Listening task 1: The farmer and his sons
A Listen. You will hear a traditional folktale. Number the pictures from 1 to 6.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 b 2 e 3 a 4 c 5 f 6 d
Audioscripts in B below
B Listen again. Circle the correct answers.
1 The three sons lived
a. with their father.
b. by themselves.
2 The sons were most interested in
a. farming.
b. treasure.
3 The sons dug up the field
a. to find treasure.
b. to plant wheat.
4 The fields were full of
a. treasure.
b. wheat.
5 The sons sold
a. the farm.
b. the wheat.
6 Their father’s treasure was
a. the land.
b. gold.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 a 2 b 3 a 4 b 5 b 6 A
Audioscripts
1
Woman: Once upon a time, a farmer and his three sons lived on a farm. The farmer always worked very hard in his fields. But his sons did not like to work. They were very lazy and only wanted to sleep and play cards all day.
2
Woman: One day, the farmer called his sons to him.
He said, “Sons, I am old. I will soon die. I won’t be able to take care of you anymore, so I am leaving you a treasure in the fields. There’s a treasure in the fields.”
The oldest son said, “A treasure? Is it gold?”
“Diamonds?” asked another son.
“Money?” asked the third son.
But the old farmer just smiled and said, “A treasure.
You will find a treasure in the fields.”
3
Woman: The old farmer died. His sons ran to the fields. They began digging and digging, dreaming of the treasure they would find. Soon, they dug up the whole field. But they didn’t find any treasure. They found no treasure at all.
4
Woman: The sons decided to plant some wheat, and soon the fields were full of tall wheat planes. Now, the three young sons worked long, hard days in the hot fields to cut and harvest all of the wheat.
5
Woman: When the sons finished harvesting the wheat, they drove to town and sold it to the rich townspeople. They did this year after year after year. And they made a lot of money.
6
Woman: The three sons grew old together on the farm. After many years, they began to enjoy working hard in the fields. Selling the wheat gave them plenty of money, and they were happy. They finally understood that the land was their father’s treasure. The land itself and the wheat in their fields brought them a good life.
Listening task 2: The stonecutter
A Listen to the story of the stonecutter. What is the main idea of each part of the story? Number the statements from 1 to 4.
___ The stonecutter was too busy, and he was tired.
He asked the genie to make him a rich man.
___ The stonecutter saw a man building a stone house.
He understood that he didn’t need money and power to be happy.
___ The stonecutter lived with his wife in a small house.
They were poor but happy.
___ The stonecutter found a genie in a magic lamp.
He asked the genie to make him a prince.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 The stonecutter lived with his wife in a small house. They were poor but happy.
2 The stonecutter found a genie in a magic lamp. He asked the genie to make him a prince.
3 The stonecutter was too busy, and he was tired. He asked the genie to make him a rich man.
4 The stonecutter saw a man building a scone house. He understood that he didn’t need money and power to be happy.
Audioscripts in B below
B Listen again. Which statements are probably true? Check (✓) the correct answers.
1 ◻ The stonecutter wanted to change his job.
◻ The stonecutter did not want to change his job.
2 ◻ The stonecutter wanted to have more money.
◻ The stonecutter wanted to be more handsome.
3 ◻ The prince and his wife wanted to be alone.
◻ The prince and his wife were happy to have visitors.
4 ◻ The story means money is important.
◻ The story means happiness is important.
Answer & Audioscripts
1 The stonecutter did not want to change his job.
2 The stonecutter wanted to have more money.
3 The prince and his wife wanted to be alone.
4 The story means happiness is important.
Audioscripts
1
Man: Once upon a time, there was a stonecutter, a man who cut stones from the mountains to make people’s houses. He was very good at his job, and he loved his work. The stonecutter lived in a tiny little house with his wife. The stonecutter and his wife didn’t have much money, but they were happy just to be together.
2
Man: One day, while he was working, the stonecutter found a dirty, old magic lamp. When the stonecutter rubbed the lamp to clean it, a genie appeared, and said, “I will grant you a wish! You can have anything you want.”
The stonecutter thought for a moment. Just then, he looked out the window and saw the prince going by. “The prince is rich and powerful. I am just a poor stonecutter. Genie, can I become a prince?” The genie said, “Your wish is granted,” and he turned the stonecutter into a prince.
3
Man: That night, when the stonecutter went home, he saw that his little house was now a beautiful prince’s palace. His new life as a prince was very busy. People from the village came to his palace every day to ask the prince to help them with their problems and for favors of all kinds. The stonecutter prince and his wife were never alone, and soon they grew tired of so many people around them all the time.
The stonecutter called the genie. He said, “Genie, a prince’s life is too busy. l am tired. Can I become a rich man instead of a prince?”
The genie said, ” Your wish is granted,” and he turned the stonecutter into a rich man.
4
Man: The stonecutter was now a rich man with a big house and servants to cook, clean, and give the rich man and his wife anything they wanted.
Bur something was still missing.
One day, the rich man was walking in the village and he saw another man building a scone house. He watched as the man worked, cutting the pieces of stone and putting them one on top of another to build a beautiful house. Suddenly, the rich man said “That is what I want to do! I want to be a stonecutter again!”
So the genie said, “Your wish is granted,” and he turned him back into a poor stonecutter. And the stonecutter and his wife lived happily ever after.
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