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4. TOW GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS
Vocabulary Slang Grammar Listening Speaking

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TOW
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BEFORE WATCHING

1. Do you know the children story Jack and the beanstalk?

If you dont, I strongly recommend to read or watch it first, since the main
joke in this episode is connected with it.
You can find it here
http://www.speakaboos.com/story/jack-and-the-beanstalk/
http://fairytales4u.com/story/jackand.htm
2. The first joke of the episode is hilarious.
To understand it, you need to know this word - omnipotent.
Omnipotent means very powerful, you can do everything (ex. omnipotent
God) The thing is the pronunciation of this word is very close to Im
impotent
Impotent incapable to of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability
to achieve or sustain an erection
In the first joke everyone answers the question

What would you do if you were omnipotent?

Think about it. What would you do?
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 Vocabulary

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Season One

TOW
GEORGE
STEPHANOPOULOS

BEFORE WATCHING
3. Make sure you know these phrasal verbs

Take my mind off it stop thinking about it

JOEY: C'mon, Ross!
ROSS: Alright, alright, maybe it'll take my mind off it. Do you promise to buy me a
big thumb finger?
CHANDLER: You got it.
Stay over stay at somebodys place for a night
MONICA: We thought since Phoebe was staying over tonight we'd have kinda like
a slumber party thing. We got some trashy magazines, we got cookie dough, we got
Twister
Give up to part with smth/smb
PHOEBE: Yeah, right! See, he gave up something, but then he got those magic
beans. And then he woke up, and there was this, this big plant outside his window,
full of possibilities and stuff.. And he lived in a village, and you live in the Village..
RACHEL: Okay, but Pheebs, Pheebs, Jack gave up a cow, I gave up an orthodontist.
Okay, I-I-I know, I know I didn't love himPHOEBE: Oh, see, Jack did love the cow.
Bring smb down - make someone unhappy
RACHEL: I'm so sorry, you guys. I didn't mean to bring you down.
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 Grammar

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AFTER WATCHING
4. Read two short scenes and say what tense is used in the underlined sentence.
Why is it used here?

1.

2.

RACHEL: They wanna know if I'm okay. Okay.. they wanna know if I'm okay,
okay, let's see. Well, let's see, the FICA guys took all my money, everyone I
know is either getting married, or getting promoted, or getting pregnant, and I'm
getting coffee! And it's not even for me! So if that sounds like I'm okay, okay,
then you can tell them I'm okay, okay?
RACHEL: Hello? Who are we spying on?
PHOEBE: Ooh, wait.. wait, I see a woman.
MONICA: Please tell me it's his mother.
PHOEBE: Definitely not his mother.
MONICA: Oh, no...
PHOEBE: Oh, wait, she's walking across the floor.. she's walking.. she's
walking.. she's going for the pizza- (YELLS) Hey, that's not for you, bitch!

Season One

TOW
GEORGE
STEPHANOPOULOS
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 Listening for details

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Season One

AFTER WATCHING
5. Watch the following scene (minute 00:01) and write down the missing words.

MONICA: Alright. Phoebe?

PHOEBE: Okay, okay. If I were omnipotent for a day, I would want,
_____________, no more __________, good things for the rainforest...And
bigger boobs!
ROSS: Yeah, see, you took mine. Chandler, ___ _____ _____?
CHANDLER: Uh, if I were omnipotent for a day, I'd _____ ______ omnipotent
forever.
RACHEL: See, there's always one guy. "If I had a wish, I'd wish for three more
wishes."
ALL: Hey Joey. Hi. Hey, ______.
MONICA: Hey, Joey, what would you do if you were ________________?
JOEY: Probably kill myself!
MONICA: Excuse me?
JOEY: Hey, if Little Joey's dead, then I got no reason to live!
ROSS: Joey, uh- OMnipotent.
JOEY: ____ _____? Ross, I'm sorry.

TOW
GEORGE
STEPHANOPOULOS
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Season One

TOW
GEORGE
STEPHANOPOULOS

Speaking

AFTER WATCHING
6. Comprehension questions

1. How did Rachel feel about getting her first paycheck?

2. How did meeting with her old friends affect her?
3. How did Phoebe compare Rachels story with the story about Jack and the
Beanstalk?
4. What did Rachel realize in the end?
7. Discussion questions

1. What age do young people in your country leave home?

2. What does it take to become independent and live on your own in your
country?
3. Do you remember when you got your first salary? Were you excited/
surprised/disappointed?
8. Choose two jokes that you liked or you want to understand better and be ready
to quote them in class. Use this website (http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~shadelet/)
to find a full transcipt of the episode.
9. Choose two funny situations from the episode and be ready to describe them.
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