大城市小世界 Series 3 Episode 10 - Family Matters

 Introduction 

This support pack accompanies: 

Big City Small World – Series 3 Episode¹ 10 

To listen to the recording², go to: 

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/big-city-small-

world/series-3-episode-10-family-matters 

This support pack contains the following materials: 

1. Before you listen: Vocabulary match up 

2. Audio³ script 

3. Comprehension Task 

4. Grammar Task 1 

5. Grammar Task 2 

6. Vocabulary Task 

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 their definitions⁴. 

图片1

Definitions: 

1. Feeling that something is not up to standard 

2. History 

3. Request for information 

4. Following tradition; unchanging 

5. Leave 

6. Plain; normal 

Big City Small World S3 E10 – Family Matters 



Transcript⁵

Big City Small World S3 E10 – Family Matters 

Olivia: Hey, Harry⁶! How’s it going? 

Harry: Not bad, thanks. 

Olivia: Are you a millionaire yet? 

Harry: Eh? What? Oh ... Fadi’s “FindLondon” 

business. Actually, it’s going pretty well – we’ve 

set up a website and now we’re taking lots of 

enquiries, there’s a lot of interest. But I’m only aninvestor, you know – it’s not my real job. 

Olivia: Sounds even better – if you can make 

money without working! 

Harry: Yeah! I guess that’s the plan. That’s 

Fadi’s plan anyhow! But – as your friend Magda 

says – there’s more to life than money. 

Olivia: Well, that’s certainly true. 

Harry: I mean, I want to spend more time with 

Bindyu – that’s what makes me really happy ... 

Olivia: Why don’t you just go out more together?

Harry: Well, we see each other most days ... but 

it’s not that ... 

Olivia: What is it then? 

Harry: I’d like to take our relationship a bit more 

seriously. 

Olivia: But? 

Harry: But she doesn’t want me to meet her 

parents. 

Olivia: Oh, I see. Why not? 

Harry: That’s just it – I don’t know really. I think 

she’s embarrassed by me, or ashamed of me ... 

or something ... 

Olivia: No! That can’t be true! Why do you think 

that? 

Harry: I don’t know. Perhaps I’m not rich 

enough, or successful enough. You know, I’m 

just an ordinary London guy. Anyhow, I must be 

off now – if you see Bindyu let her know I was 

looking for her! 

Olivia: Will do! Bye! 

Bindyu: Hey there! 

Olivia: Hello! Oh, Harry was just in here looking 

for you. 

 Bindyu: I knew it! I meant to catch him – but just 

missed him! 

Olivia: He was talking about you, actually. 

Bindyu: Oh yeah? All good things I hope. 

Olivia: Yes, but ... 

Bindyu: But? You mean there’s a “but”? 

Olivia: Yeah. He thinks you’re not taking the 

relationship as seriously as he wants. 

Bindyu: Oh no! That’s not true ... Why does he 

think that? 

Olivia: He thinks you don’t want him to meet 

your family. 

Bindyu: Oh, I see. It’s not that I don’t want him 

to meet my parents, it’s just that it’s ... 

Olivia: What? 

Bindyu: It’s just difficult, that’s all. 

Olivia: Why? 

Bindyu: Well ... you know ... We’re so different 

... from different backgrounds ... and my family 

are very traditional. 

Olivia: I see ... Still, perhaps you should try. 

Bindyu: Yeah – maybe you’re right. I’ll try. 



Big City Small World S3 E10 – Family Matters 

Comprehension Task 1 

Complete the sentences with these words. 

traditional 

ashamed 

rich 

interested 

serious 

worried 

1 A lot of people are ......................... in the new business. 

2 Harry wants to have a more ....................... relationship with Bindyu. 

3 Harry thinks Bindyu is .......................... of him. 

4 Bindyu tells Olivia she is ........................ about taking Harry home. 

5 Harry doesn’t think he is ................... enough for Bindyu’s family. 

6 Bindyu thinks her family is very ................... 

Grammar Task 1 

Sometimes a root verb can have two adjective⁷ forms; one ending in -ing and the other ending in 

-ed. Look at these two sentences: 

Bindyu is worried about Harry meeting her family. 

It is a worrying situation. 

We use an adjective with -ed to describe a feeling. 

We use an adjective with -ing to describe something that produces a feeling. 

Choose the correct adjective in these sentences. 

1 That’s an interested/interesting book. 

2 Harry is interested/interesting in meeting Bindyu’s family. 

3 I’m very excited/exciting about going to London. 

4 The holiday plans are really excited/exciting. 

5 I’m embarrassed/embarrassing⁸ because my English is not good enough. 

6 My level of English is embarrassed/embarrassing! 

7 What shall we do? I’m bored/boring! 

8 This is a bored/boring game. Let’s play something else. 



Grammar Task 2 

Type the missing⁹ –ing or –ed adjective for each sentence. Use the word in brackets¹⁰. Look back at 

the last exercise for help. 

1. That’s an ____________ book. (interest) 

2. I’m ____________ because my English is not good enough. (embarrass) 

3. I’m very ____________ about going to London. (excite) 

4. Harry is ____________ in meeting Binyu’s family. (interest) 

5. What shall we do? I’m ____________! (bore) 

6. My level of English is ____________! (embarrass) 

7. The holiday plans are really ____________. (excite) 

8 This is a ____________ game. Let’s play something else. (bore) 

Vocabulary Task 

Complete the sentence with the phrases that go with the verbs. Look back at the dialogue for 

help. 

a) for her 

b) somebody 

happy 

c)up a business 

d) about this 

e) this seriously 

f) a lot of money 

g) time with 

h) the family 

1. I wish you’d take __ . 

2. Harry wants to spend __ Bindyu. 

3. Fadi, Harry and Johnny have set __ . 

4. Have you seen Olivia? I’m looking __ . 

5. If you want to make __, give them a call. 

6. We really need to talk __ . 

7. I’d like to meet __. 

8. I don’t care what I do, so long as I make __ . 

Big City Small World S3 E10 – Family Matters 



Answers 

Pre-listening: 

1. d; 2. c; 3. f; 4. b; 5. a; 6. e. 

Comprehension Task 1: 

1. interested; 2. serious; 3. ashamed; 4. 

worried; 5. rich; 6. traditional 

Grammar Task 1: 

1. interesting; 2. interested; 3. excited; 4. 

exciting; 5. embarrassed; 6. embarrassing; 

7. bored; 8. boring 

Grammar Task 2: 

1. interesting; 2. embarrassed; 3. excited; 4. 

interested; 5. bored; 6. embarrassing; 7. 

exciting; 8. boring 

Vocabulary Task: 

1. e; 2. g; 3. c; 4. a; 5. b; 6. d; 7. h; 8. f. 

Big City Small World S3 E10 – Family Matters 

 

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 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 audio   

n./adj.音频(响)(的)；声音(的)，听觉(的)

参考例句：

• Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来，供以后查阅。
• You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。

4 definitions   

定义( definition的名词复数 )； 规定； 清晰（度）； 解释

参考例句：

• Write clear definitions in order to avoid ambiguity. 释义要写清楚以免产生歧义。
• Definitions in this dictionary are printed in roman type. 这本词典里的释义是用罗马体印刷的。

5 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

6 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。

7 adjective   

n.形容词；adj.形容词的，用作形容词的

参考例句：

• Don't apply that adjective to me.不要用那个字眼来形容我。
• The adjective loose has several senses. 形容词loose有几个义项。

8 embarrassing   

adj.使人尴尬的，令人为难的v.（使）窘迫，（使）局促不安( embarrass的现在分词)

参考例句：

• His jokes didn't even raise a smile, which was embarrassing. 听了他讲的笑话，都没人笑一下，真是太尴尬了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I was in the embarrassing position of having completely forgotten her name. 当时我完全忘记了她的名字，很是尴尬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

10 brackets   

n.括弧( bracket的名词复数 )；等级；类别层次；壁架v.把…括在括弧内( bracket的第三人称单数 )；把…归为一类

参考例句：

• Publication dates are given in brackets after each title. 出版日期括于书名后面。
• Put your name in brackets at the top of each page. 把你的名字填在每页上端的括弧内。 来自《简明英汉词典》