- •Avakova t. F., Gubernatorova m. A., Fedyaeva o. V. Get ready for exam:
- •Contents
- •People around you Look beyond your looks
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Ex.2 Give your advice to the person who is dissatisfied with the way he / she looks. Work in pairs and make up a dialogue. Ex.3 Retell the text. School Reunions: Friends Reunited
- •Ex.2 Make the summary of the text. Boys will be boys
- •Comprehension Ex.1 For questions 1-8, choose from the students a-d. You can choose some students more then once.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •How you spend your time / entertainment
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Decide if the writer is for or against people who draw graffiti, or whether his opinion is not clear. Ex.2 Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences.
- •Discussion
- •Internet Addiction
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion
- •Free Chat Sites – an Exciting Way of Spending Free Time
- •Comprehension
- •Discussion
- •‘Bye, Mum. See you later!’
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Choose from the list (a-I) the sentence which best summarizes each part (1-8) of the article. There’s one extra summary which you do not need to use.
- •Ex.2 Write a word or phrase from the article in each gap to complete the sentences.
- •Discussion
- •Extreme sports
- •Comprehension
- •Discussion
- •Countries and cities
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion
- •Iceland
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion
- •What is it like living in London?
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion
- •Islands – Singapore, St. Lucia, Sicily
- •Life story
- •When fame hits the family
- •Comprehension
- •Ex.2 Find out which of the famous people mentioned in the text:
- •Discussion
- •They came to a sticky end
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion
- •Jobs and careers
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Put these statements in the order that they appear in the text.
- •Discussion
- •The Apprentice: you’re fired!
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences are true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Learn to speak body language
- •Comprehension Ex.1 From statements a-k choose six which reflect the content of the text.
- •News and media
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Mark the sentences true, false or no information. Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 In pairs do the quiz about the ‘firsts’ and the ‘bests’ media products in Russia. Explain your choice. Compare your results with the classmates.
- •Turn off tv and turn on life!
- •Tv Crime. Does it affect us?
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Which person or people hold(s) these opinions?
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Visiting different cultures East and West Cultural Differences
- •Different Strokes a look at the differences in character between the British and Americans
- •Meeting Americans and Brits
- •Comprehension
- •Discussion
- •National Characteristics
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion
- •How Do Mexicans Celebrate the Day of the Dead?
- •Things around you
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Ex.2 Retell the text Walking Cell Phone
- •Internet helps families stay more in touch
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions
- •Ex.2 Are you connected? Are you in regular contact with people? Complete the table below. Share what you wrote with your partner(s).
- •Ex.3 Which of these things are most important to you? Rank them in order. Justify your choice.
- •Children into computers younger than ever
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Decide which of these gadgets are most important to you. Explain your choice.
- •Ex.2 Answer the following questions.
- •Test 'Are you a fashion victim?' Do this test and find out if you are a fashion victim. Do you agree with the results? Why? Why not?
- •Your score:
- •Answers:
- •Society and the future Robotic future rushes towards us
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Choose from the list a-h the sentences which best summaries each part (1-8) of the extract. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Dealing with money
- •How not to get rich quick
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •What a waste!
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Ex.3 Work in pairs.
- •Is this fair? Make up a dialogue.
- •Rules and Freedom Triumph and despair
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Choose from the list a-I the sentence which best summarises each part (1-8) of the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Parents tried to sell baby on eBay
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Are the following sentences true or false? Correct the false ones.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Animal rights and wrongs
- •Comprehension Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Discussion Ex.1 Answer the following questions.
- •Problems and how to solve them The greatest killer
- •First time in trouble
- •Extra hints How to write a comment
- •How to write a summary
- •Useful phrases for retelling
Different Strokes a look at the differences in character between the British and Americans
Here, we are looking at the British and American character. As you will see, there are many similarities, but also many differences.
Meeting Americans and Brits
In general, Americans are very friendly. When they meet you, they'll give you a loud 'hello', a firm handshake, a wide smile, and good eye contact. They'll immediately start using your first name (even if you're fifty years older than them), and they'll open themselves up to you with information on their family, education and personal life.
You'll immediately feel like their friend. Many Americans have casual relationships that are termed as 'friends at work' or 'friends at school' and so on.
The British, on the other hand, may come across as colder, more distant and less friendly. When they meet you, they'll probably make some sarcastic comment about the weather, boast about how much they drank the night before, or ask you where you're from and what you're doing there.
Time
'Doing' is very important to Americans; and 'wasting time' is viewed negatively. For business and most meetings, punctuality is very important. Many Americans organise their activities according to a schedule. As a result, they always seem to be running around, hurrying to get to their next appointment. The British are similar, and have a great obsession for punctuality, which they value far above human kindness and charity. Strangely though, British trains are some of the least punctual in the world.
Image
Most Americans are obsessed with image. The cultural message for both men and women is, 'Look 20 years younger'. Old Americans try to stop the ageing process by dyeing their hair, wearing blue jeans, and having their faces lifted. The definitive remark on ageing was made by Ivana Trump, who said, 'I'll always look 35, but it's going to cost Donald (her husband) a lot of money.'
The British have started copying this American trend, although not to the same extreme. They are generally worried about their personal image, but usually can't be bothered to do anything about it. Generally, in Britain, it is considered vulgar to try too hard — you have to keep it a secret.
Character
Americans admire strong, self-reliant, individual people. American heroes include outlaws such as Jesse James, successful entrepreneurs like Sam Walton (the founder of the Wal-Mart superstores), and tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne. They hate being dependent on other people, or having others depend on them. Other cultures who like to depend on family or friends may view this as 'selfishness'.
The British are similar in the sense that they like to be independent, but this is mainly as a way of avoiding confrontation. British heroes include James Bond, Mr Bean and Benny Hill.
Health and Beauty
Americans like to feel and look good. And they spend millions on drugs, books, and various forms of psychotherapy in order to achieve this. They attend group therapy sessions, and participate in self-discovery classes. Helpful books include I'm OK; You're OK; Feeling Good; and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In general, Americans have a positive outlook on life, and a go-getting, problem-solving attitude to difficulties.
The British are starting to be more like the Americans in this respect; although they aren't so addicted to all the pills and medicines. When the Brits get depressed, they prefer to have a cup of tea, or go to the pub.
Enthusiasm and Emotion
In general, Americans are very open people, and aren't afraid to show enthusiasm or emotion in public.
During sporting events they may shout words of encouragement such as, 'Yeah! Go man, go!' And while playing games they may slap one another on the back and jump up high in the air, especially if they are winning.
The British, on the other hand, have always been taught to act avoid any demonstration of emotion.
Extreme enthusiasm, crying, making a scene, and a loss of control is seen as something really bad in Britain. They are traditionally told to 'keep a stiff upper lip'. Just look at the following example from the Battle of Waterloo (1815):
Captain Jones: 'Good God, sir. Your leg has been blown off!'
General Barker: 'Oh, yes. I believe it has. But don't worry, I still have the other one.'
However, this absurd character trait is gradually disappearing as young Brits become more like their American cousins thanks to the influence of television and cinema.
Politeness
When it comes to talking, Americans are much more direct. They'll say just what they want, and they expect the answer to their questions to be 'yes'. Here are some examples.
1. An American wants to have a cigarette in a public place. Here's what he or she may say: 'I'm going to have a cigarette, does anybody mind?'
2. An American is on a bus and wants to open a window: 'It's hot in here. Can someone open a window, please?'
3. An American is on a train and wants to take off his/her shoes: 'My feet hurt. Do you guys mind if I take off my shoes?'
The British, on the other hand, are much more timid when it comes to asking for things. You can hear this in their intonation, which makes them sound a bit like they're begging for their life. They use 'please' and 'thank you' more often, and they don't really expect positive answers to their questions. Let's look at the examples above as spoken by a British person.
1. A British person wants to have a cigarette in a public place: 'I'm really sorry to bother you, but would anyone mind awfully if I had a cigarette?'
2. A British person is on a bus and wants to open a window: 'I'm sorry but it's terribly hot in here, and, if you don't mind, I'd really like to open the window.'
3. A British person is on a train and wants to take off his/her shoes: 'Look, I know this is unusual, and I'm really sorry for disturbing you, it's just that my feet are really hurting me and I'm afraid that I might have to take off my shoes. Would anyone mind? No, no, you're right. It's too much to ask. I'll just leave them on. It's nothing to worry about.'
Notes
firm |
крепкий |
distant |
сдержанный, холодный |
boast |
хвастаться |
schedule |
расписание |
ageing process |
процесс старения |
to dye |
красить (волосы) |
remark |
замечание, комментарий |
self-reliant |
самоуверенный |
outlaw |
преступник, разбойник |
entrepreneur |
предприниматель |
tough guy |
крутой парень, «крепкий» орешек |
selfishness |
эгоизм |
go-getting |
предприимчивый, пробивной |
in this respect |
в этом отношении |
encouragement |
ободрение, воодушевление |
to slap one another on the back |
хлопать друг друга по плечу / спине |
to keep a stiff upper lip |
не падать духом, проявлять выдержку |
to blow off |
отрывать |
trait |
черта |
timid |
робкий, застенчивый |
to beg |
просить, умолять |
to disturb |
беспокоить, тревожить |