1.2.10. Are you a good matchmaker? Match up the given statements and responses to them. You may also give your own ones.

e.g. Performance-related fees are stimulating. – Bloody assessments!

Statements:

1. There is usually too much one-sided emphasis in any lawyer’s contentions.

2. Some contentions are difficult to counter.

3. A tree is known by its fruit. Hence the ultimate test for determining the success of a project is its practical results.

4. A priority is a matter of prime concern.

5. Isn’t curiosity a vice?

6. Beautiful sounding phrases are often inconsistent with realities of life.

7. Resounding statements in the media often produce the opposite effect to what they are originally meant for.

8. We like to see a fresh, achievement oriented attitude in our team player.

9. Kate likes to ground her rating of people in basic data.

10. What a resounding success!

11. His phone started to buzz. Fishing it out of his pocket Ben stared at the screen.

12. Scoring points with the right man, eh?

13. – Going to a party?

– What? This?

14. You’ve got to do what the editor says or else…

Responses: Inquisitiveness, as I see it. Common knowledge. An international number.

Grim reality. Professional techniques. Which is a fluid thing. Sorry, habit. Predictable reaction. Poor choice of words. [ Important meeting. Got to look my best. ] Assessments all over. Great achievement. Brutal honesty. No bylines and no cash.

1.2.11. Discuss the following issues asking and answering questions like those given below.

1. Do you do experiments? (make experiments, conduct ~) Is experimentation an ongoing procedure in research? A continuing process in your work? Do you experiment to test your hypothesis? Your working hypothesis? What is the ultimate try-out for confirming your working hypothesis? Is ongoing assessment part of your research procedure? Are you to provide convincing arguments to support your working hypothesis? What does your final contention rely on? Is it hard to hit back at your opponents’ contentions? Do you believe that the proof of a hypothesis should await the favorable outcome of controlled trials? What do you give more emphasis to when providing grounds for your approach being true?

1.2.12. Subtle nuances of meaning of a word we never look up in a dictionary: develop your vocabulary skills learning and saying things.

1. “A course is a course, of course”. Does it sound like an empty tautology to you? What would you choose as a description of “course”? What can be a synonym of “course”? Isn’t it connected with a particular subject, an individual class or a series of lessons in a particular subject? If “course” means all these, we can define “course” as a set of meetings between a teacher and his or her students, during which they learn about a particular subject. In American English they prefer “class” instead of “course’.

Sticking to British English we would say:

Are you doing a course of English? Are you taking a course on / in linguistics?

Have you enrolled on the course of computer programming?

Sticking to American English we would say:

Are you doing an English class? (a series of classes in a particular subject used instead of “course”)

Do many students attend an additional class on computer science?

A course can also be associated with a program (AmE). A program implies a set of study or a period of study relating to a particular area of study, especially a student’s main area of study.

Students following the academic MS course are to take a state exam in English. Or

Students taking … .

2. How many courses are you taking right now? Which course is most relevant, in your opinion? Are you following a degree-level course? What is the degree you are going to gain? Does an MS imply entry qualifications for a PhD course? Are you doing any course in humanities (arts)?

3. What are some other meanings of the word “course”? “Course” also implies “time”, “development”, “process”, “plans”, “direction”, treatment” and even “meal”. Study the examples and specify the meaning of the word “course” in each:

1) In the course of our study we discovered that the diffraction pattern was complex.

2) During the course of our discussion we argued about the link between quantum theory and gravity.

3) It is surprising that quantum effects might add to the whole course of improving tests of general relativity.

4) In the normal (natural, ordinary) course of events a PhD student gains their degree by the end of the course.

5) Let things take their course.

6) As long as the team stays on course the prospects look fine.

7) Your opponents will go to any lengths to make you change course.

8) Of course this is a sensible course of action.

9) It’s most unwise to take a course of antibiotics for a banal cold.

10) What is the main course? What’s on the menu?

4. Describe a few things by means of “course” used variously of “the course of our study”, “in the course of events”, “stay on course”, etc. Let your utterances be relevant to something meaningful to you.