MICHAEL MOORE: CAPITALISM AND ME (B2) – Issue 280

Source: Speak Up 

Language Level: Proficiency

Standard: American accent

Speakers: Jason Bermingham and Chuck Rollando

MICHAEL MOORE before starting to answer questions go to 

http://englishtips-self-taught.blogspot.com/2011/02/capitalism-love-store-michael-moore.html for more contact carlosrn36@gmail.com

TASK 1. Speaking. With your partner(s) discuss these questions.

a)    Have you watched any of Michael Moore’s movies? If not, why not? If the answer is yes, tell your partner about it/them. Did you like them?

b)    How much do you know about Michael Moore?

c)    What do you think his latest movie is about (Capitalism: A Love Story)?

d)    What is your general view on capitalism? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about it? Why?

LISTENING

TASK 2.  Prediction. You are going to listen to an interview with Michael Moore. Before you listen, discuss these questions with your partner and choose the correct answer. If you don’t know/aren’t sure, guess!

1. What percentage of the population, according to Michael Moore holds most of the world’s money?

a. 1%

b. 5%

c. 10%

2. What, according to Michael Moore, is the dirtiest word in capitalism?

a. capital

b. money

c. enough

3. Michael Moore compares the investment bank Goldman Sachs to:

a. a charity organisation

b. the Soviet system

c. a normal bank

4. Michael Moore says that several large US corporations have tried to discredit him. How?

a. through advertising

b. through journalists

c. through personal attacks

TASK 3. Listening for Specific Information. Listen to all of the recording, without reading. How many of your answers were correct?

READING

TASK 4. Prediction #2. Before you read the article, look at the following keywords/phrases. Work with your partner(s) and discuss how they are related to the text.

a)    Flint, Michigan

b)    Who loves who in the Movie “Capitalism”

c)    A beast

d)    A democratic economic system

e)    Lehman Brothers

f)    Several health insurance companies

TASK 5: Reading for Specific and Detailed Information. The keywords/phrases in TASK 4 are answers. Read all of the text and write questions to the answers in TASK 4.

(Paper 3: Use of English. Part 4)

TASK 6. Here are some pairs of sentences related to the topic of the article. Complete the second sentence in each pair so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given (IN CAPITALS AND BOLD) .Do NOT change the word given. You must use between two and five words

1)	I might go and see Michael Moore’s latest film
	OF
	I . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   see Michael Moore’s latest film .

2)	“Do Michael Moore’s films interest you?”, I asked my friend
	WAS
	I asked my friend  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in Michael Moore’s filsm

3)	My brother didn’t see “Sicko” when it came out, and now he regrets it
	NOT
	My brother  . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Sicko” when it came out.

4)	Michael Moore began making movies in 1990
	BEEN
	Michael Moore  . . . . . . . . . . . . . movies since 1990

5)	I have never seen such an interesting film before
	EVER
	It’s the most interesting film . . . . . . . . . . . ..

6)	Is “Capitalism” Michael Moore’s best film?
	KNOW
	I would like. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  “Capitalism” is Michael Moore’s best film.

7)	The film is unlikely to be a big success
	PROBABLY
	The film  . . . . . . . . . . . .  a big success.

8)	I’m sure you’ll like the film
	BOUND
	You  . . . . . . . . . . . . like the film

AFTER YOU READ

TASK 7. Speaking. What do you think? Discuss these questions with your partner(s)

a)    Having read the article, would you be interested in watching Michael Moore’s film on capitalism? Why (not9?

b)    Do you think it’s important for filmmakers like Michael Moore to exist? Why (not)?

c)    Are there filmmakers like Michael Moore in Brazil?

d)    Do you agree with Michael Moore’s view on capitalism? Why (not)?

e)    Do you think capitalism is responsible for many of our problems today?

f)    Would the modern world be impossible without capitalism? Why (not)?