Topical Issues учебно-методическое пособие на английском языке

Questions:

1.What problems threaten people’s lives on the Earth?

2.What is the main reason for the green-house effect and acid rains on our planet?

3.Can we solve the problem of environmental protection?

4.What ways are there to improve our current ecological situation?

Exercise 4. Look at these topics. Think of two things to say about each one. public transport

fast food industry low-cost airlines recycling factory farming

renewable energy

Exercise 5.Work in pairs. Tick the words you know.

Ex. 6. Work in groups. Discuss these questions.

1.Which countries often have very bad weather?

2.Have you ever experienced very bad weather?

3.Do you think the weather where you live has changed since you were a child? If so, how?

Exercise 7. Check these words/phrases with your teacher or in a dictionary.

atmosphere greenhouse effect gas oil coal climate ice cap melt coast

Exercise 8. Read the text about global warming and climate change. Match questions a–d to paragraphs 1–4.

a)How has the climate change changed the world’s weather?

b)What can we do to stop global warming?

c)What is global warming?

d)How will the climate change affect the world in the future?

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Global warming and climate change

1………………………………………………………………………….. Heat from the sun is held in the Earth’s atmosphere by natural greenhouse

gases. These keep the planet warm and without them the average temperature would be about –18C instead of 14C. However, more and more heat is being kept in the atmosphere because of man-made greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, which is produced by burning oil, gas and coal. This global warming is already causing changes in the weather all over the world.

2……………………………………………………………………………. Since the 1970s, average global temperatures have risen by about 0.6C and many scientists believe that more extreme weather conditions have been caused by the climate change in recent years. For example, New Orleans was hit by a huge hurricane in 2005. Many people were killed and thousands were made homeless. And in the summer of 2003, 15.000 people died as a result of a heat

wave.

3…………………………………………………………………………… Experts believe that more and more places are going to be affected by the climate change in the future. And as the ice caps at the North and South Poles melt and sea levels rise further, many towns and villages near the coast will be flooded. This is as frightening thought because more than half the world’s

population live near the coast.

4…………………………………………………………………………… A lot has been written about what governments and businesses should do to slow down global warming. However, there’s also a lot we can do to save energy at home. For example, always turn off TVs, DVD players and computers

– machines use nearly as much electricity on stand-by as when they’re being used. Many other useful tips can be found on public information websites.

Exercise 9. Work in groups. Discuss these questions.

1.Did any of the information in the article surprise you?

2.What other things can people do to save energy?

IV. LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Exercise 1. Read part I of the text and give a few reasons why people learn foreign languages.

I. Today English is the language of the world. It is the language of progressive science and technology, trade and cultural relations, commerce and business, international contacts, sports, education, etc. Since Russia is being

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integrated into the world community, the problem of learning English for the purpose of communication is really urgent in our country.

Hundreds and hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers are printed in English and read all over the world. Half of the world’s scientific literature is written in English. English is spoken by more than 350 million people. Geographically, it is the most widespread language on earth, second only to Chinese in the number of people who speak it.

English is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and from there it has spread to many countries that used to be British colonies, from the USA to South Africa. The number of second-language speakers may soon exceed the number of native speakers, and millions of people all over the world, including Russia, study English as a foreign language. There is a wide variety of reasons for choosing to learn English. Some people, for example, do so as a part of foundation course for university or other course of study; others do so for career reasons in order to gain a promotion or perhaps to seek a new job. Yet, others are planning to travel and wish to improve their English, or just for pleasure.

Exercise 2. Read part II of the text and make a list of reasons why you should learn English.

II. Learning foreign languages is very important in today’s society. Progress in science and technology has led to an explosion of knowledge and has contributed to an overflow of information. The total knowledge is known to double every seven years, and foreign languages are needed as the main and most efficient means of information exchange between the people of our planet.

Also, knowledge of foreign languages helps nations understand each other better. If all the people find a common language, they will live in peace and friendship.

If you want to be good at any field of science you must know a foreign language to read scientific literature in the original.

If you want to get education abroad you also must know languages.

If you wish to work abroad, knowledge of any foreign language will undoubtedly help you.

If you study the culture of the country, you should know its language, too.

Exercise 3. Read the information on different standards of knowing a foreign language and find which level you belong to. Which level would you like to achieve?

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STANDARDS OF KNOWING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Elementary A very low level of understanding (you may recognize the word, but you are not able to use it at all; you have difficulty while socializing with partners and make many mistakes.

Pre- You can understand practically everything when English is Intermediate spoken slowly and distinctly; you can use words and word combinations in a sentence (everyday topics) but the vocabulary

is rather limited; the pronunciation is quite correct.

Intermediate You can understand and manipulate the words fairly well; you can present personalized and meaningful responses and to discuss your own ideas and opinions; you can communicate your ideas through speaking and listening; your vocabulary is good, but you are not quite good at writing.

Upper- You understand and can self-correct and manipulate the words Intermediate appropriately most of the time; you have understanding, selection and accurate active use of the words; you are adjusted to the normal speed at which English is spoken; you are good at student-to-student listening and speaking interaction (you know how to express particular ideas or how to modify language), but sometimes you experience some difficulties in essay/writing

composition.

Advanced Fluent spoken English used immediately in the daily lives, in a variety of situations (keeping a conversation going, giving your opinion, making interruptions, apologizing, making and responding to suggestions, etc). Grammar forms practised in communicative speaking and writing activities.

Proficiency You can deal with most of the practical situations and professional communication easily; you speak fluent English (very rarely with mistakes); no difficulties in any reading/writing.

Exercise 4. Read part III of the text and compare various ways of language learning. Find the preferable way for you and explain your choice.

III. So far, there is no universal or ideal method of learning languages. Everybody has his own way, depending on their abilities and on their particular interests. Many new methods of learning languages have been developed, from a

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new system of explaining grammar (to make it easy) to video courses and computer programmes. It is certain that some things, like computer programmes that give you word-learning drill, are a great help in increasing your vocabulary. However, just knowing a lot of words is not enough to begin speaking the language.

To learn a language you need a lot of work and also a lot of practice. When you are using a foreign language every day, even if you don’t know it well, your language is getting better and better with each day. So, what can be better than learning English in England, in the language school, where it surrounds you completely and you have a chance to see the practical uses of knowing a foreign language?

However, if you cannot afford such a course, reading books in the original, listening to the BBC news, watching videos and discussions of important topics in English, debates, role-playing and dialogues, communication with Englishspeaking people whenever possible will help a lot as well as attending conferences and making reports in English. If you are determined and prepared to work, you will be able to master the language and your world will become much wider.

Exercise 5. Work in pairs. Ask your partner and find out:

1)What are the three most exciting/effective/preferable/expensive ways to improve language skills?

2)Which is the least effective? Why?

When you have finished, present your ideas to another pair, or to the class.

Exercise 6. Answer the following questions and get ready to talk about the role of the English language in your life today/in your future life?

1.Is it true that every person must know a foreign language?

2.How long have you been studying English?

3.What should we do to master a language well?

4.Do you read English books in the original?

5.Which mass media are most helpful in learning English: magazines in English/books in the original/websites/TV programmes/others?

6.Do you think you’ll need a foreign language in your future career?

Why?

7.What are the ways of using a foreign language in life?

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Unit I, exercise 3

(I – Interviewer; J – Journalist)

I:Alison, the question most people ask is about the stories journalists write. What makes a good story?

J:All good stories need certain factors that make them interesting for the reader. And there are two main types. Firstly, stories where you have ordinary people finding themselves in strange or funny situations, which

we can all understand.

I:And the other type?

J:The other type concerns celebrities: film stars, the royal family, sportspeople. I think people enjoy reading about celebrities who have done something wrong, because it shows their human side. Bill Clinton and his scandals, actors behaving badly. Even if you are rich and famous,

you can still make mistakes.

I:There’s been a lot of criticism of journalists for writing too much about people’s private lives. What’s your opinion?

J:In my opinion, it isn’t right to follow normal people on holiday and take photos of them and their family? But if these people are famous or they

are spending public money, politicians, for example, we should definitely check what they are doing.

I:But what do you think of those newspapers who follow celebrities twenty four hours a day and take pictures of them?

J:Well, there are different types of newspapers. Some are full of gossip and celebrity news. They don’t contain serious news. They sell because the public wants to see famous people in their private moments. And many celebrities need publicity to keep them in the public eye. Celebrities need photographers and photographers need celebrities.

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