3. A. The paragraphs in this composition are not in the right order.

• Read the composition and decide:

• Which paragraph is a good introduction? (kind of a definition, origins of the name)

• Which paragraphs make the body of the composition? (appearance and philosophy)

• Which paragraph is a good conclusion? (popularity nowadays)

B. Put the paragraphs in the right order.

G OTHS

When the Goths appeared in the early eighties nobody thought that they would last, but they are still rather popu­lar. Today you can go almost anywhere in England, even to the smallest village and find a few Goths together as a small group, very much isolated from other kids of the same age.

A Goth is somebody who listens to Goth music and

2. looks Gothic. The name Goths comes from the neo Goth­ic period of literature with its atmosphere of mystery and terror and stories about Dracula and Frankenstein.

One can tell Goths from the costume and make up. They are really interesting and can look really striking with their white skin and swept back hair. They are a mixture of quite a lot of fashions. The em­phasis on black is something that is very much punk. But there was also another fashion at the time — it was called the New Romantics people dressed up in velvets and lace, soft and rich fabrics. It origi­nated from aristocratic fashion from two hundred years ago.

But what makes them really different is their phi­losophy. They are into mystical things and wear sil­ver decorations, often with religious significance. Another thing is that they have a rather negative view of life. Everyone expects young people to be opti­mistic and full of life and enthusiasm, but Goths aren’t like that. They are quite pessimistic and in­terested in death; they have this attitude that every­thing is tragic. It seems to appeal to kids, and there are always lots in every generation, who like to look on the dark rather than the bright side of life.

4. Read this text and choose the correct answer. In-group language

Teenage slang has always been important in youth culture. It is the dialect ot the younger generation and their special language that says, “This is us. This is how we talk”.

What makes slang so intriguing? Take words al­ready in use, give them new meaning that is clear for you and a circle of like-minded or same-aged ac­quaintances, and you have codes that signal you are part of a group.

It's like fashion and clothing. The newness of it is part of its appeal, part of who is in, who is on the edge, who is doing the cool things, or who can pre­tend they are cool by knowing the vocabulary.

Slang is dynamic, just like Standard English. Like­wise, slang is formed from existing words or by add­ing prefixes or suffixes. Some of the words have a “short shelf life", but others become commonplace and move into everyday usage. When slang loses its group-identifying qualities and loses its freshness and appeal, and when it no longer carries any social functions, then you can say it has moved into stan­dard vocabulary.

This is no simple answer to whether slang is good or bad to use. It depends on the context. It is bad in the sense that it might cause an unfavorable opin­ion of you if you use it in a situation where it is not appropriate. But for what it is, it is in-group vocabu­lary, and when you are talking to people in your own group, it is not bad at all. It has the purpose of show­ing identification with each other.

1. Teenage slang is important because

1. it is used every day

2. it helps teenagers identify themselves

3. it may cause a favourable opinion of a person.

2. The source of slang is

1. group vocabulary

2. everyday language

3. suffixes and prefixes.

3. Some slang words move into standard vocabulary when

1. they become commonplace

2. they go out of fashion

3. group members stop using them as their special language.

4. It is safe to use slang with your

1. friends

2. teachers

3. parents.