2. Jose Saramago’s Blindness

Some people read to escape, some people read to relax, others read because they have to, but in my opinion a good book should make the reader think. One book that I have read recently opened my eyes to what the world would be like if we were to lose one of our senses and that book is the Portuguese writer Jose Saramago’s Blindness.

It’s a simple story in that a plague of blindness sweeps through a country leaving all but one person totally blind. The story follows the first victim, waiting in his car at the traffic lights, through to all the people he comes into contact with. The disease spreads and the authorities find themselves unable to cope in a country of the blind. Little do they know that one woman still has her sight.

It is mainly through this character that the story is told. She is the wife of an optician and to save herself she claims that she too has gone blind. Throughout the tale, we see the terrible events through her eyes and feel her pain as society crumbles around her.

The novel is powerful and disturbing and will make any reader value his sight and the world he or she lives in even more.This is not an easy book to read, but once read will stay with you forever.

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Interlocutor Cards

Interlocutor Card 1

Unit 1.8 – Student A – Task 2 (p. 20)

You are discussing what leaving gift to give a popular teacher who is retiring. These are your ideas about each option:

	+	_
A silver watch	– The teacher will be able to wear it.	– A good watch would be rather
	– It’s a traditional retirement gift.	expensive.
A framed photograph of	– It would be something the teacher could	– It’s not very personal.
the school	see at home to remember us by.	– A teacher must have lots of photos of
		the school already.
A set of leather bound	– He will have plenty of time for reading.	– It is difficult to choose books that
books of literature	– Everyone loves the classics.	someone will really enjoy.
classics		– He may prefer science books.
A camera	– This is special and useful as well.	– It could be expensive.
	– Taking photographs is a great hobby.	– He might not be interested in
		photography.