Quiz 14 March

This American Life, 23 February
In the Shadow of the City

Act One 3:00-28:00
Brooklyn Archipelago. Out for a simple pleasure cruise with two friends, Alex Zharov was planning to see Jamaica Bay in New York City. But this end-of-the-day excursion, which should have only lasted 40 minutes, turns into an out of control adventure that will leave him lost, stranded, and bleeding ... all within sight of the Empire State Building. Brett Martin reports. (22 minutes) (taken from www.thislife.org)

1. What does Alex say about himself?
2. Why did Roman take to Alex right away and what did he and his friends call Alex?
3. What was the agenda?
4. What did Roman say about his state after a lot of cognac?
5. What did they do rather than panic when they got caught in the current?
6. What could they see in every direction the next morning?
7. What was Alex’s three-fold explanation for why he swam?
8. What made him mad at New York?
9. What were Alex’s strange ideas about the ducks?
10. What could he smell?
11. What reminders of the metropolis are close at hand?
12. Why didn’t Roman rush to signal the helicopter?
13. Why does Alex like badgers and Utah?
14. Why did this happen to him?
15. How does Alex make the reporter feel?

You can read the news article about their little escapade (and see a photo of Alex with blond afro and Roman with pirate eye patch), at The New York Times' website


Article: Feel Like a Kid Again, Put a skip in your step, America!
I came across an ad for this website in my new PDF format of Satya Magazine the other day and found it delightful! How many times have I wanted to skip down the aisle of the grocery store or walking down the street (actually at the grocery store, I want to push the cart and go for a ride like I did when I was young and uninhibited). Anyway, more power to these people! And may we not forget, as we get older, what it means to be awed by life's simple pleasures!

1. What does it mean that Kim’s an “avid skipper”?
2. What’s the impetus behind Kim’s efforts to pass on the skipping fever? ”
3. Why does she say that some would be less inclined to jump on the skipping bandwagon?
4. “It _______ positive energy”. What does that mean?
5. “Let skipping ______ _____ the _____ _____ you!”
6. What other activities mentioned do adults tend to grow out of?
7. Why shouldn’t one feel silly skipping, according to Kim?
8-10. Write your reaction to the listening and/or reading as a comment below.

Once again...

I failed! Sorry, folks (or should I say folk because I think my readership has dropped significantly as of late). I've just finished writing the exam for one of my classes and am looking up at the clock. Yikes! Nearly time to start class with Carousel which means I won't have a quiz up today. I'll shoot for Friday (Thursday's are impossible).

Happy week!

Quiz 28 Feb

I apologize for skipping another week. As the school was closed last Mon-Wed I didn't have internet access until Thursday evening. I actually prepared a listening from a file in my iTunes and then realized it wasn't archived online. Bummer. Well, here's the new quiz for the week--a topic that is pertinent to young people (and teachers and parents too).

It comes from ABC Radio National and so you'll get to practice deciphering the Australian accent this week! Just to warn you that there are derogatory and offensive comments as teenagers share the destructive words their peers wield as weapons in the battle that is bullying.

Street Stories, 18 February: We’re Watching You
1. “When conflicts _______ young people are likely to use their ______ with ________ as their weapon”
2. What did Natasha receive in the form of a text message?
3. Why is text messaging so bad?
4. “Girls ________ ____ cyber bullying more than boys”
5. What are teens mostly being victimized for, aside from looks?
6. What is said about stereotypes?
7. What was Natasha’s dad’s first reaction to the text message?
8. “Two’s _______, three’s __ _______”
9. What was the mother of the bully’s reaction when Natasha’s mum called her?
10. “Maybe it was a bit ______ out of _______”. What does that mean?
11. “Teachers have a bit more _______ about what is going on”. What does that mean?
12. What did bullying used to be before technology?
13. What word was used to mean not knowing that bullying is happening but it’s harmful all the same?
14. What type of young person opts for cyber bullying?
15. What is said to be the worst type of bullying?


Article: Cyber Bullies are Wrecking Lives

1. How does cyber bullying differ from “conventional” bullying?
2. How is Avalon described to mean she doesn’t want to talk to others?
3. What adjective is used to mean that messages can be critical and disrespectful?
4. The adjective to describe students having technological skills?
5. What aspect of cyber bullying makes it more accessible to students?
6. Cyber bullying is illegal in Australia, true or false.
7-10. Write a comment below to compare what you’ve heard/read here to what you know about cyber bullying in your school (either now or when you were in high school). Include your ideas of what a parent’s role is.