Crowds (Medium)

Introduction

How do you feel in the middle of a crowd? Sam and Neil hear experts talking about the role of crowds in modern life, and the different reactions it evokes in people. And, as usual, they teach you vocabulary along the way.

This week’s question

The biggest crowd in history happened in 2019 when over 200 million people gathered in the northern Indian city of Allahabad. But what did so many people come together for?

a)    a cricket match

b)    a religious festival

c)    an election

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

crowd
a large group of people who gather together for a shared purpose, such as to see a music concert, or a sports event

regress
return to a less advanced, more primitive way of thinking or behaving

gullible
easily tricked or deceived; willing to believe everything other people say

mob mentality
tendency of people in a group to behave in ways that conform with others in the group rather than as individuals

correlation
a connection, relationship or link between two or more things 

flip side
the opposite, less good or less pleasant aspects of something

Lắng nghe và điền vào chỗ trống:

Cloze Test

CLOZE TEST

ByeNeilRegressSamServiceTempletonTheThere
Wellandareattendedbetweenbutcommunityconformcrowd
everyoneexperiencefactfootballforguessedinlessmobofonpeoplepronequestionsaysongsthethinkingusualwewellwhatwhenwouldyouyour

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Im Sam.

Neil

And Im Neil.

Sam

was a huge crowd of people waiting at the train station this morning, Neil. When the train finally arrived, rushed in and I couldnt find a seat! I hate crowds!

Neil

But you love going to the match on Saturday…

Sam

Ah, thats different  � more like a big group of friends…

Neil

, whether its sporting events, train stations or political protests, crowds  � that's large groups of people who gather together a shared activity, are a feature of life. For some, crowds create feelings of excitement and a sense of , while for others they feel uncomfortable, confusing, or even dangerous. So why is that?

Sam

In this programme, be discussing the role of crowds in modern life, asking why they evoke different reactions in people. And, as , well be learning some new vocabulary as well. But first, I have a question for you, Neil. The biggest in history happened in 2019 when over 200 million people gathered in the northern Indian city of Allahabad. But did so many people come together for? Was it:

a) a cricket match

b) a religious festival or

c) an election?

Neil

Well, I know Indians love cricket, I doubt 200 million people would fit into a stadium! Ill guess its c) an election.

Sam

OK, . Well find out the answer later in the programme. People gathering for a cricket match, or a music concert usually happy events. But crowds can have a darker side as well  � they can become out of control sometimes even violent. Heres’, psychologist, Professor John Drury, discussing this idea with, Anand Jagatia, presenter of the BBC World programme, appropriately named, CrowdScience.

John Drury

When people get together in a crowd, they regress psychologically, their is more primitive, they become more gullible, and that's also associated with the supposed tendency towards violence as well.

Anand Jagatia

But according to John, the idea of mob mentality, that people in crowds are irrational and to destructive behaviour, just isn't backed up by research.

Neil

One view is that when people get together a crowd, they become irrational. Psychologically speaking they regress  � they return to a less advanced, more primitive way behaving. They may also become more gullible, an adjective meaning easily tricked or willing to believe everything someone says.

Sam

Connected to this is the phrase mob mentality - the tendency of people in a group to behave the same way as others in the group rather than as individuals. In crowds, people may do things they never do alone, like steal or use violence.

Neil

But according to Professor Drury, in reality its not mentality and violence, but rather feelings of safety and togetherness that actually characterise crowds. And according to Dr Anne , another expert on crowd psychology from the University of Edinburgh, thats especially true when you identify with the other in a crowd. Here is Dr Templeton explaining more to BBC World Service programme, CrowdScience.

Dr Anne

The more people feel like they are part of a group with others in the crowd, the more enjoyable they have. There's a correlation between having that social identification and feeling safer. So often if we feel like are in a group with others, we expect them to look after us. The flip side of that is you don't feel as much part of the group, and youre not having a positive experience.

Neil

Dr thinks there is a correlation  � thats a connection, or a link  � between being among people who share values, and feeling safe. Football fans cheer their team on by wearing the same colours, and singing the same , and this works as a kind of glue, bonding the crowd together and making them feel safe.

Sam

disadvantage of this, however, is when you dont feel part of the crowd youre with. Dr Templeton calls this flip side - the opposite, less good or less pleasant aspects of something.

Neil

In todays world, crowds important because of the feeling of power they give us. Its one thing sitting alone shouting at the news television, but its something else altogether to march on a political protest with hundreds of demonstrators, feeling that together could change the world. Maybe thats what everyone was doing in 2019, Sam?

Sam

Right, in my quiz I asked you why 200 million people gathered in the Indian city of Allahabad in 2019.

Neil

I it was to vote in an election. Was I right?

Sam

You were wrong, Im afraid, Neil! In , the biggest crowd in history had gathered for a Hindu religious festival, the Kumbh Mela, which 220 million people over fifty days. OK, lets recap the vocabulary weve learned from this programme on crowds  � large numbers of who gather together for a shared reason.

Neil

To regress means return to less advanced, more primitive behaviours. is the opposite of ‘’.*%progress��’.

Sam

Someone who is gullible is easily tricked, and will believe anything people .

Neil

The phrase, mob mentality describes the tendency of people in a group to behave in ways that with others in the group rather than as individuals.

Sam

A correlation is a connection or a link two things.

Neil

And finally, the flip side of something means those aspects of it which are obvious, good, or pleasant. The flip side of this programme is that, once again, our six minutes are up! for now!

Sam

Bye bye!

SCORE:
 
 

 

created with the online Cloze Test Creator © 2009 Lucy Georges

BÌNH LUẬN

Chưa có bình luận

VIẾT BÌNH LUẬN