LESSON 20

HOME PREPARATION
Task 1.
b-e-d-a-g-c-f

Task 2.
1-f 2-c 3-d 4-a 5-e 6-i 7-b 8-g 9-h

LISTENING
Exercise 1.

Words in the question Possible words in the recording

traditional old-fashioned, orthodox, classical, conventional

modern present-day, contemporary, new, up-to-date, current

looks to the future progressive, forward-looking

Exercise 2.
Starting: e, h
Listing: c, f, h
Adding: a, i
Digressing: d
Returning to the subject: b
Concluding: c, g

Exercise 3.

Part A

The Subject of the Lecture:

● "I'd like to begin this term's lectures with a discussion of the various sub-disciplines in
history."

The General Topics:

● "It deals with two general topics."

● "The first is 'Why study history?'"
● "The second is 'What is history?'"

The Answers to the Questions:

● "Neither of these questions has an easy answer."

● "People have been asking these questions for as long as history has been studied."

The Students Attending the Lecture:

 ● "As you are mostly new students to this subject"
● "We have some students of economics with us also"

The Teaching Material:

● "Can I refer you to the handout you picked up on the way in?"
● "Anyway, it's all in the handout."

The Reason for Studying History:

● "For me personally, the most important reason for studying history is that I find it exciting."
● "Our ancestors can remain... a mystery, a closed book, a blackness that we never see into."
● "Or, we can come to know what motivated them and discover how that led to the world we
live in today."

Part B

1. What questions does the handout cover?

● The handout covers two general topics: "Why study history?" and "What is history?"

2. What makes the speaker feel excited about history?

● The speaker finds history exciting because it allows us to discover what motivated our
ancestors and understand how that led to the world we live in today.

3. What signpost phrases help you find the answers to the questions above?

● For the questions the handout covers: "It deals with two general topics."
● For what makes the speaker feel excited about history: "I might add that for me
personally, the most important reason for studying history is that I find it exciting."
● Signpost phrases: "Before I do that though," "Anyway, it's all in the handout," and "For me
personally" help in locating the information.

Script
Good morning, everybody. I'd like to begin this term's lectures with a discussion of the various sub-
disciplines in history. Before I do that though, can I refer you to the handout you picked up on the
way in? It deals with two general topics. The first is 'Why study history?' and the second is 'What is
history?'. Neither of these questions has an easy answer. In fact, people have been asking these
questions for as long as history has been studied. However, as you are mostly new students to this
subject - and we have some students of economics with us also - I feel you should have some
background to these basic questions. Anyway, it's all in the handout. I might add that for me
personally, the most important reason for studying history is that I find it exciting. Our ancestors can
remain, if we want them to, a mystery, a closed book, a blackness that we never see into. Or, we can
come to know what motivated them and discover how that led to the world we live in today.

Exercise 4.
1. seven
2. three
3. kind of history, traditional, modern, future, political, post-modern, feminist, social, economic,
military, ethnic
4. the differences in various types of history
5. student’s opinions
 6. student’s opinions
7. student’s opinions

Exercise 5.
Script
You who have chosen to pursue the study of history are very fortunate. This is a time when we can
talk not just about history but histories. Traditionally, history was seen as one subject and the subject
matter was clear. It was about kings and queens and wars. Additionally, it was about states and
empires or groups of states. This is what we now call political history. The sub-topics were the parts
of the world - for example, the history of China or of France. History has moved on somewhat, and
we can learn a lot about current views of history by looking at the proposed lecture topics in our
leading universities. In fact, you'll see that even the simplest definition of history - that it is about
what happened in the past - is up for grabs. Some of the more, how shall I put it, progressive areas of
study are as much about what should happen in the future. One example of this is the field of post-
modem history. Likewise, feminist history looks at the past to make sure the future will be different,
and it uses the past to assist in its efforts to make the future as it wants it to be. Somewhere in the
middle of these two extremes lie a range of areas of study which have developed over the modem
period, replacing the traditional idea of political history. These are by now mostly well established.
You can study social history or economic history. Social history asks about ordinary people and their
lives. Not just their daily lives but their contribution to changes in our society. Ordinary people have
desires and wishes which they try to put into effect and this has a massive impact on social
development, which was not fully understood in the classical study of history. By the way, one area of
conventional history which I forgot to mention, but which has had a resurgence of interest in recent
years, is the area of military history. This was, of course, of great practical use in more violent times
and unfortunately has become of increasing use and interest - academically and practically - in our
own times. By the way, there is a new series of lectures on military history in our department - as if to
demonstrate the truth of what I have just said. Ethnic and multi-cultural history are further examples
of kinds of history which, like social history, differ from the orthodox forms. Ethnic history is a
present-day concern which concentrates on the value systems and beliefs of a people - usually a
minority people - which were ignored in the rapid forward march of the rich and powerful nations and
states. How various ethnic groups live together and how their traditions change and develop is the
subject of its contemporary cousin, multi-cultural history. In summary, as I said, you are fortunate to
have such a wide choice of things to study in the fields of history. Choose wisely. And finally, it only
remains for me to wish you good luck in your studies.
PART A
1. political history - A
2. post-modern history - C
3. feminist history - C
4. social history - B
5. economic history - B
6. military history - A
7. ethnic history - B

PART B - Student’s answers

Exercise 6. Student’s answer

Exercise 7.

Exhilarating experience

● h I parachuted from a plane to celebrate passing my exams.

Unforgettable moment

● b I received first prize for a painting I did in secondary school.

Formal occasion

● e I attended the inaugural speech of the President.

Rewarding experience

● a I volunteered to help other young people.

Nerve-racking adventure

● g I got lost with some friends in the Australian desert.

Bizarre incident

● c I want to describe something strange which actually happened in my hometown.

Humbling experience

● h I saw the hardship of other people when I was volunteering.

Memorable trip

● d The journey by coach and train around South America brings back lots of good memories.

Exercise 8.
Script
I’m going to talk about a trip I took to a small beach town when I was about ten years old.
At that time, I was living with my mother and father in a big city, and I had never seen the sea before.
I really wanted to visit the seaside because I kept seeing it on TV or reading about it in books, but we
didn’t have much money in those days. However, one day my dad came home from work and told us
that he was taking us to the beach for a weekend trip because he had gotten a bonus. So we set off on
the train and I was really excited. I kept asking my mum questions about what it would be like. I
could hardly imagine it. When we got there I was overwhelmed. Everything was perfect – the
weather, the scenery, the feel of the sand. It was the happiest moment of my life, and in fact, it still is.
These days I make it a goal to visit the sea once a year, and when I’m older and settled down, I’d love
to live in a small house by the beach just like those I saw many years ago.

1. What phrases does he use to introduce his experience? I am going to..

2. What tense does he use to describe the background information? Past and Past continuous
 3. What cohesive device does he use to introduce the main event and the result? However, these
day
4. What tense does he use to talk about the result of the experience? present tense

Exercise 9
Part A

Introduction
(a) I am going to talk about a disheartening experience when my holiday was canceled.

Background
(d) It happened two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(f) To begin with, I had planned a holiday to Hawaii with my family. We were all eagerly looking
forward to spending a couple of weeks together in a beautiful location. We booked a stunning hotel
near the beach and organized various activities, including snorkeling, hiking, and exploring the local
culture.

Main event/Problem
(c) As the weeks passed, I started to feel more worried because the news was reporting the pandemic
getting worse and there were increasing restrictions on travel. Despite hoping for the best, our worst
fears were confirmed. The airline contacted us to cancel the flights. We immediately contacted the
airline and hotel to ask for a refund. Unfortunately, they were overwhelmed with similar requests
from other travelers, making the refund process long and stressful.

Your feelings
(e) The cancellation was a huge disappointment for all of us.

Result/Resolution
(b) However, now, I see that many others had their plans and holidays canceled too. People were
suffering during the pandemic, so even though it was disappointing, eventually, I moved on.

Part B
Introduction: "I am going to talk about," "disheartening experience"
Background: "It happened," "planned a holiday," "eagerly looking forward," "booked," "organized
activities"
Main event/Problem: "As the weeks passed," "worry," "pandemic getting worse," "confirmed,"
"cancel the flights," "refund process long and stressful"
Your feelings: "Huge disappointment"
Result/Resolution: "However," "many others," "disappointing," "eventually, I moved on"

Exercise 10. Student’s answer

Homework 1:
1. C
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. B
6. B