Learner’s Book page 2 - Pearson...

English FAL Grade 8 © Maskew Miller Longman (Pty) Ltd. Permission is granted to photocopy this page.

Texts for listening activities

Chapter 1, Activity 3 Learner’s Book page 2

Listen to an information textThe Olympic GamesFrom 776 BC, the Ancient Greeks held games every four years in a place called Olympia. At first, the Games only had one event – a 200-yard sprint. Later, other events were added, such as the marathon race. The winner was given a crown made from the leaves of a sacred olive tree. The Games were held for 12 centuries and more events were added. But, in AD 394, the Emperor stopped the Games.

In 1896, in Athens, Greece, the Modern Olympic Games were held for the first time with many different countries taking part. The Games are still held in a different country every four years. A man from France, Pierre de Coubertin, started this. He wanted the Games to be about unity in the world. At the 1908 London Games, he said: “The most important thing is not to win but to take part.”

The Olympic flag was first used at the 1912 Games. The flag is white with five rings of blue, yellow, black, green and red linked together to show unity. The rings represent the five parts of the world that take part in the Olympic Games.

The Olympic torch burns while the Modern Games are on. Since 1936, the torch is lit in a ceremony at Olympia, the ancient site of the Games, and carried to the city hosting the Games.

Since 1928, the winners receive medals of gold, silver and bronze for achieving first, second and third places.

In ancient times, only men could take part in the Games. At the first modern Olympic Games no women took part because it was thought to be improper. However, in 1900, women took part in tennis, golf, croquet, sailing and horse-riding. Nowadays, women from most countries are free to take part in the Olympics.

Chapter 2, Activity 2Learner’s Book page 16

Listen to a prepared speechMinister Pandor’s speechThe Programme Director, Professor (Dr) Masno Ginting, President of the International Junior Science Olympiad; Committee Members of the International Junior Science Olympiad; Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Councillor James Nxumalo; Mr Robin Naidoo, chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for IJSO 2011; Distinguished members of the Scientific Committee; Team Leaders and their deputies; Students from all participating countries; Teachers and Parents; Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’m delighted to be here at the closing ceremony to see who will win the eighth International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO).

Olympiads stimulate interest in science. They encourage young people to become scientists, to become physicists, chemists, biologists. They encourage youngsters to choose science as a career and that choice assists all of us to develop and prosper. I hope the Olympiad questions and associated tasks not only tested your knowledge depth of biology, chemistry and physics, but also helped you to think creatively.

If learners are introduced to exciting and challenging science at an early age, it is likely that more of them could be attracted to science-based careers than is


currently the case. More similar activities are needed to prepare young people for future science and technology careers.

I would like to encourage you to look at the potential study opportunities that South Africa offers in science and technology. South Africa has some state-of-the-art research infrastructure. A case in point is research infrastructure for astronomy, which has made our country an international astronomy research destination. We have research councils that are the envy of the world.

Olympiads and similar competitions are central to the implementation of our Youth into Science Strategy. The strategy is part of our work to build, at school level, a pipeline for the development of the country’s science, engineering and technology technicians and professionals. Like most other countries in the emerging world, South Africa needs to train more researchers in science and technology.

A special word of congratulations to the winners; your effort and hard work has been rewarded with this recognition. I wish you well with furthering your studies and sincerely hope that you will follow a career in science.


Listen to a text16 June 1976In January 1976, the South African government decided that Afrikaans would be used to teach half of the subjects in black schools. This was very unpopular with teachers and students. In mid-June, student leaders decided to have a protest to show how unhappy they were about this decision. About 2000 students met at Orlando West Secondary School in Vilikazi Street, Soweto. Many thousands more joined them. They marched to the Orlando Stadium, where they discussed the problem. Then they were planning to march peacefully to the offices of the Department of Education to hand over a list of their grievances.

However, the police blocked the road and ordered the students to disperse. The students did not, and the police fired teargas and live bullets. Hector Pieterson, a 12-year old student, was shot and killed. There is a famous photograph of his friend, Mbuyisa Makhubo, carrying his body to the local clinic while Hector’s sister, Antoinette Sithole, runs beside them. The unrest continued through the night and spread into other areas such as Alexandra township. That day about 200 people died. And, by the end of 1976, about 575 people had died in the unrest. The authorities closed the schools, and they changed the decision about using Afrikaans to teach.

Many historians say that the Soweto uprising was an important event in helping to end apartheid. It made the world aware of the inequalities in South Africa. It made many South Africans decide to resist apartheid.


Listen to an articleAlcohol advertisingThe age at which South Africans can legally buy alcohol or cigarettes is 18. But from as soon as we can hear and see, we are exposed to adverts telling us what fun it is to drink alcohol. Television adverts show people having fun at parties because they are drinking wine or beer. Beer manufacturers sponsor sports teams, so we see pictures and names of beer at stadiums and even on athletes’ shirts.


However, it is against the law for tobacco companies to advertise cigarettes. They are also not allowed to sponsor sport. The statistics show that this has had a positive effect. The number of cigarette sales is down. And fewer young people are starting to smoke.

Why isn’t the law the same for cigarettes and for alcohol? We all know that too many young people develop drinking problems. So the same law should apply to alcohol and to cigarettes. The government should ban alcohol advertising, the same way it has banned cigarette advertising. When people are young they are most likely to be influenced by adverts. So it is a waste of time for the government to allow alcohol advertising, but to make it illegal for young people to buy or drink alcohol.


Listen to advice about hikingAdvice to hikers• Watchtheweather.Donotgohikingduringorafterbadweather.Thiscanbe

dangerous because the rocks on a mountain or hiking trail become slippery in wet weather. You can easily slip and fall. In bad weather, hikers have sometimes frozen to death. Before you hike, get a proper weather forecast. Phone the local weather office. Remember that the weather can change, so take wind- and waterproof clothing, even if the sun is shining.

• Donothikealone.Fourisagoodnumberinagroup.Makesurethatyoustaytogether, and walk at the pace of the slowest member.

• Informsomeoneathomeofyourplannedroute and when you expect to return. Carry a cellphone and know the emergency rescue numbers.

• Carryagoodmap.Takenoteoflandmarksasyouwalk.If youthinkyouarelost, return along the way you came.

• Carryenoughwater,especiallyinsummer.Youalsoneedtocarryfoodto replace energy along the way. The more strenuous the walk, the more refreshments you will need.

• Startingoodtime.Avoidwalkinginthedark,butcarryatorchorheadlampincase you need one.

• If someonegetsinjured,stayinoneplaceandfindshelter.Donotmovetheinjured person unless they are in a dangerous position. Do not leave the injured person alone. If possible, send two people for help. Make a detailed note of where the injured person is; look out for landmarks.

• Stayawayfrombaboons.Theycanbeverydangerous.Donotgonearthem,feed them, or eat in front of them.


Listen to a textAutobiography of a teacherI was born in a town called Stanger, in KwaZulu-Natal. I have three brothers and sisters.

I became an English teacher because I like working with people, and because I love to read. So this job was a way to mix both my interests. If I were not a teacher today, I would like to be a detective, because I pay attention to details and I like to solve crimes.

My favourite singer is Lira.


I like animals but one animal I am scared of is a snake. When I was a small child, my favourite food was chicken. Today, I have to say that my favourite food is curry. One place in the world I want to visit is New York.

If I win the lotto, the first thing I will buy is a new house.Before I worked at this school, I worked at a secondary school in Durban.

Oprah Winfrey is the celebrity I would most like to meet. If I could be famous, I would like to be a famous writer of children’s books.


Listen to a news articleThe benefits of laughingLaughter is good for us. Scientists have found that laughing is as important to our health as food and sleep and exercise.

Laughter is good for our brains. When we laugh, we become less stressed and worried about life. When we laugh, our problems seem smaller.

Laughter makes our bodies relax. The good feeling we get from laughing lasts for 45 minutes after we stop. Laughing also helps to lower blood pressure.

Laughter is good for our hearts. When we laugh, we use energy and muscles just like we do when we run or play sport. Laughter gets the blood moving around the body and this is good for our hearts.

Laughter is good for our friendships. People who laugh a lot usually have many friends. People like other people who make them laugh.

Laughter makes us less angry. Research shows that people who laugh more, fight less. They can also solve problems without getting cross with other people.

Laughter makes us better workers. People who have fun together and laugh a lot do well in group work. Be careful though, because too much fun can slow work down!


Listen to a dialogueDialogue on the tradition of storytellingThis dialogue was recorded by someone doing research on family traditions. It was recorded in a village in Limpopo. Lindiwe is a teenager, and she lives in the city. She is spending the school holidays with her grandmother in a village.Lindiwe: Gogo, I remember when I was still small you used to tell Sipho and me lots of stories. It was always at suppertime, at the fire.Gogo: Did you enjoy those stories I told you, Lindi?Lindiwe: That was one of the best things about my childhood. Sipho and I talked about it in the taxi on the way here. Which stories will Gogo tell this time?Gogo: So which did you like the most? The one about the tokoloshe? No, I think that one used to frighten you.Lindiwe: It did! Because you used to make your face all ugly, and your voice was like tin. I liked the one about the mermaid.Gogo: Do you remember the story about the Lake of Fundudzi? That was my favourite.Lindiwe: Oh, yes! How the lake came up and swallowed the whole village, because the people were unkind to a stranger. Where did you get all those stories from?Gogo: They were all told to me by my grandmother, and they were told to her by her grandmother. A long way back …


Lindiwe: My mom won’t be telling those stories to her grandchildren. She’s way too busy.Gogo: That’s the problem. I see children nowadays just seem to watch television.Lindiwe: Gogo, there are stories for children on TV. Bongi watches kiddie television every afternoon.Gogo: But those stories on television are not our stories. They’re stories from other cultures. Who will tell our stories, Lindiwe? One day, they will all be gone.Lindiwe: I’ve got an idea! You tell me the stories again, I’ll write them down and we send them to a publisher. Just imagine – a book of Limpopo stories for children to read. Let’s start now.


Listen to a letter to the pressLetter to the pressDear Sir/MadamI am writing in response to the latest article in your newspaper about the continuing slaughter of rhinos. Will it never stop? These killers seem to care more about money than about the pain and suffering they are causing to the rhinos they kill. In some cases, it seems the poachers cut the horns off the rhino while it is still alive, and the rhino has a slow and painful death.

What are the police doing to curb this horror? Surely they should be patrolling the roads in the Kruger Park and in other areas where rhinos are killed. Police should be stopping cars and searching them. It cannot be that easy to hide a huge rhino horn!

If this crisis continues, rhinos will soon become extinct, and our grandchildren will look at animal books and say “What happened to these animals? How did they die? Didn’t they use their horns to protect themselves?” We will have to explain to them that the horns made them a target for killing. We will also have to explain to them why we did not do enough to save the rhinos.Yours sincerelyNomi Khumalo


Listen to a speechNandi JakobsGood morning, boys and girls. I am very pleased to be invited to your school to talk about myself and my career. My name is Nandi Jakobs and I am an architect working for a big construction company. The best part about working for this company is I get good experience. I work with talented people and I’m always challenged on so many levels. People say that I’m perfect for my job, because I’m a hardworking perfectionist. Now I am going to tell you a bit about myself and how I have come to be where I am today.

I was born in the Eastern Cape but grew up in Pretoria. I also went to boarding school in King Williams Town. I was always into Maths and Art at school, but I didn’t think at the time that I could successfully pursue a career in building construction.

I have always been very motivated and determined. This year I would like to focus on developing my career as a healthcare architect, which would involve designing and building a new clinic in our area. I’m learning so much right now,


and I’m really enjoying it. It is satisfying to think that my work can contribute to improving healthcare facilities in our area.

The greatest influence in my life so far has been my mother, who was a single parent, but she was a dedicated high school Maths teacher at the same time. She always encouraged my two brothers and me to stop at nothing to achieve our goals. I am also inspired by people who dedicate their lives to making our communities better places to live in. There are so many people from professionals to our parents, who spend every day of their lives working to help and serve others.


Listen to an information textThe life of slaves in the CapeWhen slaves were sold at slave auctions, they were divided into types such as “male adult”, “female adult”, “child” and “elderly adult”. This meant that families, made up of men, women and children, were often split up.

Slaves were not allowed to wear shoes. Even in the cold, wet winter they were forced to go barefoot. This showed that slaves were not equal to the free people of the Cape. Slaves earned no money. They were given food, clothes and shelter by their owners and often the quality of all three – food, clothes and shelter – was very poor.

Some slave owners tried to make slaves who worked in their homes feel like “part of the family”. However, they did this in order to control the slaves. In some cases this worked. Some slaves betrayed other slaves because they wanted to please their owners.

All slave owners had the right to punish slaves who did not obey their orders. The punishments were often harsh and cruel. Two of the most common were whipping slaves with a sjambok, and branding them with a piece of hot metal. Branding burns the skin and slaves bore the scars for life.


Listen to an extract from a novelExtract from Far from home“Amai!” I whined. “You know!”

At last she became serious. “Yes, mwanangu, I know who Nhamo is. Did you receive some news?”

“Yes, he has told his uncle that he wants to marry me. They will soon be sending their munyai here to speak with Baba … What do you think he will say? Will he accept?”

“Well, you know that depends on what his family is offering; you are the only daughter of a chief, remember that … But I am sure it will be fine.” She squeezed my hand. “The two of you do not share the same totem so there is nothing to prevent you marrying – and he is a good boy, from a good family. I would be very proud to call him my son-in-law.”

That was all I needed to hear. I laughed and hugged her tight until she protested that I was crushing the baby inside her. I quickly stepped back, but held on to her hands. I turned my face up to the night sky and felt the moonlight spilling over me, silver over silver. I had never felt so full of happiness in all my life.

The munyai arrived early in the morning. The sun was just creeping over the mountain when his voice cut through the crisp morning air.


“Tsvakiraikuno! We are looking for someone to cook for us!” This was the customary call for any munyai hoping to speak to a girl’s family about marriage.

And, as was the custom, I heard someone shout out angrily – was it my brother Garikai? I quickly got up and ran to the door of my hut, just in time to see three men, my brother Garikai with them, armed with sticks and whips, running up the hill to where the munyai was standing. The munyai saw them coming and shouted out boldly, one more time, “Tsvakiraikuno!” before running down the hill on the other side. The four men followed them, waving their sticks, cracking their whips.

I leaned against the door of my hut and smiled. The message had been sent. It would not be long now.


Listen to an extractExtract from the ending to Noor Ebrahim’s storyWhen I left our house in District Six I knew my life had changed forever. In bitterness and anger, I accepted what was inevitable. … In District Six, we were ordinary people, living a rich and satisfying life. We cared for each other and about each other. And when our lives there ended, I thought my happiness had received a blow from which it would never recover.

Who would have thought, that with the establishment of the District Six Museum, there would be a return of meaning into my life. The museum was established in 1992 to commemorate the destruction of District Six. Let me quote from our first newsletter: “In many ways, Noor Ebrahim has laid the foundation upon which this museum has been built. Some of the most recognisable and most frequently reproduced images of District Six were taken with the Voigtlander camera that he bought with his brother Hoosain.”

This was the start of exciting events which I could never have predicted. The museum has become a symbol of remembrance and survival in our country. The photographs and artefacts donated by ex-residents have become the centre of an on-going series of exhibitions. The museum has captured our loss for all to see.


Listen to a plot summarySummary of a plot“The locket” is a play about the relationship between a landlord, his tenant, Mary, and her daughter, Angela.

On Angela’s 16th birthday, her mother gives her a locket on a golden chain. It was her father’s dying wish that she should get it.

When Jason, the landlord, comes to collect his rent, Mary asks for more time to pay. Jason refuses and takes the precious locket instead of rent.

But the play is not only about money. It is also about Angela’s relationship with her schoolmates. She is small for her age, and is often bullied. At her birthday celebration, Jason’s son, Benji, and his girlfriend, Samantha, are unkind to her.

Then there is a dramatic turn of events. Benji is trapped in an underground cave. His family pleads with Angela to go down with a rope to help him – she is small and athletic enough to do this. Angela is afraid of small dark places, but she agrees to go. Angela saves Benji. At the end of the play, Jason’s wife says to him, “What rent? How can you be so selfish and ungrateful? This girl saved our son’s life – and this is how you say thank you. This is my house. There will be no more rent.”



Listen to a textStudy adviceGive yourself enough time to complete all your studying. Do not leave it all until the night before. Plan a study timetable. Fill in all your exams on the days you write. Then fill up the other days with revision.

Understand the difference between studying and revising. Studying means working through your notes, trying to understand. Revising means looking over work that you have already studied and understood.

Organise your study space. You need to have enough light, and a surface such as a desk or a table. Have all your notes and books neatly arranged.

Break down all the material you need to study into short sections. Then draw a flow chart of each section. This is similar to a mind map. But, whereas a mind map helps you to think of new ideas, a flow chart helps you to arrange information that you already know. Each flow chart will be a summary of that section of work.

Practise with past exam papers. This helps you know what to expect and what sort of questions you could be asked.

Explain the work to someone else, such as a classmate who needs help, or to a family member. Many people have found that this helps them to understand the work better.

Learner’s Book page 2 - Pearson...

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