MONEY: GREED – Proverbial Story.
Level: Intermediate – Upper Intermediate
LISTENING & WRITING
'KING MIDAS' - Traditional story about greed
By THE MUPPETS (popular American children's glove puppet show)
EXERCISE 1
Watch and listen to 'The Midas Touch' video (09.:40 mins):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hrUPVI4Os
VOCABULARY box after these questions
Grammar study: When answering these questions using the dialogues in the video,
use the correct sentence structure/format:Example 1: DIALOGUE QUOTATION: King/Queen Midas said, “???????...”
Write exactly what he/she said.
Example 2: REPORTED SPEECH:
King Midas said that.....................
King Midas warned that................
King Midas advised that................
Queen Midas said that.....................
Queen Midas screamed that.............
Queen Midas demanded/insisted that..
When we describe what someone said, we use the 'that' clause.
You can use your own words to describe what was said. We use this in newspapers and news
reports. (When I correct your errors you will understand better)
The introduction: 00:00-00:19
Q. 1
What financial problems does the country have?
Q.2
what different attitudes does King Midas have from his Queen?
00:20-02:05
Q.3
What is another word meaning 'walking' in the garden which is used in the video?
Q.4
What is another word for 'country'?
Q.5
What offence (crime) does King Midas think the Satyr has done?
What is the punishment which King Midas suggests?
MONEY: King Midas, Listening Exercise. Lesson questions sheet Copyright Amelia Hoskins, Talkingenglishtoday.com
Youtube video copyright Jim Henson Productions
Q.6
What is the deal the Satyr makes with King Midas to avoid his punishment?
Q.7
How does Queen Midas ruin the chance King Midas has for changing his country?
Give examples from the dialogue.
02:06-03:00
Q.8
What does King Midas do for the people with the 'Midas touch' magic gift?
SONG 03:00-03:38
SONG 03.38-04:16
Q.9
How does King Midas disagree with his wife?
Give examples from the song?
05:15-6.28
Q.10
What happens for the worse?
(Phrase 'for the worse': - deterioration of a situation - a phrase used for a bad outcome)
Q.11
What every-day problems does Queen Midas have because of the Midas touch?
06:30-07:18
Q.12
What solutions are offered by 3 of the King's Royal advisers:
a)
Who are the advisers?
b)
Which solutions do they each offer?
c)
what is the joke?
07:19-09:40
Q.13
How does Queen Midas get final help?
What is the deal she makes with the Satry?
Q.14
Does King Midas ever get his original wish?
Vocabulary box
MONEY: King Midas, Listening Exercise. Lesson questions sheet Copyright Amelia Hoskins, Talkingenglishtoday.com
Youtube video copyright Jim Henson Productions
attitudes
feelings or beliefs about something
punishment
something done to you if you do a crime
to ruin (verb)
destroy, spoil
Deal
Agreement, to suit both sides/people/parties
“Knock it off”
“Shut up! “ (stop talking)
“no grovelling”
“don't beg”, don't act lowly
paperweight
a thing to hold papers onto a desk
rid of (verb)
to be rid of, it has gone from me (to get rid of – to discard)
'good sport'
Someone is a 'good sport' if they act well in a situation
Would you like more lessons with other stories from Muppets Classic Theatre?
Information about the Muppets:
Characters Kermit the FROG, is sensible, wise and caring.
Miss Piggy the PIG is bossy, and wants to be a superstar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Show
MONEY: King Midas, Listening Exercise. Lesson questions sheet Copyright Amelia Hoskins, Talkingenglishtoday.com
Youtube video copyright Jim Henson Productions