📕 Part 1: Furniture
Rory reveals his surprising living situation! Does he actually own any of his furniture? Find out about his favourite items, from a comfy bed in Scotland to a cool bench integrated into the wall.
This episode’s vocabulary
Item (noun) - an individual article or unit, especially one that is part of a list, collection, or set.
Chest of drawers (noun) - a piece of furniture with drawers in which you keep things such as clothes.
Technically (adverb) - something technically true is actually, really true or correct but it may not be the way people think about it. For example, although people call a tomato a vegetable, technically it's a fruit.
Posture (noun) - the way in which someone usually holds their shoulders, neck, and back, or a particular position in which someone stands, sits, etc.
Furniture store (noun) - a shop that sells the movable, generally functional, articles that equip a room, house, etc.
Three-piece suite (noun) - a set of furniture that consists of a sofa and two chairs covered in the same material.
Standing desk (noun) - a desk at which you stand rather than sit.
Decor (noun) - the colour, style, and arrangement of the objects in a room.
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Questions and Answers
Maria: Do you have a lot of items of furniture at home?
Rory: I suppose I have a lot of wardrobes and chest of drawers. Actually, more than I know what to do with, frankly. There's so many of them.
Maria: What furniture do you own?
Rory: Well, my apartment is rented, so actually, technically, I own none of it. But I like to think... I like my bed, actually, it's quite big and comfy. And I like the seating in the kitchen. There's like a bench integrated into the wall, which I think looks very cool.
Maria: What's your favorite item of furniture?
Rory: In the whole world? Probably my bed back home... Or the couch back home as well, actually. When I say back home I actually mean in Scotland. I can just chill there and they're nice and comfortable and I can forget my troubles, which is excellent. Exactly what you want in a piece of furniture.
Maria: Have you ever received furniture as a gift?
Rory: Um, I'm sure I've got some bookshelves as a gift once, but nothing major, like, a wardrobe or something.
Maria: Do you often buy furniture?
Rory: Um, no. I mean, like all of my furniture is being provided, but I really want to buy a computer chair to sit in. I really liked sitting cross-legged in my old one, and I think it actually might be better for my posture than the current arrangement of just sitting in my bed.
Maria: Where do you buy furniture?
Rory: I have no idea where I would buy furniture or even the furniture that I want to buy. If we talk about computer chairs, then probably, like, a furniture store or an electronic store, perhaps, if it's got stuff for computers. But yes, I don't know much about buying furniture, so "I don't know" is the short answer.
Maria: What did you last by?
Rory: Well, I don't think I've ever bought furniture, but when I have to, I'll need to have the basics like a three piece suite and a bed... Oh, I'd really like a standing desk as well and a nice chair, apart from the storage spaces like shelves and wardrobes and stuff, that's all really.
Maria: What styles do you prefer: modern or traditional furniture?
Rory: Well, right now I don't mind at all because I get my apartment paid for me. So whatever they decide is the decor is just fine with me. And to be honest, actually, I think I still won't mind when I'm older as long as the furniture matches the decor in the house. I think that's probably the most important thing after DOES IT WORK and IS IT OF A REASONABLE QUALITY?