Audio Time: 2
min 59 sec
Level: Intermediate and up
Vocabulary: To help
learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might
be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the
lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story
(in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).
Definitions
are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s
Dictionary
To arouse: to cause
(an emotional or mental state).
Intensity: the quality
or state of being intense: extreme strength or force.
Civility: polite,
reasonable, and respectful behavior.
Rude: not
polite and respectful.
Thanksgiving: Celebrated in autumn in the U.S. and Canada, a holiday
for people to be thankful for what they have. People traditionally eat a large
meal with family and friends.
Reunion: an act
of getting people together again after they have been apart.
Sibling: a
brother or sister.
To regress: to
return to an earlier and usually worse or less developed condition or state.
To forge: to form or create (something, such as an agreement
or relationship) through great effort.
To vie: to compete with others in an attempt to get or win
something.
Show off: a person
who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions.
To accuse: to
blame (someone) for something wrong or illegal : to say that someone is guilty
of a fault or crime.
To play
favorites: to treat some individuals better or to prefer them, as when a
teacher gives more attention to certain students or gives them better
grades/marks than other students who have done the same quality work.
To carve: to cut
(cooked meat) into pieces or slices.
To blame: to say
or think that a person or thing is responsible for something bad that has
happened.
To gloat: to show
in an improper or selfish way that you are happy with your own success or
another person's failure.
Endearing: to cause
(someone) to be loved or admired by (someone or something).
To disprove: to show
that (something) is false or wrong.
To bring
up:
to mention (something) when talking: to start to talk about (something).
Discussion
questions:
1. What advice does this article give to discuss politics more
civilly?
2. Do you have any other advice to add that the article
doesn’t mention?
3. What are the customs for discussing politics in your
culture?
4. Is it important to discuss politics? Why?
5. Do you like to discuss politics? Why?
6. If most people don’t talk about politics, what might happen
to society?
7. What are some other topics that can be difficult to discuss
with others?
8. Why are these topics difficult to discuss?
9. What are some
strategies to discuss these other topics in a healthy way?
