British English Listening Exercise Notes

Introduction

Main Character: A man driving a new BMW to London who picks up a hitchhiker.
Hitchhiker: Cockney man using slang, reflects a different social class.
Themes: 1) Mutual respect despite class differences 2) The nature of skill and recognition.

The narrator reflects on his past experiences as a hitchhiker.
Hitchhiker is going to Epsom for Derby day; shows a contrast in societal status.
The narrator’s car: BMW 3.3 Li, top speed of 129 mph, reflects wealth.
Hitchhiker encourages the narrator to speed, leading to a police encounter.
Police officer pulls them over for speeding, highlights class dynamics.
Hitchhiker reveals he is a skilled thief (fingersmith), stealing items including the narrator's belongings.
The hitchhiker's skills impress the narrator, changing the perception of lower class individuals.
The story ends with the hitchhiker stealing the police officer's books, highlighting his cleverness and the theme of respect.

Mutual Respect:
- The narrator empathizes with the hitchhiker due to his past as a hitchhiker.
- Their class differences do not prevent them from forming a bond.
Skill Recognition:
- The hitchhiker, despite his illegal profession, possesses intelligence and skill that goes unrecognized by society.
- Final moments show the hitchhiker's pride and the narrator's acknowledgment of his talents.

Hitchhiker: A person seeking a ride from passing vehicles.
Cockney slang: Dialect associated with working-class Londoners.
Various terms used throughout: "Governor" (term of respect), "purring" (to describe the car), "fingersmith" (skilled thief), "hefty fine" (large penalty).