Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. triumph
    • ex. The runner smiled in triumph as he received his gold medal.
  2. endure
    • ex. She endured the long wait in line just to see her favorite idol.
  3. fatigue
    • ex. She experienced fatigue after working for more than 10 hours.
  4. discomfort
    • ex. The patient experienced some discomfort after the operation.
  5. industrial
    • ex. There are many industrial buildings in this city. Many car companies have a factory here.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Lewis Pugh, 53, finished swimming all of the Hudson River after a month-long journey. The river is 315 miles long (507 kilometers). It passes through forests and huge rocks before finally flowing closer to New York City. As Pugh finished his journey, his supporters gathered and cheered for him in Manhattan. He smiled and raised his arms in triumph.

Pugh has endured many challenges during his swim. He was only wearing a Speedo swimsuit, cap, and goggles. He experienced painful shoulders and fatigue for weeks. In addition, he met with boats, plastic garbage, tides, and strong winds. However, he said that any discomfort is okay because he wanted other people to know the importance of clean rivers.

Many years ago, the Hudson River was known for being severely polluted. All kinds of garbage were dumped into it, including industrial waste from factories. But in the 1970s, the river was cleaned and slowly transformed. Pugh said that the Hudson River is a powerful example of how we can still save polluted waters on the planet.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Enduring Challenges

  • Lewis Pugh endured the long-distance swim at the Hudson River. What kind of difficult sports or activities do you think you can endure (ex. marathon, mountain climbing)? Discuss.
  • What are some common challenges that people face when reaching their goals (ex. financial, health)? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is it better to endure a challenge or just give up? Why? Discuss.

Importance of Clean Rivers

  • Why do you think clean rivers are important? Discuss.
  • What is the condition of rivers in your country? Discuss.
  • Pugh said that the Hudson River is a powerful example of how we can still save polluted waters on the planet. How does this statement make you feel (ex. worried, full of hope)? Why? Discuss.