English Inspirations: Christmas

Contents:
Big Bang Theory: Sheldon's greatest Christmas video clip
Christmas quiz questions

The Big Bang Theory: Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G3KItej-Ms

Penny: »Hey Sheldon, are you and Leonard putting up a Christmas tree?«
Sheldon: »No, because we don’t celebrate the ancient pagan festival of Saturnalia.«
Penny: »Saturnalia?«
Wolowitz: »Gather round, kids, it’s time for Sheldon’s beloved Christmas special.«
Sheldon: »In the pre-Christian era, as the winter solstice approached and the plants died, pagans brought evergreen boughs into their homes as an act of sympathetic magic, intended to guard the life essences of the plants until spring. This custom was later appropriated by Northern Europeans and eventually it becomes the so-called Christmas tree.«

Leonard “And that Charlie Brown, is what boredom is all about”

Penny: »Okay, well, thank you for that, but I got you and Leonard a few silly neighbor gifts, so I’ll just put them under my tree. «
Sheldon: »Wait! You bought me a present?”
Penny: »Uh-huh.«
Sheldon: »Why would you do such a thing?«
Penny: »I don’t know. ’Cause it’s Christmas?«
Sheldon: »Oh, Penny. I know you think you are being generous, but the foundation of gift giving is reciprocity. You haven’t given me a gift. You’ve given me an obligation.«
Wolowitz: »Don’t feel bad, Penny, it’s a classic rookie mistake. My first Hanukah with Sheldon, he yelled at me for eight nights.«
Penny: »Now, hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to get me anything in return.«
Sheldon: »Of course I do. The essence of the custom is that I now have to go out and purchase for you a gift of commensurate value and representing the same perceived level of friendship as that represented by the gift you’ve given me. It’s no wonder suicide rates skyrocket this time of year.«

Penny: »Okay, you know what? Forget it. I’m not giving you a present.«
Sheldon: »No, it’s too late. I see it. That elf sticker says, ›To Sheldon.‹ The die has been cast. The moving finger has writ. Hannibal has crossed the alps.«
Wolowitz: »I know. It’s funny when it’s not happening to us.«
Penny: »Sheldon, I am very, very sorry.«
Sheldon: »No. No, I brought this on myself by being such an endearing and important part of your life. I’m going to need a ride to the mall.«
Wolowitz: »It’s happening to us.«

Sheldon: »I don’t see anything in here that a woman would want.«
Howard: »Are you kidding? There’s lotions, bath oils, and soaps. It’s the estrogen hat trick!«
Sheldon: »All I smell is a cacophonous assault of eucalyptus, bayberry, cinnamon and vanilla. I feel like my head were trapped in the pyjamas of a sultan.«

Sheldon: »Let’s say for a moment that I accept the bath item gift hypothesis. I now lay the following conundrum at your feet: Which size?«
Howard: »This one! Let’s go!«
Sheldon: »You put no thought into that.«

Sheldon: »I have insufficient data to proceed. Excuse me, miss.«
Charlotte: »Yes?«
Sheldon: »If I were to give you this gift basket, based on that action alone and no other data, infer and describe the hypothetical relationship that exists between us.«
Charlotte: »Excuse me?«
Sheldon: [Gives her the basket] »Here. Now, are we friends? Colleagues? Lovers? Are you my grandmother?«
Charlotte: »I don’t understand what you’re talking about, and you’re making me a little uncomfortable.«
Howard Wolowitz: »See? Sounds just like you and Penny. We’ll take it.«

Sheldon: »Mmm, great news, Leonard. I’ve solved my Penny gift dilemma.«
Leonard: »Yippee.«
Sheldon: »You see, the danger was that I might under or over-reciprocate, but I have devised a foolproof plan. See, I will open her gift to me first and then excuse myself, feigning digestive distress. Then I’ll look up the price of her gift online, choose the basket closest to that value, give it to her and then I’ll return the others for a full refund.«
Leonard: »Brilliant.«
Sheldon: »It is, isn’t it? Is it okay if I hide them in your room? The smell makes me nauseated.«
Leonard: »Do whatever you want.«Sheldon: »Thank you, that’s very gracious.«

Sheldon: »Ah, good, Penny, you’re here to exchange gifts. You’ll be pleased to know I’m prepared for whatever you have to offer.«
Penny : »Okay, here.«
Sheldon: »I should note I’m having some digestive distress, so, if I excuse myself abruptly, don’t be alarmed.«
Sheldon [opened the gift]: »Oh … a napkin.«

Penny: »Turn it over.«
Sheldon : »To Sheldon. Live long and prosper. Leonard Nimoy.«

Penny: »He came into the restaurant. Sorry the napkin’s dirty, he wiped his mouth with it.«
Sheldon: »I possess the DNA of Leonard Nimoy?!«
Penny: »Yeah...yeah, I guess. But look, he signed it!«
Sheldon [even more excited]: »Do you realize what this means?! All I need is a healthy ovum and I can grow my own Leonard Nimoy!«
Penny: »Okay, all I’m giving you is the napkin, Sheldon.«Sheldon: »Be right back«.

Penny: »Sheldon! What did you do?«
Sheldon: »I know—it’s not enough, is it! Here …«
Penny: »Leonard, look! Sheldon is hugging me!«Leonard: »It’s a Saturnalia miracle!«

Boughs : A tree branch

To appropriate : To take possession of or make use of exclusively for oneself, often without permission

Reciprocity: a mutual exchange of commercial or other privileges

Rookie : An inexperienced person; a novice.

Exasperated: To make very angry or impatient; annoy greatly.

Infer: To conclude from evidence or premises

Feign: To represent falsely; pretend to.

Gracious: Characterized by elegance and good taste

Napkin: a cloth or towel

Commensurate: Corresponding in size or degree; proportionate

hat trick: . Three goals scored by one player in one game

cacophonous: having an unpleasant sound

conundrum: A paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma

The die has been cast: An irrevocable choice has been made.

The moving finger has writ: Whatever one does in one's life is one's own responsibility and cannot be changed.

Put up a Christmas tree

a gift of commensurate value

suicide rates skyrocket this time of year

The die has been cast.

The moving finger has writ.

Hannibal has crossed the alps

All I smell is a cacophonous assault

I now lay the following conundrum at your feet

You put no thought into choosing a gift

I have devised a foolproof plan

Live long and prosper

Comprehension questions

Why isn’t Sheldon celebrating Christmas? Why does he call it Saturnalia?

What is the foundation of gift-giving?

What does a gift represent for Sheldon.

What is his dilemma in the shop?

What does he ask the shop assistant?

How does he solve his gift giving dilemma?

What is Penny’s gift and why is it special?

Why does Penny’s gift excite Sheldon?

How does Sheldon reciprocate Penny’s gift?

Matching exercise:

Put up a foolproof plan

a gift of has been cast.

Suicide rates at your feet

The die commensurate value

The moving finger and prosper

Hannibal Christmas tree

All I smell is a cacophonous assault

I now lay the following conundrum into choosing a gift

You put no thought has crossed the alps

I have devised skyrocket this time of year

Live long has writ

Christmas quiz questions

Seiten

Christmas