Activity 7. Study some phrases which can be used during the discussion, then use them in short dialogues of your own:

1. To ask for information:

- I wonder if you could tell me ...

- I just want to know ...

- I’d like to know ...

- Could you/would you explain ...

2. to ask opinion:

- What do you think of ...?

- What is your idea of ...?

- I would like to ask about your opinion on ...

c) to compliment the question:

- That’s a good question.

- I’m glad you’ve asked that question.

- Your observation is very important.

- You have raised a very interesting point.

d) to request clarification:

- I don’t think I understand your question, Dr. Harrison.

- I’m not sure I understand you, Dr. White.

- I’m not quite clear about your question. Could you please enlarge on it?

- I didn’t catch you. Could you say it again?

e) clarifying:

- Let’s see. If I get it right, you are asking about the rates. Is that so?

- Is that correct that you ask about the rates?

- You are asking about the rates. Is that correct?

6. To give an equivocal reply:

- Well, I don’t think I can reply to your question at the moment.

- I’m afraid I can’t give any definite answer. I think Dr. Altov could do it better than I.

- I don’t think I’m qualified to speak about this matter.

- Your question is difficult to answer. I hope further work may help to clarify it.

Activity 8. Role play. One of you plays the chairman, another Dr. Stone who presents a short communication on one of the following topics. The others play the discussion participants who ask the speaker questions. The replies should be either informative and contain explanations if necessary, or equivocal.

Topics:

1. How dangerous are the scientific achievements of the humanity for the environment.

2. The relationship between theory and practice in science.

3. How far can computers substitute man?

Activity 9. Study the following conversation.

Commenting on the paper. Winding up the discussion.

Chairman: The question time is over. I’m inviting you to contribute to one of the problems we’re considering. Please keep a strict timing of 5 minutes and don’t wander away from the subject. Who would like to comment on Dr. Rundle’s paper? Ah, yes, the gentleman on the right. Please address the audience, Dr. .. er...

Coleridge: Peter Coleridge, National Research Council, Canada. I am very impressed by your work, Dr. Rundle, and would like to make only a short comment. Low-field oscillations from two subbands can also be described within a semiclassical approach. We’ve done that. I’m reporting these data this afternoon.

Ch.: Thank you, Dr. Coleridge for your valuable remark. Anyone else wants to speak? Yes, Dr. Ambree you are invited to the microphone.

Ambree: Dr. Rundle, you say that the contribution of acoustic phonons is small, I quite agree with that because indirect evidence we have obtained really indicates an insignificant contribution.

Ch.: Thank you very much. Are there any more comments? There seem to be no more comments on Dr. Rundle’s paper. I think that’s all there is to say on the subject for the time being. In view of the late hour I declare the discussion closed. I would like to thank again Dr. Rundle for his excellent communication and the persuasive way in which he dealt with the questions and comments. I appreciate very much the contributions by other researchers. I think we’ve done a good job on making the problem clearer to us all. The discussion will no doubt help delineate our future work and stimulate further research. Thank you all.