Charles Dickens display: listening answers and explanations
Two students, Cathy and Graham, are planning a university open-day display on British life and literature in the mid-19th century. They decide who it's for, why Charles Dickens makes a good focus, and which topic each of six novels should illustrate.
21-22 come first, when Cathy asks who the display is for. 23-24 follow when Graham suggests using Dickens. Then Graham's printed list takes the novels in publication order, which is the same order as 25-30: Pickwick, Oliver Twist, Nickleby, Chuzzlewit, Bleak House, Little Dorrit.
Answer key and self-check
Type what you wrote and hit mark. Hide the key first if you haven't done the part yet. Every question number jumps to its explanation.
How to attack this block: Graham explains how the display used to work, then what is changing this year. The answers are in the new plan. Listen for who it will be publicised to and who gets the information about it.
Question 21-22
Answer: B and D (in either order)When Cathy asks who is expected to come and see the display
Which two groups is the display mainly aimed at?
It'll be publicised in the city, to encourage people to come and find out something of what goes on here. And it's included in the information that's sent to people who are considering applying to study here next year.
Question says → You hear
residents of the local areapublicised in the city
potential new studentspeople who are considering applying to study here next year
Why: Publicising it in the city targets local residents (B). Sending it to people thinking of applying targets potential new students (D).
The trap: A and E, English students and students from other departments, are 'how it used to be', which didn't attract many people. C, staff, may come, but they've been told to concentrate on other groups.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 23-24
How to attack this block: Both reasons come in the first few lines about Dickens: one from Cathy, one from Graham. A third option, his campaigning and talks, is mentioned and then deliberately set aside.
Question 23-24
Answer: B and C (in either order)Right after Graham suggests 'just using Charles Dickens'
What are their two reasons for choosing Dickens?
Most people have heard of him, and have probably read some of his novels … his novels show the awful conditions that most people had to live in … he wanted to shock people into doing something about it.
Question says → You hear
His novels are well-known nowMost people have heard of him
draw attention to social problemsshow the awful conditions that most people had to live in
Why: Cathy says most people know him and his novels (C). Graham says his novels showed terrible living conditions to shock people into action, which is using his publications to highlight social problems (B).
The trap: A is tempting: Dickens did campaign and give talks. But Graham says 'I'm inclined to ignore that and focus on the novels', and Cathy agrees.
Matching (A-H)
Questions 25-30
How to attack this block: This is the classic Part 3 trap: for almost every novel, they first mention the obvious topic and then choose something else. Wait for the agreement words ('why don't we use that', 'Good idea', 'Yes, I like that') before you choose a letter.
Question 25
Answer: GThe first novel on Graham's list, published in 1836
Which topic goes with The Pickwick Papers?
there's a character who keeps falling asleep, and that medical condition was named after the book - Pickwickian Syndrome. … Oh, so why don't we use that as the topic
Question says → You hear
medicinethat medical condition was named after the book
Why: A medical condition is named after the book, and Cathy says 'why don't we use that as the topic'. So medicine.
The trap: Cathy first says the book was adapted for the theatre straight away, which sounds like entertainment. Graham's 'though' moves them away from that.
Question 26
Answer: BWhen Graham says 'maybe something less obvious'
Which topic goes with Oliver Twist?
We could use that to illustrate the fact that very few children went to school, particularly not poor children, so they learnt in other ways.
Question says → You hear
educationvery few children went to school … so they learnt in other ways
Why: The point is about schooling, how few children went and how they learnt instead. Graham says 'Good idea', so it's education.
The trap: Poverty is the obvious theme, but Graham wants 'something less obvious'. Stealing suggests crime, but it's only the example used to talk about learning.
Question 27
Answer: DWhen Cathy mentions the cruel school
Which topic goes with Nicholas Nickleby?
But there's also the company of touring actors that Nicholas joins. We could do something on theatres and other amusements of the time.
Question says → You hear
entertainmenttheatres and other amusements of the time
Why: Theatres and amusements are entertainment. Graham wants something positive, 'not only the bad things', and Cathy agrees.
The trap: Cathy starts with the cruel school, which points to education. Graham's 'But there's also' moves them on.
Question 28
Answer: CWhen Graham says Martin goes to the USA
Which topic goes with Martin Chuzzlewit?
Dickens himself had been there a year before, and drew on his experience there in the novel. … No, too general, let's keep to your idea
Question says → You hear
Dickens's travelsDickens himself had been there a year before
Why: Cathy's idea is Dickens's own visit to the USA, which he used in the novel. Graham drops his own suggestion and keeps hers.
The trap: Social justice, linked to the theme of selfishness, is suggested and then rejected as too general. It isn't in the box anyway.
Question 29
Answer: HWhen Cathy says it's her favourite novel
Which topic goes with Bleak House?
That's true, but think about Esther, the heroine. … Yes, I like that.
Question says → You hear
a woman's lifethink about Esther, the heroine
Why: Cathy traces Esther's life from childhood to marriage, and Graham says he likes the idea. That's a woman's life.
The trap: Graham mentions the novel's powerful satire of the legal system, which matches crime and the law. Cathy's 'but' replaces it.
Question 30
Answer: FThe last novel, after the debtors' prison
Which topic goes with Little Dorrit?
What about focusing on the part when Mr Dorrit inherits a fortune, and he starts pretending he's always been rich? … Good idea.
Question says → You hear
wealthinherits a fortune … always been rich
Why: A fortune and pretending to have always been rich are about wealth. Cathy agrees with 'Good idea'.
The trap: The debtors' prison, and Dickens's father being in one, suggests poverty or crime. They move on to the fortune instead.
Graham praises the novel's satire of the legal system, which points to crime and the law. Cathy says 'That's true, but think about Esther', and Graham agrees. The topic is a woman's life.
Graham suggests social justice, then rejects it himself: 'too general, let's keep to your idea'. Cathy's idea was Dickens's own trip to the USA, so the answer is Dickens's travels.
Poverty is mentioned first and crime is in the story (Oliver learns to steal). Cathy uses the stealing to make a point about how few children went to school: education.
Words from this recording worth keeping
raise the profile(Who the display is for)
make more people aware of something
publicised(Who the display is for)
advertised so that people know about it
lead-in(Choosing Dickens)
an introduction to a subject
social reforms(Choosing Dickens)
changes to improve society
adapted(The Pickwick Papers)
changed into a new form, such as a play or film
drew on(Martin Chuzzlewit)
used something as a source
satire(Bleak House)
humour that criticises something
inherits(Little Dorrit)
receives money or property after someone dies
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