Steve Job’s Speech at Stanford University - The Genius Issue

Video

Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself -- at the university's 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.


This is a classic video on the internet. Perhaps you have already seen it. Today, we will be focusing on watching, reading and listening at the same time.

First click CC (close captions) and select English to follow the transcript.

Steve tells three stories in his address.

Watch the whole clip first, then watch each segment, and choose the best summary for each part.

You can use the Babylon dictionary box on the right column, to check any words.

Intro:

“I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal—just three stories.”

Part 1: “The first story is about connecting the dots...”
a)Choices you make following your intuition find a way to become profitable later. b)When you drop out of college, your creativity accelerates and the future improves despite obstacles.
c)You have to trust in something. Whatever you do, will turn out OK in the future.

Part 2: “My second story is about love and loss...”
a)You've got to find what you love.
b)Getting fired was the best thing that could have ever happened.
c)Keep doing what you like even when things don’t look good.

Part 3: “My third story is about death...”
a)Death puts your life in perspective.
b)Death is the best invention of Life.
c)Death makes people's opinions irrelevant.



Answers here!

The Engines of Our Ingenuity - The Genius Issue

Listening

The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a radio program that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity. It is heard nationally on Public Radio and produced by KUHF-FM Houston


"HOMO TECHNOLOGICUS"
hosted by John H. Lienhard

Click here to open or dowload the audio of this episode.


First Listening: Look at the list of words below. Listen to the segment and find the order in which they are mentioned.

A.Homo Sapiens B.chicken and egg C.automobiles D.Commodore home computer E.alien F.telephones G.the Greek

Second Listening: Answer the following questions.

1.What do anthropologists look around to understand other civilizations?
Their bones - Their tools - Their geography

2.What does the word technology mean?
The art of making things - The art of understanding things - The art of knowing things

3.The first tools were made...
4.3 million years ago - 2.4 million years ago - 4.2 million years ago

4.What do machines do to us all our lives?
They control us. - They teach us. - They use us.

5.Who invented computers?
A 15 year-old. - Nobody knows. - They invented themselves.

6.What happens when we interact with a machine?
We improve our culture. - We interact with one another. - We change the path of civilization.


Answers here!

The Stuff of Genius: Velcro - The Genius Issue

Video

length: 1.27 min

When George de Mestral and his dog set out for a walk in the mountains, they never suspected a revolutionary invention was so close to be discovered.
They returned covered in burrs (see picture) and these gave de Mestral the idea for a new fastener, easier than a zipper.
From the Show "The Stuff of Genius" by Discovery Network.


Watch the video segment and choose the right answer:



1)When was Georges de Mestral born?
He was born in 1917
He was born in 1907
He was born in 1947

2)What did George de Mestral love?
He loved dogs
He loved his wife
He loved going outdoors

3)What did he found with his microscope?
He found smell of hut and natural food
He found small hooks and tiny natural loops
He found a small hut and tiny natural loos

4)What did he do after succeeding in manufacturing velcro?
He found a company to sell it
He founded a company to sell it
He found a company to set it

5)Why does he get 5 on American dream skill?
Because he created an invention that became succesful
Because he created an invention that becomes succesful
Because he created an invention that become succesful

6)Why does he get 2 on Benefit to Humanity?
Because he couldn´t save the Humanity
Because his company failed during the crisis
Because Humanity could survive without velcro

7)Why does he get 3 on Ripple effect skill?
Because a lot of products use velcro
Because a lot of new products surface because of velcro
Because a lot of new products don´t use velcro

Quiz created by teacher Patricio Glesarri for ESL Video

Answers here!

INVENTION TRIVIA QUIZ - The Genius Issue

Reading Activity

How many inventions are the result of an accident? How many great ideas were not even recognized by their inventor? You will be amazed at some of the answers when you take the invention trivia quiz.

1.For thousands of years doctors told patients suffering from pain to chew on the bark of a willow tree. Even as far back as 400 B.C. Hippocrates recommended a tea made from yellow leaves. It wasn't until the 1800's that scientists discovered what was in the willow tree that relieved pain and reduced fever. What was the substance called?

2.It started in the U.S. and has conquered the world. In some parts of the world it sells for three times the price of liquor. It was originally sold as a brain tonic, but was poorly received. What is the name of this drink product?

3.How did a trip to the drug store help this candy manufacture invent a new candy type that is still on the market over 80 years later, even though the idea had a hole in it. What is this candy called?

4.In 1904 St. Louis, Missouri hosted the 1904 World's Fair, the centennial of the Louisiana land purchase from the French (one year late) with a Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the 2004 Olympics. One other major event took place that may have saved an industry from being shut down due to health concerns. What was invented during those hot summer days?

5.An American Indian of the Huron tribe long ago invented a snack food that became very popular with the new Americans, so popular that sales now exceed over four billion dollars a year. What is this snack food called?

6.A toy still popular today was invented at Yale University, on the East coast in the Forties, modified by a space enthusiast from the West coast in the Fifties and renamed by a California manufacturing company president in the Sixties. What is the name of this toy?

adapted from www.ideafinder.com

ANSWERS here!

Passive Voice - The Genius Issue

Grammar Check Up

Active
"Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa around 1510."

Passive
"The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1510."

FORMULA: Verb TO BE + Past Particple

If you don't know who did something, you can leave out the inventor and just give the date:
"The Mona Lisa was painted around 1510."

Or if you know the inventor but not the year you can say:
"The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci."

Exercise:
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.
built - perfected - begun - formulated - established - seen drawn - painted - discovered - finished

1)The light bulb was ... by Edison.
2)The Law of Gravity was ... by Newton.
3)The moons of Jupiter were ... first by Galileo.
4)The Sistine Chapel was ... by Michelangelo.
5)The Eiffel Tower was ... in the 19th century by Gustave Eiffel.
6)The Theory of relativity was ... by Albert Einstein.
7)Penicillin was ... by Alexander Fleming.
8)The Parthenon was ... in 447 BCE and was ... in 432 BCE.
9)An early flying machines was ... by Leonardo da Vinci.


Answers here!

Answers - The Genius Issue

Steve Job’s Speech at Stanford University
Part 1:a) Part 2: c) Part 3: a)

The Engines of Our Ingenuity
First Listening : B E G A D C F Second Listening: 1.their tools 2.The art of making things 3. 2.4 million years ago 4. They teach us 5. They invented themselves. 6. We interact with one another.

The Stuff Of Genius: Velcro
1. He was born in 1907 2. He loved going outdoors 3. He found small hooks and tiny natural loops 4. He founded a company to sell it 5. Because he created an invention that became succesful 6. Because Humanity could survive without velcro 7. Because a lot of new products surface because of velcro

Invention Trivia Quiz:
1.aspirin in 1897 2.Coca-Cola in 1886 3.Life Savers in 1912
4.ice cream cone in 1904 5.Potato Chips in 1853 6.Frisbee in 1950

Passive Voice exercise:
1.perfected 2.established 3.seen 4.painted 5.built 6.formulated 7.discovered 8.begun - finished 9.drawn

Crossword Past Participles:
Across: 2.bought 3.slept 5.fallen 6. gone 7. begun 8.given 9.sat 10.hidden 11.made13.known 17.understood 19.lost 20.driven 21.spent 22.broken
Down: 1.written 2.been 3.seen 4.thought 5.forgotten 9.swum 12.done 14.won
15.left 16.told 18.taught 21.sung