The Balancing Act

Vocabulary

Video One

Transcript

Maxim Popazov: “Hello.”
Simon: “Welcome. What’s your name, please?”
Maxim: “My name is Maxim Popazov.”
Simon: “Where are you from?”
Maxim: “I’m from Las Vegas, right now.”
Simon: “Okay. And are you with anyone today, Maxim?”
Maxim: “Yes, I’m here with my wife, Maria.”
Simon: “Okay.
Maxim: “As a matter of fact, she will be performing after me.”
Simon: “Really? Wow. Not with you?”
Maxim: “Not with me.”
Simon: “Are you competitive with each other?”
Maxim: “Yes, we are.”
Simon: “Oh, I like that. Okay, great. I’m looking forward to that. Good luck.”
Maxim: “Thank you.”

Video Two

Transcript

Howie: “Maxim, are you ready?”
Maxim: “I’m ready.”
Howie: “Are you nervous?”
Maxim: “Of course. I think after my wife, Maria, performed, I have to do my best. I have to do it for the both of us.”
Howie: “Okay, I wish you the best.”
Maxim: “Thank you.”

Ayesha: “Oh my god. He’s off . . . really.”
Howie: “It’s off. It’s off the table.”
Ayesha: “I know.”
Heidi: “I can’t look. I can’t look.”
Howie: “It will come down on us.”
Ayesha: “No way. He’s kidding me.”

Audience Member: “That is the scariest thing I have ever seen.”
Seal: “I was genuinely afraid for you. Thank you for a great performance.”
Simon: “Let me talk about you and your wife, first of all. You just balanced on about twenty-two chairs and your wife was in a plastic ball, and didn’t move, or not much.

So between you and your wife, you’ve definitely won the battle. I thought you did brilliant.
Side Host: “They are saying you did better than your wife in the act, though.
Maxim: “For me, my wife is the best, though.”
Side Host: “You know how to stay right.”

Maxim: “Competing against each other was a big step in our relationship, as well, like, ‘who’s gonna win, you or me’?”

Questions

Chair. Maxim lives in Bulgaria now. True or false?

Dining Table. Is he single, engaged, married or divorced?

Sofa. Maxim’s wife is a homemaker (housewife). Is this right or wrong?

Armchair. In his act, was Maxim singing and dancing?

Coffee Table. Did his performance become easier, harder (more difficult) or stayed the same?

Book Case, Book Shelf. The judges and audience felt normal and relaxed. Is this correct or incorrect? What did the judges think in Maxim’s second performance?”

Desk. What happened in the end?

Bed. How did feel during Maxim’s performance? I was both scared and impressed by Maxim’s performance. Yes or no?

Dresser. Are there gymnastics schools in your city, region or country?

Bedside Table, Night Stand. I wish I could be like Spiderman or the Daredevil. Do your friends wish they were like Spiderman or the Daredevil?

Wardrobe, Closet. What might happen in the future?

Chest of Drawers. Is there a message or lesson in Maxim’s performance?