Philoxenia; A radical approach to friendship is a discourse of friendship that, according to Gandhi, finds its existence through philoxenia, “a love for guests, strangers, and foreigners.” Ghandi continues that “philoxenic solidarities are .. emotionally risky.
List 2.1. The discovery of silk (China) 3rd level 10-15 minutes
GOAL. To learn a little bit about the Smithsonian museum, a cultural institution which offers a window to the East throughout folktales from different countries.
You will listen to two short stories. Each one getting more information from the passage. The transcript is given with its Key.
WARMING UP. Aiming at knowing the website and what The discovery of silkis about.
Q1. The piece opens with the the typical words: “I am going to tell you a story .... long time ago”.
How many characters are mentioned? ……………. Where does the story takes place? ……………….
Q2. What was wrong in the Chinese palace: the fountain, the mulberry trees or the magic fawl? …………………
Q3. Silk comes from silk worms. Where were the little animals found? …………………….
Q4. Who made the discovery? ……………………. Was it done willingly or by chance? ……………
Q5. The discovery was given ample promotion or kept in secret? ………………………………….
LANGUAGE PRACTICE.
Now go for specific words and meanings. Then listen to it again while you read the transcript to check your answers.
TASK2. Read the questions and go for specific words while listen to it again.
Q1. What did the Empress Xiling-shi found in the mulberry trees? .............................
Q2. Silk worms produce chrysalids (like butterflies) named ………………………….
Q3. What was the reaction between the water and the little creature? ……………………………….
TASK3. Fill in the blanks in the transcript.
Xilingshi found white worms eating the mulberry leaves and ……………….…….. shiny cocoons. She accidentally …………….. a cocoon into hot water. As she ……………. with the cocoon in the water, to her surprise, a ………..………., cobweb separated itself from the cocoon. She ………….….. it ..…. and found that one ………..….. thread was ………….…….. itself from the cocoon. She had discovered silk.
List 3.1. US-India nuclear agreement 4-5 level 15-20 min
GOAL. To listen to the news in different ways (gist, skim) on a site that offers audio and transcript.
You will listen to the following piece of news where Susan Stamberg talks with correspondent Daniel Schorr about some international news. The first time get the relevant facts, the second one complete the script. Then listen to it again while you read the transcript to check your answers.
Week In Review: India; Weekend Edition Saturday: March 04, 2006 (running length 03:47)
TASK1. Listen to the following piece of news where Susan Stamberg talks with correspondent Daniel Schorr about some international news.
Q1. The piece opens with Susan’s presentation: “ This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. Scott Simon is away. I'm Susan Stamberg”. Then a clip with President George Bush’s words. What are the exact words the President Bush uses to describe the relationship between USA and India?
Q2. Susan presents a positive side but also some troubles. Which are they?
..................................................................................................................................
Q3. What are the benefits for India of the deal signed with the USA?
Q7. How are India and China described by Susan in the next question.
India: ..................................................... China: ..................................................... TASK2. Read the question and listen to each short passage. Use the pause button and then complete the blanks with the exact words.
Q1. According to the President what are the exact words he uses to describe the relationship between USA and India? “The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before. And the ................................ between our free nations has the ................ ..................... the world.”
Q2. Susan reports on some troubles. What are they? SUSAN STAMBERG: President Bush speaking in New Delhi, India on Friday. The President's trip to Central Asia has produced an historic agreement with India, but it's also been m............. by w............................. demonstrations, including a bombing in Karachi, Pakistan that ............................................
Q3. Pay attention to the phrase in the first sentence to describe the end of the prohibition. Thank you so much. The agreement with India ............... the U.S. ......... now on selling nuclear technology and nuclear fuel to India. It also lets India hold onto its civilian nuclear program, and in exchange India's going to permit international inspections of some but not all of its nuclear facilities. But this is, this whole thing, it may sound better than it is, because it has to be approved by the Congress to go into effect. So what are the chances of that?
Q4. a. How are the two forecast reactions from US Congress expressed? Which one is the strongest? b. Why are their two main objections at the end of the excerpt?
SCHORR: Well, I think you can expect some ................ ....................... from Congress, if not a certain .................. of .......................... opposition. President Bush had to make some last minute concessions to India, even while his plane was on his way to New Delhi.
And the result is, as you suggested, that India now gets to produce an ........................... of fissile material from something called fast breeder reactors, and please don't ask me what that means. But the effect is to make India the sixth member of the nuclear club, and that's a big ............. ................... to the cause of non-proliferation.
Q5. How does the reporter summarise the controversial decision about different standards for Asian nuclear programs? SCHORR: That is right, and clearly what's happening now, and I'm sure they'll be hearing a lot about this, is that a different standard is being set for India than for the Axis of Evil folk, Iran and North Korea. Apparently .........................................................
Q6. What are presidents in their second term reaching out for?
It's very interesting. You know, every president, almost every president in his second term reaches out to try to write something in his ................... about a .............................. So it was Nixon in China, it was Reagan with Gorbachev and the Soviet Union. And now we have President Bush apparently trying to write a piece of his legacy with Prime Minister Singh of India.
Q7. The reporter modulates the US administration hopes that India will outrun China twice. Fill in the blanks.
SCHORR: Well, it's not a matter of outrunning China. I think the United States government sees India as a possible .................. for ................................... of China. The American candidate in Asia is going to be India along with Japan, and they hope that at some point that will sort of ................................................... a growing China.
STAMBERG: Moving to a different continent now. Last night, .... _______(STOP audio here ).
List 3.2. Listening project on Israeli-Palestinian conflict 4-5 level 15-20 min
GOAL. To work on content taking notes about a historical issue as if it were a lecture
TASK1. Read these pasages below and connect to the web page shown below. Explore the site for ten minutes and then do task 2.
BOB EDWARDS: Today Morning Edition begins "The Mideast: A Century of Conflict," a seven-part series on the history of the struggle between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Mideast: A Century of Conflict A Seven-Part Series Traces the Israeli-Palestinian Dispute
Background. NPR News is presenting this special series on the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to bring context and perspective to the story, and to help listeners understand the complex situation in the Mideast, the history, and the consequences of the confrontation.
The Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting over control of the same piece of land for nearly a century. They are also fighting over each significant episode in that history. Each side has its own interpretation of these crucial, historical episodes. And too often, the march of daily news obscures a broader review of the past to understand the roots of the conflict.
TASK2. Make notes on the content of the passages you are more interested. Do not use the pause button while you are listening. You may listen to it again at the end.
Listen 3.1. Breaking the news: US-India nuclear agreement KEY with transcript
TASK1. Listen to the following piece of news where Susan Stamberg talks with correspondent Daniel Schorr about some international news.
Q1. The piece opens with Susan’s presentation: “This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. Scott Simon is away. I'm Susan Stamberg”. Then a clip with President George Bush’d words. According to the President what are the words he uses to describe the relationship between USA and India?
a: Closer than ever / partenership / work together to transform the world
Q2. Susan shows a positive side but also some troubles. What are they?
a: demonstrations. bombs, one US diplomat killed
Q3. What are the benefits for India?
a: No barriers to import nuclear technologies and material
Q4. What do we know about the difficulties to break a deal? 4a. Last minute negotiations (in the plane)
What is the success for India’s Government? 4b. Sixth nuclear power + higher international status (but not all of its nuclear facilities).
Q5. How is this agreement between USA and India going to affect Asian nations nuclear programs?
a: They are set with two standards: the axis of evil (Iran and N- Korea) and US friends
Q6. When are presidents more ambitious with foreign policies? Which 3 cases are given?
6a In their second term.
6b..Nixon> China / Reagan > Soviet Union / Bush > India.
Q7. How are India and China described by Susan in the next question.
India: world’s largest democracy. China: Asia's economic tiger.
TASK2.
Q1. According to the President what are the exact words he uses to describe the relationship between USA and India? “The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before. And the ...PARTNERSHIP.. between our free nations has the ...POWER TO TRANSFORM .. the world.”
Q2. Susan reports on some troubles. What are they? SUSAN STAMBERG: President Bush speaking in New Delhi, India on Friday. The President's trip to Central Asia has produced an historic agreement with India, but it's also been MARRED.. by WIDESPREAD.. demonstrations, including a bombing in Karachi, Pakistan that ..KILLED A US DIPLOMAT..
Q3. Pay attention to the phrase in the first sentence to describe the end of the prohibition. Thank you so much. The agreement with India ..RAISES .. the U.S. ..BAN.. now on selling nuclear technology and nuclear fuel to India. It also lets India hold onto its civilian nuclear program, and in exchange India's going to permit international inspections of some but not all of its nuclear facilities. But this is, this whole thing, it may sound better than it is, because it has to be approved by the Congress to go into effect. So what are the chances of that?
Q4. a. How are the two forecast reactions from US Congress expressed? Which is the strongest? b. Why are the two main objections at the end of the excerpt? SCHORR: Well, I think you can expect some ..SHARP QUESTIONING.. from Congress, if not a certain ..AMOUNT.. of ...OUTRIGHT.. opposition. President Bush had to make some last minute concessions to India, even while his plane was on his way to New Delhi.
And the result is, as you suggested, that India now gets to produce an ...UNLIMITED AMOUNT ... of fissile material from something called fast breeder reactors, and please don't ask me what that means. But the effect is to make India the sixth member of the nuclear club, and that's a big ..BLOW.. to ..THE CAUSE.. of non-proliferation.
Q5. How does the reporter summarise the controversial decision about different standards for Asian nuclear programs? SCHORR: That is right, and clearly what's happening now, and I'm sure they'll be hearing a lot about this, is that a different standard is being set for India than for the Axis of Evil folk, Iran and North Korea. Apparently, ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL.
Q6. What are presidents in their second term reaching out for? It's very interesting. You know, every president, almost every president in his second term reaches out to try to write something in his ..LEGACY.. about a ..BIG BREAKTHROUGH.. So it was Nixon in China, it was Reagan with Gorbachev and the Soviet Union. And now we have President Bush apparently trying to write a piece of his legacy with Prime Minister Singh of India.
Q7. The reporter modulates the US administration hopes that India will outrun China twice. Fill in the blanks. SCHORR: Well, it's not a matter of outrunning China. I think the United States government sees India as a possible ..BUFFLE.. for ...CONTAINMENT.. of China. The American candidate in Asia is going to be India along with Japan, and they hope that at some point that will sort of ..HOLD THE LINE AGAINST.. a growing China.
See the annex to read Transcript of this piece of news
Week In Review: India; Weekend Edition Saturday: March 04, 2006 (running length 08:11)
Annex. Transcript Listen03. Breaking the news: NPR station
President GEORGE W. BUSH: The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before. And the partnership between our free nations has the power to transform the world.
SUSAN STAMBERG: President Bush speaking in New Delhi, India on Friday. The President's trip to Central Asia has produced an historic nuclear agreement with India, but it's also been marred by widespread demonstrations, including a bombing in Karachi, Pakistan that killed a U.S. diplomat.
Mr. Bush is in Islamabad, Pakistan today. NPR's senior new analyst, Daniel Schorr, is right here in Washington. Hi, Dan.
DANIEL SCHORR reporting: Good morning, Susan, and welcome to the big times.
STAMBERG: Thank you so much. The agreement with India raises the U.S. ban now on selling nuclear technology and nuclear fuel to India. It also lets India hold onto its civilian nuclear program, and in exchange India's going to permit international inspections of some but not all of its nuclear facilities. But this is, this whole thing, it may sound better than it is, because it has to be approved by the Congress to go into effect. So what are the chances of that?
SCHORR: Well, I think you can expect some sharp questioning from Congress, if not a certain amount of outright opposition. President Bush had to make some last minute concessions to India, even while his plane was on his way to New Delhi.
And the result is, as you suggested, that India now gets to produce an unlimited amount of fissile material from something called fast breeder reactors, and please don't ask me what that means. But the effect is to make India the sixth member of the nuclear club, and that's a big blow to the cause of non-proliferation.
STAMBERG: Yes. Well, how is this agreement now between this country and India going to affect what has been an international campaign to get Iran and also North Korea to give up their nuclear programs? Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement. India hasn't.
SCHORR: That is right, and clearly what's happening now, and I'm sure they'll be hearing a lot about this, is that a different standard is being set for India than for the Axis of Evil folk, Iran and North Korea. Apparently one size doesn't fit all.
It's very interesting. You know, every president, almost every president in his second term reaches out to try to write something in his legacy about a big breakthrough. So it was Nixon in China, it was Reagan with Gorbachev and the Soviet Union. And now we have President Bush apparently trying to write a piece of his legacy with Prime Minister Singh of India.
STAMBERG: Yeah. You talked about China, and that looms on the horizon. Because this nuclear deal with India is expected to be very good for U.S. business. They can make a fortune selling materials to India. But the President's visit produced other trade agreements. So do you think, is this administration hoping that this world's largest democracy, India, will outrun China, which is right now Asia's economic tiger?
SCHORR: Well, it's not a matter of outrunning China. I think the United States government sees India as a possible buffer for the containment of China. It is the American candidate in Asia is going to be India along with Japan, and they hope that at some point that will sort ofhold a line against a growing China.
STAMBERG: Moving to a different continent now. Last night, under a federal court order, the Pentagon ....
List 4.2. Climate change and GAIA theory. 4-5 level 40-50 min
GOAL. To listen with different aims while discovering the world of scientists at work on a current issue.
TASK 1. Identikit: who is who? Fill in the blanks with the words below.
Dr James Ephraim Lovelock is an .......................... scientist, author, researcher, .......................... who lives in ........................... He is most famous for proposing and .......................... the Gaia theory.
Britain popularizing independent environmentalist
TASK 2. State your percentatge of agreement with these four controversial statements:
I.The climate and the chemical properties of the Earth now and throughout its history seem always to have been optimal for life. For this to have happened by chance is as unlikely as to survive unscathed a drive blindfold through rush hour traffic.
II. In the current fashionable denigration of technology, it is easy to forget that nuclear fission is a natural process. If something as intricate as life can assemble by accident, we need not marvel at the fission reactor, a relatively simple contraption, doing likewise.
III. We have since defined Gaia as a complex entity involving the Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and soil; the totality constituting a feedback or cybernetic system which seeks an optimal physical and chemical environment for life in this planet. [source: http://en.wikiquote.org]
Go to bbc.uk.co and entry [lovelok audio]. There were 2 programs in July ‘06.
TASK 3. Listen to different reactions to his most recent work on 4 Jul 2006. Pasages are short (40 to 90 seconds). A panel of experts is meeting to debate James Lovelock's book, the Revenge of Gaia.
1.1. Why does Brian Hoskins agree the idea that there is a risk of "doing something very serious to the climate system" ........................................... ................................................................................
1.2. Where doesn’t he? ...........................................................................................................................
Listen to Susan Owens talk about the three the issues Professor Lovelock raises in the book that worry her. Write her views on these four topics.
4.1. Any real action for a global government?..........................
4.2. The best example of technical issues to become political? .....................
4.3. Impact of human beings on the planet? .......................................
4.4. On effects of population and consumption as shown in the book: ............................
TASK 4. As for Lovelock’s presentations, fill in the gaps in the texts below.
Q1. Those were his words at an acceptance speech:
“I hope that I have shown that science can still be a vocation, not just a ……………………. Something that can even be done at home, in the way an artist or novelist works. Doing ……………………. science this way and with walks through the countryside and on the ……………………. has kept me in touch with the natural world.”.
Q2. For his Gaia theory:
“I My Gaia theory is a serious ………………………. hypothesis that suggests the planet is one ………………………. , and what we do to one part of it ………………………. affects the whole.
Q1. What is the main aim of his book? .....................................
Q2. In which aspects has he been misunderstood? ....................................................................
Q3. Where is he a real pessimistic? ........................................... ................................................
TASK 5. Listen to the first 3 minutes of a program where an expert panel convened by BBC News concluded that climate change is "real and dangerous" in the same program on 6 Jul 2006. Write notes on what you hear in the box below.Climate change 'real and severe' (6 minutes)
TASK 6.Which are the two strongest arguments they agree with on the worrying forecasts? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Do you agree with the verdict of these experts on our 5 predicitons?
4. A temperature rise of 3C to 5C would probably bring catastrophic changes for humans. VERDICT: YES 0, NO 3, ABSTAIN 4
8. James Lovelock's metaphor that the Earth will react against us like an irritant if we continue treating it this way is helpful in public understanding. VERDICT: YES 5, NO 2
10. Politicians need to draw on intuition in formulating climate policy. VERDICT: YES 5, NO 1, ABSTAIN 1
11. Professor Lovelock insufficiently acknowledges in the book the uncertainty over how hot the climate will become.VERDICT: YES 5, NO 1, ABSTAIN 1
15. In the UK context, Professor Lovelock is wrong in the book to reject wind power. VERDICT: YES 7, NO 0
Make notes on the main statements of his thesis. [source: HARDtalk interview on 29th July, Lyse Doucet talks to James Lovelock. ]
FOLLOW UP. For science stories visithttp://www.uh.edu/engines/The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a 5-minute radio program that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity. This web site houses the transcripts for every episode heard (more than 2000). Worth a visit.
Listen 4.2. Climate change and GAIA theory KEY
TASK 1&2. Open
TASK 3. A panel of experts debates Lovelock's book, the Revenge of Gaia.
#1. Brian Hoskins shares Lovelock’s analysis, experiments show clear damage, BUT he is not as gloomy and pessimistic about the implications.
#2. Vicky Pope agrees partially on Lovelock’s predictions. But the book makes us think about the whole isssue of climate change, and it is the global institutional agenda.
#3 Von Storch can not share Lovelock’s zeitgeist (vision of the future time) as he predicts just another direction for climate changes
#4 Susan Owens: 4.1. No real action for a global government.
4.2. The best example of technical issues to become political: Nuclear energy.
4.3. Impact of human beings on the planet? 60 % agreement.
4.4. On effects of population and consumption as shown in the book: quite political issues, difficult to address.
TASK 5. Listen to Lovelock’s arguments in a following program on 6 Jul 2006.
Q1. What is the main aim of his book? A wake up call
Q2. In which aspects has he been misunderstood? it’s been taken on the extremes, apocaliptic.
Q3. Where is he a real pessimistic? Bilions of people will have not food, that means migrations and many might die.
FOLLOW UP. For science stories visithttp://www.uh.edu/engines/The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a 5-minute radio program that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity. This web site houses the transcripts for every episode heard (more than 2000). Worth a visit.
