Level III

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Task 1. Read the text and be ready with the following.

A. Make up a list of unknown words which you may use in your speech.

UNTIDY PEOPLE ARE NOT NICE TO KNOW

You don't have to be a genius to spot them. The men of the species are often uncombed; their ties never knotted squarely beneath their collars. The women of the species always manage to smear lipstick on their faces as well as their lips; in one hand they carry handbags which are stuffed full of accumulated rubbish; with the other, they drag a horde of neglected children behind them. With a sort of happy unconcern, both the male and female species litter railway stations, streets, parks, etc., with sweet wrappings, banana-skins, egg-shells and cast-off shoes. Who are they? That great untidy band of people that make up about three-quarters of the human race. An unending trail of rubbish pursues them wherever they go.

It is most unwise to call on them at their homes – particularly if they aren't expecting you. You are liable to find socks behind the refrigerator, marbles in the jam and egg-encrusted crockery. Newspapers litter the floor; ashtrays overflow; withered flowers go on withering in stale water. Writing-desks have become dumping grounds for piles of assorted, indescribable junk. And as for the bedrooms, well, it's best not to say. Avoid looking in their cars, too, because you are likely to find last year's lolly sticks, chewing-gum clinging to the carpets and a note saying 'Running In' on the rear window of a ten-year-old vehicle.

Yes, but what are they really like? Definitely not nice to know. They are invariably dirty, scruffy, forgetful, impatient, slovenly, slothful, unpunctual, inconsiderate, rude, irritable and (if they're driving a car) positively dangerous. Untidiness and these delightful qualities always seem to go together, or shall we say that untidiness breeds these qualities. It's hardly surprising. If you are getting dressed and can only find one sock, you can only end up being irritable and scruffy. If after a visit to a lovely beauty spot you think that other people will enjoy the sight of your orange peel, you can only be inconsiderate and slovenly. If you can't find an important letter because you stuck it between the pages of a book and then returned the book to the library, you can only be forgetful. If you live in perpetual, self-imposed squalor, you must be slothful – otherwise you'd do something about it.

What a delightful minority tidy people are by comparison! They seem to have a monopoly of the best human qualities. They are clean, neat, patent, 35 hard-working, punctual, considerate and polite. All these gifts are reflected in their homes, their gardens, their work, their personal appearance. They are radiant, welcoming people whom you long to meet, whose esteem you really value. The crux of the matter is that tidy people are kind and generous, while untidy people are mean and selfish. The best proof of this is that tidy people, acting on the highest, selfless motives, invariably marry untidy ones. What happens after that is another story!

B. Divide the following statements into two groups:

For untidy people

For tidy people

1. Might find: e.g. socks behind refrigerator; marbles in jam.

2. Inconsiderate if you leave litter at beauty spots.

3. Newspapers on floor; overflowing ashtrays; withered flowers withering.

4. Tidy people usually marry untidy ones: another story.

5. Slaves of material things. Hygienic lives: always polishing floors, cleaning cars, etc.

6. Never have time to create anything; always pursued by things.

7. Hypocrites: interested only in outward appearances.

8. Tidy people can't enjoy life; don't know how to live.

9. Unwise to call at their homes – especially if not expected.

10. Women: smeared lipstick; handbags stuffed with rubbish; horde of neglected children.

11. Tidy people: kind, generous. Untidy ones: mean, selfish.

12. Radiant, welcoming people; long to meet them; value their esteem.

13. Possess very bad qualities: nagging; mean; jealous; spoil-sports; old-fashioned; narrow-minded; prudish; self-satisfied prigs.

14. Cars: old lolly sticks; chewing gum, carpets; 'Running In' – ten-year-old vehicle.

15. Easy to spot: men of species, uncombed, untidy.

16. Who are they? Untidy people; three-quarters human race; trail of rubbish pursues them.

17. Not nice people to know: irritable, inconsiderate, forgetful, etc.

18. Their children are insufferable: always dressed in best suits; not allowed to play.

19. Tidy people: lack ideas, are uncreative.

20. Very often depressed, unhappy; mental hospitals are full of tidy people.

21. Unfriendly people: their way of life doesn't encourage friendship.

22. Usually introvert: always thinking about themselves and their pos­sessions.

C. Discuss the following:

• Is it necessary to teach children how to be tidy? Who should do it? What method, in your opinion, is the best one?

• Do you support the argument that tidy people are a minority by comparison?

• Is untidiness an acute problem of our society? Is it necessary to care about it?

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Task 2. Read these brief character descriptions. Which of these four people sounds most like you? Which would you most like to meet?

Angela

"I'm an active and energetic person – I can't bear just sitting around doing nothing. It makes me impatient and restless. But I know what I want, and I think I've got what it takes to achieve my goals. Does that make me sound horribly ambitious and selfish? I hope not!"

Kevin

"I'm the kind of person who knows how to have a good time. I suppose you would call me fun-loving, but it's more than that. I actually believe in a calm, cool, easy-going approach to life and I can't bear unnecessary anxiety and pressure. I believe in being and taking life as it comes ..."

Larry

"My problem can be summarized in one word: self-confidence. I just don't have enough. I'm shy with other people, who must think I'm boring and stupid sometimes. Lack of confidence also makes me indecisive: I spend days trying to make up my mind what to do about quite simple things. I'm told I sometimes look moody, but in fact I like being with other people ..."

Katherine

"How do I see myself? Well, I'm forgetful and disorganized – some would say absent-minded! But I've got quite a lot of willpower, really, and I've got ideas. I'm a hardworker too when I'm doing something I'm interested in. I'm not very articulate when it comes to public speaking but I quite enjoy being the centre of attention, and I don't get in the least bit nervous."

Task 3. What sort of person are you?

A. Put Yes, No and Sometimes.

1. Are you generally aware of other people's feelings?

2. Do you find it difficult to meet new people?

3. Do you frequently make people laugh?

4. Does your mood change often and suddenly?

5. When decisions have to be made, do you think first of yourself?

6. Can your friends trust you and depend on you?

7. Do you generally like other people's company?

8. Are there lots of things you want to do in your professional life?

9. Can you usually understand other people's point of view?

10. Do you worry and think too much about detail?

11. Are you usually quite a happy, smiling person?

12. Are you interested in other people and their business?

13. Do you sometimes not tell the truth because you don't want to hurt someone's feelings?

B. Match these adjectives with the questions above.

1. shy

2. tolerant

3. sociable

4. reliable

5. sensitive

6. tactful

7. witty

8. selfish

9. ambitious

j) fussy

С. Which of these do you think are positive, and which negative qualities?

Task 4. Look at the pictures below. Choose the five that best represent you. Explain your choice.

Task 5. Rate personal characteristics in order of their importance for a given role or job. Train the following base structures: A mother-in-law should (be)... , or It is (more) important for a mother-in-law to (be)...

Teacher: intelligent, pleasant to look at, consistent, moral in private life, fair, honest, authoritative, flexible, has a sense of humour, loves children, makes lessons interesting, knows subject, teaches subject well, speaks clearly.

Wife or husband: tolerant, considerate, faithful, affectionate to husband/wife, affectionate to children, hardworking, tidy, home-loving, good-looking, rich, thrifty, quiet, well-educated.

Ruler: just, knowledgeable, rich, honest, married, authoritative, charismatic, friendly, hard­working, clever, confident, tolerant, tall, has well-ordered private life.

Baby (one year to eighteen months old): beautiful, toilet-trained, affectionate, obedient, quiet, healthy, cheerful, sociable with strangers, intelligent for its age, sleeps through the night, eats well, can play alone for long periods.

Mother-in-law: willing to baby-sit, attractive, generous, young (relatively!), well-dressed, rich, good at organizing home, has many interests, does not interfere, has other married children, lives nearby.

Soldier (a private): disciplined, strong, brave, well-trained, patriotic, intelligent, resourceful, healthy, educated, even-tempered, tidy, cheerful, friendly, shoots accurately, thinks for himself.

Task 6. Work in small groups. Put these qualities into order of importance and say what qualities you admire most in other people. Add some important qualities missing from this list if you find it necessary. Compare the results and draw collective portraits of people who you prefer.

Sense of humour, kindness, intelligence, independence, tolerance, ambition, sincerity, honesty, tenderness, creativity, good looks, courage, humility, generosity.

Task 7. Read the text about speed dating.

A. Work in small groups. Discuss the following questions.

1. What is the minimum length of time you need to spend with somebody to know whether you are attracted to them?

2. What would turn you off somebody immediately?

3. What do you think speed dating is?

B. Read the article about a speed dating session.

Your dream partner … in five minutes!

The idea is simple – why devote a whole evening to one blind date when you can meet five potential mates in less than half an hour? Five men and five women are introduced by a master of ceremonies or chaperone. Each 'couple' is given five minutes to get to know each other before moving on to the next candidate. At the end of the session, if the attraction is mutual, they can walk off together into the sunset (or at least swap telephone numbers).

Wе went along to a Speed dating night where these five women and five men had signed up for the event, all hoping to meet their dream-partner, safe in the knowledge that if they hate each other on sight, the suffering will last only five minutes or three hundred excruciating seconds.

Craig, 21: a student

ideal date: I'm looking for someone whо makes me laugh and someone I can learn something from. She has to be a brunette though.

best date: Claire – she's a brunette with a great personality. She made me laugh, and I'd like to see her again.

worst date: Erica – ugh! Awful manners and jokes. She is very absorbed with herself: totally self-centred.

Kevin, 31: a telecom salesman

ideal date: I've had a few serious relationships, but at the end of the day nothing materialised. My ideal date is a lively, pretty girl who is amusing and good to talk to.

best date: Sindy – bubbly and lively. I'd definitely like to see her again.

worst date: Lara – didn't seem to be on the same planet as the rest of us. Too spaced out for me.

Adam, 21: a party planner

ideal date: I broke up with my girlfriend of a year three months ago so now I'm after someone who is a good laugh but who you can get on a deeper level with.

best date: Karen – stayed very enigmatic, which I liked. Very attractive. I'd like to see her again. worst date: Erica – a bit dizzy. I prefer somebody a bit more down-to-earth.

Jim, 25: a compuler consultant

ideal date: I didn't come into this thinking I was going to meet the ideal girl. I just wanted a bit of a laugh. I wouldn't use this technique to find my future girlfriend.

best date: Sindy – sensible and fun. The sort of woman I'd take home to meet my parents.

worst date: Claire rather stand-offish and just not interested. She didn't ask any questions about me, and the five minutes went by very slowly.

Tony, 23: a journalist

ideal date: I rarely pull when I'm out and about unless I know the girl first, as I'm quite shy. I'd like to meet someone who's good fun and easy to chat to.

best date: Sindy – lovely girl, a superb laugh. I felt really comfortable with her. I'd definitely like to see her again. Name the date.

worst date: Lara – rambled on too much about her home town in Ireland. A relief when the five minutes were up.

Karen. 26: a student

ideal date: My ideal date is someone with intelligence, good looks, sexiness, a family man. He's got to be sensitive and trustworthy. In other words. I'm looking for the ideal man!!

best date: Craig – really cute, young, friendly and good-looking.

worst date: Tony – harmless, but slightly boring and much too quiet.

Lara, 23: a piano tutor

ideal date: I like people who are open-minded and different.

best date: Adam – I found him charming, young and really sexy.

worst date: Jim – he was polite, but a bit too straight for me.

Sindy, 23: a florist

ideal date: My ideal man is someone interesting, amusing and full of life. I love being outgoing and friendly, so this was the perfect dating game for me.

best date: Tony – wonderful, interesting and funny.

worst date: Adam – a very cool bloke but not someone I'd date. Too young.

Erica, 22: an actress and singer

ideal date: I like tall mature men who are quite a lot older than me.

best date: Adam – a bit young, but by far the coolest and most laid-back.

worst date: Kevin – laddish and unambitious.

Claire, 25: an editorial assistant

ideal date: I always manage to go out with very intense men who get very obsessive even though I'm just looking for fun.

best date: Adam – sexy, exotic: a really pretty boy. Yes!

worst date: Tony – sweet but not very inspiring. A bit drippy.

C. Decide if these words were used in the article. Then choose words from the list which best replace the words in bold in the sentences below.

1. self-centred

2. enigmatic

3. down-to-earth

4. evil

5. sensible

5. stand-offish

6. sensitive

7. trustworthy

8. active

9. open-minded

10. straight

11. mature

12. laid-back

13. lazy

1. My ideal partner would have to be someone caring, good-looking and dependable.

2. I think I'm quite a level-headed sort of person. I haven't done anything crazy yet…

3. I'd say I feel relaxed about work – I never let things worry me.

4. People think I'm unfriendly, but actually, I'm just really shy.

5. My parents are extremely conventional. I wish they were more tolerant

6. I prefer to go out with people older than me. You can have more interesting conversations with somebody who's experienced and grown-up.

7. I know somebody who likes to think she's mysterious. In fact, she's very boring.

8. My friend's very wealthy, but you'd never know it because he's so unpretentious.

9. I've got a friend who's rather selfish – probably because her parents spoilt her when she was a child.

D. Fill in the chart and then answer questions below.

1. Who were the most and least popular men?

2. Who were the most and least popular women?

3. Which two men had the same taste in women?

4. Which couple fell for each other?

	Best date	Worst date		Best date	Worst date
Craig			Karen
Kevin			Lara
Adam			Sindy
Jim			Erica
Tony			Claire

E. Discuss the following:

• Would you ever try speed dating?

• What traits of character do you appreciate in the opposite sex?

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Task 8. You will hear part of a radio programme in which the presenter, Stella Faulds, is talking about why some people seem to be naturally clumsy.

A. Complete the sentences.

Clumsiness

Stella sees no connection between being clumsy and 1 ______________ or other abilities in life.

The book where Stella read a description of a clumsy person was a 2 ______________.

Stella’s relative, John, is described as regularly falling into 3 ______ and ________.

Stella is often complemented on her 4 _______ and ________ in certain skills.

Stella admits to feeling 5 ______________ when her brother, Adam, plays tennis well.

Adam has a family reputation for having what they call 6 ______________.

Stella describes how Adam recently got a 7 ______________ caught in an escalator.

Stella wonders if a lack of 8 ______________ could explain her clumsiness.

B. Is clumsiness a good or bad trait of character? What other traits of that kind can you think of?

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Task 9. Listen to the recording ‘Women seeking men and men seeking women’ on the tape..

A. Listen to the recording and fill in the gaps.

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

Number One.

One more try: Attractive, ________ SWF (single white female), twenty-________, with bright ________ seeks nice guy to ________ coffee, ________, parks, Sundays, ________, Boston.

Number Two.

Attractive, ________, SWF, twenty-four, ________ hair, ________ eyes, outgoing, ________, ________ skiing, ________ activities. Seeks honest SM, twenty-four to ________.

Number Three.

Asian physician. Very attractive SF, thirty-three, five foot three inches, one hundred ten pounds, loves ________. Seeking professional male, thirty to forty.

Number Four.

Asian-American ________ reporter, one in a million! ________ professional man of integrity, thirty-nine-plus, thinks big with a ________ heart.

Number Five.

Active, attractive, fit DWF (divorced white female), forty-five, varied ________, including sports, travel, ________, movies. Seeking mate, forty-two to ________ ________, N/S (nonsmoker).

Number Six.

Animals/nature lover wants ________ friend, DWF, sixty, has owned/studied domestic/zoo animals; ________ to ________.

Men Seeking Women

Number One.

True gentleman. DWM, forty-six (look thirty something), five feet eight inches, one hundred seventy pounds, N/S, ________, affectionate. Like animals, dining out, ________, movies, ________. Seek ______, down-to-earth S/DWF, thirty-three to thirty-nine, for fun, adventure, and travel.

Number Two.

SWM, twenty-four, five feet seven inches, athletic, slim, ________, comfortable, open-minded. Seeks petite SWF, twenty to twenty-six.

Number Three.

Asian woman ________ by SWM five feet nine inches. Handsome Omar Sharif look-alike, Italian, fit, great ________, ________. Needs F soul mate.

Number Four.

Very attractive, honest, stable ________ SWM, forty, six feet, one hundred eighty pounds, physically in ________, enjoys hiking, racquetball, theater, etc. Seeks very attractive SWF, thirty-two to thirty-eight who is professionally employed, educated, and ________ in working on a long-term relationship leading to marriage and a ________.

Number Five.

DWM, sixty (looks fifty), five feet six inches, seeks DWF, attractive, passionate, ________, ________. Love movies, ________ and cuddling.

Number Six.

Straightforward, sincere, ________ businessman, athletic with eclectic interests, seeks independent, interesting lady, ________ to ________ ________.

B. Try to be a match maker. Match the female advertisements with the male ones.

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Task 10. Listen to the recording “Be Positive – Do Something Day”.

1. Match the following phrases.

1.	our chance to make a	a.	abandoned as a child
2	the world is full	b.	positive thinking
3.	This day is for you to	c.	into positives
4.	turning negatives	d.	difference in the world
5.	he overcame being	e.	of negative news
6.	he bounced back through	f.	reverse this

1.	put things off	a.	you want it to go
2	many suggestions about what	b.	for another day
3.	Speak a positive word to the first	c.	and go for it
4.	donating things from your home	d.	to do on this day
5.	get your life moving in the direction	e.	you no longer use
6.	Write down your biggest life goal	f.	people you meet at school

2. Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	created this day. He has a lifetime’s experience of turning negatives into positives. Harold says on the Be Positive
( )	website: “I was born sickly as a child. It was thought that I would never live, but I did.” He explains how he overcame
( 1 )	Be Positive – Do Something Day is on March 1st. It is our chance to make a difference in the world and do something
( )	few. See what you think. How about speaking a positive word to someone first thing in the morning or posting
( )	for another day, they usually never get done. He has many suggestions about what to do on this day. Here are a
( )	in the direction you want it to go. Write down your biggest life goal and go for it. You can do it.
( )	news, negative people and negative images. This day is for you to reverse this. An Australian man, Harold Cameron,
( )	being abandoned as a child, abuse, drugs, the death of close family members and other
( )	setbacks. Every time he bounced back through positive thinking.
( )	a positive message somewhere for everyone to read? Speak a positive word to the first people you meet at
( )	in need. Be Positive – Do Something Day might also be a good time to get your life moving
( )	positive. It might change our lives for the better. It often seems as though the world is full of negative
( )	One of Harold’s messages is do not procrastinate. Do it today, not tomorrow. He says if you put things off
( )	school or at work. Harold also suggests donating things from your home you no longer use or need to people

C. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the aim of Be Positive – Do Something Day?

2. Why did Harold Cameron create this day?

3. One of Harold’s messages is - do not procrastinate. Do you support this message?

4. What should people do on this Day?

5. Is this day able to change anything in the world?