Listening (Myth Busters, surviving a fall with an explosion)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Listening practice

Goals for this class

At the end of this class the student has practiced their listening skills.

First question

What is this episode trying to prove?

What is this episode about?

1. Turret-gunners in World War 2
2. Surviving high falls
3. Surviving a fall because of an explosion
4. How bombers work

Why did B-17 gunners not wear parachutes?

Why did B-17 gunners not wear parachutes?

1. The space was too confined
2. It prevented them from aiming accurately
3. Gunners were not expected to need them

What are they testing in the following segment?

What was being tested?

1. Whether the explosion would harm you or not
2. How to time an explosion and a fall
3. Whether an explosion could soften a fall

In the following fragment you are going to hear about two issues the team runs into.

What are some of the problems with this experiment? Name at least 1.

What are some of the problems with this experiment? (name at least 1)

Is the small scale experiment a success?

Was the experiment a success?

1. Yes, the ball was falling more slowly
2. No, the explosion didn't seem to do anything

What else is being tested in this episode?

What else is being tested in this episode?

1. How much energy it costs to turn a light switch on
2. Whether or not you should leave your lights on or not to save money
3. Whether turning lights on or off affects how quickly they break

What is special about the Livermore Fire department?

What is special about the Livermore Fire department?

1. The firefighters there undergo special training
2. The firefighters there are exclusively ex-electricians
3. There's a lightbulb that's been burning for a 105 years

What problem did the free-fall myth run into? 

What problem did the free-fall myth run into?

1. The experiment was going to take too long
2. They lost the balloons they needed
3. Preparations took too long and it was no longer safe to do the experiment

Did the gunner really survive because of the explosion?

Did the gunner really survive (because of the explosion)?

1. Yes, the explosion slowed him down
2. No, the explosion would almost definitely have killed him
3. No, an explosion cannot slow a fall