Unit 6

Track 4-6-OL-1

A, Listen to Nick and Janet talking about a TV show. Then answer the question.

Nick : Did you see “Look at Them Now!” last night?

Janet: I had to do my homework, so I only saw the last ten minutes. Who was it about?

Nick: Last night they featured Jim Carrey, Jewel, and um… What’s the name of that actor from West Africa? He was in the movie Lora Croft: Tomb Raider.

Janet: You mean Dijimon Hounsou?

Nick: Yeah anyway, it’s funny to think that they were all broke a few years ago.

Janet: Yeah. And now they’re wealthy and famous. Life is so strange. Hey, I didn’t know that Jim Carry used to be broke.

Nick: Yeah. As a child, he even had to work an eight-hour shift after school every day. His family needed the money. Can you imagine?

Janet: I could never do that. It sounds really hard.

Nick: Yeah. He started his career as a stand-up comic before he acted in movies. He’s always been a funny guy.

Janet: What did you say about Dijimon?

Nick: He was discovered in Paris by a fashion designer. He started out as a model. Then he appeared in music videos for Madonna and Janet Jackson. Did you know that?

Janet: No, I didn’t.

Nick: He’s also appeared on TV. He’s done it all!

Janet: Well, I did see the part about Jewel. Her family sure was penniless!

Nick: Basically, yes. She started singing with her father when she was 14.

Janet: And then her parents divorced. She had to grow up really fast.

Nick: I know, but her life is good now. She has a great boyfriend--- he’s a real – life rodeo cowboy! They seem really happy.

Janet: “Look at Them Now” is such a great show, isn’t it?

Nick: it sure is. Maybe we can watch it together next week.

Track 4-6-OL-5

B. You will hear a passage about Mary Larson’s old life and new life. Then answer the questions.

Vacation every day: The peaceful life Mary Larson has wished for

Mary Larson was 43 when she got divorced. It was a new life for her, and she started considering what was really important in her life. She was working 60 hours a week as a banker to pay for a big house, expensive furniture, a new car, and all the other “important’ things in life. But she had no time for what she really enjoyed: going out on her old houseboat.

One day, she realized she could live on the boat, and forget about the mortgage payments. She sold her house and all her furniture. For the last six years, she and her dog Buddy have lived on the boat, which is only a fraction of the size of her old house. Her “home” is a marina on the river, and the rent costs only $200 a month, including water and electricity.

Inside the boat is one room, about 5 meters by 4 meters. It’s divided in two parts by a curtain. One part is Mary’s bedroom; the other is the living room and kitchen.

There’s also a small bathroom with a shower. “I used to spend every weekend cleaning and maintaining my house. Now, it takes me two or three hours a month,” Mary says.

“My friends think I’m crazy,” she says. “But I wake up in the morning and hear ducks and birds. I can go fishing from my living room.” Now, she works only part time. She uses all the extra hours for writing stories, bicycling, volunteering, and visiting friends. On weekends, she goes along the river on her boat, exploring new places.

“Would I go back to my old life? Never,” she says, “It’s so peaceful here. It’s like being on vacation every day.”

Track 4-6-OL-7

B. Listen to the passage, “Money from unexpected sources.” Then ask and answer the following questions with a partner.

Money from unexpected sources

The San people live in southern Africa. Scientists say that they may have been living there for as long as 40,000 years, hunting animals and gathering plants. Until recently, the once mighty San were broke and unemployed. They had lost their land and were no longer engaged in traditional activities, such as hunting. The few young San people with jobs were working as farm laborers. They were not learning about their ancient culture and language.

That may all change. The San have struck it rich. They recently signed an agreement with a large drug company. The San have traditional knowledge about plants. The drug company is especially interested in a particular cactus and how the San use it.

The San used to go on hunting trips. While away from home, they chewed on the cactus to suppress their appetite--- they no longer felt hungry afterwards. Using the San’s knowledge, the drug company plans to make a new drug from this plant. For people around the world who eat too much and have weight problems, this new drug could really help them by suppressing their appetites.

The San have a positive plan for this new wealth. Their first step will be to get jobs for their people. Their next priority will be education. Through education, they hope to save their culture and language for future generations.

When you think of a monk, you might think of a quiet man living in an isolated place. The “free monks” of Greece do live in a monastery, but they are anything but quiet. In fact, they sing. They have been recording their songs and selling many records in Greece.

Young music listeners love to listen to the “free monks.” Their songs are recorded in different styles (digital keyboard and rock, for example), and the themes are not only religious. The brothers also sing abut problems like drugs and globalization.

The monks haven’t made a fortune from their record sales. But they have made a profit. They use the money to pay for summer camps for teenagers. At the camps, the teens can play soccer and go horseback riding. The monks also donate money to other social programs that help people.