Today is the last class in our current four-class set.  Today's reading is about the science of overcoming your fears. Our listening material is the fifth part of the first episode of Serial. Today's vocabulary words will come from the reading. I will explain them to you in class and we can have a mini-discussion around each word. As for the listening, try your best and answer the listening questions. 

Vocabulary

• molecule  - (noun) a group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction.
• distress- (noun) extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain. ALSO the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help. ALSO suffering caused by lack of money or the basic necessities of life.  
• exposure - (noun)  the state of being exposed to contact with something. ALSO a physical condition resulting from being outside in severe weather conditions without adequate protection. ALSO experience of something. ALSO the quantity of light or other radiation reaching a photographic film, as determined by shutter speed and lens aperture. ALSO the revelation of an identity or fact, especially one that is concealed or likely to arouse disapproval. the publicizing of information or an event. ALSO the direction in which a building faces; an outlook.
• blot - (noun) a dark mark or stain, typically one made by ink, paint, or dirt. ALSO a shameful act or quality that tarnishes an otherwise good character or reputation. (verb) dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material. OR mark or stain (something).

Click HERE for the reading

Keywords and phrases

• Fixated- cause (someone) to acquire an obsessive attachment to someone or something.
• Bloodhound- A dog that has a good sense of smell used for hunting and tracking people. 
• Crack it- crack the code- Solve the problem, understand something
• Get to the bottom of it- get the result/answer
• That’s a bummer- that's too bad or "I'm sorry for you"
• Pretty chill about it- understanding person. For example, "I dropped his phone, but he was pretty chill about it."
• Heinous-(of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked.
• People who flip out- get really upset or angry
• Technicality- You can use the noun technicality for any small point or detail, but it's most likely to come up in the context of a court trial or a conversation with an attorney. A legal technicality is a small but ultimately important detail of the law. For example, a robbery suspect might have his trial dismissed on a legal technicality if the arresting police officer neglected to show him a search warrant before searching his house.

Listening Questions

What does Jarrod Johnson remember on January 13, 1999?

What does Derrick say about Asia? 

Why does Asia remember that day, January 13, 1999?