The Nine Billion Names of God (I)
radio drama based on the 1967 science fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke
Audio here:
http://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~karchung/Nine%20Billion%20II.htm

Vocabulary:

LinguaTech
Mr. Honestchuck
General McCord
to get back to
muffin
I could use some more...
aspirin
ambassador
to tear one's hair out
Koreans
adjournment
to crack a code
creeps
orange pajamas (here refers to the saffron-colored robes of Lamaist monks)
to charge rent
Mr. Sanderson
from now till doomsday ( = never)
never, ever
Valium (a kind of tranquilizer)
writ of possession
a man in a black suit with a violin case
( = a mobster with a machine gun)
hit man
Florence Nightingale
chocolate ripple (a flavor of ice cream)
Whom shall I say is calling?
distraught
to make payments
to seize property
messy
to advise
sheriff
Marlene
gold coins
linguist
cryptographer
to generate, break codes
to program
in the business		 With friends like that,
who needs enemies?
Nepal
interface
guru
universe of illusion
What's your hurry?
reverence
The Way
in our ranks
to carry on
holy task
astrologers
"tough noogies" ( = too bad)
to set up camp
a contest of wills
who will crack first
chief lama
Zenith, Apple, IBM
to put up the money
Ted
to gobble up
diamond bracelet
to screw
greedy
bitch
legal rights
steps
Jill
to go together
catalogue job
underwear
bastard
deliberately
selfish
descent
"Fasten your seat belts."
parachute
porters
ashram
to measure distance
 terrific
to chant
scribes
around this place
monastery
mountain pool
comforting
monk
airport
clients
in the service of God
to be burned out
treeline
pushing like fists
Annapurna
believer
inner peace
purpose
frantically
to gratify
senses
appetites
to be overcome with pity for
to be tormented by cravings
to submit one's will to the will of God
porridge
mug of tea
glob of yak butter
to float
to take the enamel off your teeth
to grow to like s.t.
early morning 'blast'
sociable
to take off
to drop a black curtain
imaginary
conversations
to bring oneself to say s.t. to s.o.
to run down
empty


Listening comprehension questions:
 1. What is Mr. Honestchuck's profession?
2. Why are so many people trying to contact him?
3. Why does Mr. Honestchuck not want to speak to these people, and what methods does he use to stall for time with these people?
4. What is Mr. Honestchuck's marital status?
5. Who is Marlene?
6. What kind of job has Mr. Honestchuck been offered?
7. What kind of relationship does Mr. Honestchuck have with Jill? What kind of work does Jill do?
8. What does Mr. Honestchuck discover about his physical and emotional state in the days after his arrival in Nepal?
9. What does Mr. Honestchuck have for breakfast when he is in Nepal? How does he describe his reaction to this food and drink?
10. What is the content of Mr. Honestchuck's conversations with himself at first? What is it later on?

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