TED Talk Listening Comprehension SheetsYouTube / Youku and Tudou. The Chinese government blocked every single international Web 2.0 service, and we Chinese copycat every one. 4) Why

www.academic-englishuk.com___________________________________________________________________________

COPYRIGHTofwww.academic-englishuk.com/ted-talks

TEDTalkListeningComprehensionSheets

Contents:1. Technology:BehindthegreatfirewallofChina.[freedownload][2012.18:51]*****[B2/C1]2. Business:Whathappensinsidemassivewarehouse?[2011.12:06]*****[C1]

3. Business:Whyworkdoesn’thappenatwork.[2010.15:21]*****[B1/B2/C1]

4. Environment:10waystheworldcouldend.[2002.29:42]*****[C1]

5. Environment:Navigatingourglobalfuture.[2009.07:06]*****[C1]

6. Environment:Theotherinconvenienttruth.[2010.17:46]*****[B2/C1]

7. English:Don’tinsistonEnglish[2010.10:35]*****[B1/B2]

8. English:Textingiskillinglanguage.[2013.13:49]*****[B1/B2/C1]

9. Social:TheSocialProgressIndex.[2014.14:56]*****[B1/B2/C1]

10. Social:Thepriceofhappiness.[2008.14:41]*****[B1/B2/C1]

11. Social:Agentler,philosophyofsuccess.[2009.14:56]*****[B2/C1]

12. Social:DomesticViolence.[2012.14:56]*****[B1/B2/C1]

13. Technology:Whyvideosgoviral.[2013.07:10]*****[B1/B2]

14. Medicine:Whatdoctorsdon’tknowaboutthedrugstheyprescribe.[2012.13:29]*****[C1/C2]

Levels:

*****A2*****B1/B2*****B2/C1*****C1*****C2Copyright:Thesematerialsarephotocopiablebutwewouldappreciateitifalllogosandwebaddresseswereleftonmaterials.Thankyou.

UK



Student

TEDTalkscomprehensionquestionsTime:Approximately1hour1.Readthetitle

• Trytopredictthecontentoflecture• Writedownkeyterms/ideas• Checkkeyvocabularyusingadictionary

TrytolistenONLYtwotimes

ThreetypesoflessonLesson#1:[hard]1.Listenonce–takenotes2.Give5minutestotidynotes3.Listenagainandaddtonotes(useadifferentcolourpen).4.Answerquestions–set15-20minutestoanswer.5.Checkanswers6.ListenagaintocheckanswersLesson#2:[medium]1.Listenonce–takenotes.2.Answerquestions:10-15minutes3.Listenagain–answerthequestionsastheylisten4.Checkanswers5.ListenagaintocheckanswersLesson#3:[easier]1.Readquestions–highlightkeyterms2.listenonceandanswerquestions3.5minutestotidynotes4.Listenagainanswermissedquestion5.Checkanswers6.Listenagaintocheckanswers



Teacher

TEDTalkscomprehensionquestions

LessonPlanAim:todevelopthestudents’abilitytolistentoa10min+lecture,totakenotesandthenusethosenotestoanswerarangeofopencomprehensionquestionstypes.LessonTime:Approximately1hour+20minutesCriticalthinking

LessonPlan1.Leadin

• AskStudentstodiscussthe‘title’andpredictthecontentoflecture• Askstudentstowritedownkeyterms/languagefromdiscussion• Feedin/checkkeyvocabulary

ThreetypesoflessonLesson#1:[hard]1.Studentslistenonce–takenotes2.Give5minutestotidynotes3.Listenagainandaddtonotes(useadifferentcolourpen).4.Giveoutquestions–set15-20minutestoanswer.5.Feedbackanswers(giveoutanswersorgothroughonboard)Lesson#2:[medium]1.Studentslistenonce–takenotes.2.Giveoutquestions:Set10minutesforstudentstoanswerquestionsfromnotes3.Listenagain–studentsanswerthequestionsastheylisten4.Giveextra10minutestoconsolidateanswers5.Feedbackanswers(giveoutanswersorgothroughonboard)Lesson#3:[easy]1.Giveoutquestions-studentshaveupto10minutestolookatquestions2.Studentslistenandanswerquestions3.Give5minutestotidynotes4.Studentslistenagain–checkanswersandanswerquestionsmissed5.5-10minutestotidyanswers6.Feedbackanswers(giveoutanswersorgothroughonboard)



BehindthegreatfirewallofChina[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:MichaelAntiDate:Jun2012Time:(18:51)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[B2/C1]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_anti_behind_the_great_firewall_of_chinaCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. BRIC-Brazil,Russia,IndiaandChina2. SICK-Syria,Iran,ChinaandNorthKorea.3. GameofThrones(TVSeries)(googleit)4. Invaders5. Adeadland/awasteland6. Censorship7. Netizen8. Baidu/Weibo/Renren/YoukuorTudou9. Acopycat10. Blockandclone11. Aserver(Internet)12. Tunisia(Country)Tunisian13. ApublicSphere14. Wenzhou(acityinChina)15. Criticism16. Anembassy17. Shakespeare–Hamlet18. Microblog/micro-blogger19. Anonlinepetition20. Chinesepresident–HuJintao/Chongqing(Chinesecity)21. Athreat22. Aregime23. Ascenario24. Tobribe25. Topurge26. Aprivilege27. Amind-set28. Differentfractions

Copyright:Thesematerialsarephotocopiablebutpleaseleavealllogosandwebaddressesonhandouts.Pleasedon’tpostthesematerialsontotheweb.Thankyou



BehindthegreatfirewallofChinaTEDTALK:MichaelAnti[Jun2012.18:51]

Explainwhatyouunderstand1)What’sBRICandSICK?2)HowdoesthegreatWallconnecttomoderntechnology?3)WhyisChineseInternetboomingevenwithsuchcontrolandcensorship?4)WhyhaveArabcountriesbeentoppledwhentheypreventedInternetaccess?5)What2examplesdoesheusetosupporthisviewsofmicro-bloggersstrengthandchangesinfreedomofspeech?6)What’ssignificantoftheChineseLanguageinrespecttoTweeting?



7)WhatissocialnetworkingchanginginChineselife?8)Howarethemicro-bloggersavoidingusing‘sensitive’words?9)IsWeiboathreattotheChinesegovernment?10)Whatistheproblembetweenlocalgovernmentsandcentralgovernment?11)What’stheoverallsummary?12)CriticalThinking:Whatdidyouthinkofthislecture?Doyouagreewiththeideas?Whatwillhappeninthefuture?WilltheChinesebecomemoredemocratic?Willfreedomofspeechbecomeabirthright?Shouldgovernmentscontrolitspeoplethroughfearanddomination?Shouldsomecontentberestricted?Whatdoyouthink?



BehindthegreatfirewallANSWERS1)What’sBRICandwhat’sSICK?IntroChineseInternet./Chinaiscomplicated./notaonesidedstory.[+]ChinaisaBRICcountry.BRICcountrymeansBrazil,Russia,IndiaandChina-helpingtherevivaloftheworldeconomy.[-]ChinaisaSICKcountry,theterminologycoinedbyFacebook,-Iran,ChinaandNorthKorea/noaccesstoFacebook.2)HowdoesthegreatWallconnecttomoderntechnology?ThewallChinaandChineseInternet/thewall/GameofThrones=importantabigwallisforanoldkingdom.Itpreventsweirdthingsfromthenorth.Thegreatwall,‘ChangCheng.’ItprotectedChinafrominvadersfor2,000years.Chinaalsohasagreatfirewall=biggestdigitalboundaryinworld/defendtheChineseregimefromoverseas,fromtheuniversalvalues,butpreventscitizensaccesstoseparatethemselvesintoblocks,notunited.3)WhyisChineseInternetboomingevenwithsuchcontrolandcensorship?TheInternetTwoInternets.1)theInternet,2)theChinanet.500millionInternetusers/biggestpopulationofNetizens/althoughcensoredInternet=internetsocietybooming.It'ssimple.Google,/Baidu.Twitter/Weibo.Facebook/Renren.YouTube/YoukuandTudou.TheChinesegovernmentblockedeverysingleinternationalWeb2.0service,andweChinesecopycateveryone.4)WhyhaveArabcountriesbeentoppledwhentheypreventedInternetaccess?ChinesePolicySmartcensorship/ChinesenationalInternetpolicyisverysimple/Blockandclone.ControlofserverinBeijing-canaccessthedataanytimetheywant.OtherArabgovernmentswhohavetriedtopreventaccesshavebeentoppled(ex.Mubarak/BenAli)becausetheyhavetriedtodenyinternetaccessratherthancontrolofserver.5)What2examplesdoesheusetosupporthisviewsofmicro-bloggersstrengthandchangesinfreedomofspeech?Socialmediaandmicro-bloggersSocialmediaisproblemforofficials–micro-bloggersarestrong.AchangeinChinesehistory.



Ex.07/2011,traincrashesinWenzhou/authoritiestriedacoverup/10millioncriticismsofthepostingonsocialmedia,-therailministerwassackedandsentencedtojailfor10years/neverhappenedbefore.Ex.Andalso,BeijingEnvironmentMinistryandtheAmericanEmbassyoverairqualitydataofBeijing.99percentofChinesemicro-bloggersontheEmbassy'sside. 6)What’ssignificantoftheChineseLanguageinrespecttoTweeting?Language:WhyisChinesesocialnetworking,booming?=Chineselanguages.140characters,aparagraph,astory.OneChinesetweet=3.5Englishtweets.Chineseisalwayscheating,right?Microbloggingisamedia,notaheadline.Twitter"Weibo"translationfor"microblogmorelikeFacebook,ratherthantheoriginalTwitter.7)WhatissocialnetworkingchanginginChineselife?ChangeSocialmediachangingChinesemindsetsandChineselife.thevoiceless/peoplearemedyoutsidethejudicialsystem.Inthepastpeopletriedtorevoltbutputinprisonnow“Weibo”topetitionPopularMicro-bloggerYaoChen,sheisthemostpopularmicro-blogger/21millionfollowers.Discussessadstoriesandkeeps300millionpeopleeverydaychattingtogether,talkingtogether/evenincensorship.8)Howarethemicro-bloggersavoidingusing‘sensitive’words?CensorshipSensitivewordsonWeibo.Ex.thepresident,HuJintao/cityofChongqing/youcan'tsearchthesurnameoftopleaders.So,punsandalternativewordingandevenmemes.Weirdphrasesandwords…thatthemicro-bloggersuseareunknowntoauthorities.9)IsWeiboathreattotheChinesegovernment?ControlWeiboconvincedtheChinesegovernmentnotathreattotheregime.Ex.posts"gettogether"or"meetup"or"walk,"automaticallyrecorded/dataminedandreportedforfurtherpoliticalanalyzing.Sothecrackdownisveryserious.10)Whatistheproblembetweenlocalgovernmentsandcentralgovernment?Changeinlocalgovernment:LocalgovernmentsdonotalwaystalktocentralgovernmentPastthreeyears,micro-bloggingsocialmovementchangedlocalgovernment,/moretransparent,becausetheycan'taccessthedata.TheserverisinBeijing.Thetraincrash



example,whytheChinesecentralgovernmentallowedthefivedaysoffreedomofspeechonline??It'sneverhappenedbefore.Perhaps,topleaderswantedareasontosacktheministerRumors–becarefulFinetotweetabout-BoXilai(princeling).DaretoretweetormentionanyfakecoupaboutBeijing,youdefinitelywillbearrested.Sothiskindoffreedomisatargetedandprecisewindow.TechnologyTechnologyisverynew,buttechnicallyisveryold/madefamousbyChairmanMao,MaoZedong,whomobilizedmillionsofChinesepeopleintheCulturalRevolutiontodestroyeverylocalgovernment/Chinesecentralgovernmentdoesn'tleadthepublicopinion-givethematargetwindowtonotcensorpeople.NotcensoringinChinahasbecomeapoliticaltool.11)What’stheoverallsummary?SummaryGame,cat-and-mouse.SocialmediachangedChinesemindset.Embracefreedomofspeechandhumanrightsastheirbirthright,notsomeimportedAmericanprivilege.Anationalpublicsphereforpeopleto,it'slikeatrainingoftheircitizenship,preparingforfuturedemocracy.Butitdidn'tchangetheChinesepoliticalsystem,andalsotheChinesecentralgovernmentutilizedthiscentralizedserverstructuretostrengthenitspowertocounterthelocalgovernmentandthedifferentfactions.



Whathappensinsidethosemassivewarehouses?[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:MickMountzDate:Nov2011Time:(12:06)Level:*****[B2/C1]TEDTALKSLink:http://www.ted.com/talks/mick_mountz_the_hidden_world_of_box_packing?language=enCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. Abreakthrough2. Topick,pack,ship3. Apackage4. Aninventory5. Toassemble6. Adistributionsetting/centre7. Unproductive/unfulfilling8. Amaterial-handlingprovider9. Anaggingproblem10. Toarriveatanotion11. Products:CaptainCrunch,Mountaindew,dietcoke(googlethese)12. Shelving13. TheopeningceremonyoftheOlympics(googlethis)14. Peer-to-peercoordination15. Emergence16. StockkeepingUnits(SKUs)–identificationcodes17. Toscanabarcode18. Apod19. Side-effects20. Pervasive21. Parallelprocessing22. Aconveyorbelt23. Analgorithm24. Valentine’sday25. Thermalmap26. Queuing27. Idletime28. Testimonials




Whathappensinsidethosemassivewarehouses?TEDTALK:MickMountz[Oct2011.12:06]

Explainwhatyouunderstand

1. What’stheproblemwithconventionalpickpacketting?

2. WhatwastheproblemwithWebVan?

3. WhatwashisvisionfromChina?(2)

4. Describethenewinnovation

5. Whatarethesideeffectsofthenewsolution?

6. WhatwastheexampleofValentine’sdayfor?

7. Theexampleofatoiletbreak

8. Describehowtheworkersfeelandthebenefitsofthisinnovation?

9.Summary

Criticalthinking–Whatdoyouthinkofthisnewinnovation?Whatarethenegativesofsuchaninnovation(thinkabouttheworkers,localeconomy,investment,jobsatisfactionetc..)?Whatarethepositivesofthistypeofinnovationforthefuture?Anythingelsethatisimportant?



Whathappensinsidethosemassivewarehouses?ANSWERS

1. What’stheproblemwithconventionalpickpacketting?

60–70%unproductive

2. WhatwastheproblemwithWebVan?Unprofitable

3. WhatwashisvisionfromChina?(2)

Lowcostlabourmarket/BeijingOlympics–peopleworkingtogether4. Describethenewinnovation

PickworkersstayontheperimeterPickstation>productcomestoher>reachin>scanbarcode

5. Whatarethesideeffectsofthenewsolution?DCbecomesmassivelyparallelprocessingengineAcrossfertilization/10workers=independent

6. WhatwastheexampleofValentine’sDayfor?Thestockmovesaroundthewarehousefloorandthevalentineitemscometothefront

7. Theexampleofatoiletbreak

Noimpactontheprocess–unlikeconventionalsystemthatstopstheline(conveyorbelt)

8. Describehowtheworkersfeel

Moreenergy/moretimetospendwithgrandchildren/stress-free

9.SummaryThenexttimeyoureceiveanonlineproductaskwhetheritwaspackedbyarobot



Whyworkdoesn’thappenatwork[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:JasonFriedDate:Oct2010Time:(15:21)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[B1/B2]Link:https://www.ted.com/talks/jason_fried_why_work_doesn_t_happen_at_workCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:

Keyvocabulary

1. Non-profitcompanies/charities2. Perfectlyreasonable3. Location–porches/deck/basement4. Cuisinart(googlethis)5. Aconferencecall6. uninterruptedtime7. longstretches8. Tostickaround9. Phenomenon10. Phase-based,orstage-based11. Tocite12. Ridiculous13. Involuntary14. Poisonous/toxic15. Spontaneous16. Productivity17. Toremedy18. Well-equipped19. CasualFriday20. Tobothersomeone21. Incrediblyvaluable22. Eraseit23. Tothinkaboutlayingoffalittlebit,24. It'llallpayoffintheend




Whyworkdoesn’thappenatworkTEDTALK:JasonFried[Oct2010.15:21]


1. Mainidea?

2. 3placessaywheretheygotogetworkdone? i) ii) iii)

3. Themainreasonworkdoesn’thappenatwork

4. The2reasonswhymanagerssayworkingathomeisbad.What’sthecounter-argument?

i) ii)

5. Whatisthereferenceto‘m&m’s’?Whatistheproblemwithatenpersonmeeting?

6. The3suggestions i) ii) iii)

Criticalthinking??Whatdoyouthinkaboutthislecture?Doyouagreethatworkdoesn’thappenatwork?Wouldyouworkbetterathome?Doyouagreewiththereasons?Whataretheimportantpointsforworkinginanoffice?Willworkphilosophychangeinthefuture?Anythingelse?



Whyworkdoesn’thappenatworkANSWERS1.Mainidea?Whyworkdoesn’tseemtogetworkdoneattheoffice.Companiesrentoffice,payoutforfurniture/software/makeeveryonecometotheatlocationbutfullofdistractions.2.Threeplaceswherepeoplesaytheygotogetworkdone?1.Place(porch/deck/kitchen/extraroom/basement/coffeeshop/library)2.movingobject(train/plane/car)3.time(earlymorning/lateinevening/weekends)3.Themainreasonworkdoesn’thappenatworkDistractions:Inoffice-Trading‘workmoments’15minuteshere/30minutesthereCreativepeople(designers/programmers/writers)needlongstretchesofuninterruptedtimeEverhad8hourstoyourself?5,3,4?Sleepexample;(oncewokendifficulttogetbacktowhereyouwereinyoursleep)4.The2reasonswhymanagerssayworkingathomeisbad.What’stheargumentagainstthis?HomeInterruptionsareTV/goforawalk/couch/fridgeManagerssay‘toomanydistractionsathomeandifIcan’tseethemhowdoIknowworkisbeingdone’.Argument–theseare‘voluntarydistractions’athomebutintheofficeareinvoluntaryExtrapoint:Managersandbossessaysocialmedia(Facebook,Twitter,YouTube)aretherealdistractionsandbanthem–However,likesmokingbreaks5.Whatisthereferenceto‘m&m’s’?What’stheproblemwith10peoplemeetings?

1. Managersandmeetings=realproblem2. Manager’sjobistointerruptpeople/meetingsareincredibletoxic3. Problems:are10peoplereadytostop?Whatifyou’rethinking/workingon

somethingimportant??4. 1-hourmeeting=10people=a10-hourmeeting(10hoursofproductivitylost)

6.Suggestions

1) Notalkday(e.g;Thursdayafternoon).2) Changemodesofcommunication(email/I.M)thedifferenceisthatyouchoose

whentoanswerit,unlikeatapontheshoulder.3) Cancelyourmeetingcompletely.

Itwillpayoffintheend



10waystheworldcouldend[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:StephenPetranekDate:Feb2002Time:(29:42Level:*****[C1]TEDTALKSLink:https://www.ted.com/talks/stephen_petranek_counts_down_to_armageddonCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:KeyVocabulary

1. Astronomy,cosmology2. Extraordinary3. Ablackhole4. Galaxy/Mars/Jupiter/NASA5. Perceptions6. September11th7. Neuroscientist8. George.W.Bush9. Calamities10. Fascinating11. Epidemic12. Mentalillness13. Clinicallydepressed14. Tocommitsuicide15. Depression16. Psychiatrist/psychologist17. psychoactivedrugs18. TheMilkyway19. Telescope20. Pompeii(googlethis)21. Hydrogen22. Primitive23. Anticipation24. Tocolonise25. Oceanographer26. Ecosystems27. Biodiversity28. LoggingintheAmazon

29. Particleaccelerator30. TEDKaczynski(googlethis)31. ColliderExperimentCERN(google)32. Antimatter/strangelets33. Physicists34. Diminished35. Earth’sElectromagneticforce36. Biotechnology(biotech)37. Geneticallyaltered(Corn)38. Scepticism39. Scrutiny40. Repairandreplenish41. Asolarflare42. TerraformingMars43. TheMiddleAges44. Thebubonicplague/AIDS/Ebola45. Antibiotics46. Agerm/tomutate47. Extinction48. Avirulentdisease/contagious49. Anthrax50. Elliptical/circular51. Anasteroid/acomet52. Hiroshimabomb(googlethis)53. KuiperBelt(Saturn)(googlethis)54. Observatory/rendezvous55. Atrajectory56. Tobecaughtflat-footed




10waystheworldcouldend TEDTALK:StephanPetranek[Oct2002.29:42]

Takenotesoneachproblemandpossiblesolution.Number10_____________________________________________Problem:Oneoutof______areC_____________De________________Solution:Number9_____________________________________________Problem:GeraldO’Neilstatesthatadvancedcivilizationshave……Solution:Number8_____________________________________________Problem:JournalofSciencehasdiscoveredthat…………….Solution:WhatistheexampleofNewfoundland?



Number7_____________________________________________Problem:WhatdomostPhysicistssay?Solution:Number6_____________________________________________Problem:WhatistheexampleofMexico?Solution:Number5_____________________________________________Problem:Howwillthisdestroyus?Solution/Whatistheproblemwiththissolution?Number4_____________________________________________Problem:Whathaveastronomersdiscovered?Solution:/HowlongwillittaketoapplythesolutiontoMars?



Number3_____________________________________________Problem:Whatexamplesdoeshegivetosupporthisview?Solution:Number2_____________________________________________Problem:Howisitcreated?Solution:Number1_____________________________________________Problem:Whathappenedin1908and1989?/WhatistheexampleforDinosaurextinction?Solution:What’stheconnectionwithplaneflights?ConclusionS_____________hasthepowertop___________thefutureinmanycasesn__________.

Knowledgeisp_______________

Criticalthinking–whatdoyouthinkaboutthisvideo?Aretheseideascredible?Shouldwebetakingaction?Whataboutcolonizingotherplanetsisthisreal?Shouldn’twebetakingmorecareofthisplanet?



TenwaystheworldcouldendANSWERSAstronomy,cosmology,andbiology,-advancelasttenyears,extraordinary—September11thhappened,(videoofBushpressconference,Bushspeaking):“Whateveritcoststodefendoursecurity,andwhateveritcoststodefendourfreedom,wemustpayit.”2trilliondollarstoprotectusfromterroristsnextyear,a2trilliondollarfederalbudget—butterroristsaren’ttheonlythreatweface.10billiondollarsfromthat2.13trilliondollarbudget.Number10:Welosethewilltosurvive(depression).Modernmedicine,healthierthan20yearsago—butmentally,we’refallingapart.TheWorldHealthOrganizationoneoutoffivepeople=clinicallydepressed/biggestepidemicthathumankindhaseverfaced.Nowtheproblemwithallofthisgettingolderisthatpeopleover65arethemostlikelypeopletocommitsuicide.Solutions:-Giveusinsuranceformentalhealth-Advancedpsychoactivedrugs”)Number9:AliensAnindustrialcivilizationfor200years,there’salikelihoodthatwewillconfrontacivilizationthatismoreintelligentthanourown.(the)latephysicistGerardO’Neillsaid“Advancedwesterncivilizationhashadadestructiveeffectonallprimitivecivilizationsithascomeincontactwith,eveninthosecaseswhereeveryattemptwasmadetoprotectandguardtheprimitivecivilization.”Ifthealienscomevisiting,we’retheprimitivecivilization.Solutions:-GettheStateDepartmentworkingonaplantomeet,greet,andnegotiatewithanadvancedspecies-Becomeanoutward-looking,space-faringnation”)Secondly,developtheideathattheEarthdoesn’tlastforever,oursundoesn’tlastforever—Ifwewanthumanitytolastforever,wehavetocolonizetheMilkyWay.Andthatisnotsomethingthatisbeyondcomprehensionatthispoint. Number8:TheEcosystemCollapsesLastJuly,inScience,thejournalScience,19oceanographerspublishedaveryunusualarticle—oceansnearcollapse.ManyotherecosystemsonEarthareinreal,realdanger.We’relivinginatimeofmassextinctionsthatexceedsthefossilrecordbyafactorof10,000.Wehavelost25%oftheuniquespeciesinHawaiiinthelast20years,Californiaisexpectedtolose25%ofitsspeciesinthenext40years.



Solutions:-Spendmoremoneymodelingecosystems-Createhugebiodiversityreserves”)Thereissomemodelingofecosystemsgoingonnow.Theproblemwithecosystemsisthatweunderstandthemsopoorly,thatwedon’tknowthey’rereallyintrouble,untilit’salmosttoolate.NationalScienceFoundationtosaythisisthemostimportantthing.Secondly,weneedtocreatehugebio-diversityreservesontheplanet,andstartmovingthemaround,/anexperimentforthelastfourorfiveyearstheGrandBanksoffofNewfoundland.It’sanotakefishingzoneforaradiusof200miles.Amazingalmostallthefishhavecomeback,andthey’rereproducinglikecrazy.We’regoingtohavetostartdoingthisaroundtheglobe.We’regonnahavetohavenotakezones.We’regonnahavetosaynomoreloggingintheAmazonfor20years.Number7:ParticleAcceleratorMishapParticleacceleratormishaptocreatelittletinyblackholes.nextsummeratCern—havethepossibilityofcreatingsomethingcalledstrangelets,whicharekindoflikeanti-matterwhenevertheyhitothermattertheydestroyit,andobliterateit.Mostphysicistssaythattheacceleratorswehavenowarenotreallypowerfulenoughtocreateblackholesandstrangelets.Solutions:-Createanindependentboardofscientiststooverseeacceleratorexperiments-Studynaturalhigh-energyphysicsfirst”)Number6:BiotechDisaster.BTcornisacornthatcreatesitsownpesticidetokillacorn-borer.Youmayofheardofit—hearditcalledStarling,onlybefeedforanimalsintheUnitedStates,anditgotintothehumanfoodsupply,andsomebodyshould’vefiguredoutthatitwouldgetinthehumanfoodsupplyveryeasily.InMexico,whereBTcornandallgeneticallyalteredcornistotallyillegal,theyfoundBTcorngenesinwildcornplants.Nowcornoriginated,wethink,inMexico.Thisisthegeneticbio-diversitystorehouseofcorn.Thisbringsbackaskepticismthathasgoneawayrecently,thatsuperweedsandsuperpestscouldspreadaroundtheworldfrombiotechnology,thatliterallycoulddestroytheworld’sfoodsupplyinveryshortorder.Solution:-TreatbiotechnologywiththesamesecurityscrutinyweapplytonuclearengineeringNumber5:ReversaloftheEarth’sMagneticFieldReversaloftheEarth’smagneticfield.Believeitornot,thishappenseveryfewhundredthousandyears,andhashappenedmanytimesinourhistory.LosemagneticfieldaroundtheEarthovertheperiodofabout100years,andallthesecosmicraysandparticlesthataretocomestreamingatusfromthesun,thatthisfieldprotectsusfrom-toohottolive



Solution:-ReplenishEarth’sozonelayerOneoftheproblemsoftryingtofigureouthowhealthytheEarthis,isthatwehave—youknow,wedon’thavegoodweatherdatafrom60yearsago,muchlessdataonour—thingsliketheozonelayer.-WeneedtolearnhowtorepairandreplenishtheEarth’sozonelayer.Number4:GiantsolarflaresSolarflaresareenormousmagneticoutburstsfromthesunthatbombardtheEarthwithhighspeedsubatomicparticles.Sofarouratmospherehasdone—andourmagneticfieldhasdone—prettywellprotectingusfromthis.Astronomershaverecentlybeenstudyingstarsthataresimilartooursun,andthey’vefoundthatanumberofthem,whenthey’reabouttheageofoursun,brighten,byafactorofasmuchas20.Solution:-StartterraformingMarsnow.Thisisoneofmyfavoritesubjects,IwroteastoryaboutthisinLifemagazinein1993.Thisisrocketscience,butit’snothardrocketscience.EverythingthatweneedtomakeanatmosphereonMars,andtomakealivableplanetonMars,isprobablythere.Andyoujust,literally,havetosendlittlenuclearfactoriesuptherethatgobbleuptheironoxideonthesurfaceofMarsandspitouttheoxygen.Theproblemisittakes300yearstoterraformMars,minimum.Reallymorelike500yearstodoitright.There’snoreasonwhyweshouldn’tstartnow.Number3:ANewGlobalEpidemic[exampleinfluenzaepidemic]Anewglobalepidemic.In1918,wehadafluepidemicintheUnitedStatesthatkilled20millionpeople.Thatwasbackwhenthepopulationwasaround100millionpeople.ThebubonicplagueinEurope,intheMiddleAges,killedoneoutoffourEuropeans.AIDSiscomingback,ebolaseemstoberearingitsheadwithmuchtoomuchfrequency,andolddiseaseslikecholeraarebecomingresistanttoantibiotics.Staphexample…About12,000yearsago,therewasamassivewaveofmammalextinctionsintheAmericas,andthatisthoughttohavebeenavirulentdisease.Solutions:-Outlawantibioticsforfarmanimalsandfarmedfish-GetseriousaboutourpublichealthsystemItisnuts.Wegiveantibioticstodomesticanimalswhichiscreatinggermstodevelopresistence–thishastostop–beoutlawedSecondly,ourpublichealthsystem,isnotpreparedtocopewithit.Nowthereismoneyinthefederalbudget,nextyear,tobuildupthepublichealthservice.ButIdon’tthinktoanyextentthatitreallyneedstobedone.



Number2:aRogueBlackHoleOurcomprehensionofthewaytheuniverseworkshasincreased.10milliondeadstarsintheMilkyWayalone—ourgalaxy.Andthesestarshavecompresseddowntomaybesomethinglike12,15mileswide,andtheyareblackholes,andtheyaregobblingupeverythingaroundthem,includinglight,whichiswhywecan’tseethem.Solution:-Hurryupthatsearchforanotherearth-likeplanet-Idon’thaveagoodanswerforthisone.Again,beingacolonizingrace.Number1:AsteroidhitsEarthTheimportantthingtorememberhere—thisisnotaquestionofif,thisisaquestionofwhen,andhowbig.In1908,a—justa200footpieceofacomet—explodedoverSiberiaandflattenedforestsformaybeahundredmiles.Ithadtheeffectofabout1,000Hiroshimabombs.In1989,alargeasteroidpassed400,000milesawayfromEarth.Nothingtoworryabout,right?ItpasseddirectlythroughEarth’sorbit.Wewereinthatspotsixhoursearlier.Anasteroidfivemileswidecausesmajorextinctions—wethinktheonethatgotthedinosaurswasaboutfivemileswide.ChancesofdyingfromselectedcausesintheUnitedStatesMotorVehicleaccident:1in100/Homicide:1in300/Fire:1in800/Firearmsaccidents:1in2,500/Electrocution:1in5,000Asteroid/Cometimpact:1in20,000/Passengeraircraftcrash:1in20,000Flood:1in30,000/Tornado:1in60,000Solutions:-IncreaseNASA’ssearchforasteroidswithournameonthem-UnderstandhowtoblowupanasteroidoralteritstrajectoryNASA’sspending3milliondollarsayear=notenough.Wereallyneedadedicatedobservatory.You’llnoticethatalotofcometsarenamedafterpeopleyouneverheardof—amateurastronomers?That’sbecausenoone’slookingforthem,exceptamateurs.Weneedadedicatedobservatorythatlooksforcomets.landontheseasteroidsthathaveournameonthemandputsomethinglikeasmallionpropulsionmotoronit,whichwouldgently,slowly,afteraperiodoftime,pushitintoadifferenttrajectory,which,ifwe’vedoneourmathsright,wouldkeepitfromhittingEarth.Sciencehasthepowertopredictthefutureinmanycasesnow.Knowledgeispower.



Navigatingourglobalfuture[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:IanGoldinDate:Jul2009Time:(7:06)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[C1/C2]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/ian_goldin_navigating_our_global_future?language=enCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:

Keyvocabulary

1. CIA/MI62. IMFInternationalMonetaryFund/BISBankforInternationalSettlements3. Urbanisation4. Renaissance5. TheStoneAge6. Illiteracy7. Achilles’heel8. Fragility9. Asystematicshock10. Virulent11. ApolloSpaceMission12. Nano-replica/adustmite13. Regenerativemedicine14. Eugenics15. Populationpyramids/populationcoffins16. Aredundantconcept17. Awheelchair18. Xenophobic19. Biodiversity20. pandemics21. bio-pathogen22. Fossilized23. Collectivewisdom24. Eco-disaster/eco-collapse25. NelsonMandela




NavigatingourglobalfutureTEDTALK:IanGoldin[Jul2009.7:06]


1. Whatisthefuture?

2. Thebestmindsandthebestinstitutions…

3. IMF,BIS,ThefinancialstabilityForum,30,000economists

4. Lifeexpectancy:

5. Worldpopulation:

6. Illiteracy:

7. ThetwoAchilles’’heelsi)_____________________________ii)____________________

8. Examplesoffragility

9. Medicine+referencetoOlympics



10. Genetics+referencetomouse+negatives

11. Populationpyramidstopopulationscoffins/populationskyscrapers

12. Migration

13. Newawareness

14. Speaker’sreferenceto‘thegloryofglobalization/bestcenturyever’

15. Individualpowerin2030

16. Governancefossilized

17. NelsonMandela

18. Computing2030

19. Mobilephonesin2030Criticalthinking–Doyouagreewiththelecture?Whichpartsdoyoudisagreewithandwhy?Istheworldasfragileasstated?Whatdoyouthinkaboutthepointonfuturemedicineandwhowillbenefitfromit?Isitpossibletodevelopagreaterawarenessofthefutureproblemsnowandinnovate?Willcollectivewisdombethesolution?Anythingelse?



NavigatingourglobalfutureANSWERS

1. Whatisthefuture?Veryunpredictable.2. Thebestmindsandthebestinstitutions…

Getitwrong.3. IMF,BIS,ThefinancialstabilityForum,30,000economists

Failedtopredictthefinancialcrisis4. Lifeexpectancy:upby25years5. Worldpopulation:upby2million6. Illiteracy:downfrom½to¼

7. ThetwoAchilles’heelsi)inequalityii)complexity

8. Examplesoffragility

Financialcrisis/pandemicflu9. Computing2030

Amillion-foldimprovement–ifcomparedtothelast20years10. Mobilephonesin2030

Hugeopportunities/miniaturization/invisiblecapacity/dustmite11. Medicine+referencetoOlympics

EmbryonicStemCellresearch/Oxford/replicatepartsofthebody/ regenerativemedicine/nospecialOlympics/whowillhaveit?

12. Genetics+referencetomouse+negatives Geneticallymodifiedmouse–3xfaster,3xlivelonger, sameamountoffood/onlyavailableforsuperrich?

13. Populationpyramidstopopulationscoffins/populationskyscrapers Adifferentstructuretosocietywitholdergenerationsbeingas equallyimportantasyoungergenerations.

14. Migration Warfortalent/needtoattractallskillranges/ dropinunemployment700m>600m

15. Newawareness Howtoarisetoproblems:biodiversity,climatechange, pandemics/mobilizeourselves/managesystemicrisk/innovation

16. Speaker’sreferenceto‘thegloryofglobalization/bestcenturyever’ Ordownfall/couldbetheworst

17. Individualpowerin2030 Biopathogen-destroyacivilisation

18. Governancefossilized Cannotcopewiththechallengesof2030/collectivemanagement/ collectivewisdom

19. NelsonMandela Miracle/apartheid



Theotherinconvenienttruth[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:JonathanFoleyDate:Oct2010Time:(17:46)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[C1]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_foley_the_other_inconvenient_truth?language=en

Checkthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. Theinconvenienttruth(FilmbyAlGore)2. Asatellite3. Landscapes4. Rondonia(Amazon)/BolivianedgeoftheAmazon5. PrimevalJungle6. Totransmitdiseases7. Soybeans(crop)8. TheSaharaDesert/Siberia/Colorado/Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan9. AralSea/Lake/Huron/TheSovietUnion10. Suburbansprawl11. Irony12. Irrigation13. Toxicwaste14. Biologicalweaponstesting15. Archaeologist16. Greenhousegases/Methane/NitrousOxide/Carbon17. Fertilizers/Nitrogen/phosphorous18. Biodiversityloss19. Bio-fuels/bioenergy20. Soils/plantnutrients21. GMOs22. Tradesubsidies23. Conservation24. Terraculture25. Croplands26. Internationaldialogue




TheotherinconvenienttruthTEDTALK:JonathanFoley[Oct2010.17:46]


1. WhatisimportantabouttheAmazonsatellitepictures?(Explain‘fishbonepattern’)

2. ExplainwhatwassaidaboutCroplands/Pasture?

3. 40%/60%/50%/30%/

4. ExplaintheexamplesoftheColoradoRiver/AralSea?

5. Whyisagriculturethebiggestproblemtotheplanettoday?

6. Isfarmmorelandtheanswer?



7. Whatarethe5stressesonnaturalresources?

8. Whatarethe8possiblesolutions?

9. Whoneedsto‘cometothetable’?10. OverallconclusionCriticalthinking–Arewedestroyingtheenvironment?Areyouoptimisticaboutthefuture?Arewelisteningtothewarnings?Ispopulationincreaseagoodthing?Willwebeabletoprovideenoughfoodandwaterforfuturegenerations?We’veneverbeeninthispositionbeforeandisthereapossibilitywecouldgetitwrong?Dowecare–doyoucareandwhatareyoudoingaboutit?Anythingelse?



TheotherinconvenienttruthANSWERSMainidea-landuse-food-theenvironmentSatellitePics:nightfromspace(dominatehumanpresence)Amazon1975smallroad/2001manyroad(beeffarming-deforestation)1. WhatisimportantabouttheAmazonsatellitepictures?(Explain‘fishbonepattern’)Fishbonepattern(1road=thestartofmany)Bolivia-smallwhiteline/lonefarmer2003similartoOhio.Growinganimalfeed(soy)Tourtheworld-similarpatternsQ.Howmuchoftheworldisusedtogrowfood?2. ExplainwhatwassaidaboutCroplands/Pasture?Cropland16mkm2(sizeofS.America)Pasture30mkm2(sizeofAfrica)3. 40%/60%/50%/30%/40%=agriculture.60%morethancitiesresult=enormoususeofland/water50%freshwater(70%ofthisusedforagriculture)30%ofgreenhousegases4. ExplaintheexamplesoftheColoradoRiver/Aralsea?Examples:Pic:lettucebeingirrigatedinArizonadesert(idea-irresponsibleuseofwater)Coloradoriver(usedforirrigation)pic:1950=fullnow=v.lowanddoesn'tgotoseaPic:Aralsea1973/1986/1999/2004/2009(1950divertedforirrigation)oldSovietUnionEnvirodisasterdesertnow/toxicdump/biologicalweaponstested/adump/19outof25fishextinct.Pic:fishingfleetswithoutwaterAgriculturesinglemostpowerfuldestructiveforcesinceIceAge5. Whyisagriculturethebiggestproblemtotheplanettoday?Agriculturecausesglobalwarming/CO2burningtropicalrainforest/NO2fertiliserspollutewater/methanefromcowsPopulationrisefrom7bto9.5bHowcanwefeedthepeopleinthefuture??6. Isfarmmorelandtheanswer?Solution:Morefarmland-NOasthislandneedstobeprotectedSolution:boastyields-YES(picmapofunderdevelopedagriculturalareas)brownareasonMapareinefficienteasternblockcountriesi.eRussiaImplications:2pointstoconsider-foodsecurity/environmentalsecurityBalancingAct:Organicfood/localfood/GMOs-(nosilverbulletmorelikesilverbuckshot)



7. Whatarethe5stressesonnaturalresources?Stressonnaturalresources1.Populationgrowth(9millionby2040)2.Meatconsumption3.Dairyconsumption4.Energycosts5.Bioenergyproduction 8. Whatarethe8possiblesolutions?NOonesolutionIdeas-1.Internationaldialogue2.Incentivesforfarmers3.Precisionagriculture4.Newcropvarieties5.Dripirrigation6.Graywaterrecycling7.Bettertillagepractices8.Smarterdiets9. Whoneedsto‘cometothetable’?Everyonearoundthetable1.Advocatesofcommercialagriculture2.Environmentalconservation3.Organicfarming10. Overallconclusion:Noonesolution,greatchallengeaheadforpeoplekind,andhavetogetitrightfirsttime.



Don’tinsistonEnglish[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:PatriciaRyanDate:Dec2010Time:(10:35)Level:*****[B1/B2]TEDTALKSLink:http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_ryan_ideas_in_all_languages_not_just_englishCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. Dubai/theGulf/AbuDhabi/Kuwait/Kenya/(places)2. Undisputed3. Torecruit4. Tomorph5. Aschoolcurriculum6. Tobeonthebandwagon(idiom)7. Linguisticability8. Monolingual9. Dutchlanguage10. Agatekeeper11. Asegmentofsociety12. Self-fulfillingprophecy13. TheIslamicgoldenage(googlethis)14. Germaniclanguages15. ThedarkagesinEurope500-1000AD16. Arbitrary17. Einstein(googlehim)18. Remedial/dyslexic19. Prohibitive20. Adivide21. Acircularconcept22. Forelimbsandhindlimbsofananimal23. Tosomeonecreditforsomething24. Kerosenelamp/solarlamp25. Far-reachingconsequences26. Metaphorical




Don’tinsistonEnglishTEDTALK:PatriciaRyan[Dec2010.10:35]

Explainwhatyouunderstand1.Whatisthetopicofhertalk?2.WhatisimportantaboutthereferencetolearningnamesofplantsinArabicfromgrandparentsandgreatgrandparents?3.What'sad'factdoesshesayaboutlanguages?4.WhywastherecruitmentofEnglishteachers25yearsagomutuallybeneficialtoKuwaitandtheUK?5.WhathashappenedtoEnglishinthelast25years?Whatissignificantabouttheexampleofthemono-lingualDutchspeaker?7.WhatarethereservationsshepointsoutaboutEnglishasagloballanguage?8.What'sthemainnegativepointmentionedabouttests?9.Whatissaidaboutemployment?10.WhywastheKenyanboygivenaHeroesaward?Criticalthinking-Whatdoyouthinkofthislecture?Whatissheexactlytryingtosay?What'swrongwiththeglobalisationofEnglish?Onelanguagemeansbettercommunicationandunderstanding?Shesuggeststhattranslationshouldbedonebutsurelysomephrases,wordsdon'ttranslatethesame,possiblymeaningamisunderstandingofideaorconcept?Whatsolutionsdoessheofferforthepoor,notestingsystems,keepingnativelanguages?Anythingelse?



Don’tinsistonEnglishANSWERSTEDTALK:PatriciaRyan[Dec2010.10:35]

1.Whatisthetopicofhertalk?LanguagelossandglobalisationofEnglish2.WhatisimportantaboutthereferencetolearningnamesofplantsinArabicfromgrandparentsandgreatgrandparents?Itistoshowtheeffectofcommunicationacrossgenerations3.What'sad'factdoesshesayaboutlanguages?Thattheyaredyingatanunprecedentedrate.Alanguagediesevery14days-isthereaconnectionwiththeglobalisationofEnglish??4.WhywastherecruitmentofEnglishteachers25yearsagomutuallybeneficialtoKuwaitandtheUK?ForKuwaitithelpedmodernisationandtoempowerthecitizensthrougheducationandfortheUKitwasoil.5.WhathashappenedtoEnglishinthelast25years?Whatissignificantabouttheexampleofthemono-lingualDutchspeaker?Ithasmorphedintoamassiveinternationalbusiness.theDutchspeakerexampleisthatapersonshouldn'tberejectedfromenteringuniversityjustbecausetheirlevelofEnglishisn'thighenough.MoreimportantpointsshouldbeconsideredespeciallyifthedegreeisnotbasedsolelyonEnglish.i.e.computercoding.7.WhatarethereservationsshepointsoutaboutEnglishasagloballanguage?Againstusingitasabarrier.Englishcanbecomequitearbitrary.Onlyoneortwomainlanguagescouldbedisastrous.E.g.Accesstostudy.8.What'sthemainnegativepointmentionedabouttests?Thepoorcan'taccessthemsotheyarebeingexcluded.Also,thatsomeofthegreatpeoplelikeEinsteindidn'tneedEnglishtests.9.Whatissaidaboutemployment?‘Educationisthegreatdivide’.ThebestjobsgotopeopleoutofWesternUniversities.10.WhywastheKenyanboygivenaHeroesaward?Becauseheinventedacost-freesolarlampsothechildreninhisvillagecouldstudyatnight.



Textingiskillinglanguage.JK!![listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:JohnMcWhorterDate:Feb2013Time:(13:48)Level:*****[B2/C1]TEDTALKSLink:http://www.ted.com/talks/john_mcwhorter_txtng_is_killing_language_jkCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. Ascourge2. Literacy3. Miraculous4. Complexity5. Anartifice6. Conscious7. Casualspeech/formalspeech8. Unmonitored9. Telepathic10. Reflective11. Bleedbetweentwothings(metaphoric)12. Atypewriter13. Shorthand(atypeofwriting)14. Punctuation15. Abagginessofstructure16. Emergent17. Subtle18. Theatrically19. Asubstrate20. Pragmatic21. Empathy22. Dissertation23. Sophisticated24. TVprogrammes‘ILovelucy’/DowntonAbbey/Thewire25. Cognitive26. Bidialectal27. Bilingual28. Arepertoire




Textingiskillinglanguage.JK!!TEDTALK:JohnMcWhorter[Feb2013.13:48]

Explainwhatyouunderstand1.Whatisthepointofthelecture?Whatisthegeneraloutline?2.Whatisthereasonforthehistoryexample?3.Whataretheadvantagesofwriting?Whatexampledoeshegive?4.Whyiscasualspeechdifferent?5.Whatexamplesaregiventoshowthecorrelationbetweenwritingandspeakinginthepast?6.Whydidn’tpeoplewriteliketheyspeakinthepast?7.Whatissignificantaboutcapitallettersandpunctuation?8.Whatistexting?



9.Whydowethinkthattextingisdestroyinglanguage?10.Whatareweseeingnow?11.HowhasLOLevolved?12.Whatare‘pragmaticparticiples’?Giveexamples.13.Howisslashused?Constructionoverall?14.Whatisthepointtoreferencethesedates1956/1917/1871/1841/63AD?15.Whatisbidialectal?16.SummaryCriticalthinking?Doyouagreewitheverythinghehassaid?Istextingamiracleoflanguage?Surely,thelooselanguageandstructurewillcrossovertowriting?Astextingbecomemorecommonplace,thenitwillcorrupttheuseoflanguage?Spelling/grammarneedspracticetolearnbutifItextandabbreviatewordswillthishelpmyspelling/grammarinthelongterm?Ifcommonpunctuationuseischangedlikethe‘slash’,willIbecomeconfusedinitsrealuse?Howcanadeclineinliteracybemeasured?Perhaps,thefuturewillbespeechrecognitiontextandhowwillthischangelanguage?Anythingelse??



TextingiskillinglanguageANSWERS1.Whatisthepointofthelecture?Whatisthegeneraloutline?Thepointistoshowthattextingisamiraculousthinganditdoesn’tmeanthatEnglishliteracyisindeclineOutline:toshowthatwhenyoureallyinvestigatelanguagethentextingisnotwriting.2.Whatisthereasonforthehistoryexample?Languagehasexistedfor150,000yearsandaroseasspeech–writingcamealongalotlater.Usesaclockmetaphortosayin24hours–writingcameintoexistenceat11:07pm3.Whataretheadvantagesofwriting?Whatexampledoeshegive?Writingisaconsciousprocessandcanlookbackeasilycomparedtotalking.ExampleapassagefromEdwardGibbon’s‘ThedeclineandfalloftheRomanEmpire’Thisexampleisgiventoshowthatthiskindofwritingisverydifferenttothewaywespeak.4.Whyiscasualspeechdifferent?Wetendtospeakinpacketsofseventotenwords.Speechismuchlooser,telepathic,reflective–oftenwethinkwrittenlanguageisthesamebutinfacttheyareverydifferent.5.Whatexamplesaregiventoshowthecorrelationbetweenwritingandspeakinginthepast?Inthepastpeoplegavespeeches–veryformal–talkinglikeyouwrite.Example;TheGettysburgAddress/thespeechbeforeby‘EdwardEverett’6.Whydidn’tpeoplewriteliketheyspeakinthepast?Thesimplereasonisthatmaterialsdidn’tlendthemselvestoit.Type-writersandevencomputerswereslowatspokenwritingandofcourseyouneedadevicethatcanmessagequickly.7.Whatissignificantaboutcapitallettersandpunctuation?Thisisnotthoughtabout/usedinspokenlanguageandnorintexting.8.Whatistexting?Fingeredspeech



TxtingiskillinglanguageANSWERS9.Whydowethinkthattextingisdestroyinglanguage?Itisveryeasytothinkitrepresentssomekindofdecline.Thebagginessofstructure,lackofconcernforrules,thewayweareusedtolearningfromablackboard–it’sanaturalsensetothinkitiswrong.10.Whatareweseeingnow?Akindofemergentcomplexity,newkindoflanguage,anewstructureforfingeredspeech.11.HowhasLOLevolved?Intheexampletextitshowsthatonceitmeant‘LaughOutLoud’butithasevolvedintoempathy,accommodation=pragmaticparticiples.12.Whatare‘pragmaticparticiples’?Giveexamples.Thewayawordisusedincertainways/awayofusingthelanguagebetweenactualpeople–Examples:LOL,inJapanese‘ne’attheendofsentences,intheblackyouth‘yo’13.Howisslashused?Constructionoverall?Slashisusedtoshowtwopartsofsomething.However,intextingitisusedtochangethescene.Constructionisthatawholenewwayofstructureisdeveloping–stilleasytothinkitiswrong.NotsophisticatedlikethelanguagefromtheWallStreetJournalbut…14.Whatisthepointtoreferencethesedates1956/1917/1871/1841/63AD?1956–manydonotknowthealphabet,cannotwritegrammatically1917–Freshmencan’tspell,can’tpunctuate1871–badspelling,incorrectness/ineleganceofexpressioninwriting1841–entireneglectoftheoriginal63AD–doesn’tlikethewaypeoplearespeakingLatinOverall,lotsofworryingandproblemswithlanguagebutdoesitreallymatter??15.Whatisbidialectal?Twodifferenttypesofwriting16.SummaryTextingisawholenewwayofwritingdevelopingalongsidenormalwriting.Overtimealllanguagehasevolvedandchangedandtextingcanbeviewedasalinguisticmiracle.



WhattheSocialProgressIndexcanrevealaboutyourcountry[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:MichaelGreenDate:Oct2014Time:(14:56)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[B2/C1]Link:https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_green_what_the_social_progress_index_can_reveal_about_your_countryCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:

Keyvocabulary

1. U.SCongress2. SimonKuznets–NationalIncomeReport1929-19323. TheGreatDepression4. Tofindawayoutoftheslump5. Well-being6. Toboast7. Tomarchtothedrumbeatofsomething(phrase)8. ArabSpring9. Asustainableenvironment10. Components11. Chad(acountryinAfrica)/Senegal/CostaRica12. Empirical13. Sanitation14. Tobeliftedoutofpoverty15. Stagnation16. Deprivedpartsofacountry17. Municipality18. Contribution




WhattheSocialProgressIndexcanrevealaboutyourcountryTEDTALK:MichaelGreen[Oct2014.14:56]

Explainwhatyouunderstand1.Whodeliveredthereporton“NationIncome,1929-1932?2.WhywasGDPintroducedin1924intheUSA?3.WhatwasthewarningaboutGDP?4.WhyisGDPflawed?5.Whyarewereadyforanewmeasurerevolution?6.WhatisdifferentabouttheSocialProgressIndex?(fillin3dimensions)



7.Importantpointsonthegraph:NewZealand:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Canada:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________BRICS:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Kuwait:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8.AnanalysisofthegraphhighlightsthatforeachdollarspentonGDPis…9.WhatshouldBrazildonext?Andhow?10.Overallsummary?Criticalthinking?Whatdoyouthinkofthislecture?Doyouagree?GDPworksandhascreatedprosperity,sowhychangeit?IfGDPgrows,thismoneycanbeusedforgreentechnology&protectingtheenvironment?IsSPIapplyingWesternphilosophy/principlesonallcountriesagoodidea?CanweALLreallypursueourgoalsanddreams?DoestheSPIincludereligiousbeliefandinitatolerancetoviews?Theworldseemstoseesuccessandhappinessasbeingrichandwealthyrun,willthisworldvieweverchange?CanwereallymeasureSocialprogressobjectively?Anythingelse?



WhattheSocialProgressIndexcanrevealaboutyourcountryANSWERS

1.Whodeliveredthereporton“NationIncome,1929-1932?SimonKuznets2.WhywasGDPintroducedin1924intheUSA?Kuznets'reportwasdeliveredatamomentofcrisis.TheU.S.economyplummetingintotheGreatDepressionandpolicymakerswerestrugglingtorespond.Theydidn'thavedataandstatistics.SowhatKuznet'sreportgavethemwasreliabledataonwhattheU.S.economywasproducing,updatedyearbyyear.Andarmedwiththisinformation,policymakerswere,eventually,abletofindawayoutoftheslump.3.WhatwasthewarningaboutGDP?Onpagesevenhesays,"Thewelfareofanationcan,therefore,scarcelybeinferredfromameasurementofnationalincomeasdefinedabove."GDPisatooltohelpusmeasureeconomicperformance.It'snotameasureofourwell-being.Anditshouldn'tbeaguidetoalldecisionmaking.4.WhyisGDPflawed?Itignorestheenvironment.Itcountsbombsandprisonsasprogress.Itcan'tcounthappinessorcommunity.Andithasnothingtosayaboutfairnessorjustice5.Whyarewereadyforanewmeasurerevolution?Thefinancialcrisisof2008/theArabSpring,howcountrieslikeTunisiaweresupposedlyeconomicsuperstars,buttheyweresocietieswithdiscontentment.WehavethetechnologytogatherandanalyzedatainwaysthatwouldhavebeenunimaginabletoKuznets.6.WhatisdifferentabouttheSocialProgressIndex?(fillin3dimensions)It'sameasureofthewell-beingofsociety,completelyseparatefromGDP.It'sawholenewwayoflookingattheworld.TheSocialProgressIndexbeginsbydefiningwhatitmeanstobeagoodsocietybasedaroundthreedimensions.



7.Importantpointsonthegraph:NewZealand:highestsocialprogressCanada:highestrankedG7countryBRICS:BrazilishighestBRICbeatingRussiaandChinaKuwait:highestGDP,relativelylowSocialprogress8.AnanalysisofthegraphhighlightsthatforeachdollarspentonGDPis…Buyinglessandlesssocialprogress9.WhatshouldBrazildonext?Andhow?GetevermoreefficientatcreatingsocialprogressfromitsGDP,soitbecomesmorelikeNewZealand.AndwhatthatmeansisthatBrazilneedstoprioritizesocialprogressinitsdevelopmentplanandseethatit'snotjustgrowthalone,it'sgrowthwithsocialprogress10.Overallsummary?GDPisoutdated.Inthe21stcentury,wefacenewchallenges:aging,obesity,climatechange,andsoon.Tofacethosechallenges,weneednewtoolsofmeasurement,newwaysofvaluingprogress.YoucancreateaSocialProgressIndexforanystate,region,cityormunicipality.Thisisatoolforanyonetocomeanduse.Imagineifwecouldworktogether—government,business,civilsociety,me,youandmakethiscenturythecenturyofsocialprogress.



Akinder,gentlerphilosophyofsuccess[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:AlaindeBottonDate:Jul2009Time:(16:51)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[C1/C2]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosophy_of_success?language=enCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. Acareercrisis2. Toweepintoapillow(phrase)3. Careeranxiety4. Asnob/snobbery5. Acorrelationbetween…6. Socialhierarchy7. Materialistic8. Anemotionalreward9. Acquisition10. Paradoxical11. Thecastesystem12. Thespiritofequality13. Incidentally,14. Frencharistocracy15. Lowself-esteem16. Meritocracy/meritocratic17. Socialist–EmilDurkheiom(googlehim)18. Suicide19. StAugustine’sbook–ThecityofGod20. Alossofstatus21. Othello22. Shopaholicadulteress23. Atabloidnewspaper24. Extraordinary25. Psychoanalysis26. Toreconcile27. Randomness28. Cruel




Akinder,gentlerphilosophyofsuccessTEDTALK:AlaindeBotton[Jul2009.16:51]


1. Whatisacareercrisis?

2. Whatissnobberyandwhydoesthataffectus?

3. Whyismaterialsoimportanttous?

4. Howhassocietychangedcomparedtothepastintermsofequality?

5. Whatissignificantaboutenvy?

6. Whatisthenegativeconsequenceofasocietythattellsuswecandoanything?

7. IsMeritocracyagoodidea?Whatistheexampleof‘loser’tosupport?



8. Whyhasthesuiciderateincreased?

9. WhatissignificantabouttheStAugustinequote?

10. Whyisthetragicartconceptimportantintoday’sworld?

11. Whatismeantbya‘non-humansociety’?

12. Doweknowwhatsuccessis?Andwhoinfluencesinthenatureofsuccess?

13. Whatistheoverallsummary?CriticalThinking:Doesheofferanykindofideainthislectureonhowtoachievesuccessorisitadescription?Canwefindsuccessonourown?Howcanwestoptheinfluenceofthemediaonourlives?Wehaveequalitybutwealsohavecompetition–isn’tlifeafighttosurvive?Whatdoyouthink?



ThephilosophyofsuccessANSWERS1)Whatisacareercrisis?Crisis:Weliveinanagewhenourlivesareregularlypunctuatedbycareercrises,bymomentswhenwhatwethoughtweknew,aboutourlives,aboutourcareers,comesintocontactwithathreateningsortofreality.2)Whatissnobberyandwhydoesthataffectus?Snobbery:Easiertomakeagoodliving/hardertostaycalm,tobefreeofcareeranxiety.Somereasons=snobberyWhatisasnob?Asnobisanybodywhotakesasmallpartofyouandusesthattocometoacompletevisionofwhoyouare.Thatissnobbery.Dominantkindofsnobbery=jobsnobbery.Ataparty:"Whatdoyoudo?"excitedorwalkaway/Socialhierarchydefinedashowmuchtimesomeonewillgiveyou(love)3)Whyismaterialsoimportanttous?Reasonsformaterialism:Wecaresomuchaboutourcareersandmaterialgoodsiswhatotherpeoplethinkofus./Societywhichhassimplypeggedcertainemotionalrewardstotheacquisitionofmaterialgoods/notthematerialgoodswewant/It'stherewardswewant.4)Howhassocietychangedcomparedtothepastintermsofequality?Expectations:Neverbeforehaveexpectationsbeensohighaboutwhathumanbeingscanachievewiththeirlifespan/wecanachieveanything/nocastesystem/anyonecanrisetoanyposition/spiritofequality/we'reallbasicallyequal/nostrictlydefinedkindofhierarchies.5)Whatissignificantaboutenvy?Envy:Tabootomentionenvy/it’sadominantemotioninmodernsociety/linkedtothespiritofequality.Ex.TheQueen(Weird)Ex.Theclosertwopeopleare,inage,inbackground,intheprocessofidentification,themorethereisadangerofenvy/modernsocietyissimilartoaschool.Everybodyiswearingjeans,everybodyisthesame.Andyet,they'renot.Mediaoutlets:Magazines,TVetc...Promoteamazingness/However,Thereisarealcorrelationshipbetweenasocietythattellspeoplethattheycandoanythingandtheexistenceoflowself-esteem6)IsMeritocracyagoodidea?Whatistheexampleof‘loser’tosupport?Meritocracy:Politiciansagreethatmeritocracyisagreatthingforsocieties.(ifyou'vegottalentandenergyandskill,youwillgettothetop.)However,theoppositeistruetoo:thosewhodeservetogettothebottomandstay./Ex.MiddleAges/England,averypoorperson,wasdescribedasan"unfortunate".IntheUSAapersonatthebottomofsocietyisa‘loser’.There’sadefinitedifferencehereandit’suswhohavechangedthemeaning.



7)Whyhasthesuiciderateincreased?Suicide:AnalysisofasociologistlikeEmilDurkheim.Therearemoresuicidesindevelopedindividualisticcountriesthaninanyotherpartoftheworld.Theyowntheirsuccess.Buttheyalsoowntheirfailure.Relief:Meritocratic.It'sanimpossibledream.Toomanyrandomfactors(accidents,birthproblems,illnesses)forpeopletobegraded‘goodattop’and‘badatbottom’8)WhatissignificantabouttheStAugustinequote?Quote:St.Augustinein"TheCityofGod,"wherehesays,"It'sasintojudgeanymanbyhispost."Inotherwords,holdyourhorseswhenyou'recomingtojudgepeople.Youdon'tnecessarilyknowwhatsomeone'struevalueis.Failure:Failinginlife,isnotjustalossofincome,alossofstatus/wefearthejudgmentandridiculeofothers.Newspapers:numberoneorganofridiculeisthenewspaper.Whateversmohasdonewrongitisfitforridicule.Inotherwords,theyhavefailed.Andtheyaredescribedas"losers."Thealternativeistragedy.9)Whyisthetragicartconceptimportantintoday’sworld?Tragicart:AncientGreece,5C,anartformdevotedtotracinghowpeoplefail,andalsoaccordingthemalevelofsympathy,whichordinarylifewouldnotnecessarilyaccordthem.Ex.Hamletisnotaloser.10)Whatismeantbya‘non-humansociety’?Non-humansociety:Modernsocietycausesanxietyisthatwehavenothingatitscenterthatisnon-human/firstsocietytobelivinginaworldwherewedon'tworshipanythingotherthanourselves.Ourheroesarehumanheroes.Notranscendent–God,spirits,theuniverselikesocietiesbeforeus.Whatismoreimportantistokeepincontactwithnature.11)Doweknowwhatsuccessis?Doweknowwhatsuccessis?:Successandfailure.IfIsaidtoyouthatthereissomebodybehindthescreenwhoisveryverysuccessful,certainideaswouldimmediatelycometomind.Youwouldthinkthatpersonmighthavemadealotofmoney,achievedrenowninsomefield.Youcan'tbesuccessfulateverything.Soanyvisionofsuccesshastoadmitwhatit'slosingouton,wheretheelementoflossis.12)Whoinfluencesinthenatureofsuccess?Ourownideasofsuccess:Howtolivesuccessfullyarenotourown/fromotherpeople:man,yourfather,awoman,yourmother.Psychoanalysishaspresentedthisideaforabout80years.Fromeverythingfromthetelevision,toadvertising,tomarketing,etc.Thesearehugelypowerfulforcesthatdefinewhatwewantandhowweviewourselves.Wearehighlyopentosuggestion.Ex.Bankingpopular–notpopular13)Whatistheoverallsummary?Summary:ourideasofsuccess=ourown.Betheauthorsofourownambitions.Don’twanttoendthejourneytorealizetheseideasarenotwhatyouwanted.



Whydomesticviolencevictimsdon’tleave[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:LeslieMorganSteinerDate:Nov2012Time:(15:59)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[B2/C1]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/leslie_morgan_steiner_why_domestic_violence_victims_don_t_leaveCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:Keyvocabulary

1. Disturbingquestion2. Totackleaquestion3. Apsychiatrist4. Aloadedgun/bullets5. Psychologicaltrap6. Disguised7. Anabuser8. Tobechattedup9. Anillusion10. Astepfather11. Toseduceandcharmsomeone12. Toquitajob13. Adysfunctionalfamily14. Crazylove15. Trauma16. Tobephysicallyattacked17. Bruises18. Anisolatedincident19. Ahoneymoon20. Stalking21. Abatteredwife22. Incrediblydangerous23. Indenial24. Sadisticbeating25. Torebuildalife26. Fascinating27. Toshineaspotlightonsomething28. Intervene/deescalatesomething




Whydomesticviolencevictimsdon’tleaveTEDTALK:LeslieMorganSteiner[Nov2012.15:59]

Explainwhatyouunderstand1.Whatisthetopicandwhatistheexactquestionisshetackling?2.Whatisherdefinitionof'crazylove'?3.Whydoesshestartherlecturewithadescriptionofherbackground?4.Whatisthepercentageofabusers,relationshiptype,thetypicalvictimandratio?5.Howdidshemeetherabuser(Conor)andwhatmadeanimpressioninher?6.HowdidConormakeherfeellikethedominantpartnerintherelationship?7.WhatwaspossiblythefirstwarningsignthatConormaybeviolent?8.Whatarethe4stepstodomesticviolence?9.HowdidConorisolateher?



10.Whatwasthefirstattackandwhy?Washesorryandwhatwashisreason?11.Whydidshestay?12.Whydoesn'tshejustleave?13.Howdidsheleave?14.Howarevictimsstereotypedandwhy?15.Overallconclusion?Criticalevaluation?Isthestatisticof1:3peoplearedomesticallyabusedrealistic?Doyouthinkthatpeople(especiallymen)whoarephysicallyabusedwhentheyareyoung,aremorelikelytoabusewomen?Inhertalk,doyouthinkitwasacarefullylaidplantomovehertoasmalltowninNewEngland?Shesaidhebought3gunsasamessagetoher-doyouagreewiththisstatement?Doyouthinkherreasonsforstayingwithanabuserarejustified?Doyouthinkeverywomanhasherstrength?Doyouthinksheoffersagoodsolution?Whatabouttheabuser?Surely,theyneedhelp?



DomesticViolenceANSWERS 1.Whatisthetopicandwhatistheexactquestionisshetackling?Thesecretsofdomesticviolence/whywouldanyonestaywithamanwhobeatsher?2.Whatisherdefinitionof'crazylove'?Apsychologicaltrapdisguisedaslove3.Whydoesshestartherlecturewithadescriptionofherbackground?SheexplainsshehasaHarvardBA,MBA,workingforFortune500company,marriedfor20years,kids,blacklab&HondaOdyssey-Toemphasisethepointthatdomesticviolencehappenstoeveryone,allraces,religions,incomelevels,educationallevels.It'severywhere.4.Whatisthepercentageofabusers,relationshiptype,thetypicalvictimandratio?85%abusersaremen,intimateinterdependent,longtermrelationships(families),typicalvictimisaged16-24,500womenandgirlsarekilledbyabusivepartners,boyfriendsandhusbandsintheUS.1:3peopleintheUSareabused.AtypicalvictimhasnoideaaboutD.V.it'swarningsignsorpatterns.5.Howdidshemeetherabuserandwhatmadeanimpressiononher?MetonNYsubway-2things:hehadjustgraduatedfromIvyLeagueschoolandheworkedforanimpressiveWallStreetbank.Biggestimpressionwasthathewassmartandfunny.6.HowdidConormakeherfeellikethedominantpartnerintherelationship?Byidolisingher-hebelievedinher.Nohintofangerorcontrol7.WhatwaspossiblythefirstwarningsignthatConormaybeviolent?Heconfessedasecretthathehadbeensavagelyandrepeatedlyphysicallyabusedbyhisstepfather.8.Whatarethe4stepstodomesticviolence?i)Createanillusionthatthevictimisthedominantpartner.ii)Starttoisolatethevictim.Iii)Introducethethreatofviolenceandseehowshereacts.iv)murder9.HowdidConorisolateher?MovedtoatinytowninNewEnglandawayfromfriendsandfamilytocreateaphysical,financial,psychologicaltrap.10.Whatwasthefirstattackandwhy?Washesorryandwhatwashisreason?Shegotfrustratedaboutawritingassignmentandhetriedtostrangleherandthenhitherheadagainstthewallrepeatedly.Hewasvery,verysorry-hewasstressedaboutthewedding.Itwasanisolatedincidentandhe'dneverhurtheragain.



11.Whydidshestay?Shedidn'trealisehewasabusingher-shewasinlovewithadeeplytroubledmanandshewastheonlypersonwhocouldhelphim.12.Whydoesn'tshejustleave?Manypeopledon'tunderstandbecauseyouarenotavictimbutit'sincrediblydangeroustoleaveanabuser-thelaststepinthepatternismurder.Over70%ofd.vmurdershappenafterthevictimhasendedtherelationship.Why?Becausetheabuserhasnothinglefttolose.Otheroutcomesincludelongtermstalking,denialoffinancialresources,manipulationoffamilycourtsystemtoterrifythevictimandherchildrenwithregularsupervisedtime13.Howdidsheleave?Afteronebeatingthatshowedherhewasgoingtokillher-shebrokethesilence.Shetoldeveryone-police,neighbours,familystrangers,everyone.14.Howarevictimsstereotypedandwhy?Self-destructivewomen,damagedgoods,it'sherfaultforstaying15.Overallconclusion?She'stalkingaboutyou-someonearoundusisbeingabused.Endtheviolencebyshiningalightonit.Abuseonlythrivesinsilence.Talkaboutyourabusewitheveryone.Recognisetheearlysignsofviolenceandconscientiouslyintervene-showvictimsaneasywayout.Recastsurvivorsaswonderful,loveablepeoplewithfullfuture.Togethernessisthesolution.



Whyvideosgoviral[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:KevinAlloccaDate:Nov2011Time:(07:20)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[B1/B2]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_allocca_why_videos_go_viral?language=enCheckthesewordsbeforelistening:

Keyvocabulary

1. Togoviral2. Comedians3. Togettonsofviews4. audience5. Participation6. Atastemaker7. Unexpectedness8. YosemiteNationalPark9. Tosproutup10. Ablog11. Acceleration/accelerating12. Aparody13. Loopedmusic14. Afine15. Humorous16. Popularity17. Togreen-lightsomething18. Barelytrue




WhyvideosgoviralTEDTALK:KevinAllocca[Nov2011.07:20]


1. WhoisKevinAllocca?

2. Howmanyhoursofvideoareuploadedeveryminute?

3. Whatarethethreeimportantfactorswhyvideosgoviral?

4. WhatissignificantaboutBearVasquez'svideo?

5. HowmanyviewsdidRebeccaBlack'svideoreceiveandhowmanyparodies?

6. Whatissignificantabout'NyanCat'video?

7. Whathaschangedfromjustenjoyingvideos?

8. Whatisimportantabouttheaudience?

9. Overallconclusionis........

Criticalthinking–Haveyouevermadeavideothat’sgoneviral?Whatwasthelastviralvideoyouwatched?Isitgoodorbadthingthatpeoplecanparticipatemoreeasilythanbefore?Shouldwebetheincontrolofpopularity?Isittruethatwedefinetomorrow?Whatcouldbethecriticismofthisrevolution?Anythingelse?



WhyvideosgoviralANSWERS 1. WhoisKevinAllocca?KevinAllocca-trendsmanageratYouTube.Webvideo>stars&celebrities2. Howmanyhoursofvideoareuploadedeveryminute?48hoursofvideouploadedeveryminute3. Whatarethethreeimportantfactorswhyvideosgoviral?3reasons=tastemakers,communitiesofparticipation,unexpectedness.4. WhatissignificantaboutBearVasquez'svideo?BearVasquez-2010/outsidehouse/doublerainbow/YosemiteNationalPark23mhits-why?4JimmyKimmel(standupcomedian)tweeted(tastemaker)5. HowmanyviewsdidRebeccaBlack'svideoreceiveandhowmanyparodies?RebeccaBlack'Friday'song=200mhits-tweets/blogs10,000parodiesofFriday;oneforeverydayoftheweek.6. Whatissignificantabout'NyanCat'video?NyanCat=50m-'remixcommunity'-catwatchingcatwatchingcat.EverynationalityofNyancat.Communityofparticipation.7. Whathaschangedfromjustenjoyingvideos?Characteristics:newculture>everyonehasaccesstogetinvolved>8. Whatisimportantabouttheaudience?Audiencedefinespopularity.Example;JustinBieber-recognisedonYouTube.9. Overallconclusionis........Allhaveownershiponourpopculture-wedefinetomorrow.



Whatdoctorsdon’tknowaboutthedrugstheyprescribe[listeningcomprehensionquestions]

Author:BenGoldacreDate:Jun2012Time:(13:29)Location:TEDTALKSLevel:*****[C1/C2]Link:http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_what_doctors_don_t_know_about_the_drugs_they_prescribe?quote=1877Checkthesewordsbeforelistening:

Keyvocabulary

1. Nostradamus-famouspersonwhopublishedprophecies(googlehim)2. Precognition3. Flukes/freaks4. Bias5. Replication6. JournalNature7. Tobesentdownablindalley(phrase)8. Lorcainide(adrug)9. Aabnormalheartrhythm10. Meaculpa(anapology)11. Aplacebo(referredintalkasadummyplacebo)12. Arrhythmias(connectedtoheartattacks)13. Unflatteringdata14. Prevalent15. Reboxetine(adrug)16. Antidepressant17. Tobemisled18. Asystematicflaw19. Tocheery-pick(phrasemeaningselective)20. TheFDA-FoodandDrugAdministration21. Medicaltrials/clinicaltrails22. Atwo-headedcoin23. Fraud24. Tamiflu(adrug)25. Tostockpileadrug26. PLOSMedicine(medicaljournal)27. ICMJE-InternationalCommitteeofMedicalJournalEditors




Whatdoctorsdon’tknowaboutthedrugstheyprescribeTEDTALK:BenGoldacre[Jun2012.13:29]

Explainwhatyouunderstand1.WhydoeshestartwithareferencetoNostradamus?2.WhatdidDarylBemdiscover?Whathappenedwhenotherscientistsreplicatedthis?Whatdoesthissuggest?3.Describethereportoncancerresearch,theoutcomeandtherecommendation?4.WhatissignificantabouttheresearchintoLorcainide?5.Whatisa'meaculpa'?And'publicationbias'?6.Istheacademicpublishingenvironmentdifferentnow?7.Whydoesthespeakerfeelmisledaboutadrug'reboxetine'thatheprescribedfordepression?8.Whatistheclassicmodelofpublicationbias?Andwhatismeantbyasystematicflaw?



9.Whatarethestatisticsofpublicationbias?10.Whydoesthespeakerrefertothecoreofevidence-basedmedicineascancer?11.WhatisrelevantaboutTamiflu?12.Whatisthefinalpointabout'fakefixes'?13.ThesummaryCriticalthinkingIsitreallythisbad?Surely,therearethousandsofmedicinesweusethataresafe?Isfunding,sponsorsbusinessandgrantsaffectingtheacademia?Doyouthinkscientistswilleverpublishnegativeresultsortheincentiveschanged?Whatwouldbetheseincentives?Shouldresearchersbeheldmoreresponsiblefornotwarningthepublicofdangers?Isameaculpasufficient?Doyouagreethatmedicalresearchisacoreofcancer?Isn'titworryingthatindependentresearcherscouldnotgettheresultstothetrialsoftamiflu?Iscorruptionandgreedtherootoftheproblem?Whyaren'tcompaniesregisteringorkeepingtotheruling?Surely,nowthattheseregulationsareinplaceitwilltaketimetoimplement?Manyresearchersaregovernedbygrantsandfundingandneedtoprovidepositiveresults-whowillinvestinfailure?Whatdoyouthink?



Whatdoctorsdon’ttellyouaboutthemedicinesANSWERS1.WhydoeshestartwithareferencetoNostradamus?Toillustratethefactthatpeoplecannotseeintothefuture,thatprecognitionisaflukeandpeopleonlyhearaboutflukesandfreaks.Wedon'thearaboutallthetimeswhenpeoplegotthingswrong.2.WhatdidDarylBemdiscover?Whathappenedwhenotherscientistsreplicatedthis?Whatdoesthissuggest?Conductedresearchandfoundevidenceofprecognitivepowersinundergraduatestudents,thiswaspublishedinapeerreviewedacademicjournal.agroupofscientistsreplicatedthefindingsandprovedthatthiswasuntrueandsubmittedtheirworktothesamejournal.Thejournalrefusedstatingtheydon'twantnegativeresults.Thissuggestsevidenceof'biasedsample'3.Describethereportoncancerresearch,theoutcomeandtherecommendation?March2012,researchersreportedinthejournalNaturetheyhadtriedtoreplicate53basicsciencestudieslookingatthepotentialtreatmenttargets-only6werereplicable.Theoutcomeisthatlotsofexperimentsaredonetheoccasionswhenitworksarepublished-thisisunreliable.Therecommendationistomakeiteasiertopublishnegativeresultsinscienceandtochangetheincentivessothatscientistsareencouragedtopostmorenegativeresults.4.WhatissignificantabouttheresearchintoLorcainide?1980researchersdidastudyintothedrugLorcainide(anti-arrhythmicdrugsuppressesabnormalheartrhythms)afteraheartattackpeoplesufferfromthisandthisdrugwouldincreasechanceofsurvival.100patients,50gotL.and10died,50placebo1died.Drugseenasafailureandcommercialdevelopmentstopped-noresearch/trialspublished.Becausethisresearchwasneverpublished-5-10yearslatersimilardrugswerebroughttothemarket-over100,000peoplediedintheUSbeforesafetyconcernswereraised.Outcomethiscouldhavebeenpreventediftheresearchhadbeenpublished.5.Whatisa'meaculpa'?and'publicationbias'?MeaculpaisLatinfor‘mymistake’or‘myfault’-inthiscasefromtheresearchersofLorcainideinthe1980s.PublicationBiasisatechnicaltermforunflatteringdata,whichgetslostorunpublished.Thesemissingresultsmayhaveprovided'anearlywarningoftroubleahead'.6.Istheacademicpublishingenvironmentdifferentnow?Yes,academicjournalslike'Trials'anopenaccessjournal-publishestrialsregardlessofpositiveornegativeresults.BUTnegativeresultsgomissing.



7.Whydoesthespeakerfeelmisledaboutadrug'reboxetine'thatheprescribedfordepression?Readaroundallthereports1studystatedbetterthantheplacebo,3reportsthatitwasjustasgoodasotheranti-depressants(A.D).MISLED7trialsagainstaplacebo1positive/6negative-onlythepositivewaspublished.3trialsshoweditwasjustasgoodasotherA.Dbut9showeditwasworsethesewerenotpublished.8.Whatistheclassicmodelofpublicationbias?Andwasismeantbyasystematicflaw?50:50(38+36-)splitofpositiveandnegativeresults/peerreviewedacademicliterature=37+werepublishedonly3-published.Thisbiassystemofpublishing=systematicflaw.9.Whatarethestatisticsofpublicationbias?Over100studiesonpublicationbias/affectseveryfieldofmedicine/halfoftrialsgomissing/2xmorechancepositiveresultsarepublished.10.Whydoesthespeakerrefertothecoreofevidencebasedmedicineascancer?Itissimilartocancer,adestructiveforce.Weallblindlytolerateit,itisresearchmisconduct.Holdingback50%oftheresultsfromresearchisresearchfraud.Theimportantpointhereisthatresponsibilityisdiffusedbetweenawholenetworkofacademics,industrysponsors,journaleditors.11.WhatisrelevantaboutTamiflu?Tamifluisbeingstockpiledincaseofapandemicofinfluenza.Cochranesystematicreviewerstriedtocollectdata-theyfoundtrialsunpublished,resultsunavailable,notallowedaccesstotheclinicalstudyreportsmoreinformationgotoPLOSMedicine.12.Whatisthefinalpointabout'fakefixes'?Officialbodiespretendthishasbeenfixed.1.registereverytrial,postprotocol,checkatend-companiesdidn'tregister.2.InternationalCommitteeofMedicalJournalEditorssaidtheywouldn'tpublishanytrialsunlessregistered-didn'thappenandastudyshowedthatover50%ofalltrialspublishedwerenotregistered.3.FDAAmendmentactalltrialsmustbepublishedin1year.only1:5havekepttotheruling.13.ThesummaryCannotknowthetrueeffectsofmedicinethatweprescribeifwedon'thaveaccesstotheinformation.Notdifficulttofix-forcealltrialstobepublishedoldandnew.Telleveryoneyouknowthatthisisaproblemandthatithasnotbeenfixed.

TED Talk Listening Comprehension SheetsYouTube / Youku and Tudou. The Chinese government blocked every single international Web 2.0 service, and we Chinese copycat every one. 4) Why

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