LISTENING COMPREHENSION :

A POLL ABOUT THE AMERICAN DREAM

BEFORE LISTENING TO THE RECORDING : GET READY ! Before listening to the poll for The New York Times, you will

hear 3 sentences. Decide which one could be said by the The New York Times journalist , by the photographer in the Post cover or by one of the tramps in the cartoon. N 1 : N3 : N2 :

Deduce from the sentence said by the journalist : a- What she wanted to know .

. .
b- If the pollsters gave rather optimistic, rather pessimistic, or

contradictory answers. . .
Before listening to the poll :

1- Read the following words you will hear, then using the definitions provided, translate them .

tanking = in a hopeless situation :

a- /tk/

elusive = difficult to seize :

b- /lsv/ c- /velbl/ available = obtainable :

d- /pzl/ puzzling = difficult to understand :

 shift = rearrange :
e- / f t/

2-Transparent words or faux-amis ? Translate these words .

f/spt/

consolider
g-

support appuyer

supporter

entretenir

/tv/

russir
h-

achieve envisager affluent : prospre

achever

finir

/flnt/

nombreux

dubitatif

secondaire

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Listen to the report and tick the correct answer . a- This interview is about the

death

evolution

success

of the American dream.

b- The interviewees selected are 2

3 women and 2

men.

Check whether your predictions were right.

PART 1
Tick the words that you hear in the recording . a- the American dream is alive achieved b- Susan (interviewee 1) : For me the American dream is to have a

great family employer

d- Mark

fantasy men. an

c- Aliyah (interviewee 2) : I want to become a lawyer

(interviewee 3) : Its being able to have the opportunism opportunity

PART 2

 True or false ? Circle the correct answer and justify . a- The majority of the interviewees say they have reached the American

dream. T F .....
b- The American dream may be difficult to reach even for people who

live in Manhattan. T F .
c- Joe

(interviewee 4) says that in his youth, the American dream was based on luck only . T F

.
d- Even in difficult times, people keep the same definition of the

American dream. T F .
e- Nowadays, values seem to be more important than material

achievement . T F .
IN YOUR OWN WORDS :

Using the notes above, develop the various definitions people give of the American dream. Dos the present period of recession modify their appreciation of the dream?

Role play : talk about a tramps difficult situation

One of the tramps in the cartoon explains to The new York Times journalist how he tried to achieve his American dream, what problems he met and how they affected his life. He concludes by evoking the new philosophy he has developed about the American dream. Put yourself in the tramps shoes.