Listening Comprehension

Most high school juniors in New York State get the pleasure of taking the standardized English Regents Exam. This year, they had to write an essay after listening to a speech called "Oceans in Peril." It was written by Peter Benchley, who has repented since his Jaws days, and now thinks ocean life is precious or some crap. Many students had never heard the word "peril," and since the title is only given orally, they had to do their best to decipher it. Here are some examples of what they came up with:

• Oceans & Pearls
• Ocean's Apparel
• Oceans Imperal
• Oceans Inferral
• Oceans & Carols

And one that clearly calls for a movie...

• Ocean's Inferno

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and seven other guys meet Virgil and charm their way through a guided tour of Hell. In this version, the innermost circle is reseved for the uncharismatic.