Listening audioscript

7. LISTEN AGAIN TO PART OF THE DISCUSSION. THEN ANSWER THE 
QUESTION. 
 (Professor) 
You know, some people find it so annoying that just when we think we 
understand something, along comes some evidence that blows apart all 
of our carefully conceived ideas of how things work. As a researcher, I 
personally find this constant adjustment of what we know truly inspiring. 
There’s always more to find out, and I can continue in my job for the 
foreseeable future. 
HOW DOES THE PROFESSOR FEEL ABOUT CHANGING HIS IDEAS DUE
TO NEW EVIDENCE? 
8. WHAT IS THE PROFESSOR’S ATTITUDE TOWARD HAIL PREVENTION? 
 
LISTENING EXERCISE (Skills 3 and 4) 
Page 183 [ mp3 055-056] 
Questions 1 through 6. 
Listen to part of a lecture in an American history class. 
(Professor) 
I’d like to provide you with a little historical context before we go on to 
discuss a very interesting topic. The 1780s were an absolutely critical 
period in the history of our infant republic. The war for independence had 
ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, and the national 
government was being run under the Articles of Confederation. The 
Articles had been drawn up during the Revolutionary War, and they… 
their purpose was to loosely confederate, uh … attempt to unite in some 
way, the thirteen free states in order to conduct war and represent 
American interests to foreign powers. The Confederation Congress, the 
federal government at the time, lacked certain basic powers that severely 
impeded its functioning … um, you’ll recall that this was before the U.S. 
Constitution was adopted. We’ll look at its other failings later in the 
course, but today I want to concentrate on its monetary failings. 
Oh, let me add something though. It often comes across as though the 
Confederation Congress was incapable of accomplishing anything and 
so they had to draw up the constitution. However, they were actually 
responsible for some notable accomplishments, including the passing of 
laws to divide up the western territories into areas that would later 
become other states, equal in status with the thirteen original ones. In 
fact, I would tip my hat to those men who did manage to accomplish 

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important things … um, in spite of the limitations the Articles of 
Confederation imposed. 
But, back to my point, the monetary limitations were formidable indeed. 
The national government had a huge debt from the war and no power to 
tax. It could only beg the individual states for contributions. Needless to 
say, the national government was constantly short on money … and it 
stood a strong chance of not being able to pay, that is, of actually 
defaulting on its debts. At the same time, each state could circulate its 
own money. Now just imagine that: at that time, the national government 
was printing money, but so were the various state governments. 
OK, speaking of money, I want to turn now to an interesting coin that was 
the first to be issued by the national government in 1787, soon after the 
government was established. This coin is now called the Fugio coin, or 
Franklin coin. I wanted to show it to you because it has, on its two faces, 
some of the themes of the new republic. Now, one of those names it’s 
known by, the Fugio coin, came from the Latin word Fugio, which is on 
the front of the coin. Um…that’s Latin for, “I fly.” Now, the other name, 
the Franklin coin, was given to the coin because Benjamin Franklin was 
on it, right? 
(Student 1) 
No, it was called the Franklin coin because Franklin was given credit for 
the wording on the coin. 
(Professor) 
That’s right. I see somebody did the recommended reading. I’m always 
impressed when some of you manage to do the supplemental reading as 
well. I commend you for going the extra mile. Now, this is the coin we’re 
talking about. Let’s look at the front of the coin. Can you describe the 
front for me? Jake? 
(Student 2) 
The front of the coin has a sundial in the middle with a sun shining down 
on the sundial. 
(Professor)
Mmm-hmm go on. 
(Student 2) 
Well, … uh … there’s a date along one side and... um, … there seems to 
be some wording at the bottom. 
(Professor)
OK. That’s good. Who can help Jake out here? Yes, Dylan? 
(Student 1) 
The wording along the bottom is “mind your business.” 
(Professor) 
OK, great. Now, “Mind your business,” and “Fugio”… “I fly”—what would 
Franklin have meant by these words? 
(Student 3) 
Was he referring to individual states’ rights? Like, “Mind your own 
business”… uh, meaning pay attention to your own problems, but stay 
out of mine? 
(Professor) 
It’s funny you should say that, Laura, because the same possible 
interpretation just occurred to me this morning. But, actually the wording 
meant something more along the lines of “take care of your business”… 
um, “your work.” And this, along with the idea of precious time flying by, 
may have been Franklin’s way of encouraging people to be more 
productive. This would have been more in keeping with his own beliefs 
rather than states’ rights. But in any case, states’ rights, productivity, 
industrial development … all of these were themes that would have long-
lasting impact on the American republic. 
(Professor) 
Now let’s talk about the other side of the coin. Let me describe the front 
of the coin for you. Oh,... excuse me, ... did I say front? I meant back. On 
the back of the coin, there’s a large circle made up of thirteen linked 

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41
circles, and in the middle of the circle are the words “We are one.” You 
know, I really like this coin. Not only is it a pretty little thing, it really 
represents some of the ideas of the time. You will appreciate, of course, 
that the design on the back of the coin symbolizes the thirteen original 
colonies linked into one country. So, this is why I think it doesn’t make 
sense for the words “Mind your business” to be referring to states’ rights 
on the front, when the idea of unity is so clearly illustrated on the back. I 
mean, the symbolism on the Fugio coin seems to me to be the central 
government’s effort to convey the inspiring idea of unity, of … of 
solidarity.
I should point out, that the struggle between individual state rights and 
the authority of the central government has been ever-present in our 
history. It’s something, again, that the Confederation Congress had to 
deal with constantly … and yet, they did so with success sometimes. 
And, it is a common assumption, I think, that the U.S. Constitution was 
universally welcomed and revered from the beginning. I don’t think 
people today appreciate the fact that, for those in the 1780s who were in 
favor of the states’ independence and who opposed central government 
control, the Articles of Confederation were just fine. For them, the United 
States Constitution was an unauthorized attempt by the federal 
government to take away their power.