Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
1
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
2
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
3
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
4
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
Peter: And now for the last item on Technology Today, it’s over to our reporter Adam Jones at the Birmingham
Stadium. Can you hear me, Adam?
Adam: Yes, Peter.
Peter: What’s going on over there?
Adam: We’re waiting for the first round of the International Youth Robot Competition, or the IYR, to start. This is
the third year the IYR has been held. Last year’s competition took place in Paris and this year it’s being
held right here in Birmingham, England.
Peter: It’s very noisy in the stadium.
Adam: Yes, the atmosphere here is what you would expect at a football match, not a science competition!
Friends, parents and teachers of the teams have come to encourage the participants. There’s a lot of
cheering and singing going on! Now I’m going to talk to Jenny, who was in the winning team last year, to
find out more about the competition. Jenny, tell us about the IYR.
Jenny: Well, the IYR is an international robotics competition for secondary-school students. Each team is given a
box of identical equipment containing motors, batteries and a control system – but no instructions! Last
year we were given a specific problem and six weeks to build a robot to solve the problem. After
demonstrating our robots, ten teams were chosen to go on to the second round. In the second round, we
were given another task for our robot to perform. Remember, we’d already built our robots. We weren’t
allowed to build a new robot, only improve the one we’d already built. That was really challenging.
5
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
Answers:
2. Birmingham, England 5. national competition 8. didn’t like / enjoy 10. first prize
3. instructions 6. teamwork
6
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
UNUSUAL WEDDINGS
You are going to hear a radio programme about outer space: espacio exterior
unusual weddings. Listen and choose the correct the next best thing: la mejor alternativa
answer. (8 x 1 = 8 points)
dive: bajar en picado
roller coaster: montaña rusa
upside-down: bocabajo, al revés
fancy: lujoso/a
1 The New York couple were married … . 5 The Mount Everest wedding was short
a. in outer space because … .
7
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
Unusual Weddings
Fiona: Hi, this is Fiona Brooks on What’s Up? Lots of couples today want their weddings to be unique. They don’t
want a typical wedding in a church or a garden. I’m sure many of you have already heard about people
getting married underwater, or parachuting from a plane, so wedding planner Ian Wallace is here to tell us
about some even stranger wedding ideas. Ian, glad to have you with us. So, what out-of-the-ordinary
weddings can you tell us about today?
Ian: Well, I think the most amazing thing I’ve seen is a couple from New York. They’re both space fanatics and
they wanted a wedding in outer space. They didn’t have the money for that, so they did the next best thing.
They had the ceremony in a plane that simulates the zero gravity of outer space. This plane flies up and
then suddenly dives down very fast, like a roller coaster. Each time it comes down, you feel like you don’t
weigh anything.
Fiona: That sounds frightening!
Ian: Yes, frightening and expensive. There were only 12 guests, because they couldn’t pay for more – each
guest’s ticket cost over £3,000! By the way, the bride wore trousers under her dress because she knew
she’d be upside-down part of the time.
Fiona: That was clever! So who did they find to conduct this unusual wedding ceremony?
Ian: They got Richard Garriott, the man who travelled to the International Space Station as a tourist. Obviously,
he had no problem being in zero gravity! Now, the next wedding I want to tell you about is also very high
up, though not in outer space. A couple in Nepal got married on top of Mount Everest. They were part of a
climbing expedition, and it was a complete surprise for the other climbers – the couple hadn’t told anyone
they were planning to do it because they had no idea if they were really going to get to the top. Even their
parents didn’t know!
Fiona: Mount Everest? Are they professional mountain climbers?
Ian: Yes, they live in a village near Everest and they work as mountain climbing guides. The whole ceremony was
only ten minutes long. They couldn’t stay any longer because it was too cold and there wasn’t enough air –
people had to wear oxygen masks up there. Of course, there was no music and no champagne!
Fiona: So what did their parents say when they found out?
Ian: Surprisingly, they were happy. I say surprisingly because Nepal is a country where most marriages are still
planned by the parents.
Fiona: So Ian, any other unusual weddings to tell us about?
Ian: Yes. You know, in Hong Kong there’s a lot of social pressure on young couples and their families to have a
fancy formal wedding. They have to save money for years, or borrow the money. But now there’s a
solution: weddings at McDonald’s – they’re called McWeddings – starting at only $1,280!
Fiona: But who would want to get married at McDonald’s?
Ian: Well, you’d be surprised. McDonald’s is a very popular place to socialise in Hong Kong – a lot of people go
on dates there.
Fiona: What does the wedding price include?
Ian: McDonald’s food for up to 50 guests, invitations, decorations, toys and music through the speaker system.
The workers dress in formal black and meet the guests at the entrance. No alcohol is served at McDonald’s,
so guests drink milkshakes instead! And the restaurant isn’t closed to the public during a wedding, so
couples must plan on having unexpected guests who come in for a burger.
Fiona: It actually sounds like fun!
Ian: Yes, it does.
Fiona: Well, people certainly have some creative ideas when it comes to weddings. Thanks for being here, Ian.
Ian: It’s been great, Fiona!
Answers: 1. b 2. b 3. d 4. a 5. b 6. c 7. d 8. c
8
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
THROW IT OUT!
You are going to hear a programme about why many junk: trastos
people find it difficult to throw things away. Listen and gadget: aparato
choose the correct answer. (8 x 1 = 8 points)
Do-It-Yourself: bricolaje
cluttered: atestado/a, repleto/a (de cosas)
work out: entender, averiguar
take up: ocupar, llenar
1 The weekly programme Why Do We Do That? is 5 Why doesn’t Jack fix his broken chairs?
about … . a. He needs to buy the right tools.
a. human behaviour b. He doesn’t know how to fix them.
b. cluttered homes c. He doesn’t have time.
c. bad habits d. He’s bought new chairs.
d. buying habits
6 According to Dr Bradshaw, the most difficult
2 Jack’s wife hopes Dr Bradshaw will … . items to get rid of are … .
a. explain why Jack won’t throw things out a. those that we believe we’ll use one day
b. encourage Jack to get rid of his junk b. items from our childhood
c. explain why she and Jack had arguments in c. items that were expensive
the past d. items that remind us of special places we’ve
d. encourage listeners to get rid of their clutter been
3 According to Dr Bradshaw, one of the main 7 Most people are surprised to hear that a cluttered
reasons we buy too much is … . house is … .
a. adverts convince us it will make us happier a. stressful
b. we enjoy getting a bargain b. tiring
c. we enjoy spending money c. expensive
d. adverts convince us we need electrical d. dirty
gadgets
8 Dr Bradshaw suggests taking photos of items
4 Why doesn’t Jack get rid of his bread-maker? that … .
a. He wants to fix it first. a. are difficult to throw out
b. He thinks it will help him save money. b. take up space
c. He thinks he’ll still use it. c. bring back good memories
d. It cost a lot of money. d. might be useful one day
9
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
Throw It Out!
Jack: I’m Jack Patterson and you’re listening to Why Do We Do That? the show where we try to understand
why we behave the way we do. Last week, we looked at why people find it so difficult to change bad
habits. With me today is Dr Alice Bradshaw. Dr Bradshaw is a psychologist who studies our relationship
with our possessions, the things we own. Her book You Don’t Really Need It has become a bestseller.
Welcome to the show, Dr Bradshaw.
Alice: Thank you, Jack.
Jack: I loved the title of your book. That’s exactly what my wife says to me. She thinks I have too much junk
and she’s always telling me to get rid of it. To be honest, it’s been the cause of quite a few arguments
between us in the past. She was excited you were coming on the show. I know she’s hoping you’ll be a
good influence on me.
Alice: I talk about that in my book: the stress too many possessions can cause in our relationships.
Jack: How do we end up with so many things?
Alice: Often, it’s because we simply buy too much. There are many reasons for this, but advertising plays a
major part. Adverts tell us that if we buy the latest mobile phone, fashion item or electrical gadget we’ll
be happier, more popular and have an easier life. But it doesn’t take long before our new possession is
forgotten or replaced by something better, faster or newer. It’s a never-ending cycle. And when we’ve
paid money for something, it seems a waste to throw it away, so we keep it.
Jack: Like that expensive bread-maker I bought. I planned to use it every day – I really thought that it would
help me save money. I used it a couple of times, but it’s just sitting in my cupboard now.
Alice: Exactly! Another reason we keep things is that we think they may be useful in the future. My father has
a Do-It-Yourself book that he bought 30 years ago. He’s never used it, but he won’t throw it out because
he might need to fix something one day. And then there are the broken things that we keep because
“one day”, we’re going to fix them.
Jack: Mmm, like those broken chairs in our house. I’ve been meaning to fix them for ages – I bought the tools
and everything, but I never seem to find the time.
Alice: That’s another good example! It’s also especially difficult to get rid of things that have sentimental
meaning, like your old teddy bear or a gift that your best friend gave you when you were children. It’s
not wrong to keep a few things that have special meaning to you or remind you of a special person, but
people don’t realise that keeping too much stuff has a price. You have to clean it, store it and look after
it. All that takes time and energy. Another point that most people don’t realise is that we waste money
when our homes are cluttered. People usually think they’re saving money by keeping things, when in
fact the opposite is often true.
Jack: Can you explain that?
Alice: Well, when we have too much stuff, we can’t find the things we do need. You go out and buy more
batteries, for example, because you can’t find the ones you have.
Jack: So, do you have any tips for us? How can we clean out our stuff and get rid of the things we don’t need?
Alice: Well, first of all, you need to work out why you’re keeping certain things. If you keep lots of things for
sentimental reasons, here’s a simple solution that helps many people – take photos of the items you
find hard to throw out. That way you’ll still have your memories, but they won’t be taking up space in
your house!
Jack: Good idea. We’ll be back with more ideas on how to clean out your junk after the break.
Answers: 1. a 2. b 3. a 4. d 5. c 6. b 7. c 8. a
10
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
A VARIETY OF CONVERSATIONS
1 You hear a boy and a girl discussing a film. What 5 You hear a man talking about his first trip abroad.
a. The actors didn’t speak clearly. a. He planned everything for the group.
c. The boy was laughing too loudly. c. It was a success in the end.
2 You hear a film director talking on the radio. What 6 You hear a conversation on a TV talk show. When
does he say about making comedies? will the woman probably return to her career?
3 You hear a man and a woman discussing a film. meet by chance. What is the relationship between
4 You hear two young people planning a camping 8 Larry and a friend are discussing capoeira. How
trip. What is the girl NOT taking care of? does Larry feel about learning capoeira?
c. arranging for a suitable meeting place c. He is having trouble learning the techniques.
11
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
A Variety of Conversations
1
Boy: This was a wonderful evening. I thought that was a great film, didn’t you? Weren’t the
actors brilliant?
Girl: Yeah, they were great. I like comedies and this one had some really funny parts.
Boy: It certainly did! I couldn’t stop laughing! At one point, I laughed so much I had tears in my eyes.
Girl: I know … I could hardly hear what the actors were saying because you were making so much noise!
2
Ever since I was a child, I’ve enjoyed making people laugh. I was always the funny kid in class and at home I used to
love telling jokes at the dinner table and getting everyone to laugh. And when I became a film director, I was sure
that it would be easy to make audiences laugh – all I would need was a few good jokes. Well, my first comedy was
terrible, but it taught me a valuable lesson – there’s a lot more to directing a good comedy than telling a few funny
stories.
3
Man: Have you seen that new film with Jenna Frank?
Woman: I saw it Saturday. I thought the story was a bit confusing – but what a great ending. Who would have
thought that the policeman was the murderer?
Man: Oh, no! I can’t believe you just told me the ending! There’s no point in me seeing it now.
Woman: Oops. Sorry. I thought you’d already seen it.
4
Boy: How are the plans going, Audrey? Tom called me yesterday and he still doesn’t know where we’re
meeting. I thought you were taking care of that.
Girl: I’ve been so busy with other things I forgot to call him!
Boy: Ok, I’ll do it.
Girl: Great. Have you booked a place at the campsite yet?
Boy: I did that two weeks ago. What about the equipment? I gave you that list of food and other things we
need to take, didn’t I?
Girl: Yeah, and I’ve got most of it organised, but there are still a few things I’ve got to buy.
Boy: Well, then. All we have to worry about is the weather!
5
I’ll never forget the first time I went abroad – it was with a couple of school friends. We spent months planning the
trip – we used to meet at least twice a week and discuss where to go, what youth hostels to stay in, how much
money to spend. It really seemed like nothing could go wrong. And then, the moment we arrived at the hostel in
Rome, we had a huge fight and decided to each go our own way. So there I was, alone in Rome feeling very sorry for
myself. But that’s when I met Sandy and we had a great time together.
6
Jack: And now here’s a name we haven’t heard for quite some time. Please welcome Alice Murphy!
It’s lovely to have you with us, Alice.
Alice: Thank you, Jack. It’s lovely to be on your show again.
Jack: So, tell us, where have you been hiding, Alice?
Alice: Well, I’ve been spending most of my time with my husband and my baby, Josh.
Jack: Do you have any plans to return to acting?
Alice: Well, you never know, but I have to say that at the moment my family is the most important thing.
I must admit, I do miss my career and I’m sure that one day I’ll go back to it. However, I don’t think it will
be in the near future.
12
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
7
Woman: Amazing to see you here. It must be five or six years since we last saw each other. It was at your goodbye
party, I think.
Man: That’s right. We had great times together, didn’t we?
Woman: We certainly did. Poor Mr Bradley, he was so upset when you left – he always said you were the best
worker he’d ever had and that your leaving was a disaster for the company.
Man: Really? I have to say that I was very sad to leave and looking back, it was probably a mistake. Anyway,
what are you doing now?
8
Girl: So, Larry, how do you like capoeira?
Larry: It’s fantastic. I really enjoy doing it, and I think I’m getting good at it as well. I can hardly believe the jumps
and turns I do now!
Girl: Really? But you’ve only just begun, haven’t you?
Larry: Yes, but I train nearly every day.
Girl: Wow! It sounds great. You know, I’d love to learn how to do capoeira too, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t have
enough time left for schoolwork.
Larry: Well, if you want to get the techniques right, you’ve got to spend plenty of time practising them.
Answers: 1. c 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. c 6. b 7. c 8. b
13
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
You are going to listen to a radio programme about overnight: de la noche a la mañana
a man named Ted Williams. Listen and choose
the correct answer. (8 x 1 = 8 points) messy: desordenado/a, despeinado/a
gift: don
1 The news reporter noticed Ted while he was … . 5 The Second Chance Foundation is … .
a. singing a. a charity
2 The interview with Ted was recorded … . 6 Ted is selling things on eBay … .
d. in a studio d. as a joke
14
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
15
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
16
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
17
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
e. I didn’t realise that businesses would need information about body language.
Speaker 1. ……
Speaker 2. ……
Speaker 3. ……
Speaker 4. ……
Speaker 5. ……
18
ADVANCED CONTRAST_LISTENING
19