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Podcards Worksheet High Level Page 1
This student worksheet is free to download and print for use in the classroom or for self-study. It is meant to be used in conjunction
with the listening file which is available in mp3 format. However, the transcript can be used not only to check answers but also for
Dublin is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Ireland, situated
at the _________ of the River Liffey. It is widely believed that Dublin was
founded by the Vikings as a centre for their _________ trade and today
has a population of _________ half a million. The motto of the city is
rather nice: "Happy is the city where
citizens _________ ".
It has a relatively _________ climate due to its proximity to the sea. The _________ January temperature is 8ºc _________ that of July is 20ºc. The
wettest month is December with an average rainfall of 76mm, _________ the driest is February with a _________ 50mm! In any case it's probably best to
bring an umbrella.
The River Liffey runs right _________ the centre of the city and acts as a
natural divide between the north and the south. A north \ south _________ exists in the city, with the north being considered _________ class and the
south as middle to _________ class. This division is even reflected in the city's postal districts - the north has _________ numbers and the south has even
ones.
_________, this wasn't always the case. The south side used to be less than well-considered, until, that is, The Earl of Kildare decided to build his
_________ family residence there. When asked why he had done such a thing
he stated, rather _________, "Where I go, fashion follows me". The majority of the Irish _________ proved him right by promptly moving there too!
Dublin is a _________ cultural centre. Many great artists and writers were or
are from here, such as James Joyce, whose works include the _________ and controversial Ulysses, Oscar Wilde, whose _________ is legendary, Samuel
Beckett, Bram Stoker, author of _________ the most famous horror novel of all time, Dracula, and more recently award-winning Roddy Doyle. Dublin is also
home to The National Gallery of Ireland, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The National _________ Museum of Ireland as well as a large number of
_________ and Arts Centres.
Ireland has enjoyed a considerable _________ of economic success since the
mid 1990's which has helped it _________ the traditional migratory trend. Young people used to leave Ireland, mainly in search of work but now it
_________ welcomes immigrants, especially to Dublin. These immigrants are mainly from the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand _________ there is a
Podcards Worksheet High Level Page 3
This student worksheet is free to download and print for use in the classroom or for self-study. It is meant to be used in conjunction
with the listening file which is available in mp3 format. However, the transcript can be used not only to check answers but also for
rising number of ______-_________ English speakers arriving, especially from
China, Korea, India, Nigeria and eastern Europe. In 2006 Dublin was _________ the 16th most expensive city in the world with the ______ best
quality of life.
Dublin _________ two impressive sports stadiums. The first, Croke Park, spelt c-r-o-k-e, is where _________ Irish games are played - Gaelic football and
_________. The second, Landsdowne Road, _________ l-a-n-d-s-d-o-w-n-e,
until 2006 was the world's oldest still functional sports stadium and home to the Irish football and rugby teams.
Any visit to or _________ of Dublin
wouldn't be complete without mentioning that most famous of
_________ - Guinness. You either love it or hate it, but you can't _________
it. It has been _________ at the St James's Gate Brewery since
_________, where you can visit with a
guided tour and trip to the bar to sample it as it should be. It's a must. If
you get a _________ for 'the black stuff' you can carry on with your 'research' in Dublin's famous Temple Bar
_________. This vibrant area is jammed full with bars, pubs and restaurants and music and singing help to create a _________ atmosphere. On any given
weekend you'll find _________ and stag parties, groups of all men or all women celebrating their final days of being single before they get _________.
Unfortunately this has become especially popular with parties from the UK and it gets a bit too _________ so most locals actually avoid this area at the
weekends.
Finally, one or two _________ words to listen out for. If something is 'grand' it
is great. If someone says you're an 'eegit' you're an _________. If you're looking for the 'craic' it means you want to have some _________. If
something is _________ you'll often hear 'manky' and to have a look at something is to have a 'decko'.
There are _________ more but you'll just have to come here to hear them. If
you do, enjoy the craic!
Podcards Worksheet High Level Page 4
This student worksheet is free to download and print for use in the classroom or for self-study. It is meant to be used in conjunction
with the listening file which is available in mp3 format. However, the transcript can be used not only to check answers but also for
Dublin is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Ireland, situated at the mouth of the River Liffey. It is widely believed that Dublin was founded by the
Vikings as a centre for their slave trade and today has a population of roughly half a million. The motto of the city is rather nice: "Happy is the city where
citizens obey"
It has a relatively mild climate due to its proximity to the sea. The average
January temperature is 8ºc while that of July is 20ºc. The wettest month is
December with an average rainfall of
76mm, whereas the driest is February with a mere 50mm! In any case it's
probably best to bring an umbrella.
The River Liffey runs right through the centre of the city and acts as a natural
divide between the north and the south. A north \ south rivalry exists in the city, with the north being considered working class and the south as middle to
upper class. This division is even reflected in the city's postal districts - the north has odd numbers and the south has even ones.
However, this wasn't always the case. The south side used to be less than well-considered, until, that is, The Earl of Kildare decided to build his plush
family residence there. When asked why he had done such a thing he stated, rather arrogantly, "Where I go, fashion follows me". The majority of the Irish
peers proved him right by promptly moving there too!
Dublin is a significant cultural centre. Many great artists and writers were or
are from here, such as James Joyce, whose works include the renowned and controversial Ulysses, Oscar Wilde, whose wit is legendary, Samuel Beckett,
Bram Stoker, author of arguably the most famous horror novel of all time, Dracula, and more recently award-winning Roddy Doyle.
Dublin is also home to The National Gallery of Ireland, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The National Print Museum of Ireland as well as a large number of
theatres and Arts Centres.
Ireland has enjoyed a considerable degree of economic success since the mid 1990's which
has helped it reverse the traditional migratory
trend. Young people used to leave Ireland, mainly in search of work but now it actually
welcomes immigrants, especially to Dublin. These immigrants are mainly from the UK, the
US, Australia and New Zealand although there is a rising number of non-native English speakers
Podcards Worksheet High Level Page 5
This student worksheet is free to download and print for use in the classroom or for self-study. It is meant to be used in conjunction
with the listening file which is available in mp3 format. However, the transcript can be used not only to check answers but also for
arriving, especially from China, Korea, India, Nigeria and eastern Europe. In
2006 Dublin was ranked the 16th most expensive city in the world with the 24th best quality of life.
Dublin boasts two impressive sports stadiums. The first, Croke Park, spelt c-r-
o-k-e, is where exclusively Irish games are played - Gaelic football and hurling. The second, Landsdowne Road, spelt l-a-n-d-s-d-o-w-n-e, until 2006 was the
world's oldest still functional sports stadium and home to the Irish football and
rugby teams.
Any visit to or mention of Dublin wouldn't be complete without mentioning that most famous of stouts - Guinness. You either love it or hate it, but you can't
ignore it. It has been brewed at the St James's Gate Brewery since 1759, where you can visit with a guided tour and trip to the bar to sample it as it
should be. It's a must. If you get a taste for 'the black stuff' you can carry on with your 'research' in Dublin's famous Temple Bar district. This vibrant area is
jammed full with bars, pubs and restaurants and music and singing help to create a buzzing atmosphere. On any given weekend you'll find hen and stag
parties, groups of all men or all women celebrating their final days of being
single before they get married. Unfortunately this has become especially popular with parties from the UK and it gets a bit too crowded so most locals
actually avoid this area at the weekends.
Finally, one or two local words to listen out for. If something is 'grand' it is great. If someone says you're an 'eegit' you're an idiot. If you're looking for
the 'craic' it means you want to have some fun. If something is dirty you'll often hear 'manky' and to have a look at something is to have a 'decko'.
There are hundreds more but you'll just have to come here to hear them. If you do, enjoy the craic!