

d. Take a snack with you.

________________________________________________________________________________

e. Make good use of the time in line.

________________________________________________________________________________

f. Take time to drink liquids.

________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 17
Lifting Spirits
Helen was 68 years old when she suffered a
debilitating stroke that left her paralyzed on the
right side. She and her family were devastated
because her health had been wonderful, and the
stroke was so unexpected. Once an outgoing,
life-of-the-party woman, Helen became despon-
dent and withdrawn.

Eugene spent his life doing what he loved—

working. His first job was on the family farm
where he and his wife raised three children.
After his children took over the farm, Eugene
worked in a grain research facility. When he
retired, he refurbished the city park and main-
tained the green space in the town's small down-
town. Last year a heart attack left him unable to do what he loved. Even his grandchildren
couldn't cheer him up.

Sybil's health had always been fragile, but she didn't let that stop her. She was a hairdresser,
choir director, guitar teacher, and chef. She shared her talents with anyone who wanted them,
regardless of their ability to pay. Her house was filled with homemade crafts traded for hair-
cuts, lessons, and meals. Six months ago she broke her hip and needed physical therapy.
Friends said her eyes lost their sparkle.

Brooke Horvath was new in town and looking for ways to spend her free time. She heard about
these special people who were now in the local assisted living home. She was impressed with
their accomplishments and concerned about their spirits. Brooke found a way to help them
regain strength and vitality. She volunteered to run a wellness program at the home, and she
used the talents of these three special people in the program.

Helen became the organizer and scheduled exercise room space. Eugene brought the plants in
the exercise area back to life. Sybil selected the music and planned the refreshments. In 12
months, their health had improved and their spirits soared. Sybil played guitar for evening
sing-alongs. Best of all, when Brooke moved away, these three kept the program going.

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 Lif ting Spir its , continued 17
Questions
1. What similarities do you notice between Helen, Eugene, and Sybil?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

2. What problem did each one of them share after they had serious health problems?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What one thing did Brooke understand about these people, and why did her solution work?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Each person in the story made unique contributions in their lives. What interesting things
did they do before they suffered serious health problems? What contribution did each make
to the wellness group after his or her health problems occurred?

Helen
before: __________________________________________________________________________

after: __________________________________________________________________________

Eugene
before: __________________________________________________________________________

after: __________________________________________________________________________

Sybil
before: __________________________________________________________________________

after: __________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 18
Sound Body, Sound Mind
Six months ago, Kara didn't leave her house for
days at a time. She stopped talking to friends and
family, and basically disappeared. Her husband
had died very suddenly, leaving her alone for the
first time in her young life. She became deeply
depressed.

“I'd just sit at my kitchen table, drink coffee, and

cry,” Kara said. “Most of the time I didn't even
know what day it was.” Kara speaks these difficult
words while taking a break from a strenuous tennis
match with a friend. “One day my sister called out
of the blue,” Kara said, “and invited me out for
lunch.” Instead of going to lunch, Kara's sister took
her to see a counselor who specialized in grief
recovery.

“I was angry at first,” Kara said, “but I knew I need-

ed some help. Dr. Wilkins was the right person at
the right time for me.” Dr. Gina Wilkins has had
incredible success bringing her clients out of their
grief depression by prescribing a mixture of individual therapy, group encounters, and most
importantly, vigorous physical activity.

“We're not exactly sure why it works,” Dr. Wilkins said, “but we can't deny the success. Over
78% of my clients who have tried this program have reported a huge change in their state of
mind. Most of those people aren't even supplementing their therapy and exercise with med-
ication.”

Wilkins says that there is a proven link between physical and mental fitness. “When we work
out, our brains pump lots of 'happy' chemicals through our bodies,” she says. “Apparently
these chemicals are very potent in overcoming depression and grief.” Kara's point of view isn't
quite so scientific. “Hey, if it works, I won't rock the boat and ask why,” she said, returning to
her tennis match.

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Sound Body, Sound Mind , continued 18
Questions
1. Which of these is not a component of Dr. Wilkins’ grief recovery program?
a. field trips to museums
b. individual therapy
c. vigorous exercise
d. group encounters

2. Kara's grief was the result of her husband's sudden death. What are some other events that
might cause people intense grief or severe depression?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

3. Is Dr. Wilkins' approach to grief recovery a “sure thing”? How do you know?

Yes _____ No _____ Why or why not? ______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. This story illustrates a good example of an instance when it might be all right to lie to some-
one. What was the lie in this story? Can you think of a situation when it might be all right
for you to lie to someone?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. What does it mean to rock the boat?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 19
The Farm Is in Good Hands
Lee Shur and his wife,
Sandy, own and operate
one of the largest dairy
farms in Wisconsin. The
farm has been in Lee's fam-
ily for generations. Lee's
grandfather bought the
land and built the family
home. In his whole life, he
never took a vacation.

Then Lee's father expanded

the farm by adding land to
the dairy operation. Like
his father, Lee's dad
worked every day and only
left the farm to buy and sell cattle. Lee remembers his friends' vacations and how thrilled he
was to get postcards from them. Those postcards helped to form Lee's attitude about work. He
vowed to take vacations when he ran the farm, and his attitude caused quite a stir in the Shur
household.

Lee became a master of efficiency and added computer technology that significantly improved
production. Although his father was skeptical, Lee outsourced some work, eliminated work
that was redundant, and got competitive pricing from new suppliers. He kept his promise
about vacations, too. When the crops were planted, Lee and his family took a vacation, leav-
ing the farm in the capable hands of his workers. Lee's dad remained skeptical and stopped by
the farm every day Lee was gone. But by the end of Lee's first year, his dad was his biggest
cheerleader. Lee's efforts paid off in record profits!

Now Lee and Sandy spend their retirement in Florida while their daughter Karen runs the farm
back in Wisconsin. Lee visits and is a constant source of ideas and advice to Karen but he does-
n't look over her shoulder like his dad looked over his. Karen has made improvements and
expanded the operation, and Lee knows she'll do fine. Best of all, he enjoys Karen and her fam-
ily when they visit on vacation!

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 The Farm Is in Good Hands , continued 19
Questions
1. How did Lee's family change over time?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you think Lee's dad had a problem with his father? If so how?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. What do you think Lee's biggest complaint with his dad was?

_______________________________________________________________________________

4. How would you describe Lee's father’s and grandfather's attitudes about vacations?

Lee’s father: ______________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Lee’s grandfather: ________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Is it difficult working in a family business? List some advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages Disadvantages

________________________________ ______________________________

________________________________ ______________________________

________________________________ ______________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 20
Daily Bread
Under a new program at Central
High School, students are being
given the opportunity to earn class-
room credit and serve their com-
munity at the same time. This pro-
gram, called Daily Bread, is a joint
effort between the high school and
a local senior citizens center that is
designed to benefit both groups.

Helen O'Connor is the food service

director at the Senior Center.
Under her guidance, students
enrolled in the class gain exper-
ience planning, preparing, and
serving meals for 130 seniors. Helen helps the students plan menus, decide how much food to
prepare each day, and determine costs and any dietary restrictions residents at the center may
have.

Helen also supervises the food preparation which focuses on one type of food at a time. This
allows the students to try a variety of recipes within each food type, from salads to vegetables
to main courses, and finally, desserts.

Helen has high praise for the innovative program because it's a great hands-on learning oppor-
tunity for her students. “The students have developed a positive attitude toward the project as
they've gained experience and confidence,” Helen says. “But that's not all. Having young peo-
ple interacting with the residents on a daily basis has put smiles on a lot of faces at the center.
I hope the program can continue for many years to come.”

Darcy Drennan, a student in the class, agrees. “This class has been a great experience! It's just
like the real world. You have obligations to meet. People are counting on you to make quality
food—and you have to do it on time and under budget. Plus, it's one way to get to know the
seniors in our community and help them out.”

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Daily Bread , continued 20
Questions
1. According to the story, which of the following procedures do the students perform? Choose
all answers that apply.
a. planning meals
b. serving meals
c. growing the produce
d. deciding how much food to prepare
e. writing cookbooks
f. cooking meals

2. What diet considerations might the students make as they plan the desserts to serve for a
week?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

3. Why is it important for young people and seniors to work together?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. List some ways both students and seniors benefit from this class.

Students Seniors

________________________________ ______________________________

________________________________ ______________________________

________________________________ ______________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 21
Camera Problems
Sid and Nancy Quinn are from
Raleigh, North Carolina. They are
attending a family reunion in Napa,
California, in two days. Since they
live on the east coast, they don’t get to
see their relatives on the west coast
very often. They had hoped to take a
lot of photos at the reunion and on
their trip to California.

The Quinns are also planning a side

trip to San Francisco before they join
the reunion in Napa. They want to
spend a couple of days in San
Francisco, take a day trip to the wine
country just to the north, and then go
to the reunion in nearby Napa. They bought an expensive, new camera before they left to cap-
ture the trip on film.

The camera seemed to work fine for the first roll of film they took in San Francisco, but now
there's something wrong with it. They brought it to this camera store to get some advice.
They'd like to get the camera working before they leave for the wine tour tomorrow. The sales-
clerk doesn't know what’s wrong with the Quinn's camera, but she says they can leave it here
for the night. She’ll call them at the hotel tomorrow with the news about the camera.

Questions
1. What is the Quinn’s problem?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Camera Problems , continued 21
2. How could they make sure they'll get photos from the reunion? List at least two choices
they could make.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

3. Why can't the Quinns just buy postcards of Napa instead of taking pictures at the reunion?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Suppose the camera shop can’t fix the Quinn’s camera. What could they do with the camera
when they get home?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Many things like cameras or appliances come with a guarantee. How do you make sure
you'll be able to replace a guaranteed item if it doesn't work?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. What situation would a product guarantee for a camera cover?

a. You throw the camera and break it because the shutter won’t open.
b. The camera slips from your hands and breaks on the concrete.
c. The shutter won’t open the first time you try to use the camera.

7. According to the story, the Quinn’s camera was not broken by them. Check one.

True _____ False _____

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 22
Gone Fishing
“You're never too old to fish.” That’s the motto of
Holly Stan's off-shore fishing business near
Tampa, Florida. Holly moved to Florida after she
and her husband retired from military service ten
years ago. They were the outdoor type, and
Florida's warm weather gave them lots of oppor-
tunities to be outside. They were avid golfers,
hikers, and swimmers.

One day they decided to go off-shore fishing with

a local charter boat company. The experience was
exhilarating and Holly was “hooked.” She liked
off-shore fishing so much, she asked friends if
they'd go with her. Holly was surprised to hear
that her friends were reluctant to go on a charter
because of their physical limitations. Some used
canes and walkers. Another had high blood pressure. Another had to take medication with
food every few hours. These folks thought the ride would be too rough or, if they needed help,
no one on board would be able to help them.

That was the beginning of Holly’s Senior-Safe Fishing Cruises. Holly worked with several pro-
fessionals in the area to lease and equip a boat especially for seniors. The craft would accom-
modate the special needs of most seniors, plus have equipment and personnel on board for any
emergency. Holly went to work finding professionals willing to donate their time in exchange
for a fun experience. She was enthusiastic and relentless.

Her efforts paid off. Within seven months, Holly had recruited a charter boat and a captain
who knew the best fishing spots. A retired physician heard about Holly’s idea and volunteered
her time, as did two former emergency room nurses. She even got medical supply companies
to donate equipment.

The first cruise went well. Everyone did their part and Holly’s boat carried 12 seniors on the
fishing cruise of their lives. The response from her guests was overwhelming. They all want-
ed to go again and suggested the next time they end the day with a fish fry.

WALC 3 142 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gone Fishing , continued 22
Questions
1. What problem in her town did Holly identify?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. What steps did she take to fix the problem and create a unique experience for her friends?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What precautions would you suggest Holly take for future cruises?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

4. What does the name of Holly’s company tell you about her primary market?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Should more companies make provisions to meet the medical needs of their customers?
Why?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 23
Safety First
These days, more people than ever enjoy out-
door sports. Crowds of kids and adults are tak-
ing to the streets on bicycles and in-line skates.
Safety is often the last thing on their minds.

Who could blame people for not thinking safety

first? By the time you put on knee and elbow
pads, hip and wrist guards, and a helmet, you
don't look much like the outdoors type. You
look more like a medieval knight in shining
armor than a skater or bicyclist.

Is all this safety equipment necessary? Some

people say that all the pads and guards actually
cause problems. They say shin guards and
elbow pads restrict your movement. Others, of
course, don't agree. There is one thing both sides agree on, though—a helmet is always a
requirement.

If you don't want to strap on all the safety equipment, at least pop a helmet on your head. Most
serious sporting injuries are head injuries, and a properly fitted helmet can reduce that risk.

The American Medical Association agrees with the importance of helmets. Ask your doctor,
and he will certainly tell you that both children and adults need to wear helmets to prevent
head injuries.

Questions
1. Which activity doesn’t the article mention?
a. skateboarding
b. in-line skating
c. bicycling

WALC 3 144 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Safety First , continued 23
2. Why might someone not wear safety equipment when participating in these sports?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. How would you convince someone to wear a helmet while bicycling or skating? What
reasons would you give this person?

a. ________________________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why would the author mention that a “properly fitted” helmet would reduce the risk of
head injuries? Why wouldn't you get the same protection from a helmet that didn't fit
properly?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Can you name some other sports where you should wear a helmet?

________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

6. What does a knight in shining armor usually mean? Is it used that way in this story?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Besides a helmet, what piece of safety equipment do you think is most important to wear
when biking or in-line skating? Why do you think so?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 145 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 24
Following her Dream
Being the oldest person in your class takes on a
new meaning when you’re 82 years old! Emma
Youngster is a fourth-year senior at Mount
Everest College in Lowlands, New York.
Emma's lifelong dream was to earn a Bachelor of
Arts degree and she's determined to make it,
despite her failing health.

While working as a U.S. mail clerk, Emma

envied the people who received college cat-
alogs in the mail and she vowed that one day
she would receive college catalogs, too. For
years, she dreamed of selecting the right college,
picking a major, and choosing interesting
classes from the catalogs.

Things didn't quite turn out exactly as Emma planned, however. Her health began to deterio-
rate shortly after she retired. But two years later, with her health problems stabilized, she
enrolled at Mount Everest, a ten-minute drive from her house. She wasn't able to take a full
load so she took one or two classes a semester. She had to skip several semesters when health
problems made it impossible to attend class. Over the next 15 years, Emma took enough
classes to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She graduates this spring.

Emma's become a motivational speaker, too. She's often asked to be a guest speaker at senior
citizens' meetings in Lowlands. She reminds her audience that it's never too late to accomplish
a goal. She also shares her personal experiences with young people. She encourages them to
set goals and begin working on them right away.

Questions
1. How many years did it take for Emma to get her degree? _______________________________

WALC 3 146 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Following her Dream , continued 24
2. What motivated Emma to go to college?
a. money
b. pressure from her kids
c. a lifelong dream

3. What was Emma’s job prior to getting her college degree?

a. mail clerk
b. teacher
c. motivational speaker

4. Would Emma's life have been different if she had completed her degree earlier? How?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. List five things that Emma might say to a group of senior citizens in her role as a
motivational speaker.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

e. _______________________________________________________________________________

6. How might this advice be different from the advice she would give to high school students?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 25
The Golden Oldies
What do you get when you
put five lively, retired music
teachers together? You get
a group of music lovers
who love to perform! They
call themselves the Golden
Oldies and that's what they
perform—songs from the
1950's and before, including
jazz and blues.

The Golden Oldies all live

at the Galena House, a
retirement village with a
community room.

Fortunately, there's a piano

in the community room, so they gather almost every day to practice and perform for the other
residents. There’s almost always an audience making requests, applauding, and cheering the
Golden Oldies to do yet another number. The group has gotten such a warm reception from
friends and neighbors, that other groups from the community are calling to schedule
performances.

So far, the Golden Oldies have performed 11 times. While performing, they don snappy red
vests, white shirts, and black ties to give themselves a professional look. The average age of the
group is 72. But it's the sound that makes the crowd beg for more. Mature, trained voices
blending in harmony, big smiles, and synchronized moves make a great act. Says one member
of the group, “We love music, we love performing, and we love to make people happy!”

Questions
1. Why is the Golden Oldies a good name for this singing group?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 The Golden Oldies , continued 25
2. What types of music do the Golden Oldies sing? Choose all appropriate answers.
a. blues
b. rock
c. opera
d. jazz
e. barbershop tunes
f. new age

3. Why is this kind of activity good for the performers?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What could a choreographer do for this group?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you think the Golden Oldies could plan a tour of other retirement villages? Would the
tour be successful?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Which of the following is true of the Golden Oldies?

a. They wear black vests, white shirts, and red ties.
b. They wear red vests, white shirts, and black ties.
c. They wear red vests, black shirts, and blue ties.

7. If you had the chance, what songs would you request the Golden Oldies to sing?

_________________________________ _________________________________

_________________________________ _________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 26
Jerome’s Schedule
Jerome's aunt lives by herself and she has some
health problems. It's difficult for her to see well,
and she gets easily confused. Her apartment
manager checks in on her every day, and one of
her neighbors comes in to fix her meals and do
some light housekeeping for her. Every other
Thursday, Jerome travels across town to take his
aunt to the hospital for her outpatient treatment.
He doesn't have a car, so they have to travel by
city bus.

Here’s the schedule they follow: every other

Thursday, Jerome catches the 1:34 p.m. west-
bound bus and arrives at his aunt's apartment
just before 2:00 p.m. Together, they catch the
northbound 2:12 p.m. bus for a 15-minute ride to
the hospital. This bus drops them off right in front of the hospital. The appointment at the hos-
pital is at 2:35 p.m. But today, the city is more crowded than usual because of the Jazz Festival
downtown. People are coming to the city from all over the world to attend the festival.

As Jerome arrives at the bus stop on this Thursday, he sees a long line of people waiting to get
on. The bus is too full for all the people in line to get on board. The next bus doesn't come until
2:18 p.m. Jerome's aunt needs her routine treatment, and it's difficult to reschedule her appoint-
ment. Jerome can't call his aunt because she doesn't have a telephone. He’s not sure about what
to do next.

Questions
1. What is Jerome's problem?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Jerome’s Schedule , continued 26
2. Explain three ways Jerome could do something to solve his problem.

a. ________________________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________________________

c. ________________________________________________________________________________

3. Name something Jerome shouldn't do to solve his problem.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What would you do if you were Jerome? Explain your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Jerome was surprised that he couldn't follow his usual routine to pick up his aunt. What
could he have done to avoid this problem?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. What are some good modes of transportation in a big city besides a bus?

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

d. ____________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 27
An Award-Winning Hobby
All of her life, Rose has loved to raise things.
When she was growing up, she helped raise her
younger brother and sister. Then she married
and raised four children.

Rose loved flowers and raised them, too. She still

does. She didn't have space for a garden so she
filled her apartment with pots of flowering
plants. Over the years, she discovered she had a
knack for raising exotic flowers.

Rose's exotic flowers gained fame in the neigh-

borhood. People stopped to admire the flowers
in Rose's windows. If Rose was home, she'd
invite them in for a closer look. They'd get a short
horticultural lesson and would often take a
flower or plant cutting home. Even Rose's children got interested. They'd help Rose care for
her flowers and they’d learn a bit of botany along the way.

Rose always wanted a large garden. One day, her children gave her an idea. They suggested
she plant flowers around the playground that was in the center of the apartment complex. With
their encouragement, permission from the landlord, and help from the neighbors, Rose began
planting. Flowers bloomed from early spring to late fall. The playground was filled with fra-
grance and color and became an important project to everyone in the complex. The landlord
started paying Rose for her time and expenses!

The local newspaper interviewed Rose. Pictures of the flower garden were featured on the
front page, and in no time, Rose was famous in the city. She was awarded the Mayor's Best
Citizen Award for the work she did to beautify the playground. She was invited to speak at
town meetings to explain how her hobby grew into an award-winning project.

Rose always told her audiences she never thought her wish for a large garden would happen.
She never dreamed she would be recognized for growing flowers in a playground. She
reminds her listeners that the best fertilizer for a good idea is neighborly involvement.

WALC 3 152 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 An Awar d-Winning Hobby , continued 27
Questions
1. What does Rose love to do?
a. raise kittens
b. raise the roof
c. raise flowers

2. How did Rose develop an interest in exotic flowers?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Could Rose have planted the playground without the help of her neighbors? Why or
why not?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did the local newspaper find Rose's project interesting?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you know someone who's turned a project into a business? Tell about it.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 28
Antique or Everyday?
Antiques are big business today, but some people don't
care much about the value of their antiques. They use
these old tools every day and can't imagine living
without them.

Take Carla Goldberg. She's been offered over $200 for

her old rotary lawn mower, but she won't sell it. “I
love that old thing,” she said. “My yard is small, and I
hate the smell of gas-powered mowers, so it's perfect
for me. Besides, mowing with it is a good
workout.”

Ellis Kay loves to make homemade applesauce. “My

old apple grinder is over 40 years old,” Ellis said. “I've
tried to make applesauce with a food processor, but it
just doesn't cut the mustard. I don't know if it's worth
any money to anyone, but it's certainly priceless to
me.”

Some antique dealers would probably cringe if they found out how some valuable antiques are
being used. The people who own some of these treasures could care less. Cindy Marques
keeps a $40,000 Tiffany lamp on an end table in her living room.

“My kids grew up running around that lamp, and I never even knew it was valuable. Once I
found out how much it was worth, I couldn't believe it,” Ms. Marques said. “But it's a part of
our home now. I can't move it or sell it. It's just a lamp to us and always will be.”

Questions
1. What item isn't mentioned in this article?
a. applesauce grinder
b. Tiffany lamp
c. Civil War sword
d. rotary lawn mower

WALC 3 154 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Antique or Everyday?, continued 28
2. Do you think that people should continue using their valuable items? Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the benefits of using an old-fashioned rotary lawn mower?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Where are three good places (other than an antique store) to find antiques?

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

5. What are some ways you could find out if an antique was valuable?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Why would an antique dealer be upset if she knew that people were using their antiques
every day?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Think of something you use every day that is very old. Why do you continue to use it?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 155 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 29
Step by Step
Last winter was the worst in 35 years in Rock
Falls. It was especially bad because of the ice
that sealed the city like shrink-wrap. Roads,
sidewalks, and peoples’ front steps were slick
and dangerous for days.

The roads were taken care of by the city.

Neighbors banded together and helped to clear
the sidewalks, but folks had to clear their front
steps themselves. This was particularly dif-
ficult for seniors who lived alone.

One morning, Lila Wallace was carefully walk-

ing to get her newspaper. The neighbor who
usually helps her with these things was caught
in snowy traffic and couldn’t make it that morn-
ing. Lila slipped and broke her left foot. She
twisted it so that all the bones in her ankle and
foot were fractured.

She's been unable to put weight on it for three

months. Now her physician has removed the
cast and has put the foot in a soft, walking cast.
She's been receiving physical therapy to regain
her strength and learn to walk unassisted.

Questions
1. Name two things Lila could have done to get her newspaper without risking slipping on the
icy steps.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 156 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Step by Step , continued 29
2. What things will be difficult for Lila to coordinate? Choose all appropriate answers.
a. which leg to start climbing stairs with
b. eating steak that hasn't been cut up
c. which leg to use to hoist herself from a chair
d. which leg to use to close the front door
e. brushing her teeth without her electric toothbrush
f. getting in and out of the bathtub
g. knitting an afghan for her granddaughter

3. Lila gets discouraged by how slow her recuperation is. Her physical therapist assures her
that she is progressing just as the doctor predicted. What do you think the physical therapist
would say to Lila to reassure her?
a. “Don't worry. You can always go back to using a wheelchair.”
b. “You're making steady progress. Remember just last week you couldn't climb stairs.”
c. “Your progress is okay for an elderly person.”

4. Lila's goal is to rehabilitate her foot so that she can live independently again at home. The
doctor agrees with her goal but is concerned about Lila's safety. Choose all the things below
that are safety concerns.
a. six cracked wooden stairs up to back door
b. back door hung on two rusty hinges
c. only one railing on stairs up to front door
d. large rocking chair
e. new carpet throughout house
f. ceramic tile on kitchen wall
g. laundry facility in basement
h. all bedrooms on second floor
i. no affordable snow removal or lawn care services available

5. What would you do if you had an accident and couldn’t walk well for three months?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 157 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 30
Woodchopping Willie
Willie James has been
chopping wood for years.
During the Depression, he
and his father cut trees
together to make a little
money to help the family
get through the hard times.

If you need a tree cut

down, Willie will cut it
down by hand even
though chainsaws are pop-
ular now. He doesn’t
charge much and all he
asks is that in addition to a fee for cutting, he gets to keep your wood. As you can see, he has
quite a bit of it. In the autumn, he becomes a very popular fellow. People come from miles
around to buy cords of Willie’s wood for the winter.

The problem is that Willie can’t really compete with local tree-cutting companies who use
chainsaws and have many more people to cut trees for them.

The best he can do is to stack his wood in a huge pile by the freeway and hope that people see
the pile from the road. If they see Willie and his giant stack of wood, they usually stop. But the
local tree-cutting companies want him to stop selling by the side of the road. They say that it’s
not very good for their businesses. They’re lobbying to pass a law which would make it illegal
to sell wood by the side of the road.

Questions
1. What is Willie's biggest problem? Explain your answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 158 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Woodchopping Willie , continued 30
2. What should Willie do? Choose all of the good solutions.
a. Calmly negotiate with the big tree-cutting companies.
b. Refuse to budge from his spot near the freeway.
c. Steal wood from the large companies.
d. Get support from local businesses and politicians to fight the proposed law.

3. How can Willie get support to fight the lobbying efforts of the large tree-cutting companies?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What would you propose as a fair solution so that both Willie and the tree-cutting
companies can be happy?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. Have you ever been in a situation like Willie’s, where a bigger company or group was pres-
suring you to do something you really didn’t want to do? If so, how did it make you feel?
What was the solution to the problem? Were all parties satisfied with the result?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 159 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 31
Philately Nell
Nell's obsession with stamp collecting started
with three postage stamps she found in her
grandmother's trunk. Nell knew the stamps
were old and probably had some value. She
had them appraised and discovered they were
worth over $1000. She was flabbergasted! She
had no idea stamps could be so valuable. That
did it—she was hooked on philately.

When Nell was in junior high school, she

helped her grandmother steam stamps off of
envelopes and catalog them. At that time, she
thought stamp collecting was boring. Now she
realizes how foolish her thinking was. Nell was
eager to find her grandmother's collection.
Once found, Nell learned the history of each
stamp and eventually started her own
business: Philately Nell’s Stamp Sensation.

Nell buys, sells, and trades stamps from all over the world. She does research for her customers
on stamps they've found or purchased from her. Nell takes her expertise to junior high schools
and weaves the history of each stamp into a lively social studies lesson. She wants kids to
become excited and avid stamp collectors. She conducts classes after school for kids interested
in philately.

Nell knows her grandmother would be surprised and delighted that her hobby caught Nell's
attention and became her career.

Questions
1. What do you think philately means?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 160 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Philately Nell , continued 31
2. What collections do you have?

_________________________________ _________________________________

_________________________________ _________________________________

3. How did Nell expand her business?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What does flabbergasted mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. How did Nell's attitude change toward stamp collecting from the time she was a child?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. Nell is helping young people learn about stamps. Tell about a time when an older person
influenced your life. Have you influenced the life of a young person? Explain.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 32
A Pain in the Back
Getting in shape is a great idea. But for some
people, getting in shape means getting hurt.
Workout injuries are much more common than
they should be, and most of them can be avoided
if people follow these few guidelines.

• See a doctor. If you haven't exercised for a

while, see a doctor before you begin. A doctor
might discover a cardiovascular or respiratory
problem that you weren't aware of that might
place you in danger when you're working out.

• Know what you're doing. If you use exercise

equipment in a gym, find out how to operate it
properly. Motorized treadmills and weight
machines can cause serious injuries.

• Watch the weight. Weightlifting can cause some very painful injuries. Remember that more
repetitions with less weight is better for you and safer than few repetitions with heavy
weights. Also, if you have any sort of back problems, stay away from exercises that put stress
on your back, like squats.

• Always work out with a buddy. This last piece of advice is probably the most important. If
you're lifting weights, a partner can give you a hand if you get in trouble. If you're running
or riding a bicycle, a buddy can get help if you're injured. Getting in shape should be a fun,
rewarding experience. Don't turn it into a potentially dangerous or painful one.

Questions
1. Why do you think so many people decide not to see their doctors before beginning an
exercise program?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 162 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 A Pain in the Back , continued 32
2. Which piece of advice was not mentioned in the article?
a. Work out with a buddy.
b. See a doctor before beginning an exercise program.
c. Know how to properly use the equipment.
d. Warm up thoroughly before you exercise.
e. Lift light weights for more repetitions.

3. How would cardiovascular or respiratory problems harm you while you're working out?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What kinds of injuries might motorized treadmills and weight machines cause?

_________________________________ _________________________________

_________________________________ _________________________________

5. What are some ways you could find out how to use the exercise equipment in a gym?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. What painful injuries might heavy weightlifting cause?

_________________________________ _________________________________

_________________________________ _________________________________

7. What are some other advantages you might get from working out with a buddy?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 163 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 33
Betty’s Breakdown
Last Sunday, Betty was driving in the far right-
hand lane of a five-lane highway outside of
Atlanta heading for the suburbs to visit her son.
Then her car started giving her trouble.

At first, Betty didn't notice the slight bumpety-

bump on the passenger side in front. As she
picked up speed, however, the sound and
bumping became louder and bumpier. Betty
kept driving, though, knowing that she'd see a
service station soon. The car started stalling,
and Betty pulled over on the shoulder and drove
up the shoulder as far as she could.

She was able to pull the car over into the parking
lot of a grocery store, but she was still miles from
a garage. After she stopped the car, the first
thing she did was to get out the cell phone her
son bought her and call her road-side service
automotive club to get a tow.

Questions
1. Choose all the things that are positive about this situation.
a. The car didn't blow up.
b. Her two-year-old granddaughter is in the back seat.
c. Betty has a cell phone to use to call for help.
d. She’s off of the highway and in a commercial parking lot.
e. Her son lives 20 miles away.
f. Today is Sunday.
g. There’s no steam coming from the hood.
h. She is signed up with a road-side service automotive club.

WALC 3 164 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Betty’s Breakdown , continued 33
2. Look at the picture. Name all of the emotions that Betty might be experiencing right now.

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

d. ____________________________________

3. Choose all of the ideas below that might prevent an automobile breakdown or help you if
your car breaks down.
a. If you own a cell phone, always have it in your car.
b. Join a road-side service motor club.
c. Make sure you tune the radio to your favorite station.
d. Have regular maintenance performed on your car according to the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
e. Make sure the car is cleaned inside before you take a long trip.
f. Have your car checked by a reliable mechanic before you drive long distances.
g. Make sure you wear your seat belt.
h. Drive the car through a quality car wash regularly.
i. Buy new tires every 30,000 miles.
j. Use a top-grade motor oil.
k. Make sure your spare tire is full of air and ready to use.

4. Have you ever been in an emergency car situation before? Describe the problem and tell
about your solution.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 165 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 34
Motorcycle Mania
Mike and his wife, Karen, enjoy
riding their motorcycle whenever
they can. Whether they ride by
themselves or with a group of
bikers, they always meet friendly
people and have a great time.

Today, they're attending a huge

rally at the fairgrounds outside of
Detroit. Over 4,000 bikers have
come together for the special
event. Special parking fields have
been set up to handle all the bikes.
Inside the fair area, there are
bands and food tents set up.
Here, a friend is shooting some video of Mike and Karen as they arrive at the rally. After this,
everyone went inside and enjoyed a day of music, food, and good times.

When the rally was finished, Mike and Karen came out to the parking lot to get on their motor-
cycle to make the long ride back home. There was only one problem—they couldn’t find their
bike. There were so many motorcycles in the parking lot that it took them over an hour to find
the right one!

Questions
1. Why would it be hard for Mike and Karen to find their bike?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Based on the story, what do you think a rally is?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 166 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Motorcycle Mania , continued 34
3. What suggestions would you give Mike and Karen to help them find their motorcycle the
next time.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

4. What could Mike and Karen have done to avoid this problem?
a. parked in an area with a lot of motorcycles
b. parked in an area with fewer motorcycles
c. parked in a different rally in a different state

5. Have you ever had trouble finding your car in a parking lot? Explain what happened.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. How do you usually remember where you've parked your car in a crowded lot?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Remembering where they parked their motorcycle is just one thing Mike and Karen need to
think about when they take a ride. What are some other things motorcycle riders need to
think about carefully every time they ride?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

e. _______________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 35
An Experiment in Cooperation
Imagine you have a toothache. Wouldn't it be
great if someone in your family was a dentist
and you could get it taken care of right away?
What if you were building a house? It would be
great if your dad was an architect and could help
you with the plans. Or would it be so great?

“To say Dad and I have had our disagreements

would be putting it mildly,” Mark Musil says
with a grin. “We were at each other's throats for
years. He didn't like the decisions I made in
high school and he was even more upset with
me when I became a journalism major in college.
I guess he wanted me to follow in his footsteps
and become an architect, too.”

Mark's dad, Carl, remembers things about the same way. “He was a wild one in high school,”
says Carl. “I worried about him all the time, and that worry often became anger. Then in col-
lege, he got this journalism idea in his head. I wanted him to try for something more practical,
but I guess it's all worked out.”

Mark just published his third book, is a syndicated newspaper columnist, and he and his wife
Linda just welcomed their third child into the family. They decided the time had come to build
their dream house. “Linda thought we should ask Dad to help right away,” Mark says. “I was-
n't so sure. Our history of cooperation hasn't been so great. But Dad's extremely talented, and
the more I thought about having him design our house, the more excited I got.”

“I guess we've both grown up over the past few years,” Carl says. “There were some uncom-
fortable moments when we first started talking about the design, but I think we both started to
see what a unique opportunity we had in front of us.” The design is almost complete, and they
expect to break ground next spring. It seems this house has become a dream come true for the
entire Musil family.

WALC 3 168 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 An Exper iment in Cooperation , continued 35
Questions
1. There are several people mentioned in this story. Which person is not mentioned?
a. Mark Musil
b. Linda Musil
c. the Musil children
d. Mark’s dad, Carl
e. Mark's mother, Maureen

2. What would be some downsides to having a dentist in your family?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. What does it mean to follow in someone's footsteps?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. How can you cooperate with someone that you don't get along with very well?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are some strategies Mark and his dad might use to avoid disagreements while they are
working on the house?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 169 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 36
Enzo’s Big Party
Tina's father's 75th birthday was two months
away, and she wanted to have a special party
to celebrate the occasion. So she called her
family and together they planned a party their
dad would not forget—they would reenact a
Bocce tournament.

Tina's dad, Enzo, was the 1943 Bocce ball

champion in Italy. To reenact the event, the
family located as many of the former Italian
teammates as they could find. They built
Bocce courts and purchased regulation Bocce
balls. They collected their dad's tournament
memorabilia and displayed it. They invited
neighbors and close friends. They made
Enzo’s favorite Italian foods.

All but two members of the Italian Bocce team came. Most of their friends and neighbors came,
too. Enzo was amazed. The teammates reminisced, swapped war stories, told Bocce tales, and
played Bocce all night. Enzo had the time of his life. He told his family he felt 20 years younger.

Questions
1. What preparations were made for Enzo’s party?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

e. _______________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Enzo’s Big Par ty , continued 36
2. Why was this birthday special for Enzo?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. By looking at the picture, can you explain how the game of Bocce might be played?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What does reminisce mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. If your friends or family threw you a special birthday party, what are some things you’d like
to have happen?

location: ________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

favorite foods: ____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

music: ____________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

special people you would want at your party: ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

activities you would enjoy: ________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 37
Heading Back to School
Some people would call 38-year-old
Robert Blum crazy. Last fall he gave
up his $120,000 a year salary as a
stockbroker to become a high school
civics teacher who barely makes
$30,000. Robert laughs as he thinks
about the night he told his mother.
“She just kept shaking her head,” he
said. “Her tongue was completely
tied. She didn't know what to say.”

So why did he make such a dramatic

change? “Basically, money is bor-
ing,” Robert says. “It doesn't disobey
you, it doesn't talk back, and it doesn't learn anything. My entire day was spent trying to make
more of this boring stuff for my clients and myself. I needed a change, and becoming a teacher
was about the biggest one I could think of.”

“When I went to work as a stockbroker, the first thing I'd do in the morning was flip on my
computers and hit the phones,” Robert says. “Now I get to work and interact with people I
really like and respect. And teaching civics to high school kids is an even bigger challenge than
cold-calling clients and trying to get them to invest with me. The rewards of teaching are a hun-
dred times better than the return on any money investment.”

Actually, the decision to change careers wasn't that hard for Robert to make. He had been
trained as a teacher in college and held a valid teaching certificate. Teaching was what he real-
ly wanted to do when he graduated, but money became very important to him at that time.
“When I got out of school, I looked at the student loan debts I had and realized it would be
tough to pay them back on a teacher's salary,” Robert says. “So I looked into becoming a stock-
broker and I became certified.”

Everyone asks Robert the same question these days—are you happy you made the change?
“Absolutely,” he answers, “but don't misunderstand me here; I'm no idealist. I made a lot of
money over the last 15 years, and I invested it well. Now I have the freedom to take a job I love,
even if it doesn't pay much.”

WALC 3 172 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Heading Back to School , continued 37
Questions
1. What professions are mentioned in this passage?
a. school principal
b. teacher
c. stockbroker

2. When Robert told his mother he was quitting his stockbroker job, he said her “tongue was
completely tied.” What did Robert mean by that?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Would you agree that “money is boring”? Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Robert didn't go into teaching after college because he had debts to pay off. How could he
have taken a teaching job and still have had money to pay off his debts?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

5. What problems might Robert face in his new career? Do you think he'll stick with it or go
back to being a stockbroker? Why?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 173 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 38
Staying in Touch
Frank Stanton is a retired librar-
ian. He lives in Pennsylvania by
himself. His wife died two years
ago and his children and grand-
children live in Texas and
Montana. He doesn't see them
very often, but he likes to stay in
touch with them by telephone.

His kids have tried to persuade

their dad to get a computer so he
can E-mail them. Frank's hearing
is poor, and it's getting harder and
harder for him to hear people over
the telephone. He can't under-
stand what his grandchildren say at all, and he can barely hear his daughter's voice. He hears
his son and his son-in-law more clearly.

His children think he’s being stubborn. They have offered to pitch in and buy him a computer
so he can use E-mail, but Frank insists that he can still hear just fine. He says the telephone is
good enough for him—he doesn’t need a computer just so he can stay in touch.

Questions
1. Why doesn't Frank see his children or grandchildren very often?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is E-mail?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 174 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Staying in Touch , continued 38
3. Do you stay in touch with the people who are important to you? If not, why aren’t you in
touch with them as much as you’d like?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do you think Frank is being stubborn about his refusal to use a computer to communicate?
Why or why not?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

5. Why is it harder for Frank to hear his grandchildren than it is to hear his son and son-in-
law?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

6. What are some other ways Frank and his children could stay in contact without using a
telephone?

a. ____________________________________

b. ____________________________________

c. ____________________________________

d. ____________________________________

e. ____________________________________

WALC 3 175 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 39
Moving Day
Sarah has lived in her house for 35 years. Now
it’s time to move to a smaller apartment. To get
ready for the move, she's going from room to
room to decide what to do with all of her things.
Today, she's tackling the closet in her guest room.

Most of the clothes in this closet have hung here

undisturbed for several years. In fact, the only
thing she still uses from this closet are the rolls of
wrapping paper.

Sarah doesn't like things to go to waste, so she's

thinking of ways to get the clothes, blankets, and
everything else to people who might use them.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about what
she should do with all of the stuff in her closet.

Here are some of the options she's considering:

• Ask the local amateur theater group if they'd like any of the things for costumes or props.
• Give the blankets to the Red Cross.
• Call the Salvation Army and ask them to pick everything up.
• Ask her church to store the things until they have their next clothing drive.

Questions
1. Why doesn't Sarah put her things in boxes and take them with her when she moves?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 176 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Moving Day , continued 39
2. Why do you think many of the clothes in the picture are in clear plastic bags? Choose all
appropriate answers.
a. The clothes don’t fit anymore.
b. She hasn’t worn the clothes in years.
c. She doesn’t like the clothes anymore.

3. What does the expression go to waste mean?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Which of Sarah’s ideas do you think are good ones? List them below.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

5. Give Sarah some other suggestions on how to get rid of her old clothes.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________

d. _______________________________________________________________________________

6. Would it be easy or difficult for you to sort through the things you don't use anymore?
Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 177 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Gener al Pr oblem Solving 40
Dad for a Day
David leads a pretty quiet life. He's a 28-year-old
bachelor who is the co-owner of a small rest-
aurant. His serene little life got a little more inter-
esting Saturday afternoon.

“My sister needed to go to an emergency meeting

at work, and her husband was out of town for the
weekend,” David said. “She called me and asked
if I would be able to watch her son, Danny, for a
few hours.”

He says, “I wasn't so sure at first. I'd never been

alone with a two-year-old, but the panic in her
voice convinced me that this was something I
needed to do for my sister.” David's sister threw
open his front door 15 minutes after the phone call,
plopped Danny down on David's new white couch, and dropped what seemed like ten bags of
baby supplies in the middle of the floor. She gave David and Danny each a quick kiss, then let
go with a stream of words so quick David only caught a few of them. He thought he heard “life
saver, appreciate, already ate,” and the dreaded “needs to be changed.” The door then
slammed and she was gone.

“I just kind of sat there looking at Danny climb around on the couch for a minute,” David said.
“Then I caught my breath and realized if I was going to do this, I'd better dive right in.” David
got his nephew changed, then pulled out some of Danny's toys, and they played together on
the floor for a while.

“After you get down on the floor with a toddler, you get in the swing of things fast,” David
laughed. “I had a couple of awkward moments there, but after that, it was a lot of fun. We
played, we had a snack, we ran around outside, and then we watched TV for a few minutes
until he fell asleep. Not long after, my sister came through the front door again. She was much
calmer this time as she gathered up Danny and his things. I'm already looking forward to the
next time he can come over and play.”

WALC 3 178 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 Dad f or a Day , continued 40
Questions
1. What things at the beginning of this story tell you that David might not enjoy having a two-
year-old around?

a. _______________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________

2. Why might David's sister have been so panicked and rushed when she came into his house?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Read the last part of the third paragraph again. David mentions that he only heard a few
words his sister said as she hurried out the door. Use these words to recreate exactly what
his sister might have said.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did getting down on the floor with the toddler loosen David up?

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

WALC 3 179 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,

Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 A n s w e r Ke y
Solution: Set a certain time for 5. Problem: A young child is
Problem Solving clients to pick up their work. walking down the street alone.
7. Problem: You already have Solution: Bring the child into
pp. 6-7
plans the day your boss asks your home and locate her par-
1. c, c
you to play golf. ents.
2. b, a
Solution: Tell your boss you 6. Problem: A friend wants to
3. b, c
already have plans but would start a workout program with-
4. Problem: Family members are
like to play golf some other day. out seeing his doctor first.
asking for loans.
Solution: Suggest that your
Solution: Explain why you
pp. 10-11 friend start slow and work his
can’t loan money.
1. c, a way up to a rigorous level.
5. Problem: Your daughter can’t
2. b, a 7. Problem: Your friend is choking.
make the down payment on a
3. c, b Solution: Perform the Heimlich
house.
4. Problem: Two friends you want maneuver on him or call for
Solution: Loan her the money
to invite over don’t like one help.
for the down payment; help her
another.
make a plan to save the money.
Solution: Invite them both but pp. 14-16
6. Problem: The IRS is auditing
let each know the other has 1. c, b
you and you’ve never gone
been invited. 2. b, a
through an audit.
5. Problem: Your grandchildren 3. c, b
Solution: Find out what infor-
bring friends to your house 4. Problem: You have ruined one
mation you will need for the
who are are noisy. of your neighbor’s prize
IRS; contact an accountant.
Solution: Ask them not to bring orchids.
7. Problem: Your doctor is no
friends when they come over Solution: Apologize to your
longer affiliated with your
for video night. neighbor and offer to replace it.
insurance plan.
6. Problem: You are embarrassed 5. Problem: The people in front of
Solution: Change doctors; keep
to have a rusty car parked in you at a sporting event are
the same doctor and save
front of your house. annoying.
money elsewhere.
Solution: Help your neighbor Solution: Move to an empty
find a different place to park his seat elsewhere.
pp. 8-9
car. 6. Problem: You find the language
1. a, c
7. Problem: You think your neigh- offensive in a movie you are
2. c, b
bor’s dog wrecked your new watching.
3. c, a
plants. Solution: Leave the theater and
4. Problem: You’re not supposed
Solution: Ask your neighbors wait for your friend outside.
to go to work on icy days.
to keep their dog out of your 7. Problem: You have two invita-
Solution: Have someone pick
yard. tions for dinner on the same
you up at your door and drop
night.
you off at the door at work.
pp. 12-13 Solution: Suggest you all have
5. Problem: Your daughter is
1. b, a dinner together.
using the company’s toll-free
2. b, c 8. Problem: You can’t remember
number.
3. b, c where to meet your friend at
Solution: Have her call on a
4. Problem: You have two the mall.
local line.
appointments at the same time. Solution: Go to the doors lead-
6. Problem: Having customers
Solution: Go to one and ing to the parking lot and wait
in your home bothers your
reschedule the other. there for your friend.
daughter.

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 180 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
9. Problem: You have a flat tire p. 21 p. 26
and can’t find the jack to fix it. 1. Frank’s Records 1. a
Solution: Check the user’s 2. a 2. a
manual to see where the jack is 3. b 3. a
located.
10. Problem: You and your spouse p. 22 p. 27
want to do different things on 1. $495 1. 4
your vacation. 2. 3 2. 1-800-555-2222
Solution: Take turns doing 3. Oct. 22 3. 2
what each likes on different 4. 6 4. $30
days. 5. Mink Community College 5. no
11. Problem: Neighborhood boys 6. no 6. no
make too much noise outside 7. 15 or less
your window. p. 28
Solution: Ask them to play p. 23 1. b
elsewhere or close your win- 1. $200,000 2. $139.95
dows. 2. $14,000 ($200,000 x .07) 3. 50
3. $186,000 ($200,000 – $14,000) 4. none
4. $202,500 ($200,000 + $2,500) 5. $45 (free if you purchase
portraits)
Analyzing Problems 6. call for appointment
1. half a day
p. 18 2. noon on Wednesday
p. 29
1. c 3. at home, the library, a friend’s
1. c
2. no house
2. $.87
3. The current balance is all that is
3. chicken salad sandwich
due. p. 24
4. $2.56
1. products in the mortgage and
p. 19 financial industry
pp. 30-31
1. b 2. call 1-800-322-3562 1. b
2. It is a fee for using an ATM in 3. $1400-$1800 2. c
another city. 4. excellent benefits 3. b
3. b 5. $280 4. c
5. yes, 3
p. 20 p. 25 6. prescription number
1. c 1. 125 7. 30 minutes before the first food,
2. b 2. $375 beverage, or medication of the
3. Budget your money better so 3. $6,500 day
you have enough to pay the 4. $150 8. No; you need to take it with
bill. 5. $375 water.
6. 2 9. You should not lie down for 30
1. You would have room for your 7. in the apartment complex minutes after taking it.
family members to stay when 8. $500
they visit. 9. no p. 32
2. Ask them to bring sleeping 10. 50 1. b
bags so they can sleep on the 11. She needs $1,000 and you need 2. a
floor or have them stay in a to check references. 3. Dr. Stephen Johnson
motel. 4. yes

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 181 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
p. 33 in the house with him while
1. b Understanding & he cleaned; ask him if he
2. page the doctor Applying Information moved any of the items
3. morning when he was cleaning.
pp. 40-41
pp. 34-35 1. • one that changes pp. 44-45
1. a • one that stays the same 1. b, d, e, f
2. a • you won’t make as much 2. a, c, d, e
3. a money 3. They are divorced or separated.
4. b 2. The extra charge is a handling 4. Sell the furniture, put it in stor-
5. d or convenience fee. age, or give it away.
6. Big Town 3. games, books, toys, sporting 5. • You need to know what sizes
7. October 5 goods, etc. she wears now.
8. c 4. The phone company might take • She could return them for
9. Ontario, Sept. 14 those charges off your bill. the right size.
5. b • Buy her a gift certificate.
p. 37 6. b 6. • You could go to one house
1. b A grace period is a period of or the other or you could
2. a time to pay your balance when stay home.
3. c you won’t be charged a finance • You could find out who the
4. Excellent; it was named “Best fee. other guests at the homes
Decor” by Inside Resort 7. Call information or your credit will be to see who you want
magazine. card company and get the cur- to spend time with.
5. call or fax rent number for the catalog 7. Look in the newspaper or on
6. $290 per person company and call them. the Internet.
7. Two people must be in a room. 8. They are the same value. 8. You could put up a fence.
9. the 10-minute card
p. 38 10. c pp. 46-47
1. b 1. a, b, d, e, f
2. b pp. 42-43 2. a, c, d, f, g
3. a 1. a, c 3. • You may have pulled a mus-
4. a a, b cle, pinched a nerve, or
5. 2:00 pm 2. b, c strained your back.
6. no a, b • You could go to the doctor
7. closer 3. a, c or apply heat or ice.
8. no It won’t get done right or in a • Bend your knees and lift
9. coat, jacket, or sweatshirt timely manner. straight up using your legs
4. dish soap, window cleaner, instead of your back.
diluted ammonia or bleach 4. • Lock all doors and windows,
5. • The co-worker might tell oth- cover windows with ply-
ers about this information. wood, and be ready to go to
• Your co-worker might get in a safe location.
serious trouble or get fired. • You need to know when the
6. • Look carefully for every- storm is expected to hit and
thing that is missing and have its severity.
someone help you look. • You can stay home or go to a
• Ask him if anyone else was safer location.

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 182 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
5. • Talk to your neighbors about 7. Your teacher likes the good
your idea. Paraphrasing & questions you ask in class and
• Have them be on their Summarizing enjoys your participation in
porches to monitor activities discussion.
and keep all their lights on. pp. 52-53 8. He wants your mom to stay at
• Organize a Halloween party 1. b; c home more often.
in a central location. 2. c; a 9. Tell her that you enjoy being
6. • Start an exercise program 3. c alone and aren’t ready to date
• hiking/biking trails, fitness 4. • Your phone will be turned at this time.
center, YMCA off by May 13 if we don’t 10. Some of your family members
• You need to know how far receive payment. object to your brother’s new
you will be walking or hik- • You might have to pay a fee wife and aren’t afraid to
ing each day. to get your phone service express their opinions.
7. • Make a chart and check turned back on.
them off when they’ve been 5. You need to pay the bill by the pp. 58-59
taken or carry a compart- 21st of next month. 1. c
mentalized pill organizer. 6. Answers will vary. 2. a
• Your family, friends, or a 7. Answers will vary. 3. c
nurse could help you. 4. b; b
pp. 54-55 5. c; b
pp. 48-50 1. c 6. a; c
1. a, b 2. b 7. b; a
a 3. a
2. b 4. • Your friend thinks you pp. 60-62
a spend your money foolishly. 1. • It’s a small group of items
3. a, c • Do you really think that is a that were made at the same
a good way to spend your time.
4. b, c money? • a person who buys and sells
a, b 5. Answers will vary. antiques
5. c 6. Answers will vary. • Your porcelain figurine col-
a 7. software engineer, journalist, lection does not include a
bathing suit, toiletries, casual technical writer, editor, network limited edition choir boy.
clothes, formal clothes, money, specialist, tour guide, etc. 2. • a student with a learning
medication, etc. disability, a student who
6. c; b pp. 56-57 does not learn new things
a, c 1. c easily
7. b; b 2. d • He does not want you to talk
tire inflation, effectiveness of 3. • You’re blocking his view. about individual students’
brakes, proper lubrication of all • He could politely ask you to learning problems outside
parts, safety equipment sit down because he can’t the school.
see. 3. • You have to pay for them
4. Your looks haven’t changed. yourself and are not includ-
5. very dressy, formal attire ed in the package price.
required • Would you like to go on a
6. Cook something to bring mystery bus trip with me? It
instead; remind them of your costs $25, and you need to
preference.

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 183 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
dress warmly and wear com- them the situation; put more 4. c
fortable shoes. Lunch and money in her account and 5. • No
snacks aren’t included in the have her pay you back later. • Yes; daily assistance is
package price. provided.
4. You are in good shape. pp. 66-67 • Yes; meal preparation is
5. a, b, c 1. a, b provided.
6. c 2. a • Use the 24-hour emergency
7. • both ways 3. You should help your own nursing response service.
• two people to a room neighborhood before you go 6. You will recover very quickly.
• a help another neighborhood. 7. The snow is coming down so
8. • There are players on first, 4. • He does not trust the new hard that you can’t see clearly
second, and third base. assistant with confidential even a few feet in front of you.
• It’s a home run when the information, such as salary
bases are loaded. information. pp. 72-74
• changed pitchers • He does not seem happy 1. b
• home run about it. 2. c, a
9. • The kids will not only learn 5. You should expect a pay 3. b, c
how to do something, they increase. 4. Be courteous to the next
will actually do it. 6. She feels uncomfortable about person who will rent the video
• Answers will vary. working on a project outside of by rewinding the tape to the
her regular job responsibilities. beginning; you would expect
7. The company is not afraid of your tape to be at the beginning
Making Inferences using new ideas or setting when you rent it, so you should
guidelines that differ from do it for the next person.
pp. 64-65 conservative ways. 5. He was dealt a good set of
1. c 8. You spend more time paying cards.
2. b, c attention to your job than to 6. These cards would be a great
3. c your spouse. Christmas gift idea for her.
4. No; you must be a qualified 9. You were given the promotion 7. • You need to continue to
buyer. due to luck, not based on your practice the lesson because
5. Since it was an old catalog, the ability or performance. there are still a few places in
sweater might be on sale, dis- 10. No the song that could use a bit
counted, or on clearance since it more practicing.
is no longer a new item. pp. 68-69 • Answers will vary.
6. • No; the sign says “Free 1. a, b 8. There are runners in scoring
Estimates.” 2. c, b position.
• They need to make sure that 3. b, a 9. Your friend did not enjoy the
you are seriously interested 4. c, a show and regrets going to it.
since they will have a diffi- 5. b, a 10. • The ballpark does not
cult time selling the frame to 6. a, c assume liability if anyone is
someone else if you back out injured by a baseball or base-
of the sale. pp. 70-71 ball bat.
• No; they will customize any 1. Two hearing aids are best, but if • You could be struck with a
size frame to fit your needs. you can only afford one, it baseball or baseball bat if
7. • She forgot to enter the would still help quite a bit. you are not paying attention
deposits because she was ill. 2. You’ll lose weight. or watching carefully.
• Talk to the bank and tell 3. water aerobics

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 184 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
3. • She might be hurt and embar- pp. 84-86
Empathizing rassed, or she might feel 1. c, a
angry that you are trying to 2. • You are unhappy that your
pp. 76-77 make someone feel guilty. team is about to lose.
1. • a • Young people sometimes do • You are excited that your
• nervous, pressured, anxious, not consider the feelings of team won.
excited others and you shouldn’t 3. • He is sorry that one of the
2. • b take it personally. guests is unhappy with the
• feelings hurt, disappointed 4. • She is scared and doesn’t type of music that he
3. • upset, irresponsible, want to leave her home and brought.
nervous move into a nursing home. • Do you have any other CDs
• You left it at the video store. • The doctor is frustrated that we could play to mix up the
4. You might feel obligated to help your neighbor doesn’t watch music?
her financially. her diet or take care of her- 4. • He is appreciative of what
5. pressured, uncomfortable self properly. he learned from his coach,
6. Frustrated, annoyed, aggravat- • Answers will vary. excited about his award, and
ed, confused; the checking 5. • You might be insulted that thrilled to share the excite-
account that was opened was she considers your posses- ment with his coach.
not the one you wanted. sions “old stuff.” • thrilled, excited, shocked
7. You might feel taken advantage • Thanks so much for the offer, 5. He is proud that he received a
of. but I don’t really have a silver medal, but sad that he
8. embarrassed, angry place to keep such things. did not win the gold medal.
• Answers will vary. 6. • She doesn’t like them and
pp. 78-79 feels unappreciated by them.
1. a, b pp. 82-83 • She could have her husband
2. • c 1. c encourage her in-laws to be
• Explain to him what you do 2. b, c more understanding of her
when you have some down 3. b, c; a feelings.
time to keep busy. 4. Slow down and consider giving 7. • aggravated, irritated,
3. b, c up the things that you really appalled that he is not
4. • b don’t want to do and don’t moving
• It is only fair that you have time for, and reprioritize • inconvenienced, obstinate,
assume some of the burden your life so you have time to do stubborn
that she has been handling some things that you enjoy. • You could offer to sit in
for many years. 5. Say something general about another seat if one is
5. c, b, c all babies, like “babies are so available.
darling.” 8. • sorry, irresponsible, embar-
pp. 80-81 6. I’m sorry for being so inconsid- rassed
1. • Explain honestly why you erate. Would you like a few • She is regretful that she let
want him to leave the dog at more minutes before you see you borrow the basketball.
home. me? • Buy her a new ball; give her
• He will probably be sad but 7. You could have walked over, money to buy a new ball.
understanding. steadied the ladder, and urged • relieved, satisfied
2. • embarrassed, unappreciated him to be careful up there.
• That was very inconsiderate
of me. Sometimes I talk
before I think. I’m sorry.

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 185 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
3. c, b 12. Research information regarding
Evaluating 4. a the preventative measures a per-
5. Consult your friends before you son living in an earthquake zone
pp. 88-89
leave to see where they’d like to should take; have your home
1. c, a
go. inspected by a professional.
2. a, a and b
6. You could have been more 13. Ask your doctor; hire a
3. c, a
explicit, told your spouse exact- personal trainer for assistance.
4. a, c
ly what to get, or bought them
5. c, a
yourself. pp. 96-98
7. Choose a variety of music 1. Determine what specific things
pp. 90-91
appropriate for each age group. you are looking for in a sports
1. personal abilities and skills,
team and then spend time
finances, availability of jobs
pp. 94-95 watching or talking with team
2. Consider how well she takes
1. doctor visits, good diet, exercise members.
care of your daughter and com-
2. Research different diets and 2. affordability, quality, warranty
pare costs against other
weight loss methods. information
providers.
3. Pretend you are the height of 3. Join a singles group.
3. cost of living of place you are
the toddler, walk around your 4. Contact the police.
moving to, new responsibilities
home, and remove items that 5. She may think you are
of a new job, feelings of your
are unsafe for a baby; ask a par- depressed or simply don’t
spouse and children, hassle of
ent of a young child for advice. know how to have a social life
moving
4. If the exercises help you feel on your own.
4. Pros
better and you feel motivated to 6. • She thinks you are aggres-
• company will be able to
go to the class, the instructor is sive, insensitive, and overly
handle more calls
probably doing a good job. ambitious.
• system will save money
5. Ask the people you are staying • She is unsure that she is
Cons
with or consult with the ready to retire.
• costs $75,000
concierge or desk clerk at the 7. • Monitor or limit his use of
• not personal
hotel. the Internet.
5. sugar free or low-fat treats that
6. Ask the salesperson at the • You might feel that he is
still taste good
furniture store or read the depressed or that something
6. customer feedback, delivery
manufacturer’s information is wrong.
time, reliability
on the tag of the furniture. 8. • embarrassed, ashamed, frus-
7. family considerations, social life
7. If, at the end of the three trated
considerations, if the extra
months you have lost some • He wants her to do better
money meets needs better no
weight or feel better, the diet is and if he yells at her, maybe
matter what time shift he works
probably working. she will improve or he does-
8. personal finances, needs of
8. Choose the store with the better n’t think she was trying her
your child
produce section. best.
9. personal finances, career
9. years in business, stock price, • Answers will vary.
change
financial soundness of company, 9. • She thinks Gabby exercises
10. children’s caregiver, emotional
growth potential too much and that she was
or physical needs of the children
10. taste and presentation bound to get hurt.
11. Pick a resort that has a mixture • She could have said she was
pp. 92-93
of outdoor and indoor activi- worried for her and she is
1. b, a
ties, including an indoor swim- sorry that she had been hurt.
2. b
ming pool.

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assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 186 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
5. Answers will vary. the first patients to undergo the
General procedure.
Problem Solving pp. 104-105 3. 4, 1, 3, 2, 5
1. c 4. Answers will vary.
pp. 100-101 2. They boxed up 3 of their 4 TVs 5. nervous, anxious
1. • generous and stuck them in a closet; they 6. Answers will vary.
She helps others financially decided to only turn the TV on 7. She will be no worse off if the
and is a life-long community if something was on that they new procedure fails because she
volunteer of her time. really wanted to see. hasn’t responded to traditional
• lucky 3. The TV monopolized time in procedures and medicines.
She has has won a digital her schedule that could have
camera and $500,000 in been spent doing something pp. 110-111
prizes over the last year. productive. 1. c
• caring 4. It provides background noise 2. She could have one of the store
She constantly helps others. and gives people the sense that employees page him or start
2. It’s faster and more convenient. they are not alone. walking around the store look-
3. She could have gotten their 5. Answers will vary. ing for him.
phone number and called them 6. Talk more; listen to music; take 3. She might apologize for not
back to make sure they were up a new hobby. considering his feelings.
legitimate. 7. Answers will vary. 4. His feet hurt, his head aches,
4. No; it is a common reaction his back aches, he wants to sit
when you are shocked. pp. 106-107 for awhile, and he doesn’t
5. income taxes, how she will 1. b know where his wife is.
spend the money, what others 2. She could try to convince the 5. He is tired and achy and would
will think, how it will change other writers that proofreading like to go home.
her life. hard copy is the best way for 6. c
6. Answers will vary. her to proofread their work. 7. Answers will vary.
7. a call that is a practical joke 3. You can explain to me why you
think it is better for me to pp. 112-113
pp. 102-103 proofread online, but I still 1. a notebook you write in
1. Have the relatives RSVP to won’t believe that it is better 2. They were not aware all the
ensure they received the than proofing via hard copy. while Harvey knew them he
invitations. 4. She may be fired if she doesn’t was writing stories about them.
2. The following items should be comply with the company’s 3. They might complain to
checked: call guests, arrange for views. Harvey or ask him to change
entertainment, design invita- 5. c the manuscript in order to
tions, prepare/cook food, make 6. The following items should be make them happy.
hotel plans for guests, include checked “yes”: Job counseling, 4. honored, excited, embarrassed,
directions, plan a menu Adjusting to change, and angered, proud
3. They could provide a large Technology for Today. How to 5. It brought back many memories
selection of common foods; invest your 401(k) funds should of their own; it reminds them of
have each family bring a dish to be checked “no.” their youth and their accom-
share. 7. Answers will vary. plishments over their lifetime.
4. She is willing to do the work, 6. Answers will vary.
but feels that it should be pp. 108-109
shared between the other 1. Answers will vary.
family members. 2. She doesn’t mind being one of

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assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 187 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
pp. 114-115 pp. 120-121 p. 129
1. c 1. Are you well enough to continue 1. b, c, d
2. b, c or should we return home? 2. Visual aids such as slides and
3. Traveling means many hours 2. a, c, e, f computer images were not
away from home and away 3. She might have been regretful easily accessible early in Sarah’s
from her family. that she had tried to do too teaching career.
4. working from her home, much by herself. 3. They could publicize the urgent
traveling less hours, working 4. You are brave to try to take need for teachers and create
part-time, find another job on such a responsibility by incentives for new teachers.
5. telephone, e-mail, FAX, post- herself. 4. She was in control of her
cards 5. no running, what to do in case classroom and expected stu-
6. You don’t need to think about someone is lost, what to do in dents to follow her rules.
it. case someone feels ill 5. Answers will vary.
6. Answers will vary.
pp. 116-117 pp. 130-131
1. Expanding a business means p. 123 1. clothing, specialty gifts,
taking on more responsibilities 1. e holiday decorations, jewelry,
and risk, as well as investing 2. competitions, exercise pro- toys
more money. grams, counseling, group 2. They understand that part of
2. someone who does not have activities the holiday is fighting the
use of the lower half of her 3. Answers will vary. crowds and that it is courteous
body due to paralysis 4. Answers will vary. to help others.
3. b, c, d, e 3. a. You will be on your feet a
4. financial investments, risk, p. 125 long time.
employee concerns, personal 1. b, c b. You will probably be shop-
preference, increased responsi- 2. Older adults have more years ping for hours so wear
bility of memories and history than something you won’t want
5. a, b, d teenagers. to change.
6. Answers will vary. 3. experience with scrap booking, c. There will be long lines and
an ability to get people thinking losing your temper won’t
pp. 118-119 about important events in their make them go any faster.
1. The purpose is to build one-on- lives d. You may not have time to
one friendships and compan- 4. Answers will vary. stop for lunch because of the
ionship between mature adults 5. Answers will vary. time it will take to do your
and children who need more shopping.
adult influence in their lives. pp. 126-127 e. You will be in line for more
2. It gives them a sense of security. 1. to combine the two companies time than usual, so be pre-
3. b into one larger company pared and bring a book or
4. library, sporting events, fishing, 2. Some employees could lose something to do.
bicycling, movies, concerts, etc. their jobs due to an overlap in f. Shopping is sometimes hard
5. Answers will vary. job responsibilities. work and you wouldn’t
6. Marcus may lose his ambition 3. a, b, c, d want to get dehydrated.
to read or stop exploring 4. a, b, c, d, e
opportunities that Jared has 5. a, c, d, e, g p. 133
introduced to him. 1. outgoing, hard-working, ambi-
tious, all lost strength and vital-
ity after their health declined

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assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 188 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
2. They all lost their strength and 4. They both believed that they p. 143
vitality. needed to be running the farm 1. Many of her friends were reluc-
3. She understood all the accom- every day and that there was tant to take advantage of off-
plishments that Helen, Eugene no time for vacations. shore fishing because of their
and Sybil had made in their 5. Answers will vary. physical limitations.
lives and they needed a way to 2. She worked with several pro-
regain the use of those talents. p. 139 fessionals in the area to lease
4. Helen 1. a, b, d, f and equip a boat especially for
before: outgoing, life of the 2. diabetic restrictions, food seniors.
party allergies, nutritional concerns, 3. Avoid rough waters, make sure
after: organizer, scheduled exer- preparation limitations, cost of the boat is equipped with emer-
cise room space ingredients gency equipment, have plenty
Eugene 3. They can learn a lot from one of help on hand, and make sure
before: farmed, grain research, another and understand one there is clear communication to
refurbished parks another better if they spend shore.
after: brought plants into exer- time together. 4. Her market is designed for sen-
cise area 4. Students: gain skills, take on ior citizens.
Sybil responsibility, feel good about 5. Answers will vary.
before: hairdresser, choir direc- helping others
tor, guitar teacher, chef Seniors: enjoy seeing the kids pp. 144-145
after: played guitar for sing- and interacting with them, get 1. a
alongs to eat good food 2. to prevent your hair from get-
ting messed up, equipment is
p. 135 pp. 140-141 uncomfortable, takes too long
1. a 1. The camera that they purchased to put all the equipment on
2. loss of a job, death of a pet, especially for their trip is not 3. a. It protects your head from
divorce, catastrophic injury working properly. injury in case of a fall.
3. No; only 78% of his clients have 2. Ask someone else who is b. It helps you be more aerody-
reported success. attending the reunion to take namic.
4. Kara’s sister invited her to pictures and send them copies; 4. The helmet could cut into your
lunch, but instead she took buy an inexpensive camera to head if it is too small or it could
her to see a counselor who spe- use while their camera is being fall off or out of place if it is too
cialized in grief recovery; fixed; buy a disposable camera. large.
answers will vary. 3. They want to take pictures of 5. hockey, football, skateboarding,
5. to make a big change or change the specific sites they see in baseball
something dramatically Napa and include pictures of 6. a hero or a savior; no
their relatives in them. 7. Answers will vary.
p. 137 4. Contact the manufacturer or the
1. Their business became more store where they bought it. pp. 146-147
efficient and allowed the 5. Save your receipt and save 1. 15 years
family to take vacations once your product and warranty 2. c
the crops were planted. information. 3. a
2. No; he agreed with his 6. c 4. Yes; she would have enjoyed
philosophy about never 7. True a different career; she may be
taking a vacation. more self-confident now.
3. He never took a vacation. 5. a. Set goals and strive to
achieve them.

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assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 189 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 ; Answer Key
b. Don’t wait until it’s too late or watched the news so that he 2. a,d
to follow your dreams. would know about the festival. 3. promise to vote for the politi-
c. Don’t let health problems get 6. walking, taxi, subway, bicycle cians in the next election, prom-
in the way of your dreams. ise to advertise and promote
d. Even though there may be a pp. 152-153 local businesses and politicians
few bumps along the way, 1. c with signs at his wood pile
nothing is impossible 2. She didn’t have space for a gar- 4. Have one of the tree-cutting
e. Don’t settle for less than den so she started having pot- companies give Willie a job.
what you want. ted plants in her apartment and 5. Answers will vary.
6. When talking to high school developed a knack for it.
students, she might be more 3. Answers will vary. pp. 160-161
focused on the future; for senior 4. It is interesting because Rose’s 1. stamp collecting
citizens, she would be focused simple hobby grew into an 2. Answers will vary.
on the present. award-winning project. 3. She does research for her cus-
5. Answers will vary. tomers, buys and sells from all
pp. 148-149 over the world, and teaches
1. Both the music and the people pp. 154-155 kids about stamp history.
might be considered “golden” 1. c 4. surprised, shocked, taken aback
(valuable, classic) and “oldies” 2. Answers will vary. 5. When she was a child she
(because of their ages and the 3. You don’t have to buy gas, and thought it was boring, but now
age of the music). it is a good workout. she thinks it’s exciting and
4. garage sale, estate sale, grand- interesting.
2. a, d
mother’s house 6. Answers will vary.
3. They are all retired music teach-
ers, and it is a way for them to 5. Take it to an antique dealer;
look in an antique guide in the pp. 162-163
get together and continue doing
library; look on the Internet. 1. They think they’re healthy; they
what they love to do.
6. An antique dealer would not think it’s a waste of time.
4. Add dance steps to the songs
want the valuable item to be 2. d
they sing.
damaged because it might be 3. You could overwork your heart
5. Answers will vary. and damage it; you could have
worth a lot of money.
6. b trouble breathing.
7. Answers will vary.
7. Answers will vary. 4. muscle strain, join strain, head
pp. 156-157 injury if you fall down,
pp. 150-151 1. a. Wait for her neighbor to get shoelace could get caught in the
1. If he doesn’t get on the bus, home to help. treadmill and cause you to fall
his aunt may miss her doctor b. Have the paper left just out- 5. ask for help from an employee
appointment. side the door. of the gym, get a personal train-
2. a. Explain his situation and get 2. a, c, d, f er, read the manuals
in front of the line. 3. b 6. muscle strain/tearing, neck
b. Check the subway or train 4. a, c, g, h, i injury, back injury, broken
schedule. 5. Answers will vary. bones (if weights fall on you)
c. Call his aunt’s apartment 7. a. You could keep one another
manager and see if he/she pp. 158-159 motivated.
could take her. 1. The tree-cutting companies b. You won’t get bored since
3. Simply wait in line or lose his are trying to get Willie to stop you have someone to talk to.
temper and start yelling. selling wood on the side of the c. Your friend could help
4. Answers will vary. road, but that is his only source teach you how to use the
5. He could have read the paper of income. equipment.

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assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 190 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.
 þ Answer Key
pp. 164-165 c. Talk calmly about their dis- 5. His grandchildren don’t speak
1. a, c, d, g, h agreements and try to as clearly; the men have
2. anger, frustration, worry, resolve them. lower/louder voices.
anxiety, fear 6. letter, telegram, postcard, FAX,
3. a, b, d, f, i, j, k pp. 170-171 instant messaging, chat rooms,
4. Answers will vary. 1. a. family, old friends, and etc.
teammates were called
pp. 166-167 b. built Bocce courts pp. 176-177
1. Many motorcycles look the c. purchased Bocce balls 1. She can’t fit everything in her
same. d. collected Enzo’s tourna- new apartment.
2. a fair, a meeting, an gathering ment memorabilia and dis- 2. a, b
3. a. Put a bright sign on it. played it 3. to not be in use, to take up
b. Remember where they e. made Enzo’s favorite Italian space, to be thrown away
parked it and make a note foods 4. Answers will vary.
of it. 2. He was 75; he saw his old 5. give them to a homeless
c. Install a remote alarm. friends again; he was able to shelter, give them away to
4. b reenact a moment in his life friends, etc.
5. Answers will vary. that was important to him. 6. Answers will vary.
6. Write down the section num- 3. throwing a medium-sized ball
ber, count the number of steps to a designated spot on the p. 179
to the store doors, etc. court 1. a. David leads a pretty quiet
7. a. Wear a helmet. 4. to remember or to recall life.
b. Be cautious of other vehi- 5. Answers will vary. b. He’s a 28-year-old bachelor.
cles on the road. 2. She was late for her meetings;
c. Wear appropriate clothing p. 173 she was worried about
for the weather. 1. b, c Danny’s safety with David;
d. Drive carefully in dangerous 2. She couldn’t say anything she was worried David would
road/weather conditions. because she didn’t know what be upset or change his mind.
e. Make visibility a priority. to say. 3. David, you’re a lifesaver. I real-
3. Answers will vary. ly appreciate you doing this
p. 169 4. He could have worked a sec- for me. I’m already late for my
1. e ond job or taught at a private meeting, so I can’t tell you
2. Your whole family may school that paid well. everything about Danny, but
become aware of your dental 5. bad behavior of students, he needs to be changed.
problems; if you wanted to go eventual dissatisfaction with 4. He was able to have fun with
to another dentist your family his job, may miss being a Danny; he learned that it’s not
may be angry. stockbroker as scary as it seems.
3. to make the same choices in
life as someone older than you pp. 174-175
4. Put aside your differences; talk 1. He lives far away from them.
about your problems and try 2. It is an electronic method of
to solve them together; com- communicating using a com-
promise. puter and keyboard.
5. a. Count to 10 before getting 3. Answers will vary.
angry. 4. Answers will vary.
b. Instead of yelling, walk
away. 23-10-9876

Note: Your clients’ answers will vary on many of these tasks. Sample answers have been provided to
assist you in cueing and modeling.
WALC 3 191 Copyright © 2003©LinguiSystems,
Copyright 2003 PRO-ED, Inc.