大城市小世界 Series 1 Episode 8 - I'll Be Rich In Three Years!

 　　Before you listen

　　We suggest you do the vocabulary activity below before you listen. Then listen to the episode¹ and do the first task to check your understanding. Finally, practise some vocabulary and grammar.

　　Match the words and phrases in the boxes to their definitions.

　　1. spacious²

　　2. a catch

　　3. location

　　4. a practice

　　5. to hang out

　　6. a mate

　　Definitions:

　　a. A place

　　b. To spend one’s free time

　　c. The business of a professional person

　　d. Containing a lot of space

　　e. A friend (informal)

　　f. A negative aspect

　　Audio script

　　Magda: So, did you see the flat?

　　Sarah: Yeah, it’s great...really spacious, really light, good location near a tube station – and not too expensive!

　　Magda: Sounds perfect. There’s got to be a catch...

　　Sarah: Well, Fadi’s cousin is the owner...

　　Magda: That’s not a problem, is it?

　　Sarah: No...no, I don’t think so...He seems ok...

　　Magda: You don’t sound sure...

　　Sarah: No, really, he’s ok. And I really need a new place!

　　Magda: So you think you’ll move in?

　　Sarah: Yeah, certainly. Already decided³....I move in on Saturday!

　　Magda: Great!

　　Johnny: Hi! Magda and

　　Sarah: Hi there Johnny! Come and have a seat! How’s it going?

　　Johnny: Great thanks...just waiting for Harry⁴.

　　Sarah: You two are hanging out together all the time at the moment...

　　Johnny: We’re good mates, we get on really well...

　　Magda: Isn’t Harry working for you as well now?

　　Johnny: No!!! He’s working with me, not for me...there’s a very big difference!

　　Magda: What’s that?

　　Johnny: Well, if he was working ‘for’ me, that means I’d be his boss! But he’s working ‘with’ me, which means that we work for the same company, that’s all.

　　Magda: I’m not sure I’d want to be in the same office as you and Harry! What do you do, talk about football all the time?

　　Johnny: No! We don’t even work in the same office!

　　Magda: Sorry, only joking...I didn’t mean to be rude, but I think it’s a good idea to keep friends and work separate...

　　Sarah: Mmm, I agree...

　　Johnny: You could be right – but we don’t actually work together closely. It’s a big company you know, and Harry works on the IT side. I’m at the front of the operation – searching out opportunities, winning contracts, clinching⁵ deals...

　　Magda: Alright for you then!

　　Johnny: I’ll be rich in three years...

　　Magda: That’s what you always say! There are more important things in life than money, you know!

　　Sarah: Magda, don’t worry...not all Chinese people are like that. We don’t only care about money!

　　Johnny: Maybe, but all I mean is, well, I know where I’m going...

　　Magda: Lucky you...I wish I did...I’m about to finish my degree and haven’t got anything lined up for the future yet...

　　Sarah: Oh dear...nothing at all?

　　Magda: Well, I’ve got an interview with a small architect’s practice next week...

　　Sarah: That’s great news! Well done!

　　Magda: Yeah...but...I’m really worried about it! I’ve never done a job interview before. Can you give me some advice?

　　Sarah: Erm...I guess I could help...I’ve done one or two interviews...

　　Johnny: I’ll tell you all you need to know! Don’t worry. Just listen to me, take my advice and you’ll definitely get the job!

　　Magda: Oh, er, well, great...

　　Johnny: But I can’t tell you now...got to go...

　　Sarah: Where are you off to in such a hurry?

　　Johnny: Got an appointment with the boys, haven’t I? Fadi and Harry - we’re all playing football this evening. Bye!

　　Sarah: Bye!!

　　Comprehension Task

　　True or false

　　Read the sentences and decide if they are true or false.

　　1. Sarah is going to move into Fadi’s flat.

　　2. Harry and Johnny are working for the same company.

　　3. Magda thinks it is a good idea for friends to work together.

　　4. Johnny is optimistic about his future.

　　5. Magda has an interview at Johnny’s company.

　　6. Johnny is playing football later.

　　Vocabulary

　　1. Countable⁶ or uncountable?

　　Decide if the nouns in the box are countable or uncountable and write them in the correct column.

　　Advice     News     Money     Place     Evening     Job     Work     Company

　　Countable

　　Uncountable

　　2. Opposites

　　Find the opposites of the following words in the audio script.

　　Dark ____________

　　Cheap ____________

　　Old ______________

　　Bad ____________

　　Polite ____________

　　Wrong ____________

　　Small ____________

　　Poor ____________

　　Grammar

　　1. Questions and answers

　　Match the questions with the answers:

　　1. That’s not a problem, is it?

　　a. I guess I could help.

　　2. How’s it going?

　　 b. Got an appointment with the boys.

　　3. Can you give me some advice?

　　 c. Great thanks.

　　4. Where are you off to?

　　d. No, I don’t think so.

　　2. Rearrange the words

　　Rearrange the words to make create sentences.

　　a. a | new place. | need | really | I

　　b. in the same | office | don’t | even | work

　　c. like | all | Chinese people | that. | Not | are

　　d. practice. | I’ve got | an interview | small architects’ | with a

　　e. you | in such a | hurry? | are | off to | Where

　　Answers

　　5. Where are you off to in such a hurry?

　　4. I've got an interview with a small architect's practice.

　　3. Not all Chinese people are like that.

　　2. We don't even work in the same office.

　　1. I really need a new place.

　　Grammar 2:

　　Grammar 1: 1 – d, 2 – c, 3 – a, 4 – b

　　Vocabulary 2:  light, expensive, new, good, rude, right, big, rich

　　Comprehension Task: 1 – b, 2 – c, 3 – a, 4 – c, 5 – a, 6 – b

　　Vocabulary 1: Countable = job, evening, place, company Uncountable = work, news, money, advice

　　Before you listen: 1 – d, 2 - f, 3 - a, 4 - c, 5 - b, 6 - e

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

5 clinching   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的现在分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• Joe gets clinching evidence of the brains role when he dreams. 乔做梦时得到了大脑发生作用的决定性依据。 来自辞典例句
• Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or seizing, without attempting a throw or other technique. 抱，扭摔，推或抓而没有摔或其它的技术。 来自互联网

6 countable   

adj.可数的，可以计算的

参考例句：

• The word "person" is a countable noun.person这个词是个可数名词。
• Countable nouns have singular and plural forms.可数名词有单数和复数之分。