- Practise your English with our short listening exercises: play the audio linked below; answer the questions; and check the answers at the bottom of the page
- In this week’s podcast, the owner of a lookalike agency is reviewing the business and its most popular actors
This week’s listening activity features some world-famous people. Photo: SCMPClick on the video below for the audio.
Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here.
Or play on your own below to test your understanding:
Questions
Anson Lo
Number of bookings last month:
Number of bookings for this month:
Main type of events booked for:
How long they have been hired:
Positive feedback:
Issues to sort out:
Lisa
Number of bookings last month:
Number of bookings for this month:
Main type of events booked for:
How long they have been hired:
Positive feedback:
Issues to sort out:
Joe Biden
Number of bookings last month:
Number of bookings for this month:
Main type of events booked for:
How long they have been hired:
Positive feedback:
Issues to sort out:
Queen Elizabeth
Number of bookings last month:
Number of bookings for this month:
Main type of events booked for:
How long they have been hired:
Positive feedback:
Issues to sort out:
Answers
Anson Lo
Number of bookings last month: 32
Number of bookings for this month: 36
Main type of events booked for: teen parties
How long they have been hired: six months
Positive feedback: 35 per cent
Issues to sort out: need to get a better wig and pay rise
Lisa
Number of bookings last month: 21
Number of bookings for this month: 23
Main type of events booked for: teen parties and cosplay events
How long they have been hired: 11 months
Positive feedback: 70 per cent
Issues to sort out: none
Joe Biden
Number of bookings last month: 25
Number of bookings for this month: 22
Main type of events booked for: birthday celebrations and wedding proposals
How long they have been hired: two years
Positive feedback: 80 per cent
Issues to sort out: increase travel allowance
Queen Elizabeth
Number of bookings last month: 19
Number of bookings for this month: 21
Main type of events booked for: mix of events / no pattern (any 1)
How long they have been hired: five years
Positive feedback: 70 per cent
Issues to sort out: dress and hat are worn out
Script
Voice 1: Let’s take a look at our figures for last month and see how we’re doing. How many bookings do we have in total?
Voice 2: Last month we did quite well. In all, 137 bookings – that’s an increase from last year’s figures for the same month. It was the Anson Lo bookings that gave us the bump. In fact, we might need to get another Lo lookalike. We had to turn down 15 requests last month because our talent was already booked. He’s very popular.
Voice 1: Great. Our top four last month were Anson Lo, US President Joe Biden, Lisa from Blackpink, and Queen Elizabeth. Lo, 32 bookings; Biden, 25; Lisa, 20 … no, 21. And Her Majesty, the queen of England, 19.
Voice 2: And how are our numbers for this month looking?
Voice 1: The same four are still the top of the list so far for this month. Lo already has four more bookings than last month, Biden three fewer, and Lisa and Queen Elizabeth are already each up two more bookings.
Voice 2: Good, good. What type of event is each one popular for? Is there a trend?
Voice 1: Yes, somewhat. Lo and Lisa are booked mostly for teen parties as you’d expect, and there are more Lisa requests for cosplay events recently. The queen is booked for a mix of events, no real pattern for her. That said, our Biden talent can sing really well, and he’s popular for birthday celebrations and wedding proposals these days.
Voice 2: Great. We should promote them more on social media for other sorts of events. How long have we had these lookalikes on our books?
Voice 1: We’ve had the same Lo actor for six months, Lisa for the past 11 months, Queen Elizabeth for five years and Biden for two years.
Voice 2: Right. Do we get positive feedback on each of them?
Voice 1: No, not all the time. Some of our clients do tell us they have been a bit disappointed. But what do they expect? The real thing? In fact, Lo only has 35 per cent positive feedback. Biden is the best, with 80 per cent; the queen has 10 per cent less than Biden. And Lisa is the same as Her Majesty.
Voice 2: That’s not bad. Have we got anything that we need to sort out with the actors?
Voice 1: Yes, we need to buy the queen a new costume. Her dress and hat are looking a bit worn. We need to buy a much better wig for Anson Lo. The one that we use is outdated now that the real Lo has changed his hairstyle. He also says we’re not paying him enough and wants a pay rise. Biden wants us to increase his travel allowance. That’s it.