LISTENING

Saturday, Dec 3rd 2022

 THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
https://rhinospike.com/audio_requests/anejame/6123/
The Great Wall Of China, which is said to be visible from the moon, winds up
and down across deserts, glasslands and mountains of 5 provinces. It is
considered one of the greatest man made wonders in the world thanks to its
magnificence and significance. In 1987, The Great Wall was enlisted in the
world heritage by UNESCO.
The Great Wall as we see today was mostly built during the Minh Dynasty
for defense purposes. It started in 1368 and took 200 years to complete .
Some parts of the wall are much older and go back around 200 B.C. It
stretches for about 6,000km from east to west. The Wall is about 11 meters
high and a stone roadway runs along the top of it.
The Great Wall is a symbol of the Chinese nation throughout history. If you
prefer to see the Wall in a relatively nature state, you’d better go to the
northwest of Beijing. This part of The Wall is best choice for it is still its
original state. A visit to the great wall will certainly bring tourists great
excitement in each step of the wall.
 THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA
https://rhinospike.com/audio_requests/Thom/47342/#recording
s
• The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu around the year 2560 BC. The purpose
of this huge stone pyramid was to serve as a tomb when he died and to protect the burial chamber from the
weather and from thieves who might try to steal the treasures and belongings there. The Great Pyramid is
believed to have been built over a 20-year period. First, the site was prepared and then the huge blocks of
stone were transported and put in their places.
• When it was built, the Great Pyramid was 147 meters high on a base of 230 meters square. It ranked as the
tallest structure on earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth
century AD. The structure consisted of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing about 2.5
tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3-metre high, 0.3-
metre-thick wall around France.
• Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory
involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. A
second theory suggests that the blocks were lifted and placed using thousands of huge weight arms.
• Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is enclosed, together with the other pyramids in the tourist region of the
Giza Plateau on the west bank of the River Nile. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun
Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to
carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid.
 Vanuatu Island
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/listening/3L12-vanuatu-
transcript.php
• Good morning everyone and welcome to lecture 7 in a series of 12 on the island nations of the
Pacific Ocean. Today we will be talking about Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a group of about 15 islands
divided into six provinces which can be found around 1700 kilometers from the eastern coast of
Australia. Its capital city is called Port Vila, which has a population of more or less 30,000. The
total population in Vanuatu is some 200,000.
• Now, I first want to say some brief words about the history and politics of the island and then we
can talk about its culture and geography.
• Many of the islands of Vanuatu have been inhabited for thousands of years, the oldest
archaeological evidence found dating to 2000 BC. In 1605, the Portuguese explorer Pedro
Fern�ndez de Quir�s became the first European to reach the islands, believing it to be part of
Terra Australis. Europeans began settling the islands in the late 18th century, after British
explorer James Cook visited the islands on his second voyage, and gave them the name New
Hebrides.
• In 1887, the islands began to be administered by a French-British naval commission. In 1906, the
French and British agreed to joint Anglo-French rule over the New Hebrides. Vanuatu suffered
from a practice wherein half of the adult male population of some of the islands became
indentured workers in Australia. Because of introduced diseases, the population fell greatly, to
45,000 in 1935.
 Vanuatu Island
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/listening/3L12-vanuatu-
transcript.php
• During the 1990s, Vanuatu experienced political instability, which eventually resulted in
a more decentralized government. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, a paramilitary group,
attempted a coup in 1996, because of a pay dispute. There were allegations of
corruption in the government. New elections were called several times after 1997.
• As far as the economy goes, it is based primarily on agriculture, which provides a living
for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism are the other
main supporters of the economy. About 50,000 tourists visit the island group annually.
Mineral deposits are negligible and the country has no known petroleum deposits.
• Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between
constituent islands.
• GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns,
the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In
mid-2002, the government also stepped up efforts to boost tourism.
 Vanuatu Island
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/listening/3L12-vanuatu-
transcript.php
• There are three official languages: English, French and Bislama, which is a creole language which
evolved from English. In addition, over one hundred local languages are spoken on the islands.
The density of languages per capita is the highest of any nation in the world with an average of
only 2000 speakers per language.
• Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin, and have a tropical or sub-tropical
climate. The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1879 m. There are several
active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Lopevi as well as several underwater ones.
• A severe earthquake in November 1999, followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the
northern island of Pentecote, leaving thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in
January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port Vila, and surrounding areas, and also
was followed by a tsunami.
• The future for Vanuatu is very uncertain. Global warming and the threat of rising sea levels puts
this group of islands in imminent danger. Much of the Vanuatu land mass lies just a few feet
above the waves. If sea levels do continue to rise at current rates, the inhabitants of Vanuatu
may be seeking refuge in New Zealand or Australia before the end of the century.
 QUIZ
1. There is more than one island that makes up the nation of Vanuatu.
  True
    False
2. The first European thought Vanuatu was part of Australia.
    True
    False
3. The British began ruling Vanuatu after the French left.
    True
    False
4. The people of Vanuatu began pressing for independence just before World War 2.
    True
    False
5. There is a lot of oil that has been discovered in Vanuatu.
    True
    False
 QUIZ
6. Vanuatu's geographic isolation causes problems for the economy.
    True
    False
7. Vanuatu is a linguistically rich country.
    True
    False
8. Vanuatu is vulnerable to natural disasters.
    True
    False
 QUIZ
1. The total population in Vanuatu is …..
2. In ……, the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós became the first European to
reach the islands.
3. In ……., the islands began to be administered by a French-British naval commission
4. Because of introduced diseases, the population fell greatly, …….to in 1935.
5. . ...full sovereignty was finally granted by both European nations on July , 1980.
6. It joined the UN in 1981, and the Non-Aligned Movement in …..
7. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, a paramilitary group, attempted a coup in…. , because of a pay
dispute.
8. As far as the economy goes, it is based primarily on agriculture, which provides a living for … %
of the population.
9. About …… tourists visit the island group annually.
10. GDP growth rose less than ….. % on average in the 1990s.
11. The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at ….. meters.
12. Another powerful earthquake in January caused extensive damage in ….. the capital, Port Vila.
Thank you