Basic Listening - Unit 5

Unit 5. Fame and the Media

In this unit, you will learn how to
1. Complete a flow-chart
2. Predict what information is missing in a flow-chart
3. Deal with technical or scientific flow-charts

By Long Bùi

Flow-chart completion

Flow-chart completion tasks are similar to other completion tasks. Either:

• You are given a list of words to choose from, or

• You complete the chart by using words from the recording.

The instructions will tell you how many words you can use.
The answers come in the same order as the recording.

You will hear a journalist talk about how this artist became famous. Complete the flow-chart below. ( audio 59 )

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Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORD for each answer.

Fill in the Blanks

He learnt how to play a variety of instruments: 1

, guitar, drums and trumpet.

Fill in the Blanks

He entered talent 2

in his hometown and his mother posted some videos on Youtube.

Fill in the Blanks

The Youtube clips brought him a lot of 3

Fill in the Blanks

He was discovered by a 4

Fill in the Blanks

He signed a recording 5 ____ and became a 6 ____

Read the opinions below on being famous and complete these tasks:

• Underline the key words in each sentence.

• Read the word before and after the gap.

• Make a note of the possible grammatical forms of the missing word,

i.e. adjective, noun, verb, etc.

• Try to guess the missing word, or some possible words.

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Predicting the answer

A: I wouldn’t like to be famous. I would hate people to 1 ________________ me all the time. You would always be followed by 2________________ and never able to have a private life. Being followed on a good day, when you’ve been to the hairdresser and are wearing your best jeans, is perhaps 3 ________________, but can you imagine how it would make you feel on a bad day?

​B: I would love to be famous. I would adore all the 4 ________________ and the special treatment. Everywhere I went, people would know my name and I wouldn’t need to 5 ________________ any more. The best part, though, would be meeting other famous people. I can imagine that would be so 6 ________________. They would come to my 7 ________________ yacht and I would 8 ________________ their mansions.

​Listen and fill the gaps. ( Audio 60 )

Fill in the Blanks

A: I wouldn’t like to be famous. I would hate people to
1 ________________ me all the time. You would always be followed by
2 ________________ and never able to have a private life. Being followed on a good day, when you’ve been to the hairdresser and are wearing your best jeans, is perhaps
3 ________________, but can you imagine how it would make you feel on a bad day?

Fill in the Blanks

B: I would love to be famous. I would adore all the
4 _______ and the special treatment. Everywhere I went, people would know my name and I wouldn’t need to

5 ___ any more. The best part, though, would be meeting other famous people. I can imagine that would be so

6 ________________.

Fill in the Blanks

They would come to my
7 ________________ yacht and I would
8 ________________ their mansions.

Listen and fill in the gaps. ( audio 61 )

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Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORD for each answer.

Fill in the Blanks

Find something you like doing and 1

at becoming the best in that particular skill.

Fill in the Blanks

Study 2

and try to learn as much as possible

Fill in the Blanks

Create 3

and market yourself. You need to be able to sell yourself.

Fill in the Blanks

Don't worry if sometimes you 4

. You can learn from the experience.

Technical / Scientific flow-charts

The subject matter for this type of task can vary. It is possible to be presented with a flow-chart which is technical or scientific. The language used, therefore, can often seem challenging at first.

One approach to handling this type of flow-chart is this:

• Underline the key words you do understand.

• Decide which type of word is missing from each gap: adjective, noun, verb, etc. (make a note).

• Try to work out the overall meaning of each stage of the chart.

You will hear a talk on how to get the best from your camcorder ( audio 62 )

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Choose the correct answer.

Multiple Choice

Most camcorders can perform all necessary tasks using automatic functions. But for a more professional result, you must also learn how to use the 1 ____ controls.

• manual

• brighter

• closer

• popular

• short

Multiple Choice

The Focus function on the camera is very 2 ____.

• closer

• brighter

• useful

• long

• short

Multiple Choice

You need to turn the focus ring one way or the other, depending on whether the object you want to film is 3 ____ or further way.

• light

• closer

• useful

• brighter

• short

Multiple Choice

The Iris is an adjustable opening (aperture) which controls the amount of 4 ____ coming through the lens (the exposure)

• light

• closer

• useful

• brighter

• short

Multiple Choice

As you open the iris, more light comes in and the picture appears a 5 ____.

• light

• closer

• useful

• brighter

• short

Multiple Choice

Finally, the Zoom is a very 6 ____ manual function and therefore often over-used.

• light

• closer

• useful

• manual

• popular

Multiple Choice

This feature moves your shot closer or further away from the subject. For 7 ____ zooms a tripod is recommended.

• light

• long

• useful

• popular

• short

Exam skills

You will hear a lecture on how to make a short film. Complete the flow-chart. ( audio 63 )
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Fill in the Blanks

When deciding which type of film to make, use the 1

you have among you.

Fill in the Blanks

Make the plot of your film 2

.

Fill in the Blanks

Have a 3

with you at all times.

Fill in the Blanks

Write the screenplay: a description of the scene, the location, the actors' words, the 4

and directions for the actors about what they should do.

Fill in the Blanks

Prepare a storyboard. This is a bit like a 5

.

Fill in the Blanks

Choose a director. He or she is in control of the 6

elements of the film.

Fill in the Blanks

Cast your film. One way to find actors might be to 7

.

Natural World

In this unit, you will learn how to
1. Listen to people talking about a topic related to work or study
2. Complete notes in a task
3. Use headings in the notes to guide you through what the speaker is saying
4. Use the speaker's 'signposting' words to help you follow notes

Labeling

Match photographs A - D with the names of the animals

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Pere David's deer

blue ring octopus

mountain gorilla

Arabian leopard

Note completion

In this type of task you complete a set of notes by writing up to three words, or two words and/or a number, in each gap. The instructions tell you how many words you are allowed to write.

You must complete the notes with the words you hear on the recording.

Match

Match the headings 1 - 5 with the questions a - e.

• 1 Country of origin

• 2 Dangers

• 3 Diet

• 4 Habitat

• 5 Physical description

b. Where does it come from?

e. What threats does it face?

a. What does it eat?

c. Where does it live?

d. What does it look like?

• b. Where does it come from?

• e. What threats does it face?

• a. What does it eat?

• c. Where does it live?

• d. What does it look like?

'Signposting' words

'Signposting' words are words and phrases that speakers use to help their listeners follow their talk.

Match

Match the signposting phrases with the meanings

• The speaker is going to talk about a new topic – which might be a new heading on the Notes.

• The speaker is going to give two reasons – listen carefully for both.

• The speaker is going to say the same thing using different words.

• Here is the first (reason) … and here is the second (reason).

• I’d like to conclude by talking about …

So, now I’m going to talk a little about

Let’s have a look at two reasons why …

In other words …

Firstly … Secondly …

The speaker is going to talk about a new

• So, now I’m going to talk a little about

• Let’s have a look at two reasons why …

• In other words …

• Firstly … Secondly …

• The speaker is going to talk about a new

Listen and complete the notes about the mountain gorillas. ( audio 67 )

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Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Fill in the Blanks

Builds a nest on the 1

Fill in the Blanks

2

colored coat

Fill in the Blanks

Younger males are called 3

Fill in the Blanks

Plants provide the 4

they require

Fill in the Blanks

Dangers for gorillas: 5

Listen and complete the notes about the American bullfrog. ( audio 68 )

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Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Fill in the Blanks

was introduced into the UK at the beginning of the 1

century

Fill in the Blanks

female weighs up to 2

grams

Fill in the Blanks

has a flat 3

Fill in the Blanks

male frog has a 4

coloured throat

Fill in the Blanks

eats the food of native British frogs - insects, fish, birds, and animals including 5

Fill in the Blanks

financial cost - a total of £ 6

Exam skills

Complete the notes below about the jelly fish. ( audio 69 )
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Fill in the Blanks

Most dangerous box jellyfish found in the sea near 1

Fill in the Blanks

Tentacles grow up to 2

metres in length

Fill in the Blanks

Has 3

eyes

Fill in the Blanks

when tentacles touch a human or a fish, they 4

to them and deliver a strong sting

Fill in the Blanks

if a swimmer can't swim back to the shore because the sting has caused such great 5

Fill in the Blanks

if vinegar not available, put 6

on the skin

Het goi nghi thoyyyyyy