### Lesson 2. Special Talents

Getting ready for the task:

•Do you have special talent for any of these things?
•Can you name a well-known person who has/had a special talent in each area?

Key words:

to investigate - to carefully examine the facts of a situation
mute - unable to speak
blind - unable to see
to reproduce - to restore, reconstruct
a slave - a person who is owned by another person
a band - a group of musicians
autistic - unable to communicate
1

CW. Read, choose and say which ones suit your character. Try to explain giving reasons.

Sample: I’m good at... (drawing).

2

GW. Read and discuss. What do you think the two boys in these pictures have in common? Compare them in Venn Diagram.

Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins

A. In 1850 an American lawyer, James N. Bethune, bought a slave to work in his home. The slave was a woman. She had a small child called Tom who was blind and autistic. One day Bethune heard music coming from the house. He went inside to investigate and found young Tom playing the family piano. Bethune realized that a four year old Tom had special abilities. He hired a band of musicians to come to the house and play in front of him. Tom perfectly reproduced the music, which he heard. In 1857 Tom took part in his first public performance. Three years later Tom was invited to the White House where he performed for the president. Over the next forty years Tom performed shows in the US, Canada, the UK and in several South American countries. His concerts were a mixture of classical music and his own compositions.

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   A) White House
   B) A woman slave
   C) A US president
   D) A popular musician
   E) An American lawyer
2. Answer the question according to the passage.
   Who helped Tom to be a good musician?
   A) His brother
   B) Musicians
   C) His mother
   D) The lawyer
   E) The president
3. Which is not mentioned according to the passage?
   A) Tom was a blind boy
   B) Tom’s mother was a slave
   C) Musicians taught Tom
   D) Tom was playing the piano
   E) Tom was eight years old
4. Complete the sentence with no more than three words
   The lawyer hired … to teach Tom.
5. Answer the question with no more than three words.
   In which countries did Tom perform his shows?

In 1850 an American lawyer bought a woman slave. She worked in his home and she had a son called Tom. Tom was blind. One day the lawyer heard music in the house. He went inside. Tom was playing the family piano. The lawyer realized that Tom had special abilities. He hired a band of musicians to teach Tom. Tom perfectly reproduced the music which he heard. In 1857 Tom took part in his first public performance. Three years later the President invited Tom to the White House where he performed for him. Later Tom performed shows in the US, Canada, the UK and in several South American countries. His concerts were a mixture of classical music and his own compositions.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   A) White House
   B) A woman slave
   C) A US president
   D) A popular musician
   E) An American lawyer
2. Answer the question according to the passage.
   Who helped Tom to be a good musician?
   A) His brother
   B) Musicians
   C) His mother
   D) The lawyer
   E) The president
3. Which is not mentioned according to the passage?
   A) Tom was a blind boy
   B) Tom’s mother was a slave
   C) Musicians taught Tom
   D) Tom was playing the piano
   E) Tom was eight years old
4. Complete the sentence with no more than three words
   The lawyer hired … to teach Tom.
   Answer: “a band of musicians”
5. Answer the question with no more than three words.
   In which countries did Tom perform his shows?
   Answer: “US, Canada, the UK, South American countries”