Listening
exercise
A Moment of Science IV
1. The Science of Suicide
Listen to
the audio file.
Vocabulary:
| to attempt
suicide to compel prematurely countless elements to factor into fatal to lead to underlying biological conclusive compelling evidence to point to irregularities chemical |
neurotransmitter to relay to release neuron synapse to reabsorb messenger to soothe antidepressant Prozac to link to low levels of to determine victims |
to hoard to play an important role lithium in pill form deterrent to shun hand tremors weight gain underwriting chancellor weavers throws pillows accessories |
Listening comprehension questions:
1. About how many people kill themselves per year in the US?
2. What is the name of the neurotransmitter referred to in the broadcast? How
can you find it if you don't hear it clearly?
3. What does a neurotransmitter do?
4. What is a synapse?
5. How does Prozac work?
6. What was found in the brains of some suicide victims?
7. What are some of the drawbacks of using lithium as an antidepressant?
2. The Sexiest Frog in Borneo
Listen to the
audio file.
Vocabulary:
| pond ree-deep relaxing downright chirp male Romeo voice isn't quite up to volume tree-hole amplifier finding team researchers |
led by Bjorn Lardner Sweden University of Lund hollow partially filled with rain water pitch to strike to resonate confusing shower to run across |
effect to vibrate resonance effect to shake to reinforce tree-deep competitor species cricket to dig burrows the right shape to amplify |
Listening comprehension questions:
1. What is meant by 'ree-deep'? How about 'tree-deep'?
2. Why does a male Borneo tree-hole frog want to have a loud call?
3. What does an amplifier do?
4. How does the tree-hole frog maximize the sound of his call?
5. What in our own daily experience does the narrator compare this strategy
of the tree-hole frog to?
6. What do some crickets do to achieve a similar effect?