Unit 20: Opinions

Expanding Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition » Unit 20: Opinions

Word List

absolutely
allowed
commercials
companion
company
develop
distracting
encourage
garden
hybrid
informative
interrupt
pride
rope
smoking
universe
violent
action movies
bungee jumping
can't wait
I know.
I'm not sure I agree.
jump off (a bridge)
out there (in space)
raise money
space exploration
Sure.
the Olympic Games
try (something) on
TV commercials
TV shows
waste of money
waste time
worth it
written for teenagers
You're right about that.

Vocabulary Worksheet

‣ Look at the words and the definitions below. Make a sentence using each word.

WORD	DEFINITION	MY SENTENCE
companion	a friend who spends a lot time with you	_____
informative	providing useful facts	_____
pride	a feeling of respect for oneself	_____
commercials	advertisements on TV or radio	_____
distracting	taking one's attention away from more important matters	_____
develop	to build up unused land or neighborhoods	_____
allowed	given permission to do something	_____
encourage	to inspire someone to have confidence	_____
interrupt	to distract someone from a conversation or activity	_____
universe	everything that exists anywhere	_____
violent	forceful, aggressive, and often harmful	_____
absolutely	without any doubt	_____

Answer Key

Match the topics on the left with the opinions on the right.

smoking
television _____
household pets _____
the Olympic Games _____

a. They are great way for people to develop pride in their countries.
b. They are wonderful companions. I think everyone should have one.
c. It's not good for your health or the health of people around you.
d. It can be entertaining and information, but it can also waste a lot of time.

Listening 1

Listening 1 ‣ People are expressing opinions. What topic are they talking about? Listen and circle the correct answer.

- a. the Olympic Games
- b. air travel
- a. video games
- b. cell phones
- a. TV commercials
- b. rock music
- a. space exploration
- b. medical research
- a. winter sports
- b. bungee jumping
- a. tourism
- b. pets

Listening 2

‣ Task 1

People are giving opinions about these topics. Are they for or against them? Listen and check (x) the correct answer.

	For	Against
1. space exploration	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2. TV commercials	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3. Olympic Games	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4. tourism	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5. action movies	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6. big cars	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. What reason does each person give? Circle the correct answer.

- a. It's too expensive.
- b. It's how we learn about the universe.
- c. It isn't important.
- a. They're too short.
- b. They interrupt her favorite programs.
- c. They're boring.
- a. They encourage an interest in sports.
- b. They cost too much.
- c. Her country always wins.
- a. It creates pollution.
- b. It's fun to meet visitors.
- c. It brings jobs and money to the city.
- a. They're too violent.
- b. They're too boring.
- c. They're too loud.
- a. They take too much gas.
- b. There isn't enough parking.
- c. They cost too much.

Listening 3

‣ Task 1

People are giving their opinions. Do they agree or disagree? Listen and check (x) the correct answer.

	Agree	Disagree
1.	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2.	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3.	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4.	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5.	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6.	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. Are these statements true or false? Check (x) the correct answer.

	True	False
1. He thinks second language skills can help people get good jobs.	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2. She thinks lawyers work hard.	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3. He thinks most TV shows are for older people.	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4. He had to wait an hour for the bus.	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5. She likes to try things on before she buys them.	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6. The rain is good for her garden.	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

✺ Pronunciation

Intonation of words or phrases in a series

Pronunciation Help

When listing a series, use falling intonation for the last item in a series and rising intonation for earlier items.

‣ Task 1

Listen and repeat.

1. Tourism raises^→ money^→ for^→ cities^↗ and creates^→ jobs_^↘.
2. Hybrid cars save^→ gas^↗ and help^→ the^→ environment_^↘.
3. Pets can keep^→ you^→ company^↗, help^→ you^→ relax^↗, and even lower^→ your^→ blood^→ pressure_^↘.
4. I think cigarettes are ^→smelly^↗, ^→dirty^↗, and bad^→ for^→ your^→ health_^↘.

‣ Task 2

Read the sentences to a partner. Be sure to use the correct intonation.

✺ Dictation

‣ Task 1

Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.

A: What ⁽¹⁾_____ ⁽²⁾_____ ⁽³⁾_____ about the new mall?
B: I don't know. I haven't shopped there yet. Have you?
A: Yeah, I have. I went last weekend. I liked it a lot. It has a ton of stores, lots of great restaurants, and a ⁽⁴⁾_____ ⁽⁵⁾_____ ⁽⁶⁾_____.
B: Oh, I'll have to check it out soon. It sounds so much better than the old mall.
A: It is. The old mall is ⁽⁷⁾_____, ⁽⁸⁾_____, and too ⁽⁹⁾_____.
B: I agree.

‣ Task 2

Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to use the correct intonation.

✺ Conversation

Think of a place in your city or town that you really like. What do you like about it? Tell your partner about it.

Answer Key

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