This support pack accompanies: 

Big City Small World – Series 3 Episode 12 

To listen to the recording, go to: 

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

world/series-3-episode-12-popping-question 

This support pack contains the following materials: 

1. Before you listen: Vocabulary match up 

2. Audio 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 definitions. 

Definitions: 

1. Not to know if something is true 

2. To speak while another person is speaking 

3. An exclamation of surprise 

4. To try to understand what something means without knowing 

5. A person who spoils the fun 

6. Courageous; not afraid. 

Big City Small World S3 E12 – Popping the Question 



Transcript

Big City Small World S3 E12 – Popping the Question 

Fadi: Are you ready then, mate? 

Harry: Guess so. Ready as I’ll ever be. 

Johnny: Got the ring and everything? 

Harry: Yep. 

Fadi: Blimey. You’re a brave boy! 

Johnny: It’ll be your turn next, Fadi! 

Fadi: I doubt it. Very much. 

Johnny: Look, here she comes now! 

Harry: Oh no! She’s with all the others! 

Fadi: You’ll have to get her alone. 

Olivia/Sarah/Bindyu/Magda: Hi, boys! Hello 

there! 

Fadi/Harry/Johnny: Oh, erm, hello. 

Olivia: What’s up? What’s going on? 

Harry: Oh, erm, nothing ... 

Olivia: Don’t believe you! 

Johnny: Olivia! Pssst! Harry’s going to pop the 

question! 

Olivia: Pop the what? 

Johnny: The question! He’s going to ask Bindyu 

to marry him! 

Olivia: I know what it means, stupid! I’m just 

surprised! 

Fadi: Are you ready, Harry? 

Harry: I can’t do it! I’m not going to ask her now! 

Not in the café! I’m going to wait for a quiet, 

romantic moment, when we’re alone together. 

Fadi: Oh! Spoilsport! We wanted to watch. 

Olivia: So, Bindyu – did you know this was 

happening? 

Bindyu: What? 

Olivia: Oh ... I’m sorry – I thought it was planned.

Bindyu: Thought what was planned? What are 

you talking about? 

Olivia: Oh dear – I think I’ve put my foot in it. 

Magda: Put your foot in what? 

Olivia: Made a mistake, Magda. 

Magda: Oh dear! Why? 

Harry: Oh no. I’ll have to do it now! 

 Harry: Well, Bindyu, I’ve got something to ask 

you ... 

Carlos: Hello, everyone! I’ve got some big news! 

Johnny: Can’t it wait? 

Carlos: Er ... erm ... well ... No! Finally, I’m 

opening my own restaurant! 

Harry: Great! 

Carlos: So, what am I interrupting? 

Bindyu: I don’t know yet. 

Harry: Oh ... er ... erm ... Bindyu? Will you marry 

me? 

Bindyu: Ahhh! I wasn’t expecting that! 

Harry: You weren’t? Oh! I thought you’d 

guessed! 

Bindyu: No way. 

Harry: Oh. 

Olivia: So what’s the answer? 

Fadi: Yeah – come on! 

Bindyu: Oh ... I ... er ... I’m ... well ... not ... oh! 

Yes! 

All: Hoooray! 

Harry: Phew! You had me worried there. 

Carlos: So, Sarah ... Seeing as I’ve got my own 

restaurant now, I was wondering – shall we give 

it another go? 

Sarah: Of course! I’ve missed being with you – 

and now, I’m so pleased you’ve got your own 

business. 

 Fadi: I’ve got my own business too – 

“FindLondon” is doing really well! 

Olivia: And me – my shoe shop! 

Fadi: Perhaps we should go out some time? 

Olivia: I think you’ve asked me that before! 



Big City Small World S3 E12 – Popping the Question 

Comprehension Task 1 

Complete the sentences with the names in the box. 

Bindyu Olivia Carlos Fadi Harry Sarah 

1 ............... is going to ask somebody to marry him. 

2 .............. doesn’t think he will be in this situation soon. 

3 Olivia asks .................. if she had known this was going to happen. 

4 ............... is opening his own restaurant. 

5 .............. agrees to go out with Carlos again. 

6 Fadi asks .................. to go out with him. 

Grammar Task 1 

Look at this sentence from the audio. 

I’m sorry – I thought it was planned 

We form the passive with the verb to be in the right tense and the past participle. 

Choose the correct word or words in the sentences. 

1. A lot of money is/are made. 

2. The meal was cooked/cooking by Carlos. 

3. The wedding will be organise/organised by her family. 

4. That book was/is written in 1900. 

5. They are known/know for their generosity. 

6. The temple has been build/built in record time. 



Grammar Task 2 

Can you complete these sentences using the passive of the verb in brackets? Pay attention to the 

tense! 

The wedding ______ by Bindyu’s parents. (will organise) 

Harry ______ by Carlos. (interrupted) 

A lot of money ________ in FindLondon. (has invested) 

The answer _______ by only one person. (guessed) 

The café ________ by Tony. (owns) 

Big City Small World _________ by Chris Rose. (wrote) 

Vocabulary Task 

Find adjectives in the puzzle with the same meaning as the adjectives below. All the puzzle words 

are used in the conversation. 

peaceful 

concerned 

prepared 

courageous 

happy 

organised 

unaccompanied 

Big City Small World S3 E12 – Popping the Question 



Answers 

Pre-listening: 

1. b; 2. d; 3. f; 4. e; 5. c; 6. a 

Comprehension Task: 

1. Harry; 2. Fadi; 3. Bindyu; 4. Carlos; 5. 

Sarah; 6. Olivia 

Grammar Task 1: 

1. is; 2. cooked; 3. organised; 4. was; 5. 

known; 6. built 

Grammar Task 2: 

1. will be organised; 2. was interrupted; 3. 

has been invested; 4. was guessed; 5. is 

owned; 6. was written 

 Vocabulary Task: 

Big City Small World S3 E12 – Popping the Question