Doomsday vault

With 2012 just around the corner, there's been plenty of hullabaloo about doomsday (click here for a definition), and Hollywood has been quick to capitalize on the occasion to rake in the bucks with box office hits of dubious quality, such as the recently released "2012" by director Roland Emmerich.
But is there anything behind all the fuss? Well, the world's governments seem to think so, as they have collaborated en masse in the creation of the "doomsday vault" project, about which you will know more after watching this video (scroll down). Answer the following questions in your notepad after watching:

1. What exactly is the "doomsday vault" and where is it located?
2. What four catastrophes is the vault secure against, and how does it guarantee this security?
3. Why have they chosen such a cold location? Does it require refrigeration?
4. How many seeds will be stored there and by which countries?
   
5. Are there other seed banks in the world? What makes the Svalbard site different?
6. Who owns the vault and the seeds?
7. Where are the individual samples stored?
   
8. Who is Kerry Fowler and what is his warning to mankind?
9. What three modern developments does the reporter cite as justifications for the Svalbard project?
   
10. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?
    

Amsterdam - much more than a red light district

Before you watch the video, answer these questions:
1. Have you been to Amsterdam?
2. What is Amsterdam famous (or notorious) for?
3. Is Amsterdam known for its beauty?

Now watch the video and answer the questions that follow.

This time we'll do this Cambridge exam style (fill in the blanks with a maximum of six words).
1. The presenter lived and worked in Amsterdam and even __________________________.
2. Amsterdam is _____________________ for many international companies.
3. Ms. Richards has heard that Amsterdam has more _________________________________.
4. The people of Amsterdam are ____________________________________________ (three adjectives)...and they really make ______________________________________ their time off.
5. If you're lucky enough to know someone who owns their own boat it's a ___________________________________ the city.
6. If you feel so inclined you can have yourself a smoke while playing _______________ or ___________________.
7. Cycling is brilliant because they have so many ________________________________.
8. Instead of hopping off the bike, Ms. Richards stayed on the bike and _________________________.
9. A good night out in Amsterdam usually starts with _____________________________.
10. Amsterdam is definitely the canals, ____________________________________________ (three more things).

Did stone-age children play with dinosaurs?

Did our ancestors keep dinosaurs as pets? Does it require more faith to believe Darwin's theory of evolution than to believe the Bible's Book of Genesis? Is science compatible with the biblical account of the Great Flood?
Well, some people with deep pockets have invested $27 million dollars in a museum which seeks to provide answers to these questions, albeit very controversial ones. Listen to the video and answer the questions below Afterwards, feel free to post a comment (that's a subtle form of pressure).

1. According to the BBC reporter, what is the goal of the museum?
2. How would you describe the reporter's tone in the beginning of the video?
   
3. What claim that the museum makes is so controversial?
4. What does the woman say about faith and the theory of evolution?
   
5. According to co-founder Mark Loy, was the Grand Canyon formed over millions of years?
   
6. Does Mr. Loy think children may have kept dinosaurs as pets? Why?
   
7. What groups of people are upset about the opening of this museum? Why?
   
8. According to Professor Gene Kritsky, what is the only thing missing from the museum?
9. What are the reporter's concluding remarks? Do you agree?
10. Do you think this type of museum would be a success in Spain? Why or why not?

check out website: http://creationmuseum.org/

New kind of restaurant

Hello students!
Listen to the video and answer the questions below in your notebooks.

1. What great inventions has Germany given the world? (name three).
2. The BBC reporter thinks none of the above inventions are as ____________ as this latest one.
3. Each seat in the restaurant is _______________ and ________________.
4. The chip card keeps a ________ of your order.
5. They haven't found a way to ______________________ the chef yet!
6. The spokesperson for the restaurant thinks it's a great way to save ____________________________
7. The Germans think they have _____________________ a revolution in the restaurant industry.