1. Listen. Complete the sentences with ‘Tom’ or ‘Michelle’.
a ………………… speaks first.
b …………………’s going to study science at university.
c ………………… does not approve of film studies as a university course.
d ………………… is going to do more than one subject at university.
e ………………… is very surprised by what ………………… says.
We know this because ………………… is asked to repeat a statement.
f ………………… thinks ………………… ‘s question is stupid.
g ………………… uses medicine as a subject to persuade ………………… of her point of view.
h ………………… is worried that some medicines don’t work any longer.
i ………………… thinks that science is the cause of many problems.
j ………………… uses the common cold to attack …………………’s point of view.
k …………………’s going to do a film studies course.
2. What are Tom’s criticisms of the things Michelle talks about? Complete the table.
|
a Cars and aeroplanes |
1 ……………………………. 2 ……………………………. 3 ……………………………. |
|
b Computers |
1 ……………………………. 2 ……………………………. |
|
c Drugs/modern medicines |
1 ……………………………. 2 ……………………………. |
Answers
1
a Tom b Michelle c Michelle
d Michelle e Michelle Tom … Tom
f Michelle Tom g Michelle Tom h Tom
i Tom j Tom … Michelle k Tom
2
a 1 contamination
2 pollution
3 traffic jams
b 1 Many people haven’t got computers.
2 Computers crash.
c 1 We can’t cure the common cold.
2 Antibiotics don’t work with some infect ions.
Audioscripts
TOM: What do you want to study at university?
MICHELLE: Science.
TOM: Science?!
MICHELLE: Yes. I’m going to do combined chemistry and physics. What’s wrong with that?
TOM: Well, I don’t know. It’s … it’s just that, well, science!
MICHELLE: Sorry?
TOM: Well, I mean half the world’s problems are because of science.
MICHELLE: Come again?
TOM: No look, I’m serious, I mean what have scientists ever done for us?
MICHELLE: What, you mean apart from giving us cars.
TOM: Well yes, apart from giving us cars …
MICHELLE: And aeroplanes.
TOM: OK, cars and aeroplanes, I agree, but look what they’re doing to the planet: all that contamination, all that pollution, and you can’t get anywhere because you get stuck in traffic jams …
MICHELLE: And don’t forget the computer.
TOM: All right, all right, I agree, science has given us the computer too, but that’s not so special, is it? I mean there are people all over the world who can’t get anywhere near a computer. Anyway, they always crash.
MICHELLE: Oh, you’re just being ridiculous!
TOM: Look, I accept that science has given us cars and planes and the computer, all right. But apart from them, what have scientists ever really done for us?
MICHELLE: What about medicine?
TOM: What about medicine?
MICHELLE: Well, without science and scientists most children wouldn’t survive for more than about five years, and if we did make it into adulthood we’d all be dead before we were 50.
TOM: Well, I …
MICHELLE: Just think of all the drugs that keep people alive, all of them discovered by scientists. Think of the aspirin you take for a headache, the antibiotics that cure infections, all of those things.
TOM: Well, if science is so wonderful, how come we still don’t know how to cure the common cold?
MICHELLE: Look, just …
TOM: And as for antibiotics, people have taken so many antibiotics that they don’t work any more. There are new illnesses that are drug-resistant.
MICHELLE: Well yes, but who will find out how to get round that problem?
TOM: I haven’t the slightest idea.
MICHELLE: Scientists, of course. ‘What have scientists ever done for us?’ What a stupid question.
TOM: It’s not.
MICHELLE: Anyway, what are you going to study?
TOM: Film studies.
MICHELLE: Film studies?!
TOM: Yes. Why not?
MICHELLE: Oh come on. You can’t be serious. I mean what have film makers ever done for us?
TOM: What, apart from making us laugh?
MICHELLE: Well yes, apart from making us laugh …
TOM: And making us cry.
MICHELLE: Yes, yes, I agree, and making us cry. Big deal! What’s special about that? Anyway apart from laughing and crying, what have film makers ever done for us?
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