Modul 5: Story 63 A Long Life
Video 01 Story Presentation 01.
Video 02 Story Presentation 02.
Audio 01 The story
A Long Life
Levi lived in a small town in Surrey. Growing up, he was quite an ordinary man. He had hobbies like fishing and hiking, watching television, was friendly with his neighbours, had worked a 9-to-5 job before he retired…oh, and he was 110 years old!
At first glance of Levi, nobody believed his age. Anyone would guess him to be in his early eighties. When a local reporter heard of his true age, he immediately sent Levi a letter asking him if he wouldn’t mind being interviewed and to give some tips on his longevity. When Levi received the letter, he gladly accepted.
The day of the interview arrived, and the local reporter and film crew set up and began.
“Good Morning,” the reporter started. “Maybe you can start by introducing yourself.”
“Well, my name is Levi, I live in Surrey and I’m 110 years old.”
The interview went on for another 20 minutes, and the reporter asked about his life, his family, how old people mistook him for, and Levi happily answered every question.
“Just to finish with Levi, maybe you could tell us your secret. How have you lived such a long life?” The reporter and film crew were silent.
“I take a 3-mile walk once a day,” Levi began.
“What if it rains?”
“I walk anyway!” he carried on. “I never smoke cigarettes, I drink only two alcoholic drinks per week, I go to bed before 10pm and make sure I have at least 9 hours of sleep,” Levi plainly said.
“That sounds just like my uncle’s routine, but he died at only 62 years old. Why is that?”
Levi inhaled and thought for a second. “Well, clearly he didn’t keep it up for long enough!”
Video 03 Simple statements
Audio 02 Simple statements
1. Levi – lived – small town – Surrey
2. quite – everyday man
3. had outdoor hobbies – like fishing – hiking
4. kind – neighbours
5. worked – 9-to-5 job – before retirement
6. one aspect – very special
7. 110 years old
8. no one believed – age
9. people presumed him – his early eighties
10. local reporter – heard – his exact age
11. immediately sent – Levi – letter
12. asked him – wouldn’t mind – being interviewed
13. Levi – gladly agreed – request
14. day of interview – film crew – set everything up
15. interview began – Levi – introducing himself
16. went on – another 20 minutes
17. reporter – asked Levi – questions – his life
18. asked him – how old – people – mistook him
19. Levi – happily answered – all questions
20. then – reporter asked him – secret – his longevity
21. reporter – waited – reply – silence
22. crew – waited – reply – silence
23. Levi – began
24. said – took – 3-mile walk – once day – even – rain
25. never smoked – cigarettes – drank – only two alcoholic drinks – per week
26. went bed – before 10pm – made sure – slept – least 9 hours
27. reporter mentioned – uncle
28. had – same routine
29. died – only 62 years old
30. reporter – wondered why
31. Levi – inhaled
32. thought – a second
33. concluded – “well, clearly – didn’t keep it up – long enough”
Audio 05-6 Story versions
The story (version A)
Levi, who lived in a small town in Surrey, was quite an everyday man. He had outdoor hobbies like fishing and hiking, was kind to his neighbours and had worked a 9-to-5 job before his retirement. In one aspect, however, he was very special: he was 110 years old.
No one believed his age as people presumed him to be in his early eighties. On hearing of his exact age, a local reporter immediately sent Levi a letter in which he asked him if he wouldn’t mind being interviewed, and Levi gladly agreed to the request.
On the day of the interview, as soon as the film crew had set everything up, the event began with Levi introducing himself. It went on for another 20 minutes with the reporter asking Levi questions about his life and how old people mistook him for. Levi happily answered all the questions, and then the reporter asked him about the secret of his longevity.
Both the reporter and the crew waited for his reply in silence. Then Levi began saying that he took a 3-mile walk once a day even in the rain, never smoked cigarettes, drank only two alcoholic drinks per week, went to bed before 10 pm and made sure to have at least 9 hours of sleep.
The reporter mentioned his uncle, who had had the same routine but died at only 62 years old. The reporter wondered why. Inhaling, Levi thought for a second and concluded, “Well, clearly he didn’t keep it up for long enough!”
The story (version B)
Levi, who was quite an everyday man with outdoor hobbies like fishing and hiking, lived in a small town in Surrey, was kind to his neighbours and had worked a 9-to-5 job before his retirement. Yet, in one aspect, he was very special. He was 110 years old, which no one believed.
People presumed him to be in his early eighties, but when a local reporter heard of his exact age, he immediately sent Levi a letter asking him if he wouldn’t mind being interviewed. Levi gladly agreed to the request, and on the day of the interview, the film crew set everything up for the event, which began with Levi introducing himself.
The interview went on for another 20 minutes, and the reporter asked Levi not only questions about his life but also how old people mistook him for. Levi happily answered all the questions. When asking him about the secret of his longevity, the reporter waited for his reply in silence, and so did the crew. Levi began.
He said, “I take a 3-mile walk once a day, even in the rain. I never smoke cigarettes and drink only two alcoholic drinks per week. I go to bed before 10 pm and make sure to have at least 9 hours of sleep.” Mentioning his uncle, the reporter said that he had had the same routine, yet he died at only 62 years old, which made the reporter wonder why.
Levi inhaled, thought for a second and concluded that he hadn’t kept it up for long enough!