Before you watch
First 4 minutes · Subtitles #1–76
You are going to watch the first four minutes of the pilot episode of The Big Bang Theory, an American sitcom. Two scientists, Sheldon and Leonard, are roommates. Read all the questions carefully before pressing play.
1
True or False?
Tick the correct box for each statement. You get instant feedback.
1
Sheldon and Leonard are at a hospital when the episode begins.
2
The two men live in the same apartment building.
3
Sheldon wants to stay at the sperm bank.
4
Their new neighbour's name is Penny.
5
Leonard and Sheldon share a bedroom.
Score: 0/5
2
Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer — only one is right.
1. Why did Leonard and Sheldon go to the sperm bank?
2. What does Sheldon say about his sister?
3. Why does Sheldon know about stairs?
4. Why was Sheldon sent to boarding school?
Score: 0/4
3
Fill in the Gaps
Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the video, then click Check.
1.
Sheldon says there is no
that their sperm will produce high-IQ children.
2.
The two men want faster
in their apartment.
3.
If a step is off by as little as two
, most people will trip.
4.
Penny suggests they could have
sometime.
5.
Sheldon broke his father's
during his stair experiments.
Score: 0/5
4
Put the Events in Order
Number the events from 1 (first) to 6 (last). Then click Check.
Leonard and Sheldon meet their new neighbour in the hallway.
Sheldon says he wants to leave the sperm bank.
Sheldon and Leonard discuss a physics idea at the reception desk.
Penny suggests having coffee together.
Leonard clarifies that he and Sheldon have separate bedrooms.
Sheldon talks about his stair experiments on the way home.
Score: 0/6
5
Short Answer Questions
Write 1–2 sentences in English. Then reveal the suggested answer to compare.
1. What do we learn about Sheldon's personality in these four minutes? Give two examples from the video.
Suggested answer: Sheldon is extremely intelligent but has very poor social awareness. For example, he lectures Leonard about stairs even though Leonard says "I don't care" — and he says he wouldn't love a child who couldn't solve calculus problems.
2. How does Leonard react when Sheldon wants to leave? What does this tell us about their relationship?
Suggested answer: Leonard agrees quickly and without much argument. This suggests that he is used to going along with Sheldon's decisions — Sheldon tends to be the dominant one in their friendship.
3. Why is the meeting with Penny funny or awkward? Describe what happens.
Suggested answer: It is awkward because the two men keep repeating "Hi" to each other, and then Leonard nervously explains that they sleep in separate bedrooms — something Penny never asked about. It shows that they are not comfortable in social situations, especially with someone they find attractive.
Activity complete!
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out of 20 checkable points