Although this video takes things to an extreme, in some cases it may not be too far from the reality! Take a look at the video on the left. When you feel ready, try the exercise on the right.
Eagle Representative: And that’s what’s so marvellous about this proposal. I do believe, Minister, that the Eagle Line Supertrain will revolutionise train travel in the new century. London to Edinburgh in superfast time. Minister: That’s great. If it can get from London to Edinburgh as fast as that! I mean, what is it? It’s just a fraction of a second! Eagle Rep: No. No that…The actual train wouldn’t be quite as fast that. I think London to Edinburgh is about three and a half hours. Minister: Right. Yes, of course!...Sorry, I should say that train there, though, there’s no way we could give you the franchise if your trains are goin’ to be that small… Eagle Rep: No. That’s a... This is a model of, of the train. The actual train would be about, well would be the size of a normal train Minister: Of course, yes of course. The actual train would be bigger. And if it’s bigger, then it can get from here to here much quicker because that really isn’t such a big distance. Is it? Eagle Rep: No. No. Sorry, I see. I see. No this isn’t Britain. This is a map of Britain. And Britain’s a lot… is bigger than this. Minister: Yes, obviously. These are all obviously smaller versions of everything, but, and doesn’t that stand to reason that…This may sound like a stupid question… Eagle Rep: No. Please. Minister: Well if the trains are going to be bigger and the country is bigger, then won’t we need a…a giant to push the train? Eagle Rep: (Calmly looks in disbelief)..No Minister: Yes. That’s silly isn’t it? Eagle Rep: The, the trains aren’t .. they’re not pushed by people. Minister: Yes! Yes. Yes. I’ve got it now. I don’t know what I was thinking. AH! Eagle Rep: Ooops. Sorry…are you alright? Minister: Yeah. Just for a second I thought I might be, might be a giant, but I’m not. I'm not a giant Eagle Rep: No, Minister. There are no giants.
