Listening Comprehension

8th form

Name:_________________________
Date: _________________________

Listen to the text and do the tasks.

“He never heard her in “Carmen””

Once Mark Twain was invited to the opera. He accepted the invitation. The box where he had a seat
belonged to a very rich man. The rich man and his wife were very proud because all their friends saw
them with the famous writer in their own box. During the performance the man and his wife talked all
that time. They talk, loudly and so much that it was often impossible for Mark Twain to listen to the
opera.
Mark Twain was very much annoyed. He liked music and always enjoyed listening to the opera. He
realized that neither the rich man nor his wife understood music and they came to the opera just to show
that the famous writer was a friend of theirs.
Mark Twain was very sorry he had accepted their invitations. That was very foolish of him. Still
there was no way out. He had to wait until the end.
Towards the end of the performance the rich lady turned to Mark Twain and smiled. She was quite
sure that the famous writer had enjoyed the opera. So she invited Mark Twain to listen to another opera.
She told him that she and her husband would be happy to see him in the box the following Friday. She
added that “Carmen” would be on. The great writer expressed his gratitude for the invitation and said:
“That’ll be fine. I never heard you in “Carmen”.

Task

A) Match
1. to accept the invitation a) elfogadja a meghivást
2. performance b) kifejezi a háláját
3. to express gratitude c) előadás

B) Finish the sentences.

1) He took his seat in the box .....

a. on the left side of the stage
b. opposite the stage
c. belonged to a very rich man

2) The rich man and his wife were very proud because .....
a. everybody paid attention to them
b. their friends saw M. Twain in their box
c. they invited a famous writer to the opera

3) During the performance the man and his wife ..…

a. talked all the time
b. enjoyed the opera
c. were sleeping

4) Mark Twain liked music and always .....

a. got invitations to the opera
b. sang opera
c. enjoyed listening to the opera
5) Mark Twain was very .....
a. unhappy to go to the opera
b. sorry he had accepted the invitation
c. sorry for the man and his wife

6) Mark Twain was annoyed very much, since .....

a. he couldn’t listen to the opera because of lady’s talk
b. everybody recognized him
c. he didn’t like the opera

C) Correct the mistakes.

1) Mark Twain realized they could neither listen to music nor understand it.
a. the lady was in the state of excitement
b. neither the rich man nor his wife understood music
c. he was happy to have such neighbours

2) That was very clever of him to accept the invitation to the opera.
a. noble
b. nice
c. foolish

3) It was impossible for Mark Twain to speak with his friend.

a. to thank the man and his wife
b. to listen to the opera
c. enjoy the opera