How about a 60-minute challenge? Here's a set of tasks on the basis of a TED talk presented by Matt Cutts, in which he is trying to encourage his audience to start something they've always wanted to do. You can find the answers to all the tasks at the end of this post.
TASK 1. Listen to Matt Cutts and answer the questions. Select all the answers that you think are correct.
1. Why did Matt Cutts decide to try something new for 30 days?
He was inspired by an American philosopher.
He wanted to impress other people.
He wanted to get on the news.
He wanted to enrich his life.
2. How did the speaker’s 30-day challenge change him??
He became more confident.
He became a computer nerd.
His life got more adventurous.
He became a great novelist.
He learnt how to change habits.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
Morgan Spurlock - is an American documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter and political activist, best known for the documentary film Super Size Me.
John Hodgman - is an American author, actor, and humorist, appeared in Apple commercials as PC.
“ I went from a desk-dwelling computer nerd to the kind of guy who bikes to work - for fun”.
TASK 2. Matt Cutts says he “went from a desk-dwelling computer nerd to the kind of guy who bikes to work - for fun”. Match the definitions of four socially inept people to their definitions.
dork
dweeb
geek
nerd
a clever person who is boring, wears clothes that are not fashionable and does not know how to behave in social situations
a stupid or boring person that other people laugh at, and who is obsessively interested in strange things
an intellectual person, especially a boy or a man, who doesn’t have good social skills and is devoid of passion
a socially inept person who is clever and obsessive about their interests
TASK 3. Explain the highlighted words and expressions from the talk.
A few years ago, I felt like I was stuck in a rut, so I decided to follow in the footsteps of the great American philosopher, Morgan Spurlock, and try something new for 30 days.
... instead of the months flying by, forgotten, the time was much more memorable ...
You might be sleep-deprived, but you'll finish your novel.
I learned that when I made small, sustainable changes, things I could keep doing, they were more likely to stick.
... so why not think about something you have always wanted to try and give it a shot for the next 30 days ...
TASK 4. Write the adjectives for the definitions. All of them contain suffix - able.
something that is easy to remember or worth remembering
something that can be sustained
something that is good enough to be accepted
somebody that is easy to love, having qualities that people find attractive
someone or something that can be relied on to do what you want or need
something that can be avoided
something that can be measured
something that cannot be achieved
someone that is friendly and easy to talk to
something or someone that can be controlled
something that can be predicted
something that can be recycled something that cannot be described in words, usually because it is so bad
something that is worth a lot of money
silly or ridiculous, and not worth taking seriously
How about a 60-minute challenge? Here's a set of tasks on the basis of a TED talk presented by Matt Cutts, in which he is trying to encourage his audience to start something they've always wanted to do. (Answers to all the tasks at the end of this post
Task 1.
1. He was inspired by an American philosopher. / He wanted to enrich his life.
2. He became more confident. / His life got more adventurous. / He learnt how to change habits.
Task 2.
dork - a stupid or boring person that other people laugh at, and who is obsessively interested in odd things
dweeb - an intellectual person, especially a boy or a man, who doesn’t have good social skills and is devoid of passion
geek - a clever person who is boring, wears clothes that are not fashionable and does not know how to behave in social situations
nerd - a socially inept person who is clever and obsessive about their interests
Task 3.
I was stuck in a rut = I had a boring life, in which nothing ever changed / to follow in the footsteps of the great American philosopher = to do the same thing as the the great American philosopher
flying by = passing by quickly / memorable - special, good or unusual and therefore worth remembering or easy to remember
sleep-deprived = not having enough sleep
sustainable changes = changes that can last for a long time / to stick = to become permanent
give it a shot = try to do it
Task 4.
1. memorable
2. sustainable
3. acceptable
4. lovable
5. reliable
6. avoidable
7. measurable
8. unachievable
9. approachable
10. controllable
11. predictable
12. recyclable
13. unspeakable
14. valuable
15. laughable