Listening exercise
Randy Pausch reprises his "Last Lecture" on Oprah Winfrey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BODHsU3hDo4

Vocabulary:
Dr. Oz
special report
frightening
death
to see s.t. very differently
to hear from s.o.
married
popular
image source

professor
Carnegie-Mellon University (Pennsylvania)
to say good-bye to
lecture
to download
to pass around
stage
to reprise

academic tradition
hypothetically
There's an elephant in the room.
(= There is something very obvious
that people are not mentioning.)
pancreatic cancer
surgery
chemotherapy
radiation
CT scans
to be clear
to stink
to pursue
medical treatment
how the movie is going to end
to play the cards one is dealt
to disappoint
to be an object of pity
to be physically strong
audience
how to live
childhood dreams
to try to achieve them
incredibly
to rate
photo album
to dream
to turn on a television
to land on the moon
to lose that spirit
to be in the National Football League (NFL)
little league football
to be "old school"
to ride someone (= to make s.o. work very hard)
to owe s.o. pushups
assisant coach
to care
to point out
to give
to stick with one
Walt Disney Imagineering
rides
shows
attractions
to graduate from college
rejection letter
graduation
inspirational
the darndest thing happened
to develop a skill
Alladin's Magic Carpet Ride
brick walls
to be there for a reason
how much one wants something
to luck out
the blur
in the back
to be lapped

 there is this notion of
have fun
should never go away
to fight in World War II
greatest generation
to discover
the Bronze Star for Valor
marriage
it just never came up
to pull s.o.'s hair
humility
to keep someone in check
to take examinations
to pat one's arm
to fight the Germans
the day came when
to introduce s.o. to people as
to paint
rocket ship
elevator
quadratic equation
pristine nature of the wall
people vs. things
niece and nephew
to get a little break
Chris and Laura
to crack up laughing
to casually open up a soda
to empty it on the back seat
at the end of the weekend
to have the flu
to throw up
on the backseat of the car
not feel guilty
Tigger
Eor
optimistic
enthusiastic
never underestimate
to work and play well with others
integrity
to screw up
apology
three parts
my fault
to make something right
to skip
sincerity
pure evil
to show people your good side
to do s.t. in a hurry
tenure
powerful
lastly
to complain
to whine
to solve the problem
Jackie Robinson
to have s.t. in your contract
to spit on
to play the game hard
lecture series
much broader
how to live your life
to lead your life
karma
to live properly
to come to one

Listening comprehension questions:
1. What is Pausch's attitude toward his illness and about having fun?
2. What value does Pausch see in dreams that we don't achieve, and the "brick walls" in the way of what we're trying to do?
3. What feelings does Pausch express about his parents?
4. What two remarks did Pausch's mother make to keep Pausch "in check"?
5. What does Pausch think is far more important than "things"?
6. What does Pausch say you should you do when you "screw up"?
7. What does Pausch say to us about people who seem to be "bad" or "evil"?
8. What is "karma" and what does Pausch say about it?
9. Who did Pausch really write this speech for, and when will they hear it?
10. Which part of the speech impressed you most?

     The entire lecture is over an hour long and is available over YouTube here. Here is a pdf file of the written text of the speech. It is also available in book form.

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