Episode 64

EPISODE 64
LEVEL B2

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

THE CONCERT

„I’m Rodney. It is a pleasure to meet you”, says Timothy’s brother when Julia joins them in the foyer. She is just about to start chatting with him when Rodney urges them along the corridor. „We must now find our seats and read the program notes, and I would really like to watch the musicians as they take the stage (= appear before the audience)! You know, the concerts here begin promptly (= on time) at the announced time, and the ticketholders (= members of the audience) who come late are not seated in the hall (= room where the orchestra plays) until after the conclusion of the first work on the program (= here: a piece of music)! That’d better not be us!”

Julia and Timothy exchange amused glances as they follow Rodney to their seats in row 15 where he continues his lecture: „Just before the concert begins, the orchestra members will all be seated on the stage, except for the concertmaster, the violinist who sits in the first chair of the first row of the orchestra. We will applaud to greet him when he comes onstage (= appears). Then we will applaud again when the conductor comes onstage (= the person who directs the performance of musicians). And tonight we have two soloists to greet too (= musicians who perform solo)!”

A lady who is looking for her seat interrupts Rodney. He looks at her ticket and points to the left. „It is a bit farther down this way”, he directs her. „Let me show you, actually.” He gets up and walks the lady to her seat. „Is the trying to pick her up?!” asks Julia, a bit surprised. Before Timothy has the time to answer, Rodney returns, and moments afterwards the performance begins and Julia, answer-less, is transported further and further from her musing about Rodney’s romantic life.

 

More contexts for the new words:

• Their victory was largely a result of their brilliantly orchestrated election campaign. (= to arrange something carefully, and sometimes unfairly, so as to achieve a desired result)
• Where is the conductor? I need to buy a ticket! (= the person on some buses whose job it is to take your money and give you a ticket)
• They’re now installing a lightning conductor on the roof. (= a strip of metal going from the highest point of a building to the ground, which prevents lightning from damaging the building by taking the electricity to the ground before it can reach a dangerous level)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

 

Add the missing vowels (a, e, I, o, u).

 

1. The ……………………. CNDCTR is responsible for managing the whole orchestra.
2. Everyone applauded when the musicians came ……………………. NSTG.
3. The classes at university begin ……………………. PRMPTLY and finish on time, too.
4. Sheila doesn’t like singing in a choir, but she is a great ……………………. SLST.
5. All ……………………. TCKTHLDRS are kindly requested to take their seats.
6. The main violinist is called the ……………………. CNCRTMSTR.

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Match the question halves, then answer the questions. Explain your opinions.

 

1. Whose job is more difficult: a. the conductor’s, or the concertmaster’s?
2. Would you prefer to c. be an orchestra member or a soloist?
3. Is it important to start and finish work b. promptly?

 

ENGLISH IN USE

 

Look at these sentences from the text:

It is a bit farther down this way.
Julia is transported further and further from her musing about Rodney’s romantic life.

The adjective FAR can be graded in two ways. FAR – FARTHER – THE FARTHEST refers to physical distance. We can therefore say:

The farther side of the river is more picturesque than this side.
We’ll have to walk farther, I’m afraid.

FAR – FURTHER – THE FURTHEST refers to figurative distances:

I’d never been further from a conclusion.
That’s the furthest we can go in making concessions to you.
Every day she sinks further and further into depression.

„Furthermore” comes from this form of „far”, it is a conjunction used for expressing similar, non-contrasting ideas; its meaning is similar to „in addition”:

I suggest we use Barkers as our main suppliers – they’re good and furthermore they’re cheap.
I want to publish the book. Furthermore, I am offering you a good deal on its promotion.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ Mum, do we really have to talk about my problems at school?

B/ Yes, son. You have to FACE THE MUSIC this time.

 

When you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

1. If someone, especially a child, PLAYS UP, they behave badly.

Little Johnny always played up when his friends were watching.

I’m fed up! The kids have been really playing up this afternoon.

 

2. When you PLAY ALONG, you do what someone asks you to do, for a short period of time.

Just play along with what she wants. It’s easier.

They played along with the idea, until they were able to run away.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Complete the sentences with the missing words.

 

1. When the missing money was noticed, the boss chose to disappear rather than face the ………………………. .
2. I know you don’t like Mark’s idea, but just play ………………………. with him for a while.
3. The kids have been playing ………………………. at school again.

 

 

NEWS

 

WHITNEY HOUSTON MEMORIAL CONCERT

 

The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw hosted a truly extraordinary event last month – the Whitney Houston Memorial Concert, in which the most renowned gospel choirs from all over the world took part. The event was a tribute to the deceased star, who will always be cherished in our memories as the performer of ‘I will always love you’ and the star in ‘The Bodyguard.’

The solemn atmosphere of the event is corroborated by the interviews we conducted with some members of the audience after the show. The opinions included:

“This was the most moving concert in my life.”

and

“Whitney, I will always love you!”

 

GLOSSARY

– hosted – housed

– renowned – famous

– tribute – something that shows your respect

– cherished – loved

– solemn – serious

– corroborated – confirmed

 

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