The
training focus of this unit is the selecting of major points and the
understanding of some aspects of culture and history. The comprehension
materials aim at increasing your awareness of the importance of necessary
background knowledge in listening.
Since language reflects the culture of its speakers, and since authentic
materials frequently involve details of customs, behavior and attitudes
typical of the foreign culture, you can try to give yourself insights
into the habits, customs and values which are similar to or different
from your own. You should also study the features of some landmark
events in world history.
Extensive
listening
Listen
to the following radio quiz game. Who are those people in the panel?
Supply the missing information.
Now listen again.
Put a mark beside each question. Put a tick if it is true. If it is
false, put a cross. Finally write down who that person is.
Tapescript: A - Announcer Q - Quizmaster T - Tim
M - Maxine L - Laura D - David
A:
Radio Bristol.
Q:
Ladies and gentlemen, it's
time for “Alive or dead?” Our exciting quiz game about
famous people alive or dead. Before I tell you the rules,
let's meet our panel for tonight. From right to left
we have that famous sportsman and racing driver, Tim
Brown.
T:
Evening everyone.
Q:
Next to Tim, is that lovely
star of the American cinema, who is now here in Bristol
at the Opera House, Maxine Morgan.
M:
Hi there!
Q:
Next we have novelist, David
Walker.
D:
Good evening.
Q:
And last but not least,
composer and singer, Laura Dennison.
L:
Hello.
Q:
So let's get with
the game. I have the name of a famous person
— alive or dead — in
this envelope. The panel will try to guess who it is.
But they can only ask questions which have a “yes” or
“no” answer. Are we ready?
T:
Well, yes. Are you alive?
Q:
No, I'm not. Now Maxine,
let's have your question.
M:
You're not alive.
So you are a famous person who is dead. Oh, I know.
Are you a person in a book — a
fictional character — somebody
who isn't real?
Q:
No, I'm not fictional. David,
can we have your question?
D:
So you're a real, dead person?
Q:
That's right, I am.
D:
Good, now we want to know
where you come from. Are you British?
Q:
No, I'm not British.
L:
Are you from Europe?
Q:
No, I'm not.
T:
Are you Australian?
Q:
No, Tim, I'm not. I'm not
Australian.
M:
Oh, then I know, you're
American.
D:
You're a real American person,
but you're dead. Now let me think. Ah, yes, are you
a writer of any sort?
Q:
No, I'm not.
L:
Are you anything to do with
peace, you know someone like Martin Luther King?
Q:
A good guess, Laura, but
I'm nothing to do with peace. Well, that's a difficult
one, really. I think the answer is half “Yes” and half
“No”. No, I'll say “No”.
T:
Mm, funny, half “Yes”, half
“No”, but finally “No”. Well, well, are you famous as
an entertainer of any sort, you know a film star, or
pop singer, or an actor, you know what I mean?
Q:
Ask one question at a time,
Tim, please. The answer to your question is “No”.
M:
I've got it, I've got the
answer. I know, I'm right.
Q:
Careful now, Maxine. Say
the wrong answer and I win the game. Are you sure you
know who I am?
M:
Yes, you're dead,
you’re famous, you're American, you are sort of famous
for peace work. You're not an entertainer — you're
not an American film star. I don't think you were famous
as a soldier. I think you were a politician, I think
you died in 1963. I think you were married to a very
beautiful woman ...
Q:
I think you are very close,
Maxine. I think you are almost there.
M:
I think you once went to
Berlin. I think you are President John Kennedy, President
of the United States of America.
Q:
And congratulations to you
and the panel, Maxine. Yes, you are right, the name
of the famous person in my envelope is President Kennedy,
born in 1917 and died in 1963, on November 22nd to be
exact.
Now for my next famous person ...
.JPG)
Learning
focus