Less stuff, more happiness - Graham Hill

1. Listening Comprehension: Answer the following questions regarding the talk.

- In 2013, American homes were about ________ bigger than they were in 1950's and
60's.
A. 1 and a half times
B. 2 times
C. 3 times
D. 7 times

- The accumulation of "stuff" has led to which of the following in the past 50 years?
A. Increased debt
B. Larger carbon footprints
C. Higher stress levels / less happiness
D. All of the above

- How can you live little?

A. Edit ruthlessly
B. Think small
C. Make multifunctional
D. All of the above

2. Listening Comprehension: During the talk, Graham Hill presents several facts about our
consumer society and explains the principles that support his ‘edited’ lifestyle. Watch the
video again and match the fragments on the left to the fragments on the right in order to
form some ideas from the talk.

3. Language Practice: In this talk, Graham Hill uses several words that are related to optimization
of space. Read the following sentences about this topic and fill in the blanks with the words from
the box.
1. It’s a small table but it _______________ to seat 8.
2. Our interior designer recommends _______________ walls to separate the
different ambiences in our loft.
3. I want to get some _______________ baskets so that I can easily store them one
inside the other when they’re not being used.
4. Our living room is a _______________ area. We normally use it to relax and watch
TV but it also works as an extension to our dining room when we have guests.
5. When you press this button, a TV screen _______________ of the wall.
6. It’s a very practical work space, you can _______________ it _______________
when you finish working.
7. I’ve bought a set of _______________ glasses. I will save a lot of space in my
kitchen cabinets by putting one on top of the other.
8. I’ve decided to _______________ all my photographs. I’ve got too many albums
that take up a lot of space.