Blackpool Scene 1

Stephen and Ashlie visit the seaside town of Blackpool and have a go on some of the rides at the Pleasure Beach theme park.

Do the Preparation task first. Then watch the video. Next go to Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

Preparation

Before you watch

Think about the following questions:

  • Do you like going to theme parks or amusement parks?
  • How do the rides make you feel?
  • Do you like going to the beach?
  • What kind of things do you do when you go to the seaside?

Now, watch to find out what Stephen and Ashlie think of Blackpool.

Transcript

Transcript

Stephen: This may look like Paris, but we’re in Blackpool, in the North of England - about an hour’s drive from Manchester. And as you can see, it’s a seaside town and for more than a hundred years people have been coming here for their holidays. In fact, Ashlie and I used to come here when we were kids.

Ashlie: Yes, that’s right. I used to love coming to Blackpool – the beach, the sunshine, the fish and chips. And the ice cream…

Stephen: And I love the theme park and all the rides. Come on Ash, this is going to be great!

......

Stephen: Excuse me. Have you just been on this? 

Punter: Yeah mate!

Stephen: What was it like?

Punter: It were crazy! I’ve been on it about four times – I can’t get enough!

Stephen: Was it scary?

Punter: It was scary – I think it was.

Stephen: But you enjoyed it?

Punter: Yeah – I loved it.

Stephen: Alright – thanks guys – see you later!

......

Stephen: Come on Ash, shall we have a go?

Ashlie: No way!

Stephen: Oh Ash, don’t be such a chicken.

Ashlie: No way, Stephen. You can have a go on that if you want, but there is no way I'm going on it.

Stephen: I’ll wave to you when I go past. See you later!  

Ashlie: See you!

......

Ashlie: Hiya! Blimey, are you OK? You look a little white, Stephen. 

Stephen: What? I’ve never felt better. That was amazing, Ashlie. You should have come on it, too. Shame you were too scared.

Ashlie: You weren’t scared?

Stephen: Of course not. I loved it.

Ashlie: Oh, that’s great - funny though. If you weren’t scared, well then - who’s this is in the photographs?

Stephen: Um ...

Ashlie: I mean it looks like you, doesn’t it? Look, he’s even wearing the same t-shirt.

Stephen: Oh, come on Ash, let’s have a look at the other rides. 

......

Ashlie: Oh, I like the look of this one, the log flume. Shall we have a go on that?

Stephen: You can if you want, but... to be honest, it doesn’t look like my kind of ride. I like the exciting ones, you know? I’ll watch you. Are you sure you’ll be OK? You’re not scared of getting wet?

Ashlie: Don’t worry – I’ll be fine.

......

Ashlie: Stephen, look at you. What happened?

Stephen: Don’t ask! Why aren’t you wet? You know what? I think I’ve had enough of the theme park. I need to sit down.

Ashlie: I’ll tell you what - why don’t we go and have a nice cup of tea, eh? 

Stephen: And some fish and chips? Yeah, let’s do that.

Ashlie: Come on then.

......

Stephen: Hang on, Ash. We’ll have that cup of tea in a minute, but first I have got to have a go on that.

Task 1

Comprehension Task

Read the questions and select the right answers.

Exercise

Task 2

Comprehension Task 2

Read the questions and select the right answers.

Exercise

Language level

Topics

Average: 3.3 (7 votes)
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Submitted by Edisun on Sun, 25/09/2022 - 19:08

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Hello,

Could you explain, why we use past form "scary" in question "You weren’t scared?" but in question "Was it scary?" we don't use past form of "scary"?

Hello Edisun,

'scared' refers to the emotional state someone feels when they're afraid. 'I'm scared' is another way of saying 'I'm afraid'.

'scary' refers to the situation or person or thing that makes us feel scared.

'scared' and 'frightened' are synonyms. 'scary' and 'frightening' are synonyms.

I'd suggest you read more about this on our Adjectives ending in '-ed' and '-ing' page, where you can learn about other similar adjectives.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

 

Submitted by nikoslado on Mon, 27/01/2020 - 16:38

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Dear Team, I think the boy that Steven spoke to answered ''It looked crazy'' not ''was crazy''.Do I hear correctly, because the speech is informal and quick anyway. Thanks a lot
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Tue, 28/01/2020 - 07:53

In reply to by nikoslado

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Hello nikoslado,

You can check what the boy says in the transcript. He speaks in a north-west England dialect and is speaking fast in a colloqial manner. What he actually says is "It were crazy" – the use of were instead of was is a characteristic of some dialects from this region.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi there,thank you very much indeed for these for these videos anx explaination,but I wonder if there is adifference between the amusement park and the theme psrk?

Hello Rania Farrag,

A theme park is a specific kind of amusement park. Both have rides for people to have fun, but in theory all of the entertainment at a theme park is related to a central theme of some sort, whereas at an amusement park there isn't necessarily a theme that encompasses all of its rides.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

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Submitted by fidaasiddig on Sat, 12/10/2019 - 22:27

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Hello What was it like? It were crazy-why it's were not was in the second sentence ,thanks
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Submitted by Peter M. on Sun, 13/10/2019 - 08:05

In reply to by fidaasiddig

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Hello fidaasiddig,

The sentence is not correct. It could be a representation of a dialectical form, for example, but in terms of standard grammar it is not correct.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by nikoslado on Thu, 12/09/2019 - 19:02

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Dear Peter, what more could anyone tell to All of Your Team except thousands of thanks and congratulations for everything you do for us.Keep going on and doing this worldwide useful work you have taken on.As for me , I always appreciate your immediate, well aimed and purposeful answers and I'm sure you do everything possible every time. And last but non least: We all know the difficult political and financial challenges you all British confront , so transmit please, to the British Council Administration both our thanks and the message that, despite of all these difficulties, there are still people all around the world who need this kind of help in their english education and they can't find it anywhere else. Ever faithful to this site, nikoslado.