Callum: Hello I'm Callum Robertson and this is Talk about English, live from studio S6 in Bush House London.
Today it’s quiz time as two teams of students battle for the Talk about English Trophy. They’ll be answering questions on environmental topics, vocabulary and general knowledge as well as taking part in the Talk about English debate
Let's introduce today's competitors. Representing the Frances King School of English
Dusan Topolovic & Eduardo Bergamaschi Felizola
And from Bell Centres London
Mi Ae Jo & Serena Fiume
(Guests introduce themselves)
(Hear each team's buzzer & buzzer for bonus points.)
Callum: Before we get started with today's quiz, here is a question for everyone listening live online.
What gets wetter as it dries?
If you think you know the answer, email us at talkaboutenglish@bbc.co.uk or enter through the competition page of the website where you can also see the question again.
Now on with the quiz
Callum: Round 1 – Environment QUESTIONS Our current Talk about English Topic is the environment. For the first round of the quiz I'll ask the teams questions based on this topic which are taken from two areas of the BBC Learning English website. They are the Weekender feature “Carbon Neutral Al Gore”, and the Words in the News Story “Climate change warning”. The teams have had a chance to look at these stories in advance so let's get started, if you know the answer, press your buzzer.
What position did Al Gore use to have in US politics?
(Former) Vice President
What is the name of his documentary film?
An Inconvenient Truth
How does he try to counter the environmental damage done by the flying he does?
By living a carbon neutral life
Name one other thing connected with his current activities that he describes as being carbon neutral.
Carbon neutral tour Production is carbon neutral Book is carbon neutral
Climate Change Warning questions.
This report was a warning about a specific country, which country?
Greenland
Which particular part of Greenland are scientists concerned about?
The ice-cap
The Greenland ice-cap is estimated to hold what percentage of the world’s fresh water?
10%
GONG
Callum: And that's the end of the first round
The environment is one of those topics that has a lot of coverage in the media, is it a big issue in your countries?
(Response from contestants)
This topic is the subject of our debate. Our teams are going to be arguing that saving the environment is either the responsibility of individuals or the responsibility of governments.
Each team has a maximum of three minutes to put forward their points. If you are listening to this programme live you can vote on which team makes the best argument. The team which gets the most votes will get an extra point. Also as the teams are speaking I'll award them extra points for good arguments and good use of English.
Frances King Protecting the environment is the responsibility of individuals
Bell Protecting the environment is the responsibility of governments
Callum: ( Respond to teams with points and feedback on good points and bad points)
This is Talk about English live from BBC Learning English dot com. Today our special live quiz. Time now for our next round, which is all about the vocabulary of the environment
ROUND 2 – Vocabulary Questions
How do you spell environment?
Both texts used an expression to describe a point beyond which something starts to happen and can’t be stopped. What is this expression?
A tipping-point
We hear a lot about greenhouse gasses and the greenhouse effect. But what is a greenhouse
A glass building to grow plants in
Someone who is environmentally aware is said to be ‘green’. But what does it mean if someone is described as being green-fingered?
Good at gardening
GONG
Callum: And that's the end of the vocabulary round.
(To teams) How green are you?
(Responses from team members)
Callum: Now it’s time for our final general knowledge round. The questions can be about anything, so good luck.
ROUND 3 - General Knowledge
How many bones are there in the adult human body?
(2 points for the exact answer, 1 point for 5 either side)
206
Where in the world is the Great Barrier Reef
(Pacific Ocean / Australia)
What is arachnophobia?
Fear of spiders.
SCHOOL BELL]
Callum: Well that sound means it's time to end the quiz. It's been very exciting so well done everyone.
Before we find out the final score let's find out which team won the public vote, whose opinion was most supported:
(VOTE RESULT and COMMENT AWARD POINT TO TEAM)
And with that the final scores are:
Frances King – 8 points Bell – 14 points
Congratulations and a big thank you to both teams and to your schools. Before we go, the answer to the question I set at the beginning of the programme.
What gets wetter as it dries? The answer is ‘a towel’
[Announce winner]
That's all from our live Talk about English quiz. Goodbye from me and the teams. (GOODBYES)