Page 36 - American English File Student Book 3B

4 SPEAKING 5 READING & LISTENING

a Read the questions and think about your answers. a T hin k o f som e very successful people, e.g., business
people, m usicians, sports stars. W hich o f these three
1 Look at some quotes about luck. Do you think they
things do you think was probably m ost im portant in
are true?
m aking them successful: a) talent b) hard work c) luck?

b Read the article A question o f luck? about a book by
“The more M alcolm Gladw ell, and answ er the questions.
I practice, 1 W hat three factors does he think being successful

really depends on?
the luckier
2 W hy is it an advantage for sports players to be born in
I get.” the first months o f the year in some countries?

3 W hat is the 10,000 hours theory?
Gary Player, golf player
c 5 6))) Now listen to two other exam ples Gladwell
“You’ve got m entions, The Beatles and Bill G ates. W hat tw o main
to think lucky. reasons does he give for their extraordinary success?
If you fall into a
mud hole, check your
back pocket - you might

have caught
a fish.”

Darrell Royal,
American football
coach

“You never know
what worse luck
your bad luck has
saved you from.” d Listen again and answ er the questions.

Cormac McCarthy, writer T H E B E A T L E S
1 W here did they play and between which years?
2 W here did the club owner usually get bands from?
“If you have 3 How much did they have to play?
two friends in your 4 How many times had they performed live by 1964?

lifetime, you’re lucky.
If you have one good BILL G A T E S
friend, you’re more 5 When did his school start a computer club?
than lucky.” 6 Why was this unusual?
7 W hat did he and his friends do on weekends?
Susan Hinton, writer
8 How many hours did he spend at the computer club
every week?

e W hat do you think? Answ er these questions w ith a
partner.

2 D o you consider yourself in general to be a lucky 1 D o you agree that luck and practice are just as
person? W hy (not)? important as talent? Is luck more important than
3 Can you remember a time when you were either very practice or the other way around?
lucky or very unlucky? W hat happened? 2 Think o f something you are moderately good at or
4 Do you know anyone who you think is particularly very good at. Were you lucky to be able to have the
lucky or unlucky? Why? opportunity to start doing it? How many hours do
you think you have spent practicing it? D o you think
b In groups o f three or four, discuss your answers. Give
you have spent more hours doing it than other people
as much detail as possible.
you know?
86 9A