LISTENING
CONVERSATION 1
W: The name of the TV show. We wish to produce is Science Nation.
M: Please tell us more. What will Science Nation be about?
W: It’ll be about science. All sorts of science. Each episode will focus on a different area of science and tell us what we know, how we know it, and what we still don’t know. The show will have one host only, and this will be Professor Susan Powell from Harvard University. She’s a great public speaker.
M: So just to be clear, will the show’s format be like that of a documentary?
W: Kind of. It’ll be like a documentary in the sense that it’ll be nonfiction and fact based. However, our idea is for it to be also fun and entertaining, something which traditional documentaries aren’t so much. Please keep in mind this will be a new TV show like nothing ever done before.
M: Okay, so it’ll be both educational and entertaining and your audience will be anyone interested in science, right?
W: That’s correct.
M: Yes, right. Thank you. So I think we’re more or less clear on what the show will be like. Could you please tell us now what exactly you want from us?
W: Yes, of course. Basically, what we need from you is financial support in order to go ahead with this idea. We need two million dollars. This would cover the cost of making all twelve shows in the first season for the first year. If the show is a success, we can then look at making a second season for the following year.
Q8: What do we learn about the TV show Science Nation?
Q9: In what way will the TV show Science Nation differ from traditional documentaries?
Q10: Who will be the intended audience of the TV show Science Nation?
Q11: What does the woman want the man to do for the TV show?
CONVERSATION 2
W: What’s up with you? You don’t look very happy.
M: I feel like I’m a failure. I can’t seem to do anything very well.
W: I wouldn’t say that you do very well in a lot of things. That presentation you gave last week was excellent.
M: Yes. But I have this urge to strive for perfection. I really want to push harder and progress further.
W: Well, that’s very admirable, but be careful, over concern with being perfect can damage our confidence if we never achieve it.
M: Yes, I know. I feel awful whenever I make a mistake in whatever I’m trying to do.
W: Well, think about it. You can’t make progress without making mistakes and learning from them. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, once said, I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10000 ways that won’t work.
M: You may well be right. I guess I should recognize my mistakes and learn the lesson they teach me and move forward.
W: Also, remember, a successful ending is not the only thing worthy of a celebration. You need to recognize each step of progress you take towards achieving your goals. And no matter how tiny it is, it’s still good news.
M: I always feel down when I see others accomplishing things and I feel miserable about my own achievements. I’m always trying to be as good as others, but I never seem to get there.
W: Listen, if you always compare yourself with others, you’ll never feel good enough. You’re the only person you should be comparing yourself with. When you compare your current status with the starting point, you’ll find you’ve made progress, right? That’s good enough.
M: That’s great advice. Thank you. I’m feeling better already.
Q12: How does the man feel about himself?
Q13: What does the woman think is the man’s problem?
Q14: How does the man feel when he sees others accomplishing things?
Q15: What does the woman suggest the man do?
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