大城市小世界 Series 2 Episode 9 - New Year's Resolutions

 　　Before you listen

　　We suggest you do the vocabulary activity below before you listen. Then listen to the episode¹ and do the first task to check your understanding. Finally, practise some vocabulary and grammar.

　　Match the words and phrases in the boxes to the definitions².

　　1. new year's resolution

　　2. to fix

　　3. chef

　　4. a date

　　5. to wonder

　　6. a chance

　　7. supposed

　　8. website

　　Definitions:

　　a. A professional cook in a restaurant

　　b. Thought to be something or somehow

　　c. To think about and try to understand

　　d. To mend

　　e. A romantic meeting

　　f. A promise that is made to one's self on 1st January

　　g. An opportunity

　　h. A series of pages in a certain location on the internet

　　. Now, listen to episode 9.

　　Comprehension Task

　　Match up

　　Decide who does the following things:

　　Olivia

　　Sarah

　　Bindyu

　　Harry³

　　Fadi

　　Johnny

　　Carlos

　　1. __________ enjoys saying “Happy New Year”.

　　2. __________ has a problem with her website.

　　3. __________ recommends somebody to help Olivia.

　　4. __________ offers to fix the web page.

　　5. __________ isn.t happy that her boyfriend is going to fix the web page.

　　6. __________ wants to ask somebody out on a date.

　　7. __________ is the last person to arrive at the café.

　　Grammar Task

　　Gap⁴ Fill

　　Look at sentences a-h and complete the rules 1-2 with the words given below.

　　Example sentences

　　a. You are supposed to say…

　　b. They were supposed to be new.

　　c. I can help.

　　d. We can do it all again.

　　e. You need to practice.

　　f. I need to fix it.

　　g. You should decide to do something.

　　h. He should ask her out.

　　Rules

　　the infinitive⁵ without to                 the infinitive with to

　　1. We use ________________ after “supposed” and “need”.

　　2. We use ________________ after “can” and “should”.

　　Vocabulary Task

　　Match up

　　Match the two parts to make common expressions.

　　1.Let.s

　　a. there!

　　2.Oh

　　b. the problem?

　　3.Shut

　　c. please!

　　4.What.s

　　d. know!

　　5.Hello

　　e. up?

　　6.What.s

　　f. up!

　　7.You

　　g. on!

　　8.Go

　　h. wait.

　　Vocabulary Task 2

　　Word Search

　　Find the following eight adjectives⁶ from the recording⁷ – and their eight opposites – in the word search:

　　happy

　　first

　　friendly

　　large

　　strong

　　bad

　　right

　　new

　　Audio⁸ Script⁹

　　Johnny:  Happy New Year!

　　Fadi:   Stop, please!  Enough New Year!

　　Johnny:  It.s the first time I.ve seen you this year!  You.re supposed to say .Happy New Year!.

　　Fadi:   OK, OK...happy New Year to you too, then!

　　Johnny: It will be Chinese New Year soon – then we can do it all again!

　　Fadi: Fine, OK, let.s wait until then, though, eh?

　　Magda:   Hello everyone!

　　Fadi:  Hi!

　　Johnny: Hi!

　　Magda: Happy New Year!

　　Fadi:  Oh, please!

　　Magda: I.m only trying to be friendly....

　　Fadi:   Yeah, sure, sorry... can we think about something else now please?

　　Magda:   Have you made any new year.s resolutions?

　　Johnny:  New Year.s what?

　　Magda:   new Year.s resolutions.  Olivia told me about it - at the beginning of the year, you should decide to do something, and do it all year.

　　Johnny: What kind of thing?

　　Fadi:   Something like stop smoking, or go to the gym every day, or study more...

　　All:   Hi Olivia!  Hey!  Hello!

　　Olivia:   Hmmph.  Tony – could I have a large coffee please?  Make it extra strong!

　　Fadi:   Looks like someone.s having a bad day...!

　　Olivia:  Oh shut up Fadi!

　　Fadi:    Sorry!

　　Magda: What.s up, Olivia?

　　Olivia: My website isn.t working properly.  I need to fix it.

　　Fadi:  Here.s the right man to help you!

　　Harry:   Hello there!  Are you talking about me?

　　Olivia: I.ve got problems with my website again...

　　Harry:  I told you I should have set it up the first time!  You should have asked me!

　　Olivia:   OK, OK... you were right...

　　Harry:   So what.s the problem?

　　Olivia:  The online sales page doesn.t work.  People can.t buy my shoes!

　　Harry:  I.m sure I can help fix it.

　　Olivia:  Go on then. Come over to my flat tonight, and we.ll have a look.

　　Bindyu: Oh, sorry Olivia, I.m not sure he can come to your flat tonight.

　　Harry:  Yeah, I can. I.m not busy tonight.

　　Bindyu: I thought we were going to the cinema?

　　Harry:  Were we? Sorry, I didn.t know.  I.d like to help Olivia, if I can...

　　Bindyu: Hmmphh.

　　Olivia:   Oh listen Harry... don.t worry if you can.t come and help.

　　Harry:   No.  I.ll come.  I love websites – you know!

　　Johnny: Here.s another one of our friends... thank goodness¹⁰ for that...

　　All:    Hello Carlos!

　　Carlos:   Hello there!

　　Magda:  We were talking about New Year.s resolutions.  What.s yours?

　　Carlos: New Year.s what?

　　Magda:  New Year.s resolution - at the beginning of the year, you should decide to do something, and do it all year.

　　Carlos:  Oh, I see...well I want to be a chef...

　　Fadi:    We know that, it.s not new.

　　Johnny: It has to be something new!

　　Magda:   Yes – something you want to do this year!

　　Carlos:  Oh. OK... I see, well... let me think... something I want to do this year... I know. I want to ask Sarah out on a date!

　　All:    Wow!

　　Magda:   Oh... well... it looks like you have a chance right now, Carlos!

　　Sarah:   Hello everyone!  Were you talking about me?

　　Carlos:  Well, no, erm yes, I mean...

　　Magda:  Go on, Carlos!

　　Fadi:    Carlos has got a question to ask you...

　　Sarah:   Oh yes?

　　Carlos:   Oh, yes, erm... well... I was wondering if... erm...

　　Sarah:   If?

　　Carlos:   Yes, if you.d like to... erm... I don.t know... perhaps... erm... go out some time?

　　Sarah:  Go out with you?

　　Carlos:   Well, yeah, I mean, if you want to...

　　Sarah:   Oh well... erm... what I think is...

　　Answers

　　Vocabulary Task 2:

　　Vocabulary Task: 1 – h, 2 – c, 3 – f, 4 – e, 5 – a, 6 – b, 7 – d, 8 – g

　　Grammar Task: 1 – the infinitive with to, 2 – the infinitive without to

　　Before you listen: 1 – f, 2 – d, 3 – a, 4 – e, 5 – c, 6 – g, 7 – b, 8 – h

　　Comprehension Task: 1 – Johnny, 2 – Olivia, 3 – Fadi, 4 – Harry, 5 – Bindyu, 6 – Carlos, 7 – Sarah

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 definitions   

定义( definition的名词复数 )； 规定； 清晰（度）； 解释

参考例句：

• Write clear definitions in order to avoid ambiguity. 释义要写清楚以免产生歧义。
• Definitions in this dictionary are printed in roman type. 这本词典里的释义是用罗马体印刷的。

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 gap   

n.缺口；间隔；差距；不足，缺陷

参考例句：

• We must see that there is no gap in our defence.我们必须确保我们的防御没有漏洞。
• There is a gap of five miles between towns.镇与镇之间相隔五英里。

5 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。

6 adjectives   

n.形容词( adjective的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We can form nouns from adjectives. 我们可以用形容词来构成名词。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Attributive adjectives precede the noun. 定语形容词位于名词前。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

8 audio   

n./adj.音频(响)(的)；声音(的)，听觉(的)

参考例句：

• Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来，供以后查阅。
• You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。

9 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。

10 goodness   

n.善良，善行，美德

参考例句：

• Would you have the goodness to turn off the radio?劳驾，请你把收音机关上好不好？
• Thank goodness,we've found a cure for the disease.好了，这病有救了！