Talk about English - Fast City Life Quiz
текст песни

Talk about English © BBC Learning English 2007
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bbclearningenglish.com




Neil: Hello I'm Neil Edgeller and this is Talk about English, live from studio S6 in
Bush House London.

In today's programme we're joined by two teams who will be fighting it out for
the Talk about English trophy. They will be answering questions on general
knowledge, the English language, our special topic, Fast City Life, and they'll
also be trying to win your votes in our Talk about English debate.

Let's introduce today's competitors.

First we have the team from Central School: (Guests introduce themselves –
brief intros: name, where they come from etc.)

And now our second team from Oxford House: (Guests introduce themselves –
brief intros: name, where they come from etc.)

Ok, let’s hear each team's buzzer & my buzzer for bonus points that I decide to
award.

Neil: Well, before we get started with today's quiz, here is a question for everyone
listening live online. Now, this question is bit of a riddle but it's not as difficult




as it might seem – so think carefully. What English word becomes shorter if
you add two letters? What English word becomes shorter if you add two letters?
If you think you know the answer, email us at talkaboutenglish@bbc.co.uk or
enter through the competition page of the website where you can also see the
question again.

Now let’s get on with the quiz.

Neil: Round 1 – SLOW LONDON QUESTIONS
Our current Talk about English Topic is ‘Fast City Life’. For the first round of
the quiz I'll ask the teams questions based on this topic which are taken from
two areas of the BBC Learning English website. They are the London Life
story, 'Slow London' and also the programme called 'Friendliness on the Tube',
also from London Life. It’s about the way people behave on the London
Underground. The teams have looked at the pages in advance, so let's get
started. If you know the answer, press your buzzer.

What does the group called “Slow London” want people living in big cities to do?
Slow down and take time to relax


What activity does one of the men in the programme say he does every day to slow down?
He goes swimming


Is the pace of life in Wales faster or slower than in London?
Slower


One of the people made a New Year’s resolution, or a promise to themselves, to do something
different. What was it?
To have more “me time”


Why is the official name for “The Tube”?
The London Underground


Is it normal for people to talk to each other on the Tube?
No


What happened when the man started offering strangers sweets on the Tube?
The whole Tube went completely quiet


GONG

Neil: And that's the end of the first round.

We’re always hearing people who live in cities complaining that they’re too
busy and they never have enough time to do the things that they really want to
do. All of our contestants today have spent a little bit of time in London. What
have they done to slow down and relax in the city?

(Response from contestants)

Some people love the excitement of life in the city. They get what we call “a
buzz” from the fast pace and from the fact you can do something fun and

interesting every day. But others just hate it. They think it’s too crowded and
noisy and much prefer the laid-back life in the country. So, what are the
advantages and disadvantages of life in the city and life in the country? This is
the topic of our debate.

Our two teams have a maximum of three minutes each to put forward
arguments in favour of one of these points of view.

And if you are listening to this programme live you can vote on which team
makes the best argument. The team which gets the most votes will get an extra
point added to their final total. Also, as the teams are speaking I'll award them
extra points for good arguments and good use of English.

First - :

CENTRAL SCHOOL are up first today. They have a maximum 3 minutes to
argue that city life is better than living in the country. If I hear something I
particularly like, I’ll sound my buzzer and the team will get extra points.

Neil: ( Respond to teams with points and feedback on good points and bad points)

OXFORD HOUSE are next to go. You have a maximum of 3 minutes to
argue the opposite point of view – that country life is better than living in the
city. Again, if I hear something I particularly like, I’ll sound my buzzer and the
team will get extra points.

Neil: ( Respond to teams with points and feedback on good points.)

Neil: This is Talk about English live from BBC Learning English dot com. Today is
our special live quiz.


And it’s time now for our next round, which is all about the vocabulary of city
life.


ROUND 2 – Topic vocabulary Questions – Team

What verb starting with the letter “r” means to go quickly or to hurry as if there isn’t enough
time to get everything done?
To rush


How do you spell the word “enthusiasm”?


What’s an expression which means that you’re not strong enough to cope with a situation
because it’s too much for you?
You can’t cut it


What animal is used in an expression which means to go very, very slowly?
Snail


Give me two expressions used in the programme using the word “pace”.
To keep the pace/ to set the pace

GONG

Neil: And that's the end of that round.

So, tell us what you really think: if you had to choose between living in a city
or in the countryside, which would it be?

(Responses from team members)

ROUND 3 - General Knowledge

The oldest public museum in the world was founded in 1753 in London. What is it called?

The British Museum


What is the biggest state in the United States?

Alaska


What are the colours of the two rings at the bottom of the Olympic flag?

Yellow & green


What ancient invention, still used today, allows people to see through walls?

Window/Glass


What is the largest country in Africa?
Sudan


Which famous building has the address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
The White House


What is the most dangerous insect in the world?
Mosquito


BELL

Neil: Well that sound means it's time to end the quiz. It's been very exciting so well
done everyone.

Before we find out the final score let's see which team won the public vote -
whose opinion in the debate was most supported by our listeners?

(VOTE RESULT and COMMENT AWARD POINT TO TEAM)

And with that the final scores are:

FINAL SCORES

That's all from our live Talk about English quiz. Goodbye from me and the
teams. (GOODBYES)

Join us again next week for Talk about English. If you have any comments
you’d like to make then send us an email at talkaboutenglish@bbc.co.uk