An Inconvenient Truth

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• ax to grind
• apocalypse
• gotten out
• powerful

• W
• hogwash
• liberal

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Former US Vice President Al Gore appeared on Conan O’Brien’s late night television show to promote his book and film. Both are titled An Inconvenient Truth and were released earlier this summer.

The long-time environmentalist says that our wasteful ways are leading the world into a future of global warming. Glaciers will melt glaciers and ocean levels will rise. But Gore remains optimistic, insisting that it’s not too late to change our fate.

Supporters applaud Gore’s attempt to get people thinking about their own impact on the environment. But critics say Gore’s predictions lack sufficient scientific evidence.

Listen to Mason and Kevin talk about the future of our planet.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Kevin

Mason:  Have you gotten out to see, uh, An Inconvenient Truth yet?

Kevin:  I have. I saw it a few weeks ago. It’s very powerful.

Mason:  Absolutely. Absolutely.

Kevin:  Uh, it’s amazing to me that some people, including “W[/def]” himself, George Bush, believe that it’s total hogwash.

Mason:  Like, I know that’s kinda the case, right, but, serious, I’m sure you agree with me, after watching the movie, which is very factually presented, it’s not, it’s not like some liberal ax to grind. It’s just, like, here is information. And we feel that if you absorb it, you will come to this conclusion. It’s kind of inescapable.

Kevin:  Yes, I mean, the, the reality is when it’s 115 degrees in Portland, that is not normal.

Mason:  It’s a scary thing. I mean, like, the movie is frightening, you know, and it confronts you with a very frightening reality and for me, it compelled me to make some small changes and that’s really all it’s asking from everyone is like, if everyone makes a small change, it makes a big change in the, you know, global sense.

Kevin:  Like, it really made me think, and th—I mean for a long time, I, I’ve taken my coffee cup to the coffee shop, but, when I do that, which is almost every day, to, to remember that, you know, to not throw all this stuff away and to, you know, just, do that as often as I can. You know, and obviously you can’t always do that, but it’s still important.

Mason:  Elsewise, it’ll be the apocalypse.

Kevin:  Exactly.

 

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