1.6. Explain the meaning of the following phrases taken from the article.

1. ... expected a repeat performance. (before gap 3);

2. ... the thought of becoming a dictator... . (before gap 4);

3. ... to end up at the bottom of the pile. (before gap 5);

4. ... something has recently clicked ... (after gap 6);

5. And the heresy that dare not speak its name ... (paragraph G).

Task 2

2.1. Read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which shouldn’t be there. If a line is correct, put a tick at the end of the line. If a line has a word which shouldn’t be there, write the word at the end of the line. There are two examples at the beginning.

0 00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

I find the way children spend hours just at watching TV quite depressing. It can’t be good for their imagination. I’m not very keen on watching myself. I’d rather to read a good book. I wish children would have switch off the TV and learn to enjoy the pleasures of reading. I have always been very fond of the reading – this comes from my mother who was a marvelous storyteller. When it was the time for us to go to bed she would say ‘It’s time we have had another story.’ If she’d said ‘Get into bed and switch the light off’ it would have been not very different. As it was, we began to look forward go to bedtime because we were expecting yet another unforgettable tale. If only wish I had had more the time to tell my children more stories when they were growing up. If they had been got into the habit of listening to stories at bedtime, they’d have grown to love literature more. They can’t stand to reading books now because they’d sooner they play some computer games instead.

….at… ….ν….

2.2. In groups, discuss the following problems.

What is the value of learning to read early?

What are the pleasures of reading?

Should children be left alone to begin reading when they are ready or should they be forced into it?

2.3. Read the following tips for parents. Tick those ones which you think are the most important / helpful. What tips for parents would you add to encourage a child to read? Reading Tips 4 Parents

Encourage your children to read! Building strong reading skills and an interest in reading is one of the most important things parents can do for their child's academic development.

There are many ways to help children develop an interest in reading:

Let the child choose a book to read. Fiction is fine, but non-fiction titles – biographies, science, and history – are also great topics.

Show that you like to read. Set aside some time each week to read a book of your choice.

Read a story to your child. Try reading a chapter each night at bedtime for a great evening routine.

Visit your public library. It's the world's best summer entertainment deal!

Let your child build his own library by setting a shelf aside for his or her "special" books.

Do you have a reluctant reader? These strategies can help:

Look at a book before your child starts reading it. Guess what might happen and who the characters might be. When the child finishes the book, let him or her tell you whether your predictions were accurate.

Build your child's vocabulary. Introduce new words each day and use them!

Music and rhymes help young children develop strong reading skills, especially when reading aloud.

Encourage reading with a reading chart using stickers or other indicators of your child's progress. Remember, too, that there is no substitute for praising success at reading.