Justifying Arguments

Complete the sentences with the following expressions:

Basically; that’s why; because of; one reason; to; so that; to do with; main reason

1. I think we should use less energy, ….. to reduce the greenhouse effect.

2. We live in a consumer society, ….. we use so much energy, don’t we?

3. We should plant a lot more trees. ….. for that is to restore habitats.

4. We need to reduce poverty. A lot of it’s ….. discrimination.

5. It’s important to conserve water. The ….. is to avoid desertification.

6. We must reduce discrimination. ….. that there is a lot of poverty.

7. I think we should give more aid ….. help underdeveloped countries.

8. We need to send food and medicine ….. the victims can survive the floods.

Giving Opinions and Reasons

Look at the issues below and put them in the order of importance for you:

1. Pollution

2. The greenhouse effect

3. Climate change

4. Endangered species

5. Natural disasters

Write about the issues; give reasons for your opinion. Use the prompts below:

I think we should… That’s why…

Personally, I think… so that…

Don’t you think…? A lot of it’s to do with…

I think we need to… basically to…

Why don’t we…? The main reason is to…

Governments should… because…

At the cinema

I like to go to the cinema. When I have free time I always go to see some new films. There is a cinema not far from my house. It is quite a modern building with a very large hall. In the foyer you can see photos of film stars and posters for the films which will be shown soon. There are different kinds of films: black-and-white and colour films, sound and mute films, newsreel, cartoons, documentaries, foreign films dubbed into Russian and others. One of the first cinema films was made by Edison, a great American engineer. He made also a machine to show films. The first real film show took place in Paris in 1895. A group of 33 people saw a short film about a train coming to a railway station. Nowadays many Russian and foreign producers shoot hundreds of films every year. Some prefer to shoot documentaries, others make comedy-films or love-stories. And people go to the cinema and everybody can find a film to his taste. This art, the art of cinematography helps us to see and understand our life, our drawbacks and to study the problems which occupy the modern cinema-goer.

Topical Vocabulary

newsreel	кинохроника
documentary	документальный фильм
black and
white, colour, sound, mute, dubbed film	черно-белый, цветной, со звуком, немой, дублированный фильм
cartoon	мультфильм
producer	режиссер-постановщик
to shoot a film	снимать фильм

I. Answer the questions:

1. What films can you see in the cinema?

2. Do you often go to the cinema?

3. What films do you like most of all?

4. Do you like cartoons?

5. What seats would you like best at the cinema: stall seats or balcony seats?

6. What film did you see last?

Spoken Etiquette

Requests and Asking for Permission

Formal

Would you please allow me to look for the book on the shelves myself?	Of course, go ahead and find it.
Do you mind my opening the window?	No, of course not.
May I ask you for a favour?	Certainly.
May I trouble you for Mr Nicholson’s telephone number?	Here it is.
Would you be so kind as to pass me the butter, please?	With pleasure.
Could you possibly tell me the way to Trafalgar Square?	Yes, certainly. Go straight ahead and then turn right.
Would you mind not smoking here?	Oh, I’m sorry.