大城市小世界 Series 2 Episode 8 - Happy New Year

 　　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 the definitions.
　　1.strictly 1
　　2.procession
　　3.Trafalgar Square
　　4.chaotic 2
　　5.midnight
　　6.dawn
　　7.mate
　　8.husband
　　Definitions:
　　a.The moment of the day when the sun rises.
　　b.Random 3. Without being organised.
　　c.Twelve o’clock at night.
　　d.Following the rules closely.
　　e.The man in a marriage.
　　f.A formation of people moving forward slowly, e.g. in religious festival.
　　g.A public square and monument in the centre of London.
　　h.Colloquial 5 term for friend.
　　Now, listen to episode 8.
　　What are Johnny and his friends going to do for New Year's Eve? Is Carlos finally asking Sarah out on a date? Written by Chris Rose.
　　Comprehension Task
　　True or false
　　Decide whether these statements are true or false.
　　1.It is New Year’s Day the following day.
　　2.Johnny wants to go to Trafalgar Square.
　　3.Sarah likes drinking beer.
　　4.Olivia knows what Auld 6 Lang Syne 7 means.
　　5.Tony is opening the café all night on New Year’s Eve.
　　6.Harry 8 wants to spend New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend.
　　7.Olivia is babysitting on New Year’s Eve.
　　8.Olivia invites everyone to her place.
　　Comprehension Task 2
　　Match up
　　Match the sentences with the speakers.
　　Magda
　　magda.png
　　Who said…?
　　Carlos
　　johnny.png
　　Olivia
　　olivia.png
　　Harry
　　harry.png
　　Sarah
　　sarah.png
　　Fadi
　　Fadi.png
　　Tony
　　Tony.png
　　1.I can cook again!
　　2.  I hate drinking beer.
　　3.  It’s a Scottish song really.
　　4.  She doesn’t organise 4 my life!
　　5.  We could go to a club.
　　6.  I close early on New Year’s Eve.
　　7.  Just around the café.
　　Grammar Task
　　Choose the correct sentence, a or b.
　　1.a. Sarah asked when New Year’s Eve was.    b. Sarah asked when was New Year’s Eve.
　　2.a. Carlos said that he can cook again.   b. Carlos said that he could cook again.
　　3.a. Johnny suggested going to Trafalgar Square.   b. Johnny suggested to go to Trafalgar Square.
　　4.a. Sarah said she hadn’t wanted to go to a pub. b. Sarah said that she didn’t want to go to a pub.
　　5.a. Harry told to everyone he was going to see Bindyu. b. Harry told everyone he was going to see Bindyu.
　　6.a. Everybody wished themselves a Happy New Year. b. Everybody wished each other a Happy New Year.
　　Vocabulary Task
　　Match up
　　Match the two parts of each dialogue.
　　1.Christmas goes on until January 6th
　　2.Is there a special dinner for New Year in Britain?
　　3.Let’s go and stand outside – in Trafalgar Square!
　　4.People sing a song at midnight.
　　5.I’ve got lots of girls!
　　6.I think we should have a procession.
　　7.I have to look after my nephew Joe.
　　8.You can all come to my house.
　　Audio Script
　　a.  No way!
　　b.  It never ends!
　　c.  Great idea!
　　d.  Not really.
　　e.  That’s nice!
　　f.   Oh yeah?
　　g.  Forget it!
　　h.  Now you tell me.
　　Johnny:  So, after our successful Christmas, what are we going to do for New Year’s Eve?
　　Sarah:   When is New Year’s Eve?
　　Harry:   Tomorrow!
　　Sarah:  New Year already! Christmas has only just finished!
　　Magda:  Strictly speaking, Sarah, it still is Christmas – Christmas goes on until January 6th. New Year’s Eve is part of Christmas.
　　Sarah:   Wow, it never ends...
　　Carlos:  I can cook again! Is there a special dinner for New Year in Britain?
　　Harry:   Not really.
　　Johnny:  In China there are lots of processions in the streets. Are there processions here?
　　Olivia:   Not really.
　　Sarah:  In China New Year is a very important holiday. Is it very important in Britain?
　　Fadi:    Not really.
　　Johnny:   So what do people do for New Year?
　　Harry:  Depends... some people have parties, some people go to a pub or a club and drink a lot.
　　Olivia:  Some people go and stand outside – quite a lot of people go to Trafalgar Square in the centre of London...
　　Johnny:   Let’s do that!
　　Harry:   No way! It’s too cold!
　　Fadi:    And usually raining!
　　Olivia:   And too chaotic!
　　Sarah:   Do people drink a lot?
　　Harry:   Some do.
　　Sarah:   I hate drinking beer.
　　Harry:  A lot of people stay at home and watch TV.
　　Olivia:   Then sing a song at midnight.
　　Sarah:   What’s the song?
　　Olivia:  It’s a Scottish song really...
　　(sings a bit of Auld Lang Syne)
　　Sarah:  That’s nice. What do the words mean?
　　Olivia:   Erm, well, no one really knows...
　　Harry:   Some people know…
　　Fadi:    In Scotland, probably.
　　Johnny:   So what shall we do, then?
　　Sarah:  I don’t want to go to a pub and get drunk.
　　Fadi:  We could go to a club – I know some great places – we can go out dancing till dawn! Great music, lots of girls...
　　Olivia:   You and your girlfriends...
　　Fadi:    OK, OK... let’s forget that idea then.
　　Harry:  No, it’s not for me... I don’t think Bindyu would like it...
　　Fadi:  Come on Harry, you can’t let Bindyu organise your life!
　　Harry:  She doesn’t organise my life! I like being with her, and I like doing the things she wants to do...
　　Fadi:    I’ve lost you, mate!
　　Harry:   I think you need a girlfriend too!
　　Fadi:    Hey! No way! I’ve got lots of girls!
　　Johnny:  Oh yeah? How come I’ve never met them?
　　Fadi:  Well, erm, hey, erm... you know how it is....
　　Johnny:   I think we should have a procession...
　　Olivia:   Where?
　　Magda:   Just around the café.
　　Tony:  What’s that? A procession in my café? Forget it! Anyway, I close early on New Year’s Eve, so you lot will need to find something else to do.
　　Johnny:  We have to decide now then – what are we going to do on New Year’s Eve?
　　Harry:  I’m going to see Bindyu. I think we’ll stay at home.
　　Olivia:  I’m going to stay at home too. My sister’s going to a party with her husband, so I have to look after my nephew Joe.
　　Fadi:    Now you tell me!
　　Olivia:  Sorry... listen – why don’t you come round?
　　Fadi:    Erm... OK then....
　　Carlos:  Sarah... erm... I... er... would you like to come out with me?
　　Sarah:  I can’t leave my friend Magda on her own!
　　Johnny:   And hang on – what about me, too!?
　　Olivia:  OK, everyone... I guess you can all come to my house, but only until midnight! Then you all have to go home!
　　All:  Hooray! Great idea! Happy New Year!!!
　　Answers
　　Before you listen: 1 – d, 2 – f, 3 – g, 4 – b, 5 – c, 6 – a, 7 – h, 8 – e
　　Comprehension Task: 1 – false, 2 – true, 3 – false, 4 – false, 5 – false, 6 – true, 7 – true, 8 – true
　　Comprehension Task 2: 1 – Carlos, 2 – Sarah, 3 – Olivia, 4 – Harry, 5 – Fadi, 6 – Tony, 7 – Magda
　　Vocabulary Task: 1 – b, 2 – d, 3 – a, 4 – e, 5 – f, 6 – g, 7 – h, 8 - c
　　Grammar Task: 1 – a, 2 – b, 3 – a, 4 – b, 5 – b, 6 – b