(Supplementary Materials for Specific Textbooks-Unlock 5: Listening, Speaking & Critical Thinking)
90 Second Listening: docs, pub
Discussion Questions (includes discussion for listening 1 as well): docs, pub
1. Why is this panel discussion relevant to people who don’t live in Swansbeck?
2. Did everyone agree to participate?
3. What is Dr. Huda Khan’s job?
4. What did Dr. Robert Hardwick document?
5. Where are the people who caused the Swansbeck water crisis?
6. Is the current mayor responsible for the water crisis?
7. When were the water pipes installed?
8. Why was it common to use lead water pipes in those days?
1. Why is this panel discussion relevant to people who don’t live in Swansbeck?
2. Did everyone agree to participate?
3. What is Dr. Huda Khan’s job?
4. What did Dr. Robert Hardwick document?
5. Where are the people who caused the water Swansbeck water crisis?
6. Is the current mayor responsible for the water crisis?
7. When were the water pipes installed?
8. Why was it common to use lead water pipes in those days?
Micro-Listening
1. (00:07)___________________________________________________________________
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2. (00:07--00:08)_____________________________________________________________
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3. (00:08--00:12)_____________________________________________________________
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4. (00:12--00:15)_____________________________________________________________
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5. (00:15--00:19)_____________________________________________________________
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1. This is the story of how things went wrong and how some people tried to fix the problem (00:00--00:07)
2. and some people tried to hide it (00:07-00:08)
3. It’s the story of one place in the UK, Swansbeck (00:08-00:12)
4. but the lessons are relevant for cities and towns everywhere (00:12-00:15)
5. If we want to prevent this from happening in the future, we need to know what happened (00:15-00:19)
7.5
Moderator: This is the story of how things went wrong and how some people tried to fix the problem, and some people tried to hide it. It’s the story of one place in the UK, Swansbeck, but the lessons are relevant for cities and towns everywhere. If we want to prevent this from happening in the future, we need to know what happened. We’ve invited some of the people who played a part in this story to discuss Swansbeck’s troubles. Not everybody agreed to participate, but we’ll try to give you a balanced perspective, nevertheless. We’ll also take some questions from the audience. Let me introduce our panelists:
7.6
Moderator: Let me introduce our panelists: Dr Huda Khan, an environmental scientist who works for the government. She did a lot of the water quality testing in Swansbeck and has been very helpful to the people of Swansbeck. So has Dr Robert Hardwick, a pediatrician, who documented the health of Swansbeck’s children. Michael Kirk, an assistant to the current mayor of Swansbeck. I should point out from the start that none of those responsible for the deplorable condition of Swansbeck’s water during the crisis would agree to participate in our discussion. Mr. Kirk and the current mayor are both new to their jobs. Dr Khan, could you start by explaining how all of this happened, from a scientific perspective?
Khan: Of course. In many of our towns and cities, the water and sewer systems were installed more than a hundred years ago, when lead pipes were standard. Lead was cheap and easy to work with, and nobody had any idea about its toxic properties at that time.
go wrong=to develop problems:
Something's gone wrong with my computer.
lesson=an experience that teaches you how to behave better in a similar situation in the future
My parents made me pay back all the money, and it was a lesson I never forgot.
relevant=related or useful to what is happening or being talked about:
Education should be relevant to children's needs.
prevent=to stop something happening
We must try to prevent crime.
play a part= to be one of the people or things that are involved in an event or situation:
Alcohol plays a part in 60 percent of violent crime.
participate=to be involved with other people in an activity:
She rarely participates in any of the discussions.
balanced=considering all the facts in a fair way:
This is a balanced discussion of his work
perspective= the way you think about something:
Being unemployed has made me see things from a different perspective.
balanced perspective= presenting two different points of view fairly without showing to one view over another
nevertheless=despite that:
I knew a lot about the subject already, but her talk was interesting nevertheless.
panelist: one of a group of people who are chosen to discuss something
environmental: relating to the environment
quality: how good or bad something is
The air quality in this area is terrible.
pediatrician= a children's doctor
document=to make a record of something
assistant= someone whose job is to help a person who has a more important job
current=happening or existing now:
What is your current address?
mayor=the person who is elected to be the leader of the group that governs a town or city
point out=to tell someone a fact:
If he makes a mistake I always think it's best to point it out immediately.
responsible=to be the person who caused something to happen, especially something bad:
Who was responsible for the accident?
deplorable=very bad or morally wrong:
Your son's behaviour is absolutely deplorable.
condition=the state that something or someone is in:
My bike's a few years old but it's in really good condition.
crisis=a situation or time that is extremely dangerous or difficult:
This is a time of economic crisis.
sewer=a large underground system of pipes that carries away sewage
system=a set of connected pieces of equipment that operate together:
They've had an alarm system installed at their home.
install=to put a piece of equipment somewhere and make it ready to use:
The school has installed a burglar alarm.
lead=a soft, heavy, grey, poisonous metal used for roofs, pipes, etc (formula Pb):
pipe=a long tube that liquid or gas can move through:
A water pipe had burst, flooding the basement.
standard=usual and not special:
work with= To use some material in making something:
I always hate working with this kind of clay.
toxic=poisonous
property=a quality of something:
the medicinal properties of wild plants
1. Do you think there is a link between diet and asthma? Why? What changes could someone make to their diet to improve their asthma?
2. Should businesses be responsible for the impact they have on people’s health? Why or why not?
3. Do you think a situation like this could happen in your city? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if this happened where you live? Explain your answer.
5. What are the main causes of lead poisoning in Vietnam? (You can Google this if necessary). How can you protect yourself and your family?
6. What should be done for the children who have lead poisoning in Swansbeck? And who should be responsible for paying for their care?
7. In the recording, Dr. Harding says, “What I found was shocking, I would say, even criminal.” Why do you think he uses the word “criminal” here? Would you agree with him?
8. What should happen to the people who were on the city council during this water crisis? Should they be punished? Why or why not? What punishment would you recommend?
9. In many countries around the world, lead pipes are still used to carry water, because they were installed many years ago, and it is considered very expensive to replace them now. It is usually considered safe enough, because if the pipes are in good condition and the water is not acidity, it’s thought that the water won’t get contaminated by the lead. What do you think? What about in your city? Would you like the government to replace the old lead water pipes? Would you be willing to pay higher taxes to let this happen?
10. Beside lead, what other pollutants are you worried about in your environment? Think about both indoor pollution and outdoor pollution.
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