Apedia

People Home Travel Services Choose Preparing Good Mail

Id ESLPod_0610_CN
Episode Id ESLPod 610
Episode Title Preparing to Travel
Title Preparing to Travel
Text

Americans often travel for "pleasure" (vacation) or "business" (work), leaving their home "vacant" (empty; without people staying in a place) for days, weeks, or even months "at a time" (at once). Fortunately, many services are available to help these people "maintain" (keep in good condition) their home and protect their "valuables" (the things someone owns that are worth money) while they are gone.

Holding the mail and suspending newspaper delivery is a good idea, because otherwise the mail and newspapers would be sitting on the "front porch" (the area in front of one's front door), making it "obvious" (easy to understand or perceive) that no one is home. People can also suspend their utility services, cable, and phone services if they don't want to pay for services that they won't be using for an "extended" (long) period of time.

Sometimes people choose to ask their neighbors or friends "to keep an eye on" (to look after; to care for) their home "in their absence" (while they are gone). People with pets might need to hire a "dog-walker" who can take their dog on walks each day. Sometimes people choose to have a "house-sitter" live in their home while they are "away" (gone; not at home).

Other people choose to leave their home vacant, but install an "alarm system" or a "security system" that will "alert" (send information to) the police if there is an "unauthorized entry" (someone going into the home without permission). People can also "install" (put into use) "automatic timers" so that their lights turn on and off automatically, making it seem as if someone is home. They do this as a way to "deter" (prevent someone from doing something) "thieves" (people who steal things).

Topics Travel

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Teenagers allowed parents spend make overbearing father time

Previous card: Suvs people gas car types vehicles popular higher

Up to card list: ESLPod Culture Note