Unit 8 Listening

A.Listen to a lecture about O. Henry and complete the notes below. Write one word or figure in each blank.

O. Henry was born in 1862 in the US as William Sydney Porter.

When he was 25, he first began writing for newspapers and magazines. He did this because he was poor and he wanted to get more money to support his wife and daughter.

In 1896, he was accused of stealing money while he was working in a bank from 1891 to 1894. Afraid of going to prison, he ran away to Central America.

When he was in Central America, he found out that his wife was dying, so he returned to the US in 1897 and was sent to prison. In prison, he began writing short stories to support his daughter. Since he didn’t want his readers to know that he was in prison, he wrote under the name“O. Henry”. After leaving prison, he moved to New York City and began a successful writing career.

O. Henry died at the age of 47 in 1910. Today he’s remembered as one of the writers who invented the short story.

B.Listen to the recording again and circle the correct answers.

O. Henry was born in 1862 in the US as William Sydney Porter.

When he was 25, he first began writing for newspapers and magazines. He did this because he was poor and he wanted to get more money to support his wife and daughter.

In 1896, he was accused of stealing money while he was working in a bank from 1891 to 1894. Afraid of going to prison, he ran away to Central America.

When he was in Central America, he found out that his wife was dying, so he returned to the US in 1897 and was sent to prison. In prison, he began writing short stories to support his daughter. Since he didn’t want his readers to know that he was in prison, he wrote under the name“O. Henry”. After leaving prison, he moved to New York City and began a successful writing career.

O. Henry died at the age of 47 in 1910. Today he’s remembered as one of the writers who invented the short story.