英語口語對話(高級) lesson 5 Football
Summary:
Vanessa and Nick discuss about how fans express themselves through football.
In this episode of World Report Vanessa and Nick are in the middle of a live show in a radio studio. Listen to their conversation and answer the question that follows about the main idea.
Dialogue:
VANESSA: Are you a football fan, lover or supporter? Well Nick has got some survey scores for you. Is it a red card, Nick?
NICK: No, it’s not a red card Vanessa. In fact it’s not at all red for football fans around the world.
VANESSA: Give us the low down Nick
NICK: According to a World Cup survey, football gives supporters a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings. In fact, it’s thought to be providing them with an experience akin to prayer and meditation.
VANESSA: Divine inspiration through football? Now I’ve heard it all!
NICK: Well, almost. Football seems to have positive effects on people’s psychological well-being.
VANESSA: Maybe I should take up watching football Nick! I could do with a buzz!
NICK: Well get this, Vanessa. It also gives people a ready made topic of conversation. They exchange opinions on team selection, strategies, and players’ skills. What do you say?
VANESSA: Well, I’m ready to put on my soccer boots and jersey and run down onto the field and tackle some of my issues.
NICK: I’ll make sure I’m not playing against you then. Sounds dangerous.
VANESSA: Thanks for the great soccer info Nick, it was a real blast.
NICK: Start kicking Vanessa. Until tomorrow. Bye!
Now answer the following question…
According to a World Cup survey what does football give its fans?
According to a World Cup survey, football gives fans a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings.
Now listen again to the dialogue in parts. After each part there will be 3 to 4 questions on some details...
Part 1
VANESSA: Are you a football fan, lover or supporter? Well Nick has got some survey scores for you. Is it a red card, Nick?
NICK: (laughs) No, it’s not a red card Vanessa. In fact it’s not at all red for football fans around the world.
VANESSA: Give us the low down Nick.
NICK: According to a World Cup survey, football gives supporters a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings. In fact, it’s thought to be providing them with an experience akin to prayer and meditation.
VANESSA: Divine inspiration through football? Now I’ve heard it all!
NICK: Well, almost. Football seems to have positive effects on people’s psychological well-being.
Now answer some questions…
1. Vanessa says “Give us the low down Nick”. What does “give someone the low down” mean?
“Give someone the low down” means to provide them with information or tell them what happened.
2. Nick says “It is thought to be providing them with an experience akin to prayer and meditation”. What does “akin to” mean?
“Akin to” is a formal word meaning similar to or like.
3. Nick says “Football seems to have positive effects on people’s psychological well-being”. What does “psychological well-being” mean?
“Psychological well-being” means positive mental health.
Now listen to the second part of the dialogue…
Part 2.
VANESSA: Maybe I should take up watching football Nick! I could with a buzz!
NICK: Well get this, Vanessa. It also gives people a ready made topic of conversation. They exchange opinions on team selection, strategy, and players’ skills. What do you say?
VANESSA: Well, I’m ready to put on my soccer boots and jersey and run down onto the field and tackle some of my issues.
NICK: I’ll make sure I’m not playing against you then. Sounds dangerous.
VANESSA: Thanks for the great soccer info Nick, it was a real blast.
NICK: Start kicking, Vanessa. Until tomorrow. Bye!
Now answer some questions…
1.Vanessa says “I could with a buzz!” What is “a buzz”?
“A buzz” is something that makes you feel happy or excited for a short time.
2.Vanessa says “I’m ready to put on my soccer boots and jersey and run down onto the field and tackle some of my issues.” What does “tackle an issue” mean?
“Tackle an issue” means to deal with a problem.
3.Vanessa says “It was a real blast”. What does “a blast” mean?
“A blast” is an informal word for anything exciting you thoroughly enjoy doing.
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GLOSSARY
A blast (N.): If an activity is a blast then you thoroughly enjoy doing it.
Akin to (adj.) If something is akin to another thing then the two things are similar or with similar qualities.
Divine (adj.) Divine means connected with a god, or like a god. Divine intervention means help from (a) God.
Innermost (adj.) Innermost means most secret and hidden, or nearest to the centre.
Issue (N.) An issue is an important topic for discussion or argument.
Jersey (N.) A jersey is a piece of woolen or cotton clothing with sleeves which is worn on the upper part of the body and which does not open at the front. It can also be a shirt which is worn by a member of a sports team.
Lowdown (N.) The lowdown is the most important facts and information about something.
Meditation (N.) Meditation means the action or practice of meditating - thinking deeply, usually in silence, especially for religious purposes or in order to relax.
Tackle (v): If you tackle some issues or a person then you deal with them.
Take up (an expression): To take up something meaning to start something e.g. a sport, a hobby.
Uplifting (adj.) If something is uplifting it lifts your spirits / makes you feel better in some moral or spiritual way.
