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Listening task 1: Information

A Listen. People are talking about Kuwait. What are they talking about?
Number the pictures from 1 to 4. (There is one extra picture.)

Answer & Audioscripts

(top row) 2, 1, 3

(bottom row) 4, X

Audioscripts in B below

B Listen again. Circle the correct answers.

 Kuwait is located between

      a. Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

      b. Iraq and Iran.

 Shopping hours in Kuwait City start

      a. at 9:00 A.M.

      b. at 9:30 A.M.

 Older gentlemen go to coffee shops

      a. in the afternoon.

      b. in the evening.

 A traditional sport in Kuwait is

      a. horse racing.

      b. swimming.

Answer & Audioscripts

1 a   2 a   3 b   4 a

Audioscripts

1

Woman:   Kuwait is a country in the Middle East. It’s located between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait City is the capital of the country. It is very modern and busy, and it is the center of Kuwaiti business. Today, Kuwaiti life is an interesting mix of modern and traditional styles. Kuwaitis like their modern lifestyles, but they also still enjoy their old customs, too.

2

Man:   Kuwait City is always busy, especially the area of Salmiya, the place where young Kuwaitis go to find their favorite fashions. There you may see one of the old-style Kuwaiti covered markets between modern Western shops and restaurants. Shopping hours are Saturday through Thursday, nine A.M. to one P.M., and then again from four-thirty P.M. to nine P.M.

3

Woman:   In their free time, people often gather in coffee shops. In the morning and afternoon hours, they are filled with women visiting with each other while their children play together. But the coffee shops are the most popular with the older gentlemen, who gather in the evenings to drink tea or coffee, and to relax and talk with their friends.

4

Man:   Sports are an important part of Kuwaiti life. Since Kuwait is on the coast, people enjoy water sports like swimming, wind surfing, and water skiing. For many Kuwaitis, soccer is the most popular sport. There are over one hundred twenty soccer fields in the country, and Kuwaitis hardly ever miss a match when their team is playing. Traditional sports, such as horse racing, are also still popular in Kuwait.

Listening task 2: Clothing styles

A Listen. A woman is describing women’s clothing styles in Kuwait. Which style is she talking about? Check (✓) Islamic, Western, or both.

 

Islamic

Western

both

1

2

3

4

Answer & Audioscripts

1 both   2 Islamic   3 Western   4 Both

Audioscripts in B below

B Listen again. Circle the correct information.

1   In Kuwait, 45 / 55 percent of the people come from other countries.

2   The abaya has wide stripes / sleeves.

3   Women enjoy wearing expensive scarves and jewelry / jeans.

4   It is / isn’t common for a Kuwaiti woman to wear two styles on the same day.

Answer & Audioscripts

 In Kuwait, 55 percent of the people come from other countries.

 The abaya has wide sleeves.

 Women enjoy wearing expensive scarves and jewelry.

 It is common for a Kuwaiti woman to wear two styles on the same day.

Audioscripts

1

Interviewer:   Hello, Fatema. Thank you for agreeing to speak with me about your country, Kuwait.

Fatema:   My pleasure.

Interviewer:   I’d like to ask you about the style of dress there, in particular for women. Could you tell me what kind of clothes typical Kuwaiti women wear?

Fatema:   Typical Kuwaiti women? Well, Kuwait is really a mix of different cultures. Actually, only forty-five percent of the people who live in Kuwait are Kuwaiti. Fifty-five percent come from other countries. You can see the influence of these different cultures in women’s clothing. There are two main styles of dress for Kuwaiti women: Islamic and Western dress. It’s interesting. In a group of friends, it’s possible to see both clothing styles at the same time; some women might wear Islamic dress and some Western.

2

Interviewer:   Oh, that’s very interesting. Can you tell me some more about women’s clothing styles?

Fatema:   OK, sure. The Islamic style originally came from Saudi Arabia. Women usually cover their hair and their clothes when they are outside the house. The hijab is kind of a scarf that covers the head and hair, but not the face. With the hijab, women usually wear a long, black coat called an abaya over their clothes when they leave the house. The abaya is made of silk and has big, wide sleeves.

3

Interviewer:   This is so interesting, Fatema.

Fatema:   Yes, and did you know that designer clothing is especially popular? Kuwaiti women can find many Western styles inexpensive designer shops in Kuwait City. In their homes, some women wear fashionable designer clothes from Paris, London, and New York: dresses, suits, or skirts and blouses. Many women enjoy wearing scarves and fine jewelry, too.

4

Interviewer:   So if both styles are popular, how does a Kuwaiti woman decide which style to wear?

Fatema:   You know, the style of dress a woman chooses really depends on what she likes. Some women wear Western clothing at home or at work, and then wear a hijab and the abaya for afternoon visits or trips to the mall. It is pretty common for a Kuwaiti woman to wear both Islamic and Western styles on the same day, depending on where she goes and what she does.

Interviewer:   Thank you very much, Fatema. I’ve enjoyed learning a little bit about Kuwaiti culture.

Fatema:   You’re very welcome.

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