Unit 24: Have you heard...?
– Sharing surprising news
– Expressing surprise
Part 1
Vocabulary
Match the causes of stress on the left with the ways to manage stress on the right
apparently (be) with break up (with) (juicy) gossip
paparazzi scandal spotted the latest
Is this the end of Brantonia?
Have you heard (1)___________ about everyone’s favorite celebrity couple? It looks like this might be the end of the pair we know as Brantonia. According to my sources, Antonia wants to (2)___________ Brad! She was (3)___________ last night with another famous actor you might know. What a (4)___________!
There’s also a big rumor going around about Brad. (5)___________, he isn’t as innocent as he seems. Some (6)___________ snapped photos of him last night accompanied by Santana Grace. Is he (7)___________ Santana now? Should we start calling them Brantana? Thanks for reading my blog. Come back tomorrow for more (8)___________!
Answers
Have you heard (1) the latest about everyone’s favorite celebrity couple? It looks like this might be the end of the pair we know as Brantonia. According to my sources, Antonia wants to (2) break up (with) Brad! She was (3) spotted last night with another famous actor you might know. What a (4) scandal!
There’s also a big rumor going around about Brad. (5) Apparently, he isn’t as innocent as he seems. Some (6) paparazzi snapped photos of him last night accompanied by Santana Grace. Is he (7) with Santana now? Should we start calling them Brantana? Thanks for reading my blog. Come back tomorrow for more (8) (juicy) gossip!
Discuss celebrity gossip magazines, websites, and blogs. Do you like them? Why do you think people like to read them?
Sample answer
A: So, do you like celebrity gossip magazines, websites, and blogs?
B: Not really. Do you?
A: Well, I don’t read them very often, but once in a while, there’s a story that interests me. Some people really like to read them. They seem to know all the latest news. Why do you think those people like to read them?
Part 2
Conversation
Listen and answer 2 questions.
1. Who is the gossip about?
2. What happened?
Brian & Matt
Transcript
Brian: Have you heard the latest on the band The Dream Captains? It’s a huge scandal.
Matt: No, what happened?
Brian: Well, apparently, the lead singer was arrested last night. He was spotted trying to rob a store!
Matt: No way! Is that for real?
Brian: I read about it on a couple of different gossip sites. But of course, it might just be a rumor.
Example answer
The lead singer of the band, The Dream Captains, was apparently arrested for trying to rob a store.
Practice the conversation with teacher
Find the best places to add the sentences below to the conversation and practice it again.
He has so much money.
We’ll have to wait to find out.
I really like their music.
He tried to walk out of the store with clothes!
Brian: Have you heard the latest on the band The Dream Captains? It’s a huge scandal.
Matt: No, what happened? _______________.
Brian: Well, apparently, the lead singer was arrested last night. He was spotted trying to rob a store! _______________.
Matt: No way! Is that for real? _______________.
Brian: I read about it on a couple of different gossip sites. But of course, it might just be a rumor. _______________.
Answers
Brian: Have you heard the latest on the band The Dream Captains? It’s a huge scandal.
Matt: No, what happened? I really like their music.
Brian: Well, apparently, the lead singer was arrested last night. He was spotted trying to rob a store! He tried to walk out of the store with clothes!
Matt: No way! Is that for real? He has so much money.
Brian: I read about it on a couple of different gossip sites. But of course, it might just be a rumor. We'll have to wait to find out.
Part 3
Language Booster
Notice the ways we share surprising news and express surprise.
Sharing surprising news
- Have you heard the latest on (the band The Dream Captains)?
- Did you know that…?
- Guess what!
- Wait till you hear this…
Expressing surprise
- No way! Is that for real?
- You’ve got to be kidding!
- You can’t be serious!
- That’s amazing.
Share one surprising piece of news with your teacher.
Example
A: Did you know that a man found a bear inside his home yesterday?
B: No way! How did that happen?
Part 4
Listening
Listen to people share surprising news. Then number the headlines from 1 to 4 in the order that you hear the stories.
___a. Missing Actor Reappears ___b. Child Actor Loses Fortune
___c. Former Athlete Turns to Fashion ___d. Cheating Athlete Gets Caught!
Answer
a. 2
b. 4
c. 1
d. 3
Listen again.
Summarize the one of the stories you hear to your teacher.
Transcript
1. Former Athlete Turns to Fashion
A: Guess what!
B: What?
A: Marc Allen is going to start his own line of clothing!
B: You’ve got to be kidding! Isn’t he a football player?
A: Yeah! And he used to be a child actor in the nineties.
B: Oh, yeah. I didn’t realize he was into fashion.
A: Neither did I. Apparently, his sister went to school for fashion design, and he started reading her books. That’s how he got interested.
B: That’s amazing. When will his clothes be available?
A: Well, the rumor is that he’ll start selling his clothes in the fall.
2. Missing Actor Reappears
A: Wait till you hear this!
B: What? Tell me!
A: Do you remember last month when that guy called all the newspapers and said that he was that famous actor who disappeared twenty years ago?
B: Yeah, I remember. He sounded crazy.
A: Well, get this—he is that actor!
B: You’ve got to be kidding! How is that possible?
A: Apparently, 20 years ago, he got tired of paparazzi following him around all the time, so he let people just think he disappeared. He left his whole family and moved to a different country. He didn’t want to be famous anymore!
B: That’s amazing! I guess he wants to be famous again, huh?
A: Yeah, he ran out of money and wants to start acting again.
3. Cheating Athlete Gets Caught!
A: Have you heard the latest on the scandal at the Olympics?
B: No, what happened?
A: Apparently, an athlete paid some judges to give him a high score.
B: No way! That’s terrible!
A: I know! I can’t believe it!
B: How did he get caught?
A: Another judge overheard a telephone conversation between the athlete and the judge who took the money.
B: That’s crazy. I’m glad he didn’t get away with it.
4. Child Actor Loses Fortune
A: Have you heard about the child actor whose father stole all her money?
B: You can’t be serious! Did that really happen?
A: Yeah. Her father was her manager. He managed her career and was in charge of all of her money.
B: How did she find out he stole her money?
A: When she turned 18, she wanted to take over her own finances. Her father wouldn’t let her, so she hired a lawyer. The lawyer found out that she didn’t have any money in any of her bank accounts.
B: That’s crazy. What did her father spend the money on?
A: He spent it on expensive vacations and dinners, mostly. He also made some really bad investments and lost a lot of her money that way.
Sample answer
- Marc Allen; also child actor in 1990s; got interested in fashion by reading sister’s fashion design textbooks; will start his own line of clothing; will start selling clothes in the fall.
- Twenty years ago was famous actor and was tired of paparazzi so let people think he disappeared; left family and moved to different country; didn’t want to be famous anymore; ran out of money and wants to start acting again.
- Athlete paid judges for high score; another judge overheard phone conversation.
- Father was manager of career and in charge of all money; when actor turned 18, wanted to take over own finances but father wouldn’t let her; lawyer found out there was no money in bank accounts because father spent money on expensive vacations and dinners; father also lost lots of money in bad investments.
Part 5
Speak with confidence
Think of a surprising story that you heard recently. Write the main points of the story below.
Main point 1: ___________________
Main point 2: ___________________
Sample answer
Topic: Think of a surprising story that you heard recently
Main points:
- Found massive gold nugget unexpectedly.
- Sold it for $240,000 profit.
Presentation:
"I’m going to talk about a surprising story I heard recently. The story is about a man in Australia who found a massive gold nugget while walking with his metal detector. It surprised me because finding gold like this feels like something out of a movie! I want to share it because it shows how unexpected events can completely change someone’s life. Here's what happened: The man was exploring an area known for gold prospecting when his metal detector started beeping. After digging for a while, he discovered a gold nugget weighing over 4.6 kilograms and valued at around $240,000. In the end, he sold the nugget and became a local celebrity. This story taught me that incredible surprises can happen in the most ordinary situations. Sharing surprising stories like this reminds us to stay curious and adventurous!"
Questions & Answers:
Teacher: "What was the most surprising part of the story for you?"
Student: "The most surprising part was the size and value of the gold nugget—over $240,000! It’s amazing that it was just lying underground waiting to be found."
Teacher: "How did hearing this story change the way you think?"
Student: "It made me realize that taking time for hobbies like exploring can lead to unexpected rewards. It also made me think about how there are still treasures out there to be discovered."