Watch The ELL Zone's Season 1, Episode 4: On Cloud 9.
In order to better use The ELL Zone to help improve your English, it is a good idea to engage with the episodes.
Here are some activities to help you interact with the episode "On Cloud 9":
Questions
What does “On Cloud 9” mean?
How many times is "On Cloud 9" said in the episode?
How many times does the Animated Host, Todd Sterling, say On Cloud 9 in the episode?
How many times does the Doubtful Prof say On Cloud 9 in the episode?
How many times does the Grad School Grad say “On Cloud 9” in the episode?
What is the Grad School Grad’s dog’s name?
Which dog looks more appealing/cuter to you–the Doubtful Prof’s or the Grad School Grad’s?
Who is Joni Mitchell?
Is the Animated Host, Todd Sterling a fan of Joni Mitchell?
What is Todd Sterling’s favorite Joni Mitchell song?
Why can’t the song “Both Sides Now” be played in the episode?
Why does the Grad School Grad frame a cartoon photo of Rover she found online rather than an actual picture of him?
When did Rover die?
How tall is Animated Host, Todd Sterling?
Animated Host Todd Sterling says, “Humans are obsessed with the weather.” Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
What things in life make you feel "On Cloud 9"?'
Summarize the plot of this episode:
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Write your own sentence using "On Cloud 9":
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You can check your answers to the above questions, here below:
1. What does “On Cloud 9” mean?
"ecstatic" or "very happy" or another synonym.
2. How many times is "On Cloud 9" said in the episode?
6
3. How many times does the Animated Host, Todd Sterling, say On Cloud 9 in the episode?
2
4. How many times does the Doubtful Prof say On Cloud 9 in the episode?
3
5. How many times does the Grad School Grad say “On Cloud 9” in the episode?
1
6. What is the Grad School Grad’s dog’s name?
Rover
7. Which dog looks more appealing/cuter to you–the Doubtful Prof’s or the Grad School Grad’s?
(This is a matter of opinion/answers will vary)
8. Who is Joni Mitchell?
A famous Canadian-American singer-songwriter known for a huge catalog of songs, including hits "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Both Sides Now." She reached her height of popularity in the 1970s.
9. Is the Animated Host, Todd Sterling a fan of Joni Mitchell?
Yes
10. What is Todd Sterling’s favorite Joni Mitchell song?
"Both Sides Now," a song that often refers to Clouds, the title of Mitchell's album where that song first appeared.
11. Why can’t the song “Both Sides Now” be played in the episode?
Intellectual property rights prevent the song from appearing in this ELL Zone episode. In other words, The ELL Zone would need permission from Joni Mitchell to include her song in the episode.
12. Why does the Grad School Grad frame a cartoon photo of Rover she found online rather than an actual picture of him?
Rover would never stay still for photographs.
13. When did Rover die?
The day the Grad School Grad finished her master's thesis.
14. How tall is Animated Host, Todd Sterling?
He is six feet tall. This can be seen 6:23 into the episode when Todd Sterling gets a mug shot, ostensibly in the hypothetical situation where he would have used Joni Mitchell's song without here permission.
15. Animated Host Todd Sterling says, “Humans are obsessed with the weather.” Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
This is a matter of opinion and answers may vary.
16. What things in life make you feel "On Cloud 9"?'
This is also a matter of opinion.
Summary:
Answers may vary, but should be something like: The Doubtful Prof encounters Grad School Grad outside counting clouds in the sky. He asks her why she is doing that activity. She explains that is because she misses her beloved dog Rover, who died the day she finished her master's thesis. The Grad School Grad's friend, Suzanne, had told the Grad School Grad that Rover would be "On Cloud 9" because of her success. The Doubtful Prof explains to the Grad School Grad that "On Cloud 9" is an idiom that is to be taken literally.
Hopefully you are "On Cloud 9" now that you have finished answering these questions! :)