4. Decide whether the following statements are true, false or vague according to text a.

1. Whenever people invent something they are engaged in various problems.

2. Imaginative communication plays a major role in the lives of all people.

3. Preschool children watch television cartoons and play computer games.

4. Through writing activities children only waste their time.

5. Using the works of others as models, students create poems.

6. Creative dramatics and role-playing enable students to enter universities.

7. Students are encouraged to create their imaginative messages in schools.

8. Gifted students find a creative outlet in debating.

9. Adults are enthusiastic consumers of imaginative messages.

10. As creators, most people tend to reach a peak during their childhood.

5. Read text a and answer these questions.

1. What is imaginative communication?

2. Does imaginative communication play a major role in the lives of people?

3. What games do preschool children play?

4. What do elementary and middle school students do in their free time?

5. Do you receive much encouragement to create imaginative messages?

6. Are adults enthusiastic or passive consumers of imaginative messages?

7. Do you often attend concerts, or search for quality programs on TV?

8. Imagine, which of the words would you like other people to use about you: dim, dull, bright, stupid, brainy, smart, brilliant, thick, enthusiastic?

6. Scan text b paying attention to the words in bold type.

Text B. Persuasive Communication

Persuasive communication may be defined as the process through which people attempt to influence the beliefs or actions of others. In many cases persuasive communication involves people who are important to each other -parents influence children, children influence parents, and friends influence each other. Persuasive communication may also involve strangers. When customers are upset about products they have purchased, they may write letters to company officials seeking a refund. Similarly, customers are the targets of television commercials

produced by strangers in advertising agencies. People begin to influence others early in life. Preschool children learn that they can influence other children and adults by crying, smiling, whining, pointing, tugging, and, eventually, talking. By the time children enter school, they use a variety of strategies to influence others.

During elementary school years children grow in their ability to adapt persuasive messages to the people they wish to influence. Research has shown that kindergarteners and children in the first grade tend to use the same strategies when trying to influence different people. Children in grades two and three adapt their persuasive messages by adding words like "May I" and "please." Children who are in the fourth and fifth grades begin to adapt their messages to specific people. For example, they begin to use strategies when trying to gain favours from teachers that differ from those they use in trying to gain favours from friends.

In senior high school students continue to grow in the number and sophistication of persuasive strategies used. The average high school senior, for example, anticipates and responds to arguments that disagree with his or her own. High school seniors, however, still have much to learn about influencing others and responding critically to attempts to influence them. Since persuasive communication is complex, learning about it is a lifelong process.

Persuasive communication plays a central role in a number of professions. Lawyers, salespersons, advertising specialists, public relations experts, and politicians must use persuasive communication. While persuasive communication may not be the central ingredient in many careers, most people need to be able to influence others in work-related settings.

The most talked-about form of persuasive communication in contemporary life is advertising.