Кудинова Практическиы курс аглиыского языка для студентов международник Ч.1 2014

A British power company has identified a commercially viable site for a wind farm in the north of England. The proposal is for a wind farm of 80 turbines over a large area. Each tower will be 60 metres tall and have a turbine of 35 metres diameter. The wind farm will cover an area of several kilometres and take five years to complete.

As fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil are being used up, governments are keen to find alternative sources of energy, especially those that do not emit carbon dioxide. Nuclear power is one possible source, but many people have doubts about its safety. Renewable energy sources include solar, wave and wind power. The UK Government is keen to use these sources of power, and hopes to generate 10% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2010 and 20% by 2020. However, many people feel that onshore wind farms spoil the landscape, particularly in countryside areas where they are usually sited. It is argued that they are eyesores which damage people's enjoyment of areas of outstanding natural beauty. Other people argue that wind power is simply not reliable as an energy source as wind power output is variable and unpredictable.

1.Which facts and figures indicate that the wind farm will be large?

2.Which phrase indicates that the wind farm will be profitable?

3.What sources of energy are mentioned? What advantages and disadvantages are given for the energy sources?

3.Listen to a government official talking to a power company representative and answer the questions.Before you listen make sure you know these words and word combinations:

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to be in favour of sth, to cancel sth (≠ to conceal), cost-effective, to think longterm, eventually, to stop rumours, an approval, public approval (uncountable), to get out of hand, local support (uncountable), to sort out a venue, violent.

1.What is the attitude of each speaker to a public meeting?

2.What is John Reynolds worried about?

3.What do they decide in the end?

Speaking: Stress Caused by Mobile Phones

1.Look at the pictures. What kind of problem do you think the girl has?

2.Put the dialogue between Marina and her friend Jane in the best order.

No. I'm fine. I've just been watching a sad film, that's all.

Who? Oh, him. No. I haven't thought about him all day, actually. Marina, your phone ... it's ringing. Aren't you going to answer it? No, it's not true. I've been trying to get through to him all day.

Oh, I see. Tell me, have you heard anything from Andrew today?

No. I've left about ten messages on his voice mail. Oh, why doesn't he phone?

Oh, really? So you've forgotten about him already, have you?

Hi, Marina ... what's the matter? You've been crying again, haven't you? Haven't you managed to speak to him, then?

Reading and Talking

1. This poem includes many words that contrast with each other. Underline the contrasting words in each line. What is a paradox? How do the contrasts show a paradox? What is "the paradox of our times"?

The Paradox of Our Times

by Jeff Dickson

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less;

we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.

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We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired,

read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;

we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back,

but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

2.Does the poem express the way you feel sometimes? Explain your answer.

3.Select one or two lines that seem most interesting to you. Read them aloud.

Discuss with the group what they mean and whether you agree with them.

4.The poet effectively uses comparisons of unlike things for emphasis. What else makes the poem effective?

Reading, Discussing and Writing: CERN

1.Read the text and say whether these statements are true or false:

1)CERN was originally a French laboratory.

2)One of the reasons it was set up was to make research into atomic physics more affordable.

3)CERN has four main aims.

4)The LHC is the most powerful particles accelerator because of its huge circumference.

5)Most of the scientists involved in experiments at CERN are not based

there.

Situated about 10 kilometres north-west of Geneva and straddling the border between France and Switzerland, CERN is the world's largest laboratory for research into particle physics (the study of the elements of matter and how they interact with each other and with energy). It was originally established in 1954 as one of Europe's first joint ventures to bring together the best scientists in Europe and to allow member countries to share the significant costs of selling up and running an atomic physics laboratory. Today it has 20 member states, more than 2,500 full-time staff and provides the infrastructure and scientific

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instruments for the research projects of around 8,000 scientists and engineers who represent 80 nationalities and 580 universities and research facilities.

Although the organisation has long outgrown its original European dimensions and its focus on nuclear physics, its original aims have remained the same. These are to sponsor and help organise research projects that will lead to a better understanding of the universe, to push to the limit advances in different technologies, to educate the scientists of the future and to encourage international cooperation through science.

The main scientific instruments at CERN are particle accelerators and particle detectors. Scientists use the accelerators to send beams of particles towards each other at very high energy. Then they cause the particles to collide with each other or with stationary targets and observe and record the results with the detectors. CERN is famously home to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which, with a circumference of 27 km, is the largest and most powerful particle accelerator in the world.

While the smallest experiments at CERN may concern only a handful of scientists, the largest involve thousands. However, CERN itself employs comparatively few scientists and often only on a temporary basis. Most of the researchers remain based in their various universities and research institutes around the globe. Once a research project has been reviewed and accepted by peer committees, the scientists involved in that collaborate, often simply via Internet-based conferencing facilities, to design, build and run their own experiments. All members of the team have free access to the data and share the result equally. It is a shining example of international cooperation.

2.Work in groups and discuss the following:

1)Can you think of an example of successful international cooperation?

2)Do you think CERN is a huge waste of money?

3)Think of some examples of failed international cooperation. Why did they fail?

3.In groups, combine words from the box to make the full titles of the organisations (1-8) below (each word may be used more than once).

What functions do the organisations (1-8) perform? Discuss your ideas in your groups. Which of the names are acronyms?

Write a short paragraph about one of the organisations listed in Exercise 2.

Speaking and Vocabulary: Gadgets

1. In pairs, discuss the following questions.

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1)What do you understand by the word 'technology7?

2)How have advances in technology affected your working/studying and social life?

3)What kinds of advances would you like to see in the next 20 years?

4)Is the latest technology always an improvement? Can you give any examples when it hasn't been?

5)Do you think we rely on technology too much? Why / Why not? Discuss

with a partner.

Which item of technology do you think is the most: a) important? b) useful? c) controversial? d) unpopular? e) pointless?

2. Which two adjectives from the box are more informal than the others? Use a dictionary to help you.

3. Complete each sentence using a suitable adjective from the box. There may be more than one possible answer.

1)I don't understand those ______________ phones. I just want something simple that I can call people on.

2)That device was ____________ before it even went on the market. Nobody uses them anymore.

3)This really is a __________ development. It will change the way we communicate forever.

4)It's not exactly ___________ technology, but it's still pretty useful piece of equipment.

Reading and Speaking: Have technological advances had a positive impact on peoples' lives?

1.Read the message board opinions and answer the questions below.

1)Which of the people are for / against / undecided about the question?

2)Which points do you agree / disagree with? Which is closest to your own

point of view?

All the really fundamental changes have been connected to advances in technology. Think about all the lives which have been saved due to breakthroughs in, for example, medicine. And what about the general extended life expectancy? What about

transport and communication? Some people have always been antitechnology. There are always dramatic changes going on, especially now, in terms of communication. The Internet is amazing and has had an awesome effect on people's lives. Sven

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It's true, technology has altered people's lives but I'm not — sure it's been for the better. A lot of stress stems from the fact that technology speeds everything up in our already fast paced world. We're now reachable 24 hours a day and we expect instant answers, and this impacts on people's work/life balance. There are also the dehumanising effects of technology - we've become slaves to machines. What about the dangers of things like GM crops - or 'Frankenstein foods'? It's dangerous to mess about with nature. Advances in technology breed laziness and contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. Look at all those kids who would rather play a computer game than kick a ball around.

Jose

Technology can fix all society's problems. Even during wars there's a great impetus for technological development. Cars which cause pollution resulting in global warming are now being superseded by hybrid and electric ones. They will reduce the carbon footprint. BTW, those of you who think technology is so bad: WHY ARE YOU USING THE INTERNET TO TELL US THIS?!! Andrea

Technology is a double-edged sword. There have been radical changes brought about by inventions like the telephone, car and the Internet. But, the important thing is that control of technology is power. It's the way it is used which is important. For example, some technological advances are not always used in a good way. What about the rise in cosmetic surgery, artificial intelligence, cloning, designer babies, people living forever? Where's technology taking us? This, together with a move towards an ever-greater reliance on technology is leading us to a nightmare vision of the future. Arwa Technology has a lot to answer for. Never mind improving people's lives, it accounts for the increase in pollution and exploitation. Lots of people are killed in wars because of so-called technological advances. As for the expansion of access to the Internet, there are millions of people in the world who haven't even made a phone call yet!! There's a real digital divide. Technological advances because of their uneven distribution actually have a negative effect on people's opportunities. Major technological change is basically destroying the planet. I doubt we can save it in time. It's really all about greed. I guess this is more to do with human nature rather than technology itself, though. Jane

2.Summarise each person's argument in one sentence.

3.What do you notice about the way the writers on the message board express their opinions? Is the style:

1)formal or informal?

2)subjective or objective?

3)well-structured or disorganised?

4)emotional or unemotional?

4.Find examples of the following in the message board texts.

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a) rhetorical questions b) colloquial language

5.Complete the following with the correct preposition. Look back to the message board to check your answers.

1)What does a fear of technology stem ______ in your opinion?

2)Which item of technology has had the biggest impact _____ your/your parents' life?

3)Has the rise ______ the popularity of social networking sites resulted

______ better understanding between people?

4)Does technology contribute ______ the happiness of mankind?

5)Is the expansion ______ robot technologies a good thing?

6)Do you think technological advances will lead _____ people living on other planets?

6.Discuss your answers to exercise 5 with a partner.

Listening and Speaking: Oil Spill

1. Listen to the conversation between the chairman of the Poseidon Oil Company, Julian Leiterman, and a United Nations official. What major objectives does the chairman mention in the conversation?

2. Listen again. Tick the expressions for stating objectives that you hear in the conversation.

Our main objective now is to develop a strategy … Your target must be to contain the oil spill.

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THE couch-potato cat and the square-eyed dog emerge as the innocent victims in a survey this week of the nation’s leisure habits.

Most people watch television for most of their leisure time, although other pursuits - eating, reading, sleeping and arguing - are frequently conducted at the same time. The survey by National Opinion Polls for the Radio Times found that for more than 5 million people, television is virtually their only leisure pursuit: for 12 percent of those asked, it occupied more than 90 per cent of their leisure lime. More than 8 million pets watch.

Despite, or because of the amount of peoples' lives it devours, the stigma attached to television watching persists. While half the population admit to using it to relax, and the same percentage could not live happily without one (and 66 per cent without radio) three-quarters think that other people rely on it too much.

Only 12 per cent read for 10 hours a week or more, and 83 per cent read for less than three hours a week; 14 per cent spend 7 hours a week or more on exercise, 28 percent less than 7 hours, and 43 percent no time at all.

A third say they do absolutely nothing for up to 3 hours a week, and 12 per cent say they spend 10 hours a week doing nothing much.

By comparison a third watch for over 3 hours a day, a fifth over 5 hours, and 7 percent for 11 hours a day or more. Women and the elderly watch most.

The survey does suggest, however, that television does not destroy family life. Nearly three-quarters of those asked, particularly those with children or who are in social categories A and B watch mostly with family or friends, and programmes are a topic of conversation.

3. Project: Work in a group to carry out a survey on TV watching habits. Devise a questionnaire, interview people from different age groups, use the internet to gather maximum data, analyse the results of the questionnaire, then report your findings in class.

Active Vocabulary. Unit 2.

Listening and speaking: Television

Should Mobiles be Banned in Public Places?