大城市小世界 Series 2 Episode 8 - Happy New Year

 　　Before you listen

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

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

　　1.strictly¹

　　2.procession

　　3.Trafalgar Square

　　4.chaotic²

　　5.midnight

　　6.dawn

　　7.mate

　　8.husband

　　Definitions:

　　a.The moment of the day when the sun rises.

　　b.Random³. Without being organised.

　　c.Twelve o’clock at night.

　　d.Following the rules closely.

　　e.The man in a marriage.

　　f.A formation of people moving forward slowly, e.g. in religious festival.

　　g.A public square and monument in the centre of London.

　　h.Colloquial⁵ term for friend.

　　Now, listen to episode 8.

　　What are Johnny and his friends going to do for New Year's Eve? Is Carlos finally asking Sarah out on a date? Written by Chris Rose.

　　Comprehension Task

　　True or false

　　Decide whether these statements are true or false.

　　1.It is New Year’s Day the following day.

　　2.Johnny wants to go to Trafalgar Square.

　　3.Sarah likes drinking beer.

　　4.Olivia knows what Auld⁶ Lang Syne⁷ means.

　　5.Tony is opening the café all night on New Year’s Eve.

　　6.Harry⁸ wants to spend New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend.

　　7.Olivia is babysitting on New Year’s Eve.

　　8.Olivia invites everyone to her place.

　　Comprehension Task 2

　　Match up

　　Match the sentences with the speakers.

　　Magda

　　magda.png

　　Who said…?

　　Carlos

　　johnny.png

　　Olivia

　　olivia.png

　　Harry

　　harry.png

　　Sarah

　　sarah.png

　　Fadi

　　Fadi.png

　　Tony

　　Tony.png

　　1.I can cook again!

　　2.  I hate drinking beer.

　　3.  It’s a Scottish song really.

　　4.  She doesn’t organise⁴ my life!

　　5.  We could go to a club.

　　6.  I close early on New Year’s Eve.

　　7.  Just around the café.

　　Grammar Task

　　Choose the correct sentence, a or b.

　　1.a. Sarah asked when New Year’s Eve was.    b. Sarah asked when was New Year’s Eve.

　　2.a. Carlos said that he can cook again.   b. Carlos said that he could cook again.

　　3.a. Johnny suggested going to Trafalgar Square.   b. Johnny suggested to go to Trafalgar Square.

　　4.a. Sarah said she hadn’t wanted to go to a pub. b. Sarah said that she didn’t want to go to a pub.

　　5.a. Harry told to everyone he was going to see Bindyu. b. Harry told everyone he was going to see Bindyu.

　　6.a. Everybody wished themselves a Happy New Year. b. Everybody wished each other a Happy New Year.

　　Vocabulary Task

　　Match up

　　Match the two parts of each dialogue.

　　1.Christmas goes on until January 6th

　　2.Is there a special dinner for New Year in Britain?

　　3.Let’s go and stand outside – in Trafalgar Square!

　　4.People sing a song at midnight.

　　5.I’ve got lots of girls!

　　6.I think we should have a procession.

　　7.I have to look after my nephew Joe.

　　8.You can all come to my house.

　　Audio Script

　　a.  No way!

　　b.  It never ends!

　　c.  Great idea!

　　d.  Not really.

　　e.  That’s nice!

　　f.   Oh yeah?

　　g.  Forget it!

　　h.  Now you tell me.

　　Johnny:  So, after our successful Christmas, what are we going to do for New Year’s Eve?

　　Sarah:   When is New Year’s Eve?

　　Harry:   Tomorrow!

　　Sarah:  New Year already! Christmas has only just finished!

　　Magda:  Strictly speaking, Sarah, it still is Christmas – Christmas goes on until January 6th. New Year’s Eve is part of Christmas.

　　Sarah:   Wow, it never ends...

　　Carlos:  I can cook again! Is there a special dinner for New Year in Britain?

　　Harry:   Not really.

　　Johnny:  In China there are lots of processions in the streets. Are there processions here?

　　Olivia:   Not really.

　　Sarah:  In China New Year is a very important holiday. Is it very important in Britain?

　　Fadi:    Not really.

　　Johnny:   So what do people do for New Year?

　　Harry:  Depends... some people have parties, some people go to a pub or a club and drink a lot.

　　Olivia:  Some people go and stand outside – quite a lot of people go to Trafalgar Square in the centre of London...

　　Johnny:   Let’s do that!

　　Harry:   No way! It’s too cold!

　　Fadi:    And usually raining!

　　Olivia:   And too chaotic!

　　Sarah:   Do people drink a lot?

　　Harry:   Some do.

　　Sarah:   I hate drinking beer.

　　Harry:  A lot of people stay at home and watch TV.

　　Olivia:   Then sing a song at midnight.

　　Sarah:   What’s the song?

　　Olivia:  It’s a Scottish song really...

　　(sings a bit of Auld Lang Syne)

　　Sarah:  That’s nice. What do the words mean?

　　Olivia:   Erm, well, no one really knows...

　　Harry:   Some people know…

　　Fadi:    In Scotland, probably.

　　Johnny:   So what shall we do, then?

　　Sarah:  I don’t want to go to a pub and get drunk.

　　Fadi:  We could go to a club – I know some great places – we can go out dancing till dawn! Great music, lots of girls...

　　Olivia:   You and your girlfriends...

　　Fadi:    OK, OK... let’s forget that idea then.

　　Harry:  No, it’s not for me... I don’t think Bindyu would like it...

　　Fadi:  Come on Harry, you can’t let Bindyu organise your life!

　　Harry:  She doesn’t organise my life! I like being with her, and I like doing the things she wants to do...

　　Fadi:    I’ve lost you, mate!

　　Harry:   I think you need a girlfriend too!

　　Fadi:    Hey! No way! I’ve got lots of girls!

　　Johnny:  Oh yeah? How come I’ve never met them?

　　Fadi:  Well, erm, hey, erm... you know how it is....

　　Johnny:   I think we should have a procession...

　　Olivia:   Where?

　　Magda:   Just around the café.

　　Tony:  What’s that? A procession in my café? Forget it! Anyway, I close early on New Year’s Eve, so you lot will need to find something else to do.

　　Johnny:  We have to decide now then – what are we going to do on New Year’s Eve?

　　Harry:  I’m going to see Bindyu. I think we’ll stay at home.

　　Olivia:  I’m going to stay at home too. My sister’s going to a party with her husband, so I have to look after my nephew Joe.

　　Fadi:    Now you tell me!

　　Olivia:  Sorry... listen – why don’t you come round?

　　Fadi:    Erm... OK then....

　　Carlos:  Sarah... erm... I... er... would you like to come out with me?

　　Sarah:  I can’t leave my friend Magda on her own!

　　Johnny:   And hang on – what about me, too!?

　　Olivia:  OK, everyone... I guess you can all come to my house, but only until midnight! Then you all have to go home!

　　All:  Hooray! Great idea! Happy New Year!!!

　　Answers

　　Before you listen: 1 – d, 2 – f, 3 – g, 4 – b, 5 – c, 6 – a, 7 – h, 8 – e

　　Comprehension Task: 1 – false, 2 – true, 3 – false, 4 – false, 5 – false, 6 – true, 7 – true, 8 – true

　　Comprehension Task 2: 1 – Carlos, 2 – Sarah, 3 – Olivia, 4 – Harry, 5 – Fadi, 6 – Tony, 7 – Magda

　　Vocabulary Task: 1 – b, 2 – d, 3 – a, 4 – e, 5 – f, 6 – g, 7 – h, 8 - c

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

1 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

2 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

3 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

4 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

5 colloquial   

adj.口语的，会话的

参考例句：

• It's hard to understand the colloquial idioms of a foreign language.外语里的口头习语很难懂。
• They have little acquaintance with colloquial English. 他们对英语会话几乎一窍不通。

6 auld   

adj.老的，旧的

参考例句：

• Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?怎能忘记旧日朋友，心中能不怀念？
• The party ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Sync.宴会以《友谊地久天长》的歌声而告终。

7 syne   

adv.自彼时至此时，曾经

参考例句：

• The meeting ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.大会以唱《友谊地久天长》结束。
• We will take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.让我们为了过去的好时光干一杯友谊的酒。

8 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。