Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 3

Unit 3: Psychology Teacher: That’s right. People think they see land
when there is no land there at all. So we have
The Q Classroom
lots of examples of the eyes deceiving the mind,
Activity B., Page 59
and we’ll see more as we continue with this
Teacher: The Unit Question is: “Can the eyes
unit.
deceive the mind?” Let’s start with our own
experience. What are some common examples
NOTE-TAKING SKILL
of the eyes deceiving the mind?
Activity C., Page 61
Sophy: The first things that come to my mind
M: Sherlock Holmes is the famous detective
are those pictures with a hidden image in them.
created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He is the
When you first look at them, your eyes tell you
main character in over 56 stories and four
that it’s just a repetitive pattern, but there are
novels. Holmes uses disguises when he wants to
actually differences in the pattern that show up
fool others into thinking he is not Sherlock
as a hidden image when you look at it for a
Holmes, the detective, so he can more
while.
successfully investigate crimes. In "The
Marcus: Those things drive me crazy! I can
Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton,"
never see the picture. But to answer the
Holmes poses as a repairman and becomes
question, I’d say that 3-D pictures are a very
engaged to a servant in the house of Milverton,
common example of the eyes deceiving the
an evil blackmailer. His goal is to gain access to
mind. What looks like 3-D is really just the same
the house so he can steal letters that belonged
image being shown from different angles.
to an innocent woman. In another story, he
Teacher: Good point. What are some other
dresses in the black clothes of a village priest.
examples of the eyes deceiving the mind? Felix?
He knows that in order to gain valuable
Felix: Well, to take off from what Marcus said,
information from the village people, he must
we use visual deception all the time. For
fool them into thinking they can trust him
example, we put mirrors in rooms to make
completely. The detective disguises himself as
them look bigger, or we wear vertical stripes to
an old bookseller in "The Empty House "
make ourselves look thinner. Even animal
because his enemies assume he is dead, and he
camouflage is an example of the eyes deceiving
wants to continue this illusion for his own
the mind—the animal is there, but you don’t
protection. Some critics say Sherlock Holmes is
see it because its patterns and colors match the
as much an actor as a detective.
background.
Teacher: That’s true. Are there other examples
LISTENING 1 Wild Survivors
of the eyes deceiving the mind? Does it happen
Activity A., C., Pages 34, 35
in ways we don’t plan? What do you think,
Narrator: In the ruthless world of survival, the
Yuna?
battle for life and death takes on infinite forms.
Yuna: When people are in the desert, they
The endless struggle to eat and avoid being
sometimes see pools of water. I forgot what
eaten has created weapon and defense systems
that’s called . . .
that are continuously changing. The balance of
Teacher: A mirage. Yes, people often see
power in nature is continually shifting.
mirages in the heat, on highways, too.
Sometimes it favors the hunter and sometimes
Yuna: And on the ocean.

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 3

the hunted. Those that are best at the game passersby. When the caterpillars hatch, they
escape from the very jaws of death. begin a dangerous journey. Those that survive
Adapting is necessary for survival. As conditions make straight for the oak trees’ flowers. As they
change—availability of food and water, feed hungrily upon the flowers, they absorb the
temperatures, the presence of predators both chemicals within them. This triggers a startling
animal and human—animals must change to transformation. Quite literally, the caterpillar is
meet the challenges or die. what it eats. It can mimic the flowers superbly,
Both weather and landscape play a part in how even imitating the movement of the flowers in
animals adapt. Those that live must be well the spring breeze.
suited to the demands of the environment. For Camouflage allows many of the caterpillars to
example, the brown feathers of the ptarmigan, mature safe from predatory birds. But the story
a bird about the size of a pigeon that lives in doesn’t stop there. In the summer, another set
Europe and North America, make it almost of caterpillars is hatched. By now, the flowers
invisible to predators. But the feathers serve have fallen, and the caterpillars feed on the
another purpose as well—they protect the bird leaves instead. But there are different
from the extreme cold by keeping its body heat chemicals within the leaves now that set off a
next to its body, as well as keeping the cold air completely different reaction. This time, the
out. caterpillars take on the appearance of the oak
The ptarmigan also grows long white feathers twigs, rather than the flowers. To its great
on its feet for the winter, which act like built-in advantage, the same species has shown a
snowshoes. Undoubtedly, the feathers also striking capacity for variation.
provide effective camouflage, a disguise that Adaptations can be remarkably specific to the
helps the ptarmigan hide from predators by environment. A praying mantis looks
matching the color of its environment. When dangerously out of place on the forest floor,
the snow disappears, so too do the white easy pickings for any nearby predators. But a
winter feathers of the ptarmigan. Its summer disappearing act takes place when the mantis
outfit, speckled grey and brown feathers, is well reaches the flowers of the Asian orchid. So
designed to suit the environment that is now closely does it resemble its surroundings that
free of snow. The young ptarmigans are in the other insects sometimes search for nectar
special need of good camouflage, since they on its body. Those that do may pay for their
cannot fly as well as the adults. They must mistake with their lives.
protect themselves from predators by The unbroken reaches of the desert seem to
crouching and hiding among the rocks, moss, offer little in the way of protection or places to
and wildflowers. Camouflage is virtually all the hide. Even here, though, natural selection has
protection they have in the rocky landscape of resulted in some very effective adaptations. The
the Pacific Northwest. desert snake can transform itself from obvious
An even more elaborate survival system is to almost invisible in the sand, where it then
found among the leaves of the oak tree, home hides in wait for potential prey. A lizard is no
to a variety of birds and a small, unimpressive- match at all for the deception of the snake.
looking moth. In the springtime, the moth lays The sandy bottom of the ocean floor can also
its eggs on the underside of the leaves, where hide its inhabitants. The Caribbean flounder, a
they are less likely to be found by any hungry fish whose flat body is the color of the ocean

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 3

floor, makes good use of the seabed to hide Europe and North America, make it almost
from view. Only its eyes are left exposed to invisible to predators.
sight a likely meal. Its looks may be unusual, but 3. The ptarmigan also grows long white feathers
they work superbly in these surroundings. on its feet for the winter, which act like built-in
The pressure of natural selection, or survival of snowshoes. Undoubtedly, the feathers also
the fittest, is an irresistible force shaping all of provide effective camouflage, a disguise that
nature. Those individuals who live to reproduce helps the ptarmigan hide from predators by
pass on their useful traits to succeeding matching the color of its environment.
generations. This is the essence of adaptation. 4. When the snow disappears, so too do the
As a general rule, the more closely you match white winter feathers of the ptarmigan. Its
your environment, the better your chances are summer outfit, speckled grey and brown
of surviving. The genetic combinations that feathers, is well designed to suit the
result in camouflage like this, as well as the environment that is now free of snow.
behaviors passed on from parents to offspring 5. The sandy bottom of the ocean floor can also
by example, are the product of an unknowable hide its inhabitants. The Caribbean flounder, a
number of hits and misses. Successful fish whose flat body is the color of the ocean
techniques and features live on in future floor, makes good use of the seabed to hide
generations, and unsuccessful ones necessarily from view.
pass away. It is one of the true miracles of
nature. LISTENING 2 Caught Off Guard
Activity A., C., Pages 68, 70
LISTENING SKILL Recognizing appositives that Professor Steed: Last week I posted the
explain following quotation by Sun Tzu, an ancient
Examples, Page 66 Chinese general: “All warfare is based on
Narrator: The chameleon, a type of lizard, deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must
changes its skin color to match its background. seem unable; when using our forces, we must
Narrator: The animal most famous for its ability seem inactive; when we are near, we must
to camouflage itself is the chameleon, a type of make the enemy believe we are far away; when
lizard. far away, we must make him believe we are
Narrator: Chameleons are oviparous, or egg- near.” I was pleased with the responses on our
laying, animals. class website and I have chosen three of the
Activity A., Page 67 examples you found in your research to talk
1. Adapting is necessary for survival. As about more in depth today. So, let’s get started.
conditions change—availability of food and As you all know, deception is the art of making
water, temperatures, the presence of predators others hear, see, or believe something which is
both animal and human—animals must change intended to mislead them and give us an
to meet the challenges or die. advantage. Let me explain. In nature, animals
2. Both weather and landscape play a part in use color changes or sound mimicry to distract
how animals adapt. Those that live must be well or confuse predators. In contrast, in our
suited to the demands of the environment. For everyday lives, the use of makeup and clothes
example, the brown feathers of the ptarmigan, helps humans attract attention. In advertising,
a bird about the size of a pigeon that lives in companies often package small items in big

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 3

boxes or use bright colors to enhance dull inside of which Greek soldiers hid. Second, the
products in order to attract consumers. Greek fleet pretended to sail home in defeat,
Do all of these actions work because it is so but the boats were really nearby, ready to
easy to manipulate others? As most of you attack Troy. Third, uh, when the Trojans looked
agreed, the answer is yes. And that leads us to suspiciously at the horse and some argued that
our discussion topic today. it was a trick, the Greek warrior, Sinon, told
When we think of deception in warfare, the them that the Greeks had left the horse as a gift
most common example is the use of color and for their victory. To further convince the
objects which are intended to help the military Trojans, Sinon said they had to take the horse
blend into an environment. In the desert, into Troy in order to please the gods. In the
soldiers wear khaki-colored uniforms; in a end, the Greek soldiers snuck out of the horse
forest, vehicles are green in color. Well, I asked at night, the Greek ships returned to fight, and
you to look beyond the obvious, however this is Troy was defeated. Do you agree that Caddell
not the only tactic the army uses to deceive its would classify these as passive acts of
enemies. deception?
According to Dr. Joseph Caddell, a lecturer on Jumping ahead to the 18th century, one of you
military history at North Carolina State wrote about how deceptive the first U.S.
University, there are active and passive forms of president, George Washington, was when
deception. In his 2004 paper, “Deception 101 – battling the British in the American revolution
Primer on Deception,” he explains the for independence. Aware of the strength of the
difference. Passive deception is “designed to British troops, Washington utilized deception in
hide real intentions and capabilities from an many of his operations. He created false
adversary.” In other words, it involves hiding documents and allowed them to fall into British
something which exists. In contrast, active hands. In order to keep the British from having
deception is “the process of providing an accurate knowledge of his troop size,
adversary with evidence of intentions and Washington purchased more supplies than
capabilities which you do not, in fact, possess.” necessary, constructed fake military facilities,
That is, it involves fooling the enemy into and ordered the setting of extra campfires, all
believing something which is not true. An early to create the illusion of a greater and stronger
example of deception that many of you army. In order to misdirect attention from the
presented was that of the Trojan Horse. movement of his troops south from Rhode
Scholars may argue that this was merely an Island, Washington planted information that he
event in Greek mythology described in Virgil’s was going to attack New York City. While the
epic poem the Aeneid and later in Homer’s British were distracted and concentrated their
Odyssey, but actually historical evidence has efforts on defending New York, Washington’s
emerged of this conflict between the Trojans troops crossed the Delaware and continued on
and the Greeks, sometime between the 12th to Yorktown where the battle signaling a turn in
and 13th centuries B.C. Odysseus was the the war was fought. Which category of
leader of the attack and the creator of the deception would Washington’s actions fall
Trojan Horse. Many acts of deception are under? Active, right? That is, Washington’s
involved here. First, Odysseus ordered the objective was to fool the enemy into believing
construction of a large hollow wooden horse things that were not true. The last example we

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 3

have time for today got the second highest 6. Predators are also prey, which I found
number of comments from students. It involves surprising about animals.
the 20th-century operations leading up to D-Day
in World War II, specifically Operation PRONUNCIATION: Stress shifts with suffixes
Quicksilver and Operation Fortitude South. In Examples, Page 79
the first, a small army unit was falsely portrayed 1. re-TIRE / re-tir-EE
as a large group under the command of the CHI-na / Chi-NESE
respected General George Patton. In the latter, cash / ca-SHIER
the Allies convinced the Germans that this large
unit was going to invade France at Pas-de- 2. pro-FESS-ion / pro-FESS-ion-al
Calais. Deceptive messages and false radio e-QUIP / e-QUIP-ment
signals were sent to German intelligence e-FFECT-ive / e-FFECT-ive-ness
agents. The Germans were caught off guard sub-JECT-ive / sub-JECT-ive-ly
when the real attack took place on the beaches 3. CA-pa-ble / ca-pa-BI-li-ty
of Normandy, and the Allied invasion was psy-CHO-lo-gy / psy-cho-LO-gi-cal
successful.
These are a few of the important instances that 4. VO-cab / vo-CAB-u-la-ry
show the practice of deception in warfare over CER-ti-fy / cer-TIF-i-cate
a span of many centuries. They show examples lo-CA-tion / LO-cal-ize
of Sun Tzu’s recommendation for troops to look
Activity A., Pages 79–80
unable when they are able, to appear inactive
1. a. manipulate b. manipulation
when they are not, or to seem far when they
2. a. alternate b. alternative
are near. My question for you to ponder after
3. a. deceive b. deception
class is this: With the modern technology we
4. a. image b. imaginary
have today in the 21st century, do you think
5. a. technique b. technically
battles are still fought using such deceptive
6. a. mystery b. mysterious
devices?
7. a. popular b. popularity
8. a. psychology b. psychological
GRAMMAR Relative clauses
9. a. terrify b. terrific
Activity A., Pages 77–78
10. a. visual b. visualize
1. Mixing up the dates that events are held on
creates a lot of confusion.
2. A general from China whom we read about
last week outsmarted his enemies with his
battle tactics.
3. The troops that walked across the river were
honored by the army for their bravery.
4. The sounds of nature that we thought we
heard were really radios.
5. The soldiers hid inside a horse whose body
had enough space for hundreds of men.

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