Unit One
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script Episode 1:
Kevin: Hey, girl, come on. Good to see you. Heather: How are you?
Kevin: What happened today? ...
Kevin: That's fine. So what do you want to order? You like the pepperoni, yeah? ... (to the waitress) OK. So two Greek islands, one egg torte and one chilled juice and milk. Thank you.
Heather: Do you realize that we've been together for two months now? Who would have thought that when we happened to sit next to each other in Asian History class it would lead to this!
Kevin: Yeah, and this is a real change for me.
Heather: Oh? You didn't date anyone steadily in high school?
Kevin: No, I didn't. I was too busy with sports. My high school was so small that any of us who liked to play and wanted to could be on almost all of the teams. I played football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. Heather: But you're not playing football this fall.
Kevin: No, I'm going to try out for baseball in the spring. That's what I like the best. So, when a very interesting and intelligent girl happened to sit next to me in Asian History, I decided it was time to date some if she was interested too. (He smiles broadly.)
Heather: I'm glad you did. (She returns a smile.) Kevin: Did you date much in high school?
Heather: Yes, I did. In fact, I had a steady boyfriend for almost two years. Kevin: What happened to him?
Heather: During our senior year we both decided that since we were going to attend college in different parts of the country we should stop dating. I guess we realized that we were really quite different from each other. He wanted to get away from home, so he's in a large university out East. I wanted a small college near home, so here I am. Kevin: Lucky me! So were your parents happy with your steady boyfriend? Heather: They liked him OK, but I know they thought we spent too much time together. I think they were happy when we broke up. They really didn't say much though. They usually trust my judgment. Kevin: Had you dated much before that?
Heather: A little, for school parties, movies etc., nothing serious. I usually spent more time with the girl friends. My parents didn't think I should date until I was sixteen.
Kevin: Yes, I think some kids do start dating too young these days. My sister, she is fourteen and thinks she has a boyfriend. My parents tell her she's really too young to date, but they think it's OK if she goes out in a group where he's included. Heather: I guess you were around guys most of the time with all of your sports activities, but you seem comfortable being with me.
Kevin: Well, I did date occasionally, but I didn't find anyone really interesting until now. (He smiles meaningfully.) Besides, I usually have to spend most of my money keeping my old car running.
Heather: Would it help if we go Dutch tonight?
Kevin: No, after all I invited you. Besides, I had a really good job at the gasoline station near my home last summer and was able to save up quite a bit for nights like this. So, it's my treat!
Heather: OK. That's nice of you.
Kevin: After we eat, are you willing to drive around the lake with me and just talk some more? Or would you rather go to a movie?
Heather: It's a beautiful night so let's go for a drive. I don't think we'd like the movies that are on anyway. They're all just too silly.
Kevin: Fine with me. Oh, here comes the pizza, so let's eat. (to the waitress) Thank you. Thank you. Episode 2:
Xiao Mei: You are late. You've never been late before. What happened to you today? Da Ming: Oh, Xiao Mei. It's so nice to see you. I can tell you that I would not be here at all if I hadn't jumped down from the second-floor window.
Xiao Mei: You jumped from the window? Tell me exactly what happened? Did you hurt yourself?
Da Ming: No, I am fine, I am fine. Mum shut me up in the room. She wants me to meet her friend's daughter, the girl I mentioned to you before. She is coming and I'm supposed to see her. Mum probably thinks I am still in my room.
Xiao Mei: Your mum wants you to make friends with her, then marry her, doesn't she?
Da Ming: Yes, I'm afraid so, but I'm interested only in you. I think about you all the time. I will never agree to meet any other girl. I would rather die than leave you. Xiao Mei: I love you too, Da Ming. I can't imagine what my life will be like without you.
Da Ming: But I don't have a cent. My family is poor and I'm penniless. I have nothing with me except for a poem I wrote for you.
Xiao Mei: You wrote a poem for me? How sweet! Da Ming: Would you like me to read it to you? Xiao Mei: Of course. Please. Da Ming: It's called: “Love Is...” Listen:
Love is the greatest feeling; Love is like a play;
Love is what I feel for you Each and every day; Love is like a smile; Love is like a song; Love is a great emotion That keeps us going strong. I love you with my heart, My body and my soul.
I love the way I keep loving, Like a love I can't control.
So remember when your eyes meet mine, I love you with all my heart,
And I have poured my entire soul into you, Right from the very start. Do you like it, Xiao Mei?
Xiao Mei: Yes, I like it very much. I don't need anything else as long as you keep writing poems for me.
Da Ming: I will write you poems as long as I live. Xiao Mei: Now we have nothing but each other... Da Ming: But we have love. Isn't that enough?
Xiao Mei: As long as we have love we'll manage somehow.
Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
*Where do I begin to tell the story of how great love can be, The sweet love story that is older than the sea, The simple truth about the love she brings to me? Where do I start?
With her first hello, she gave a meaning to this empty world of mine. There'll never be another love another time. She came into my life and made the living fine. She fills my heart, she fills my heart,
With very special things, with angel's songs, with wild imaginings. She fills my soul with so much love, That anywhere I go, I'm never lonely With her along, who could be lonely? I reach for her hand, it's always there. (Repeat the part marked with “*”.) How long does it last?
Can love be measured by the hours in a day? I have no answers now but this much I can say. I know I need her till the stars all burn away, And she'll be there. Listening II
Traditionally the heart is the part of the body where emotions come from. If you are a warm-hearted person, for example, you are kind and thoughtful towards others. If you have a heart of gold, you are a very generous person. But if you are heartless, you are cruel and unfeeling.
Of all the emotions, it is love that is the most associated with the heart. In love songs, all over the world, love almost always goes together with the heart. As the song from Titanic says, “You are here in my heart and my heart will go on and on. Love can touch us one time and last for a lifetime, and never let go till we're gone.”
Perhaps the role of the heart in love comes from what happens to it when you feel really attracted to someone. The strong feelings of attraction make your breathing speed up and your heart beat faster. Listening III
In past generations, the challenge of dating was different. Men and women wanted a partner who could fulfill their basic needs for security and survival. Women looked for a strong man who would be a good bread-winner; men searched for a nurturing woman to make a home. This practice that worked for thousands of years has suddenly changed.
The new challenge of dating is to find a partner who not only will be supportive of our physical needs for survival and security but will support our emotional and spiritual needs. Today we want more from our relationships. Millions of men and
women around the world are searching for a soul mate to experience lasting love, happiness, and romance.
It is no longer enough to just find someone who is willing to marry us, and we want partners who will love us more as they get to know us: We want to live happily ever after. To find and recognize partners who can fulfill our new needs for increased closeness, good communication, and a great love life, we need to update our dating skills.
Part Three More Listening Practice One
A Mother's Love
You can see it in her eyes— in her gaze and in her sighs. It is a mother's love.
You can feel it in her touch— in her tender hugs and such. It is a mother's love.
You can hear it in her words— in her praises and bywords. It is a mother's love.
She cares. She understands.
She lends an ear and holds our hands. She gives us a mother's love. Practice Two
My son's primary school celebrates Valentine's Day in a wonderful way. Each day throughout the month of February, the school honors each student in informal
ceremonies. At the ceremony, classmates, teachers and parents get together to deliver compliments to that particular child. They believe that a child's emotional and social skills should be developed alongside their intellectual skills. Learning to acknowledge qualities and strengths in others—and receiving that acknowledgment gracefully—is a very important learning lesson.
I know I compliment my son frequently, and certainly try to make sure he knows he is loved. But I realize that I have never actually pointed out, one by one, specific
qualities that make him unique and so special to me. And how infrequently we really point out what is special in others. Sure, we say “I love you” or “thanks” regularly, but when do we take the opportunity to really and truly examine what makes a person special? What is unique and different about them?
This year, the time was scheduled for my son to receive more than 40 compliments from his peers, teachers, parents, and himself. Each child had their day at the center of the circle, their friends coming up one by one to give a gift of powerful words. This year, my son heard that his thoughtfulness was appreciated, his ideas important, his expressions inspiring. He was also expected to write and deliver a compliment to each of his classmates. Practice Three
In the end, I had to ask my husband to read my Valentine compliment to our son. I was simply crying too hard to get the words out. Witnessing the tenderness of
school-age children saying what they thought was special about my little boy proved too much for me. But I was not alone. When I warned my son I might get emotional, he said, “That's OK. Lots of parents cry.” He was right. This is what my husband read to our son on my behalf: Dear Cole:
Your love of language and information has always amazed me. I love learning from you and with you. I admire how new words are so easily incorporated into your vocabulary. I think you are fresh and eager and loving.
I admire that relationships are important to you. I like to listen to the connections you make with past experiences. I think you are good at remembering.
I love how you are proud of yourself when you try something new. I feel proud, too. I like how your whole body tells a story, and your expressions make me feel good. I am proud of your willingness to express your fears and appreciate the reminder that you will grow at the pace that suits you best. I love your jokes and your fondness for telling them over and over—so I will laugh. I think you are fun to be with. I love that you are my son.
I am really grateful to this school for creating a learning environment. These exercises benefit the parents as well as the kids. That, to me, is a Valentine worth giving. Practice Four
I grew up in a family with six sisters. In my lifetime I have seen all of them abused by various men in their lives. Even my mother has the scars from two unsuccessful marriages.
When I was a teenager, my mother shared some insights into all of their failed
relationships. She explained that they really weren't expecting to be treated as queens, but they did desire two things from the men in their lives: to be told frequently that they are loved and to be shown often that they are special. It was at that point that I decided I would be the sort of husband my mom and sisters had dreamed of but never had.
When I was dating my wife-to-be I remembered those two points my mother shared with me years earlier. I admit that I struggled trying to be able to express my love in words and in action. For most men, it isn't natural for us to be romantics. But then again, it isn't natural for us to be millionaires or sports superstars. It does take effort, practice and diligence. But the rewards are there.
Now we've been married for nine years. I really, truly, deeply love my wife and let her know it every day by what I say and what I do. Our friends and family members all admire us and want to know our secret. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
Life was very different in the 1950s than it is today. Divorce was not common.
Husbands went out to work to support the whole family. Most women didn't work and depended on their husbands' incomes for living. Children didn't come home after school to an empty house as many do today. Families did more things together. One of the favorite family pastimes was a drive in the country. Gas was cheap. People had big cars, and the whole family could ride comfortably. Before TV became popular, people talked to each other more. Children didn't have as many toys, and they played more games together. On Saturdays the neighborhood theaters had special movies for children. The shows cost only 25 cents.
People stayed at one job for most of their lives. They didn't change jobs every year like they do today. They also lived in the same house for a long time. They didn't move as much.
Services were better in the 1950s. Doctors often came to a sick person's house,
especially if you were “sick in bed”. Milkmen delivered fresh dairy products daily to homes. There were no self-service gas stations, and attendants used to wash your car windows and check your oil free of charge. Section II
Hisham and I will have been married for twenty years this February. Everybody said it would not work. He is Jordanian, Muslim, and I am Italian, Catholic. We met in Florida twenty-two years ago. What we had in common was nothing except youth. He could barely speak the English language, and I thought Arabs were from India. Within a year I found out where Jordan was exactly and he could say “I love you” in broken English.
When we got married people actually placed bets at our small wedding in my family's dining room. They thought our relationship would not last a year. Hisham did not tell his parents he was married for almost five years. He felt that if he failed at school his family would blame the marriage. Of course everybody, from Arabs to Americans, thought he married me to get a green card. I knew he didn't.
I lived in his country for six years after graduation and had a son there. Through Hisham's eyes I saw the beauty of his culture and religion and the simple ways of his people. Being from New York and living in Amman, Jordan, I still had my Christmas tree each year, my Easter eggs and even a Halloween pumpkin in the window. I also took some of their ways—cooking, methods of mothering, socializing—and it enhanced my own character in the long run.
Throughout the years, I was not the Italian girl from New York, not the American married to the Arab; I was a beautiful blended person with two children and a man who loves me. Section III
A man had two large pots for carrying water. One pot had a crack in it, while the other was perfect. At the end of the long walk from the stream to his house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years the man had been delivering only one and a half pots full of water everyday to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of itself. And the cracked pot felt ashamed and miserable because it was able to do only half of the work. After two years of failure, it spoke to the man one day.
“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because of this crack in my side,” the pot said. The man felt sorry for it and said, “As we return to the house, I want you to look at the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the cracked pot saw the sun warming the beautiful flowers on the side of the path. But it still felt bad because half of the water had run away, and again it apologized.
Then the man said to the pot, “Did you see that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about you and planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the house. Without you, the house would not look so beautiful.”
Unit Two
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
(The telephone rings in Julia's home, and she picks up the phone.) Julia: Hello!
Michael: Hello, this is Michael. Julia: Hi, Michael. How are you?
Michael: I'm fine. I miss you a lot though.
Julia: Me, too. Can we get together again before you leave?
Michael: Yes, sure! That's why I called you. Julia: Where should we meet?
Michael: Mm, how about in front of Wanghu Hotel? (Some people are talking loudly in Julia's home.) That's not far from your home. Julia: Which hotel? I didn't hear you clearly. Michael: Wanghu Hotel. Julia: OK! What time?
Michael: Mm, how about 12:30, tomorrow afternoon? Julia: OK, see you then.
Michael: OK. OK, see you then.
(In front of Wanghu Hotel, Michael is waiting. But Julia is waiting in front of Huanhu Hotel.)
Michael: (He Looks at his watch, talking to himself.) It's 1:35 now! What's wrong with her?
Julia: (She Looks at everywhere, hoping to see Michael, then talking to herself.) He's always late!
Michael: (He Looks at his watch again, talking to himself.) Maybe she doesn't want to see me again?
Julia: (She Looks at her watch, talking to herself.) It's almost 1:45 now! Where is he? Can it be that he is waiting at Wanghu Hotel? (Julia quickly rushes to Wanghu Hotel. There she sees Michael, who stands there waiting anxiously.) (In front of Wanghu Hotel.)
Michael: Hi, Julia. You are so late. How come?
Julia: I'm late?! I'm not late! I was waiting somewhere else! Believe it or not, I was waiting in front of Huanhu Hotel!
Michael: Oh, my goodness! I've been waiting here for one hour. How come you went to Huanhu Hotel? I told you to come to Wanghu Hotel.
Julia: But it sounded like Huanhu Hotel to me! You should've pronounced it more clearly.
Michael: I'm sorry, but...but it never occurred to me you would have confused the two.
Julia: I wish I'd realized that sooner, so that I wouldn't have waited there for so long. You know what? When you called yesterday, my mom had a group of friends over. They were so noisy that I could hardly hear you.
Michael: That's why. Then how did you figure out that it might be here—Wanghu Hotel?
Julia: Did it ever occur to you that we might be waiting at two different hotels? Michael: I guess not. I thought you were delayed by traffic or something.
Julia: No! You don't think. Whenever we meet, we always have one problem or another.
Michael: But last Saturday was all right. We had no trouble whatsoever seeing each other.
Julia: It's always me who is waiting for you.
Michael: That's not true! Wasn't I waiting for you today? And do you still remember the day when we went boating? I waited for you for about half an hour! Julia: If you don't want to wait for me, then wait for someone else. Michael: Julia, it's not that. You know what I mean. Julia: You just don't love me anymore.
Michael: Of course I do. That's why I'm here. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't have waited here for an hour.
Julia: But you never say “I love you” any more.
Michael: Do you think I have to repeat the same three words all the time? Actions speak louder than words.
Julia: But if you don't say it, how do I know?
Michael: Come on, Julia. Don't be childish. Are we speaking the same language? It seems to me you always get me wrong.
Julia: Well, if...if I hadn't realized what had happened we would still be waiting at two different places right now!
Michael: Are you saying I'm stupid? Then why did you fall in love with me, then? Julia: Because I am even more stupid than you are! (Both laugh.) Michael: Now, let's forget it. Why don't we go for a walk in the park? Julia: Sure! (They walk away hand in hand.)
Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
Mrs. Black was having a lot of trouble with her skin, so she went to her doctor. However he could not find anything wrong with her. So he sent her to the local
hospital for some tests. The hospital, of course, sent the results of the tests directly to Mrs. Black's doctor. The next morning, he telephoned her to give her a list of the things that he thought she should not eat, as any of them might be the cause of her skin trouble.
Mrs. Black carefully wrote all the things down on a piece of paper, which she then left beside the telephone while she went out to a meeting.
When she got back home two hours later, she found her husband waiting for her. He had a big basket full of packages beside him, and when he saw her, he said, “Hello, dear. I have done all your shopping for you.”
“Done all my shopping?” she asked in surprise. “But how did you know what I wanted?”
“Well, when I got home, I found your shopping list beside the telephone,” answered her husband, “so I went down to the shops and bought everything you had written down.”
Of course, Mrs. Black had to tell him that he had bought all the things the doctor did not allow her to eat! Listening II
American and British people both speak English, of course, but sometimes it does not seem like the same language. In fact, there are some important differences between British and American English.
First of all, they sound very different. Often, Americans don't say all the letters in each word. For example, Americans may say “I dunno” instead of “I don't know”, or they may say “Whaddya say?” instead of “What do you say?”
Sound is not the only difference between British and American English. The two languages have different words and expressions for some things. For example, some words for clothing are different. Americans use the word “sweater”, but the British say “jumper”. Americans wear “vests” over their shirts, but British people wear “vests” under their shirts. Americans talk about “pants” or “slacks”, but the British talk about “trousers”. The British chips are American French fries. A British chemist is an American drugstore. In Britain, if you are going to telephone friends, you “ring them up”. In America, you “give them a call”.
There are also some differences in grammar. For example, Americans almost always use the helping verb “do” with the verb “have”. They might say, “Do you have an
extra pen?” The British often ask the question a different way. They might say, “Have you got an extra pen?”
These differences can be confusing when you are learning English. But when the same language is used in different places, it is understandable that it changes in each place.
Listening III
(Mr. and Mrs. Jones are having a conversation one evening while Mrs. Jones happens to be looking at some of the textbooks her daughter, who is in the fifth grade, is using.)
Mrs. Jones: Listen to what this book says. It really makes me angry! When talking about the settling of the western part of the U.S., it says, “MEN by the thousands headed west.” Then on the very same page it says, “The average citizen in the United States is proud of HIS heritage.”
Mr. Jones: What's wrong with that? It's true. I don't understand why you are angry. Mrs. Jones: Why? Because women are left out!
Mr. Jones: Everyone knows when the author says “men” or “his” in those sentences that the author means to include women.
Mrs. Jones: I think you are wrong. When young people read these sentences, they simply do not form a mental image which includes females. Mr. Jones: Mm. Do you have other examples?
Mrs. Jones: Yes I do! This book mentions “MAN-made improvements that have raised America's standard of living”. A child will not think that females as well as males have made contributions when reading this. Mr. Jones: I still don't think it's very important.
Mrs. Jones: Of course you don't! You're a man. But don't you want our daughter and other little girls to have the idea that they can be important citizens in their country, just as other women have been in the past?
Mr. Jones: Well, I guess you're right. I hope not all textbooks are like that. Part Three More Listening Practice One
Walking down the street, a dog saw an ad in an office window. “Help wanted. Must type 70 words a minute. Must be computer literate. Must be bilingual. An equal-opportunity employer.”
The dog applied for the position, but he was quickly refused. “I can't hire a dog for this job,” the office manager said. But when the dog pointed to the line that read “An equal-opportunity employer”, the office manager sighed and asked, “Can you type?” Silently, the dog walked over to a typewriter and typed a letter without a mistake. “Can you operate a computer?” the manager inquired. The dog then sat down at a computer, wrote a program and ran it perfectly.
“Look, I still can't hire a dog for this position,” said the office manager. “You have fine skills, but I need someone who's bilingual. It says so right in the ad.” The dog looked up at the manager and said, “Meow.” Practice Two
There are about 5,000 languages in the world, and the one with the most number of speakers is Mandarin, with about 650,000,000 native speakers. English has around 350,000,000 native speakers.
One of the most common surnames in the world is Zhang: There are about
350,000,000. Smith is the most common English surname: There are around 80,000 in England and Wales and an estimated 2,382,509 in the United States.
The largest dictionary in the world is the Oxford English Dictionary, which has 20 volumes, 21,728 pages, 290,500 main entries, and around 59,000,000 words. It lists the definitions of around 615,000 words. The Webster's International Dictionary lists about 450,000 words.
The chemical name for a protein that has 1,913 letters is considered to be the longest word in English. Practice Three
Ramon Romero is a seventeen-year-old boy from Bolivia. He speaks Spanish and a little bit of English.
Ramon lives in the United States now, in Little Rock, Arkansas, with the Hutchinsons. They are not his real family. His real family is back in Bolivia. They cannot come to America because they have jobs and duties in their country and aren't able to leave. However, they do want their son to have an American education and be fluent in English.
He misses his family and wishes to see them. It seems that no one understands his true feelings. It is difficult to listen to English all the time and then to express his thoughts in English. His American family is very nice to him and helps him in every way. In return, Ramon does little things to help the family. For instance, he takes the dog for a walk every morning and every evening.
When he comes back from the morning walk, he tells Mrs. Hutchinson about the weather. This tells her how to dress her four-year-old son. On Tuesday, Mrs. Hutchinson asks, “How is the weather today?” Ramon answers, “It rain.”
“No, Ramon, in English we say, 'It's raining.'” On Wednesday, it rains again.
“It's raining today,” reports Ramon.
On Thursday, it snows. On Friday, the sun finally shines. Ramon is very happy that he doesn't have to wear boots or carry an umbrella. He comes into the house with a big smile on his face.
“How's the weather today?” asks Mrs. Hutchinson.
“Oh, today I am very happy,” replies Ramon. “There is no weather.” Practice Four
Nick: Hi, Dieter. OK?
Dieter: Oh, hi, Nick. Yes, I'm fine, except that I had a big problem ordering my drink. I didn't think my English was so bad!
Nick: Your English is very good! What kind of problem?
Dieter: Well, look at this beer I've got here—this warm, brown, English beer—it wasn't what I wanted!
Nick: Why, what did you ask for?
Dieter: Well, I just asked for a small beer. Then the barman asked what type of beer and said lots of names that I didn't understand—and something about a pie or a pine. I didn't understand anything!
Nick: Oh, no! He probably said a pint! In English you don't ask for a big or a small beer. You ask for either a pint or a half. A pint's the big one. Dieter: So this one I've got here is a half?
Nick: Yes, that's a half of bitter. Bitter's the name for that type of beer.
Dieter: Ah, that's what he said—bitter! Well, it's very different from the beer we drink in Germany, I must say.
Nick: Yes, I know. They call the German type of beer lager. So you have to ask for a half of lager, or a pint of lager.
Dieter: OK. I understand that now. My another problem was chips. I asked for a
packet of chips, and the barman said something strange—that they don't have chips in the evening, only at lunchtime. What did he mean?
Nick: Yes, they have fish and chips, but I think you meant crisps. In England, chips are fried potatoes, you know, French fries. The ones you buy in a packet are crisps. Dieter: Well, in the end I didn't get anything to eat. So you see, I did everything wrong!
Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
Learning to communicate in another language may be very difficult and frustrating at times, but it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. Being able to communicate in another language will open doors for you to experience a world of new people, places, and ideas. It will offer you a look at cultures from every part of the earth. And if you have the opportunity to live in another culture, the experience will show you many things—above all, about your own culture. It will reveal cultural similarities and differences that you have never noticed in the past. In addition, the experience can also show you a great deal about your own personal
beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions. Within a short time in another culture, you will find that you begin to learn a great deal about yourself and your own country and culture. Section II
My wife and I visited her family in Mexico ten months after we were married. I had been working on my Spanish and was looking forward to practicing it. On our first evening there, the entire family held a party for us. I spent a lot of time entertaining the children, one of whom enjoyed explaining to me in great detail.
Later I said to my wife, “I really thought my Spanish had improved, but when I was talking with Rolando, no matter how hard I concentrated, I couldn't understand a thing he was saying.”
“No one can,” she replied, “he's still learning how to talk.” Section III
At an early age, little girls' conversation is less definite and expresses more doubts, while little boys use conversation to establish status with their listeners.
These differences continue into adult life. In public conversations, men talk more and interrupt other speakers more. In private conversations, men and women speak in equal amounts, although they say things in a different style. For women, private talking is a way to establish and test intimacy. For men, private talking is a way to explore the power structure of a relationship.
Teaching is one job which shows the differences between men's and women's ways of talking. When a man teaches a woman, he wants to show that he has more knowledge, and hence more power in conversation. He uses his language to show this. When a woman teaches another woman, however, she is more likely to take a sharing approach and to encourage her student to join in.
But it doesn't suggest that women are naturally more helpful. Actually, women feel they achieve power by being able to help others.
Unit Three
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
Julia: Hello, Nancy.
Nancy: Hey, Julia, how are you doing?
Julia: Good to see you.
Nancy: Oh, it's so good to see you. Julia: Are you doing OK?
Nancy: I'm doing all right. Come on in. Julia: Thank you. Nancy: Good.
Julia: The taxi driver came right here. Nancy: It's pretty easy to find. Julia: Yeah, it's not too bad. Nancy: Oh, come in. Julia: Thank you.
Nancy: Come and have a seat.
Julia: Thank you. Your home is lovely.
Nancy: Oh, thank you. Thank you. These are my children. Julia: Hello. Kids: Hi.
Julia: (to kids) How are you? Kids: Good. Thanks. Julia: Good.
Nancy: Would you like something to drink? Julia: I would, if you don't mind. Nancy: Let me get something.
Julia: Thank you very much. ... (Nancy brings the drink.) Oh, thank you. Nancy: Be careful. It's hot. Julia: Thanks.
Nancy: You're welcome.
Julia: Smells good... Yeah, I like that.
Julia: It's wonderful to see you again. Tell me how you've been?
Nancy: Well, it's a long story. You would never believe how unlucky I've been. Julia: How come? You were considered to be the luckiest one in our class when we were college students. Do you remember you were the only one chosen to go to Germany for an exchange program?
Nancy: Yes. But that was about the end of my luck.
Julia: No, you had a boyfriend too... Eric, right? (Nancy nods her head.) He was so smart and handsome! You were the envy of all the girls because he fell in love with YOU. We always thought you were a perfect match. Did you marry him?
Nancy: Yes, I did. We had a few wonderful years, and then one day he had a terrible accident.
Julia: An accident?
Nancy: Yes, he was killed on his motorbike. A truck hit him. He was killed instantly. Julia: I'm so sorry to hear that. What bad luck!
Nancy: He left me with two children. (she points to the two children who are playing together.) One was five, one was three. I had quit my job as a programmer to stay at home and care for them. I had no choice but to look for a job to be able to support us. Julia: You were good at computer programming. I wouldn't think that you would have any difficulty in finding a job in that field.
Nancy: You might not believe it, no one wanted to hire a single mother with two children. I was five years out of touch with current programming, latest technology. And the jobs that I did find didn't pay very well.
Julia: What a pity! How did you make a living then?
Nancy: I had to settle as a secretary in a small firm. And the job is dull, the pay is low, and I don't really get along well with my colleagues. Julia: So, I...I see why you may be feeling unlucky.
Nancy: Well, I thought things would be getting better last year when I found a
boyfriend. He liked the kids and the kids liked him. He would be an ideal husband and so we were going to get married last Christmas. On our wedding day, the church building burned down. So we put off the wedding.
Julia: Why didn't you just hold the wedding in a different location?
Nancy: Well, we thought that maybe it was a sign that we weren't meant to be together. Looking back at my recent life, it's been a total failure. I just... even now, things don't seem right. I was so lucky in my first 28 years of life, and now luck seems to have abandoned me. I'm an unlucky person most of the time.
Julia: Oh, you keep complaining about your unhappy life. And,... and recently it's not been so good, but nobody is lucky all the time, and there have been good things in your life also.
Nancy: You have to admit, though, that some people are luckier than others. Nobody can succeed without having a little bit of luck.
Julia: You are no less lucky than many others in this world. Whether you're lucky or not depends on how you think about life. You've been thinking too much about the unpleasant things in your life. But if you would look at things from another point of view, things would probably look a lot different.
Nancy: But how? I can find nothing, nothing lucky in my life happening right now. Julia: Mm, just look at your children. They are so cute and happy! You have to consider them your assets. And you've done a good job with them.
Nancy: Yes! I'm proud of them. To tell the truth, I really do enjoy watching them grow up. Ah, it means everything to me. I really think I am lucky to be a mother to them. Thanks for listening and talking with me. It's been nice talking to you and...and seeing you once more. I see that I really have had a good share of good luck.
Julia: It seems to me you have much to be thankful for. I hope the next time I see you, you'll be feeling like your life is much more successful. Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children in her family. She was born earlier than expected and almost died at birth. When she was 4 years old, she got scarlet fever. One of her legs became paralyzed. At age 9, she began to learn to walk without help. By 12 she could walk very well. Doctors said it was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win 3 Olympic gold medals. Listening II
I believe I Can Fly
I used to think that I could not go on And life was nothing but an awful song But now I know the meaning of true love I'm leaning on the everlasting arms
*If I can see it Then I can do it
If I just believe it There's nothing to it I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door I believe I can fly I believe I can fly I believe I can fly
See I was on the verge of breaking down Sometimes silence can seem so loud There are miracles in life I must achieve But first I know it starts inside of me
(Repeat the part marked with “*”.)
'Cause I believe in me
(Repeat the part marked with “*”.)
If I just spread my wings I can fly I can fly I can fly
If I just spread my wings I can fly
Listening III
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said, “I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?” they asked. “No,” she said, “He's out.” “Then we cannot get in,” they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in. “We do not go into a house together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she asked. One of the old men explained, “His name is Wealth,” pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.” The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed.
“Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed, “My dear, why don't we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion, “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!” “Let us listen to our
daughter-in-law's advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”
The woman went out and asked three old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.” Love got up and started walking towards the house. The
other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, “I only invited Love. Why are you coming in?” The old men replied together, “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is love, there is also wealth and success!” Part Three More Listening Practice One
At the Small College National Wrestling Tournaments, John Talbott of Simpson College won the first place in the 158-pound weight division by defeating four
opponents in a row. The unusual thing about this announcement is that John Talbott is missing the lower part of both of his legs! He lost his lower legs just below the knees in an accident when he was nine years old. According to his coach he is the most hard-working wrestler on his team, and he has developed great strength in his upper body and arms by weight training. In addition, John Talbott simply will not accept that his handicap will keep him from doing anything he wants to do in life. Practice Two
(At a dormitory lounge on a college campus. Two students, John, a biology major, and Mary, an English major, are sharing a morning newspaper.) John: Did you see this article about Jane Goodall?
Mary: No, but I've heard of the name. I don't remember why she's famous.
John: Well, she's probably the world's top authority on the behavior of chimpanzees and gorillas. She has written several books, published many articles, and lectured all over the world about her studies.
Mary: How did she begin her work in this area?
John: That's quite a story. The article says that she was a timid twenty-six-year old person without a university education when she got the courage to call Louis Leakey, the famous anthropologist at the Museum of Natural History in Kenya. She had been working as a waitress, saving her money, and hoping for a chance to study animals. Mary: What happened next?
John: Leakey offered her a job as his assistant in 1960. She paid her own expenses for a year, and Leakey then helped her find the money to continue her research and finally finish a university degree in anthropology. Her studies have continued since then, changing our ideas about these animals who are man's closest relatives. Mary: What is the newspaper writing about her now?
John: She is doing a new TV show next month on “The Animal Planet” where she will tell about her most recent studies in Africa.
Mary: I'd like to see that even though I'm not a biologist. Practice Three
In the United States, Norman Rockwell is the best-known artist who ever lived. He painted average people, but also recorded major events, such as Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic in 1927 and Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon many years later. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson also sat for portraits which he painted.
Rockwell was born in New York in 14. When a schoolboy, he wanted to compete in athletics, but was unsuccessful. He was poorly coordinated, had to wear corrective shoes, and also wore very thick glasses. However, he discovered one thing he could do very well. He could draw. From an early age he used his drawing skills to entertain his school friends.
He quit high school to attend art school and finally went to Paris to study modern French painting. He did not do well with this, but he did discover that he really liked
to paint people. He returned to the U.S., studied with leading magazine illustrators of the time, and became successful at painting people.
In 1916, he painted a cover for the popular weekly magazine, The Saturday Evening Post. By 1919 he was its chief cover artist. The American public loved the way he recorded ordinary people and events on the magazine covers. He did so for over 45 years.
Practice Four
Bob: Hi, Mary, what did you find this time?
Mary: Do you remember in our Music Appreciation class we studied music by Ludwig van Beethoven? I found a CD with some of his best-known symphonies. Carol: Oh yes, I think that “Ode to Joy” in his Ninth Symphony is one of the happiest and most joyful pieces of music ever written!
Bob: I agree, but Beethoven had many unhappy times during his life.
Mary: He seemed “born to win” as a musician. He first studied with his father who was a singer and organist in Bonn, Germany. He published his first music at the age of twelve in 1782, played in private concerts, and had his first public concert in 1795. Carol: But, even though he was a brilliant pianist, it was his original music which he was best known for. I also remember that in 1802 he began to lose his hearing. Was that the end of his music career?
Bob: No, but he became bitter and unhappy after that, and his music, though excellent, was a struggle for him. Mary: We were told that he could “hear the music in his mind” even though he could not hear the actual music. Despite the many personal
disappointments he suffered, he became known as the greatest musician of his time.
Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
Is winning everything? Ask kids and the answer is probably “No”. Ask adults and the answer is probably “Yes”. And it is adults who control sports for young people—with terrible results for many kids.
Twenty million children between the ages of eight and sixteen play organized sports outside school. Their experiences are sometimes very bad. Why? Because of the adults, often their parents, who watch the games.
Children's sports are organized like professional sports. Children play baseball and football. They wear all the equipment that professional athletes wear. They have almost everything that adult players have. And many people come to watch their
games, especially the families of the players, their parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.
Because the children's games are like adult, professional games, their parents want adult, professional competition. When a child drops a ball, his father becomes angry. When a child doesn't run fast, his mother might shout, “Run faster! Run faster!” And the child? With an angry father and a shouting mother, this is not a happy time. Unhappy and nervous, the child wants to stop playing. The game is not fun now. But he or she can't stop, because the competition is not finished. Section II
(Three students, Sarah, Tom and Jen, are sitting in the student center having a coke. They have been discussing the 100th anniversary of flight.)
Sarah: I'm tired of hearing so much about what winners the Wright brothers were with their first plane flight.
Tom: Why do you say that, Sarah?
Sarah: I have always thought the female pilot Amelia Earhart as even more of a winner.
Jen: I admire her too but she failed to fly around the world in 1937. Tom: She crashed into the Pacific Ocean, didn't she?
Sarah: No one ever knows for sure, but that probably is what happened. Tom: Then how is she a winner?
Sarah: She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone. She did this in 1932 in a small plane. Jen: That's true.
Sarah: Until then, many people said that a woman wasn't strong enough mentally or physically to make such a trip alone. Well, not only did she do it, but she also made the trip faster than anyone had before. Jen: Good for her!
Sarah: Then in 1935 she flew alone from Hawaii to California, the very first person to be successful in making the trip.
Tom: But, as I said before, she failed to fly around the world. Sarah: I don't think Amelia would think that she had really failed. Jen: Why?
Sarah: She had written a letter to her husband in which she said, “I am quite aware of the dangers. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” Jen: And you are saying that she has challenged others. Sarah: Right! Section III
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. He was the seventh child of Joseph and Catherine Jackson. Joseph, a steel-mill worker,
encouraged his three sons, Sigmund, Toriano, and Jermaine, to practice the guitar and write songs. This trio performed at nightclubs and talent shows.
Young Michael loved to imitate his brothers' dancing and singing. His parents were often amused to find him imitating a song and his brothers' dance steps. As he grew older, they found that he had a natural talent for singing.
He sang his first solo in front of his entire school, the song “Climb Every Mountain”, which was a popular number from the musical The Sound of Music.
By the early 1960s, Joseph decided that Michael and his elder brother, Marlon, should join their older siblings and form a group. The result was “Jackson Five”. This group performed in nightclubs and talent shows. Despite his young age of six, Michael soon distinguished himself as a singer and dancer of unusual ability.
Unit Four
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
(It's now 6:05 in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are in the waiting room of an airport. Mr. Strong is reading a newspaper. Mrs. Strong is sitting there idly. Mr. and Mrs. Green approach them.)
Mrs. Green: Excuse me, is this seat taken? Mrs. Strong: No, it's not taken. Have a seat.
(Mr. and Mrs. Green sit down next to Mr. and Mrs. Strong.)
Mrs. Strong: My name is Strong, Molly Strong. Pleased to meet you.
Mrs. Green: I'm Doris Green. How do you do? Mrs. Strong: Where are you going?
Mrs. Green: We're going to Copenhagen for our son's wedding. It's tomorrow morning.
Mrs. Strong: Oh, congratulations! That's nice. You must be very excited. Mrs. Green: You bet! I can hardly believe my little Jackie has grown up and is
getting married. (She looks at her watch.) Now it's 6:05 and the flight will take off in 50 minutes. Just imagine in nine hours I'll see Jack and my new daughter-in-law, Alice! I expect they'll come and pick us up at the airport. What about you? Where are you going?
Mrs. Strong: We are going to New York by TWA Flight 1070. Our daughter recently had a baby. My first grandchild. Mrs. Green: You must be thrilled.
Mrs. Strong: Yeah, I can't wait to see my dear grandson. This is him, Nick. (She takes out a picture of Nick and shows it to Mrs. Green.) Mrs. Green: (She looks closely at the photo.) He's lovely! (Suddenly, a voice comes out through a loudspeaker.)
(Loudspeaker: Attention, please. AA Flight 4 to Copenhagen will be delayed. Attention, please.
AA Flight 4 to Copenhagen will be delayed.)
Mrs. Green: Oh, my goodness! What's up? It seems the flight to Copenhagen won't be on time. I'd better go and call Jackie about the delay.
Mr. Green: (He looks up from the newspaper.) No hurry. It doesn't say how long the flight will be delayed. Let's wait and see. Mrs. Green: Well, OK, let's wait a while.
Mrs. Strong: Don't worry. I'm sure things will turn out fine in the end. (Just at that time, another voice comes out through a loudspeaker.)
(Loudspeaker: Attention, please. TWA Flight 1070 to New York is overdue because of mechanical problems. It's stopping in Chicago for maintenance. We'll keep you informed when we know more.)
Mrs. Strong: Oh, no! Our flight is delayed as well.
Mr. Strong: (He looks up from the newspaper.) Take it easy. It says the flight is overdue because of mechanical problems. I believe the mechanics will solve the problems soon. Mrs. Strong: OK.
(As time goes by, Mr. and Mrs. Green become more and more anxious. Mr. Green can't read the newspaper any more. He walks back and forth in the waiting room. Mrs. Strong is comforting Mrs. Green.)
Mrs. Green: I can't wait any more. It's 7:15. We've been waiting for over an hour, but there's been no further information. What on earth is happening?
Mr. Green: Who knows! It could be bad weather, mechanical problems, a bomb threat, whatever.
Mrs. Strong: Why don't you go to the Information Desk and ask them about the causes of the delay?
Mr. Green: That's not a bad idea. Let's go there now. (Mr. and Mrs. Green leave for the Information Desk.)
Mrs. Strong: (to Mr. Strong) I'll go and buy some magazines. Mr. Strong: Go ahead. I'll be here waiting for you. Mrs. Strong: OK.
(Mrs. Strong stands up and goes around the airport. Mr. Strong continues reading the newspaper. Several minutes later, Mrs. Strong comes back with some magazines in her right hand.)
Mr. Strong: What did you get?
Mrs. Strong: Cosmo, Life and Good Housekeeping. Any further news about our flight yet?
Mr. Strong: Nothing, up to now.
(Loudspeaker: Attention, please. TWA Flight 1070 to New York is overdue because of a door problem. The mechanics expect that the door will be repaired in 30 minutes. We'll keep you advised as we know more.)
Mr. Strong: Well, it seems we have lots of time. Why not go and get a bite to eat? Mrs. Strong: Good idea. Let's go to the coffee shop. (Mr. and Mrs. Green arrive at the Information Desk.)
Mr. Green: Excuse me, can you tell me why AA Flight 4 to Copenhagen is delayed?
Agent: I'm sorry, sir. We don't have any further information about that. Mr. Green: Then how long will it be delayed?
Agent: Sorry, sir. We really don't know. You'll just have to wait. We'll inform you through the loudspeaker as soon as possible.
Mrs. Green: (She says angrily.) We've been waiting for ages and there's been no further information about the delay. How long will we have to wait? We are going to our son's wedding. We can't miss it.
Agent: I understand how you feel, madam. We'll try to find out the causes as soon as possible.
(Mr. and Mrs. Green go back to the waiting room of the airport. They become increasingly impatient.)
Mrs. Green: Isn't it annoying? Nobody is telling us anything.
Mr. Green: That's the limit! I can't bear it any longer. Let's go and find seating on an airline that flies to Copenhagen.
Mrs. Green: Why not? We're not getting any help from this airline. (Mr. and Mrs. Green leave the waiting room angrily.)
(Mr. and Mrs. Strong are sitting leisurely at the coffee shop. Light music is on, and they feel very comfortable.)
Mrs. Strong: (She looks at her watch.) Oh, time is flying. It's 7:30. Hurry up. The flight will be announced soon.
Mr. Strong: Take your time. We're in no great rush. We can hear the announcement here if there is one.
(Loudspeaker: Attention, please. TWA Flight 1070 to New York is overdue because of mechanical problems. We are sorry to announce that the problems are more complex than initially expected. Those who are without luggage and need to leave right away can take TWA Flight 1120 at Gate 6. TWA Flight 1120 will leave from Gate 6 at 7:45.)
Mr. Strong: (He smiles.) See? Let's go to take TWA Flight 1120. Mrs. Strong: Good.
Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
A potato farmer was sent to prison just at the time when he should have been digging the ground for planting the new crop of potatoes. He knew that his wife would not be strong enough to do the digging by herself, but she could manage to do the planting; and he also knew that he did not have any friends or neighbors who would be willing
to do the digging for him. So he wrote a letter to his wife which said, “Please do not dig the potato field. I hid the money and the gun there.”
Ten days later he got a letter from his wife. It said, “I think somebody is reading your letters before they go out of the prison. Some policemen arrived here two days ago and dug up the whole potato field. What shall I do now?”
The prisoner wrote back at once, “Plant the potatoes, of course.” Listening II
The manager of a large office building received many complaints about the lift service in the building. He hired a group of engineers to study the situation. They suggested two solutions:
1. adding more lifts of the same type; 2. replacing the lifts with faster ones.
The manager decided that both suggestions were too expensive. So he asked a psychologist to study the problem. The psychologist noticed that many people felt angry and impatient because they thought they had to wait too long for the lifts. However, the psychologist found that they had to wait only a relatively short time. It occurred to him that the reason they felt angry and impatient was that they had nothing to do while they were waiting for the lifts. He suggested a simple, inexpensive solution to the manager. This was adopted and complaints stopped immediately. The solution was to place a large mirror next to the lifts. Part Three More Listening Practice One
After just a few years of marriage, filled with constant arguments, a young man and his wife decided the only way to save their marriage was to try therapy. They had been at each other's throats for some time and felt that this was their last resort. When they arrived at the therapist's office, the therapist jumped right in and opened the floor for discussion, “What seems to be the problem?” Immediately, the husband held his long face down without anything to say. On the other hand, the wife began describing all the wrongs within their marriage.
After 5—10—15 minutes of listening to the wife, the therapist went over to her,
picked her up by her shoulders, kissed her for several minutes, and sat her back down. Afterwards, the wife sat there—speechless.
He looked over at the husband who was staring in disbelief at what had happened. The therapist spoke to the husband, “Your wife NEEDS that at least twice a week!” The husband scratched his head and replied, “I can have her here on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” Practice Two
Not everyone in the world requires the same amount of living space. The amount of space a person needs around him is a cultural preference, not an economic one. Knowing your own psychological space needs is important because they strongly influence your choices, including, for example, the number of bedrooms in the home. If you were brought up in a two-child family and both you and your sister or brother had your own bedrooms, then it's very likely that you will also provide separate bedrooms for your children. In America they train people to want their own private rooms by giving them their own rooms when they are babies. This is very rare in the world. In many cultures the baby sleeps in the same bed with his parents or in a crib near their bed.
The areas in the home where people meet also reveal a lot about psychological space needs. Some families cluster, and the size of their house has nothing to do with it. Others have separate little places where family members go to be alone.
Although psychological space needs are not determined by economic factors, they sometimes have to be modified a little because of economic pressures. It is almost impossible, however, to completely change your psychological space needs. Practice Three
Wouldn't it be great if changing your mood was as easy as changing your clothes? Well, according to psychologists, it is—when you use the power of color.
Here's how it works: When you see a color, your brain sends a chemical message to an organ of your body, which pours the appropriate hormone into the bloodstream. So, for instance, if you wear red, a color the brain finds exciting, it sends a signal which puts you in the mood for love.
Blue has a calming effect on the nerves. Wear blue if you want to keep yourself cool during a busy day with the children. By contrast, orange creates a joyful atmosphere and focused activity. Also, yellow is a cheerful color reminding us of summer days, and it aids in decision-making. White, however, enhances brain power and a reflective mood. Violet is also a color which stimulates the mind toward creative thought. As well, it increases intuitiveness. Green is a relaxed color of springtime buds on trees. Like springtime it also enlivens tired muscles. Practice Four
Two recent studies by psychologists suggest that noise can influence how nice we are to others. They experimented by giving people a chance to help someone in trouble. A person would see a man carrying two boxes filled with books. As the person came closer, the book carrier dropped several books. The other researcher observed whether the passer-by offered to help.
When the noise level was normal, 20 percent of the passers-by helped. When the experimenter wore a cast on his arm, 80 percent offered help.
But when a very noisy lawnmower was nearby, 10 percent of the passers-by helped the non-handicapped man, and 15 percent helped the man with a cast.
It seemed that people were less helpful when it was noisy because they wanted to escape the noise. So the researchers set up a similar experiment in a situation where the subjects couldn't leave.
A student volunteer waited in a room before being called for an experiment he expected. The experimenter waited in the same room, holding some books. He dropped the books. The noise level in the room varied from normal to loud; 75
percent of the 52 students helped pick up the books under normal conditions, but only half that many volunteered when the room was noisy. Perhaps because of the
distracting noise, the students didn't notice and respond quickly to the book-dropping. Or perhaps the book-dropping further annoyed the students already irritated by the noise, making them less likely to help out. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
(Three students, Janice, Sue, and Kelly, are looking at magazines in the library and commenting on some articles they see.) Janice: I think I've seen everything now! Sue: What do you mean?
Janice: Have you ever heard of psycho-geometrics? Sue: No.
Janice: I hadn't either. It's a new way of identifying personalities. Kelly: How?
Janice: You think of the four basic shapes—square, triangle, circle and rectangle and decide which shape you like best.
Sue: I like triangles. They make me think of the ancient Egyptian pyramids. What does that say about me?
Janice: The triangle stands for ambition and high achievement. Sue: I like that. What else?
Janice: You like to achieve. Once you decide what you want, nothing will stop you. Also you like to give big parties for friends and love being in the center of the crowd. Section II
Bob had finally made it to the last round of the $,000 Question. The night before the big question, he told the host that he desired a question on American history. The big night had arrived. Bob made his way on stage in front of the studio and TV audience. He had become the talk of the week. He was the best guest this show had ever seen. The host stepped up to the mike.
“Bob, you have chosen American history as your final question. You know that if you correctly answer this question, you will walk away $,000 richer. Are you ready?” Bob nodded with confidence. The audience went nuts. He hadn't missed a question all week.
“Bob, your question on American history is a two-part question. As you know, you may answer either part first. As a rule, the second half of the question is always easier. Which part would you like to answer first?”
Bob was now becoming very nervous. He couldn't believe it, but he was drawing a blank. American history was his easiest subject, but he played it safe. “I'll try the easier part first.”
The host nodded approvingly. “Here we go, Bob. I will ask you the second half first, then the first half.”
The audience silenced with great anticipation.
“Bob, here is your question: And in what year did it happen?” Section III
(Joan, Kristen and Shelly are discussing their evening plans while having lunch.) Joan: I'm so stressed out! I just can't get that new computer program written. I wonder if I'll ever finish it. I'm supposed to have dinner with my best friend from college tonight but I think I should call her and say I can't.
Kristen: No, Joan, don't call her. Have dinner with her and have a good time. Shelly: I agree with Kristen. Have dinner and talk about what fun you two had in college. Tomorrow you'll feel less stressed. Joan: How do you know, Shelly?
Shelly: I recently read an article in the magazine Psychology Today. It said social support, especially with old and good friends, can help you keep down your stress level. It can actually slow your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure.
Kristen: I read that too. It also said that making time for close relationships is vital to helping you have good health. Some research suggests that people who are socially connected get a better night's rest too.
Joan: OK, I'll go. I really wanted to, but, well, you know... By the way, Kristen, your job is stressful too. What are you doing tonight?
Kristen: I've joined a book discussion group. We're meeting tonight. I always enjoy the discussion and social interaction, so I go home afterwards, feeling relaxed. Shelly: I'm going to call my sister. We don't live close to each other so we phone when we can and laugh a lot. I always feel great afterwards.
Joan: Sounds like we'll all be “distressing” tonight. I'm glad we talked.
Unit Five
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
Mary: (She awakes from a sweet dream.) Ah...Darling, everything is so wonderful! The sun, the air, the water... I feel as if I were in a dream.
John: (He still reads the book without much response.) A dream? Yes, a dream. Mary: Have a look at the beautiful scenery around you, darling. Don't you think it's too good to be true? John: Mm, maybe.
Mary: Eh, you aren't listening to me. What are you reading now?
John: (He closes the book.) It's Freud's Interpretation of Dreams. Honey, have you ever wondered what's... what's the meaning of your dreams? You might get some satisfactory explanations for your dreams from this book, because Freud explains various kinds of dreams in it.
Mary: It must be a very interesting book! Otherwise, you wouldn't have ignored me. It seems to me that I am not as attractive as Freud. John: Yes, it really is.
Mary: Yes?! You mean I am not charming enough? I can hardly stand your rudeness. John: Of course not. I mean it's really an interesting book. Freud says that everything in our dreams has something to do with our real life.
Mary: Really? I often dream I'm gathering fruit in an orchard. What does fruit represent in my dreams?
John: It predicts good fortune. You'll be rich, honey. Mary: But the fact is we still can't afford to buy a house.
John: I have to admit that's absolutely true. I spent about all I had on our honeymoon. Mary: Well, there must be something wrong with your interpretation, darling. I doubt whether dreams can predict the future.
John: Before I can be more exact, you have to give me more details. Mary: What further information do you need?
John: Well, honey, could you tell me what the color of the fruit is in your dreams? Mary: Er... the fruit doesn't seem to be ripe. In my dreams, I think it's green.
John: Mm... I've got it. If the color of the fruit is green, you can't be rich immediately, because only ripe fruit is interpreted as good fortune at hand. Mary: Oh? Are you sure about that?
John: Definitely. I've just looked it up in Freud's book. Mary: Then we'll just have to wait and see?
John: That's right, honey. Do you have any other happy dreams?
Mary: Yes. I had another one just now. It was so sweet that I smiled from ear to ear. Would you like to have another try, Mr. Freud?
John: It's my pleasure, madam. What happened in this dream? I guarantee you I can give you another good explanation.
Mary: When I was dozing, I dreamed that you gave me a beautiful diamond necklace as a memento of our wonderful honeymoon. What do you think that means? John: (He understands her wife's actual intention and tries to find a way out.) Er...Er...I'm not sure. Er...maybe I'm not knowledgeable enough! But anyway I can turn to the book for help. Wait a minute!
Mary: Take it easy, darling! I'm...I'm sure you know how you can make it come true. John: Too bad!
Mary: What's wrong?
John: (He smiles cunningly at his wife.) I'm afraid Freud didn't tell me how to interpret a daydream, only dreams at night. Mary: Daydream?!
John: Yes, it must be a daydream since you had it during the day. Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
Let's look at the different kinds of sleep. They're quite different. In passive sleep, the body is at rest. The heart slows down. The body processes become very slow. We move very little, and the brain becomes very inactive. If a person continues to sleep, she or he enters a new stage, a more active stage. The body goes through several changes: The brain temperature rises, the amount of blood in the brain increases, the body becomes very, very still, and the brain goes from being very inactive to being active. And as the brain becomes more active, the eyes begin to move rapidly. Eye movement is a sign of another change—that of a person dreaming.
Throughout the night, people alternate between passive and active sleep. The brain rests, then it becomes active, then dreaming occurs. This cycle is repeated several times throughout the night. During eight hours of sleep, people dream for a total of one and a half hours on the average.
Doctors have studied the sleep cycle and have found that everyone dreams—in fact, everyone needs to dream in order to stay healthy. It appears we need both kinds of sleep. We need passive sleep in order to rest our bodies. We need active sleep in order to dream. And dreaming helps us to rest our minds. Listening II Part I
(Jennifer is talking to an interviewer about her nightmare.)
Jennifer: It was always the same. Always. I was in a house, a strange house, and I knew somehow that I shouldn't have gone in. But there was some strange force pulling me. There were some stairs... very steep stairs... and I started to climb them, and... and then, suddenly I fell. Then when I was at the bottom of the stairs, I
suddenly realized that there was someone... or something else in the house with me, and that these eyes had been watching me all the time, and... I knew then that
something terrible... was going to happen to me... that I was going to be punished... because I'd done something I shouldn't have done. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it was wrong, very wrong.
Then I could hear it... whatever it was in the house with me... coming closer in the darkness, because everything was dark, you see, and it came closer and closer. And I was scared... and there was nothing, nothing I could do to avoid it... nothing. I was trapped! Trapped in that dark house at the bottom of the stairs. There was no way out. Interviewer: And how often... Jennifer: No way out! Part II
Interviewer: How often did you have this nightmare?
Jennifer: When I was in college, just about every time I had an exam. And then, a few years later, when I was taking an intensive Italian course in Italy, I had the same dream again. Just the same as before.
Interviewer: And you discussed it with a psychoanalyst?
Jennifer: Yes, later, after I came back to Los Angeles, I started therapy, and this dream came up, and we discussed it quite a bit. Interviewer: And what did the psychoanalyst say?
Jennifer: He said...uh...“We have to be very careful about interpreting dreams” But we both agreed that the dream was a symbol of my fear of failure...of disappointing my parents when I was in college, for example, by failing my exams, or...or when I was taking that Italian course. I remember how scared I was sometimes. Interviewer: Scared of what?
Jennifer: Of making mistakes in class, in front of the teacher or the other students, for example. I was always in fear. Interviewer:I see.
Jennifer: And the dream was a kind of classic symbol of that fear...of the fear of failure. Falling down stairs in a dream is a symbol of that. The two words are very similar.
Interviewer: Which...which two words? Oh, you mean...
Jennifer: Yes, fall—fail—falling—failure. Very similar, aren't they? Part Three More Listening Practice One
Sleep is something we generally associate with living creatures. Of course, it is true that a lot of animals sleep, but zoologists are not certain that primitive forms of animal life, like worms and snails, ever really sleep. On the other hand, animals such as bears sleep for 4 or 5 months every year.
The amount of sleep a human being needs depends on age, the individual and possibly race. For example, doctors think that pre-school children need between 10 and 12 hours a night; school children between 9 and 11 hours; and adults between 7 and 9 hours. There are exceptional cases of old people who sleep only between 2 and 3
hours a day and continue to be active and healthy. The sleep requirements of different races also appear to be different. Japanese people, for example, sleep fewer hours than Europeans.
It is not known for certain if mental activity (apart from dreaming) occurs when a person is asleep. However, it is certainly true that some people can wake up at a
specific, pre-determined time. There are also stories about mathematicians who solve difficult problems during sleep, because their subconscious minds continue working on the problem.
Some types of unpleasant dreams (or “nightmares”) are quite common; the dreamer is taking a test, but is not properly prepared; he is falling from a tree; or an animal or thing is chasing him. Some people say these last two occur because man's ancestors lived in trees and were in constant danger from wild animals. Practice Two
A Dream Within a Dream
by Edgar Allan Poe
Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow— You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone? All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand— How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep—while I weep! O God! can I not grasp Them with a tighter clasp? O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave? Is all that we see or seem But a dream within a dream? Practice Three
Almost all people daydream during a normal day. We tend to daydream the most during those quiet times when we are alone in our cars, sitting in waiting rooms, or preparing for bed. Daydreaming or fantasizing is not abnormal; it is a basic human characteristic. Most people have reported that they enjoy their daydreams. Some people have very probable and realistic daydreams while others have unrealistic fantasies such as inheriting a million dollars.
Psychologists report that men daydream as much as women, but the subject of their daydreams or fantasies is different. Men daydream more about being heroes and good athletes while women tend to daydream about fashions and beauty. As people grow older, they tend to fantasize less, although it is still common in old age. Older people tend to daydream a lot about the past. Daydreaming or fantasizing enters into the games of children. Psychologists believe that it is very important for children to participate in fantasy play. It is a normal part of their development. It helps children develop and explore their imagination.
Daydreaming has advantages and disadvantages. In some situations it can reduce a person's fear or anxiety. It can also keep us entertained or awake under dull or boring conditions. Unfortunately, to engage in a daydream or fantasy, we must divert part of our attention from our environment. When it is important for us to remain alert and pay attention to what is going on around us, daydreaming can cause problems. Practice Four
New research shows that dreams are often distorted reflections of our daily life. Many experts now believe our dreams are so closely related to our waking lives that we can use them to help us recognize our inner conflicts.
According to some experts, men and women dream differently because of biological and social conditioning. In a study of 1,000 dreams, half from each sex, experts found that men more often have action dreams. Usually these dreams are set outdoors or in unfamiliar surroundings. Women dream more about emotional struggles with loved ones, usually in indoor settings. As more women have careers, their dreams might become more like men's. Researchers have found that while housewives dream more about children, women in the workplace dream about bosses and colleagues. Small children who are easily scared dream about frightening animals and monsters that chase and attack them. Teenagers dream about romance and sex.
Some dream researchers found in a study that people between 21 and 34 have more anxiety over issues of right and wrong in their dreams, possibly because they are making important decisions about career, marriage and life direction. People of ages 35 to 49 are much less hostile towards others in their dreams, perhaps because they're
reaching their greatest achievement, and have less need for aggression while awake. After age 65, anxiety about aging appears much more often in people's dreams.
If life stages affect our dreams, so do our attitudes. Studies show that angry people act out their anger in their dreams, and depressed people sometimes dream they are victims of rejection.
Creative people often use their dreams to solve problems. According to the author Naomi Epel, when some writers, artists or scientists go to sleep, they ask their subconscious for a dream that will help them solve problems. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
In 1865, in a small town in Germany, a little boy was very sick. His name was Max Hoffman.
“Will our son die?” Max's parents asked the doctor.
“Maybe,” the doctor said quietly. “Stay with Max. Keep him warm. That's all you can do.”
For three days Max lay in his bed. Then he died. He was only five years old.
Max's parents buried their son in the town cemetery. That night Max's mother had a terrible dream. She dreamed that Max was moving in his coffin. She screamed in her sleep.
“Sh, sh,” her husband said. “It's all right. You had a bad dream.”
The next night Max's mother screamed in her sleep again. She had the same terrible dream.
On the third night Max's mother had another bad dream. She dreamed that Max was crying. She got out of bed and got dressed. “Quick! Get dressed,” she told her husband. “We're going to the cemetery. I want to see Max. I want to dig up his coffin.”
At four o'clock in the morning Max's parents and a neighbor hurried to the cemetery. They dug up Max's coffin and opened it. There was Max. He looked dead. But he wasn't lying on his back. He was lying on his side.
Max's father carried Max home. Then he ran to get the doctor. For an hour the doctor rubbed whiskey on Max's lips and warmed his body. Then Max opened his eyes. Max was alive! A week later he was playing with his friends.
Max Hoffman died—really died—in the United States in 1953. He was 93 years old. Section II
(A couple is talking about their 8-year-old daughter, Debbie. They also have a son, Barry, who is 16.)
Mother: I had to go in to Debbie twice last night. She was having these terrible nightmares! She was screaming and shouting and she kept trying to push me away. She was yelling, “Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!” Father: What was wrong with her then?
Mother: I don't know. I couldn't get a word out of her when she woke up this morning.
Father: Does Barry know anything about it? Didn't she go with him to his friend's house yesterday afternoon? Wait a minute, I'll give him a shout. Barry! Come here, Will you?
Barry: What's up?
Father: Didn't you say you were going to watch a video at your friend's yesterday? Barry: Yes, I told you! You said it was OK.
Mother: Well, what exactly did you watch? Debbie's been having the most terrible nightmares.
Barry: Oh, I don't know! Some film his dad had left lying around. About a man who had been burned to death in a car crash, who came back from the dead to take revenge on young girls. He tears them to bits and eats them. It was a young girl, see, who ran in front of his car and made him crash. Don't know why it's giving her nightmares. It was really stupid, if you ask me! Anyway, she didn't have to watch it, did she? Mother: You should have more sense at your age. You should have stopped her watching it.
Father: I blame the people who make films like that. They shouldn't be allowed to make them. They must be really sick! All they care about is making money—they don't care what they are doing to kids' minds. Section III Dear Editor,
Your paper is great. I read with great interest your interpretation of dreams of teeth falling out. It is the same interpretation that many others use as well: needing to be heard etc. I myself had this dream repeatedly and was dying to know what it meant, as it was always confusing and disturbing. However, I was always unsatisfied with the “needing to be heard” thing.
You might note that many people who have this dream are feeling worried, depressed or frightened as their teeth are falling out painlessly. Sometimes they even try to keep the teeth from falling out. Finally I came up with a different interpretation, which fitted me much better. In fact, I've had fewer dreams of this sort now. So I thought you might be interested. For me, the dream means I am talking TOO MUCH. It means thoughtlessness, telling secrets, gossiping unwisely. And it's my subconscious
warning me. Now, if I have this dream, I know I have been unwise with my big mouth! Trying to cram the teeth back in, or stop them falling out, or trying to find a dentist, actually means trying to stop the words or gossip from coming out, and the feelings of depression are reflecting the regret of being too revealing—usually to an enemy. I am much more aware of this now and not such a big mouth! Maybe you could add this to your interpretations.
Best, Katie
Unit Six
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
Waitress: Good evening, sir. Good evening, madam. James: Good evening. Give a table for four, please.
Waitress: Certainly. Would you like to sit by the window or further back? James: By the window, please. I think it's much quieter. Waitress: Sure. This way, please. All: Thank you.
(The waitress shows the customers to a table by the window.) ...
Waitress: Is this all right?
All: All right. Wonderful, thank you. Thanks.
(After all are seated, the waitress hands them each a menu.)
Waitress: Hello, I'll give you a few minutes to look at the menus.
James: Thank you. Yeah, we should be ready in a few minutes. Thank you. Waitress: I'll be back then. (The waitress leaves.)
James: So, should I just order for every one? Is there anything particular that anyone does not want to eat?
Laura: Well, yea, I don't eat lamb. My family influenced me. My parents never eat lamb. They think it smells. So I don't eat it either. I don't even know how lamb tastes like. Maybe it doesn't taste so bad, but we won't just try it.
Charlie: Oh, I see. I thought that had something to do with religious beliefs. Laura: Oh, no, not in my case. But you know religion plays an important role in people's choice of food. For example, Muslims don't eat pork.
Charlie: Yeah, and in China devout Buddhists think it's sinful to eat animals. James: Oh, Charlie, I almost forgot. You just got back from China. What was the food like in Sichuan where you were working?
Charlie: It's very spicy. People in Sichuan won't eat food without chilies and hot peppers.
Lisa: Do you like spicy foods?
Charlie: I didn't at the very beginning. But I remember at first I could only eat a little bit of it. Then gradually I got used to it and realized it's quite good, and now I like it. James: Lisa, you were in China for several years. Which part were you in? Lisa: The southeast part.
Charlie: I heard people there are brought up on sweet, not so spicy food. Is that so? Lisa: Yes, everything fixed there is sweet. People even add sugar to meat.
James: That sounds interesting. Were you worried about putting on weight when you were there? Some women, in order to keep their figures slim, do not eat sweet food even though they like chocolate and desserts very much.
Lisa: No, I actually love eating sweet food. I don't care whether it's fattening or not. For me, taste is more important than my figure.
Laura: Yeah. Sometimes, people's likes and dislikes of foods are related to one's opinions about health and nutrition. For instance, some people like rich food, while others prefer vegetables, green food and salads.
James: Sure, and nowadays with the development of sciences, people know more about food. Something that used to be thought of as disgusting now seems delicious and nutritious.
Charlie: I think it's also related to the cultures and traditions of the country. The Chinese people like food with... that smells good, tastes good, looks good. Oh, they also like food to have a pleasant and nice sounding name. (The waitress comes again.)
Waitress: Excuse me. Are you ready to order?
James: Yes. Erm...can I get the 24-ounce porterhouse? Can I get that done medium rare, please?
Waitress: Certainly.
James: And can I just get a Miller Light to go with that? Waitress: Miller Light. OK. ...
(The voices fade away.)
Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
Guest: Hello, Room Service. This is Room 226. We'd like to order breakfast for tomorrow.
Floor waitress: Yes, sir. What would you like?
Guest: We'd like to start with fruit juice, orange for me and grapefruit for my wife. Fresh juice, please. Not canned or frozen.
Floor waitress: Right, sir. One fresh orange and one fresh grapefruit.
Guest: Good. And then bacon, eggs, and tomato for me and two soft-boiled eggs for my wife, and toast, butter, and marmalade. Do you have different marmalades? Floor waitress: Yes, sir. We'll put a selection of preserves on your tray. And would you prefer tea or coffee?
Guest: Tea, please, but with lemon, not milk. Floor waitress: Very good. And when is it for? Guest: Oh, about 7:30 would be fine.
Floor waitress: Fine, and could you give me your name, sir? Guest: It's Sands. Mr. and Mrs. Sands, Room 226. Floor waitress: Thank you, sir. Listening II Part I
The American passion of speed has now hit the food business. Many restaurants, in particular the great chain restaurant company, McDonald's, specialize in “fast food”, food which is served at the counter ready “to go”, or “to take out”. The food, cooked and hot, is packed into cardboard and plastic containers, and hot drinks go into plastic cups with tight-fitting lids. There are also drive-in fast-food restaurants, where
customers do not have to leave their cars. They first stop at a board where the menu is displayed, give an order through a microphone and then drive another twenty yards, where a girl hands them the meal ready cooked and packed. People who prefer to eat at a table in the restaurant also receive their food in cardboard or plastic containers, and the knives, forks and spoons are plastic, too. When they have finished, customers throw everything except the tray into a trash can. Listening III
1. The big baker bakes black bread.
2. “The bun is better buttered,” Bill muttered. 3. Cheryl's cheap chip shop sells cheap chips. 4. You can have: Fried fresh fish, Fish fried fresh, Fresh fried fish, Fresh fish fried, Or fish fresh fried.
5. All I want is a proper cup of coffee Made in a proper coffeepot. You can believe it or not— I want a cup of coffee In a proper coffeepot. Tin coffeepots or Iron coffeepots,
They're no use to me. If I can't have a
Proper cup of coffee
In a proper copper coffeepot, I'll have a cup of tea.
Part Three More Listening Practice One
An old man and a young man worked in an office next to each other. The young man had noticed that the old man always seemed to have a jar of peanuts on his desk. The
young man loved peanuts. One day while the old man was away from his desk, the young man couldn't resist and went to the old man's jar and ate over half the peanuts. When the old man returned, the young man felt guilty and confessed to taking the peanuts. The old man responded, “That's OK since I lost my teeth. All I can do is lick the chocolate off the M&Ms.” Practice Two
Dan: Here's a quiz on how much you know about chili. Are you ready? Ellen: Okay, I'm ready.
Dan: Question 1: Where did chilies come from originally? Ellen: Easy! They came from Mexico.
Dan: That's right. It came from Mexico and Central America 900 years ago. Question 2: Who brought chilies to Spain in 1493?
Ellen: I'll make a guess... Christopher Columbus?
Dan: Well done. Question 3: What other foods did Columbus bring from Mexico to Spain?
Ellen: I have no idea. Uh, maybe corn... or sweet potato?
Dan: Well done. Yes, corn, sweet potato and pineapple. Question 4: Do chilies make you fat?
Ellen: Impossible! They are very hot and you can't eat many.
Dan: Actually, eating chilies makes some people eat more food. They don't realize their stomach is already full. And the last question: Are chilies good for athletes? Ellen: I have no idea. I'll say “no”.
Dan: Wrong! A study has found that if you eat chilies before exercise, you'll perform better because you burn carbohydrates better. Practice Three
In the past ten years or so, America's most popular export to Britain has been the HAMBURGER. One very well-known American company, which has restaurants all over the world, even has its own “university”. Here, if you fancy becoming an expert in the subject, you can take a ten-day course leading to the “degree”, Bachelor of Hamburgerology. If you get really interested in the subject, you can even go on to do your master's degree—but that takes longer!
Hamburgers are, of course, fast food: They don't take long to cook and they take even less time to eat. Next time you are in one of those fast-food restaurants, look around. You'll notice that they aren't usually very comfortable (they don't want to encourage you to hang around for too long). And they are normally decorated in bright colors because psychological tests show that this is supposed to make people hungrier. Keen students of English should read the menus in these places. If you think you
could do with improving your vocabulary, especially adjectives, study them with care. Practice Four
All right! Enough biscuits, cola, and chips! It seems that junk food is all that the children want to eat these days. Television controls their tastes. The kids see
well-known personalities eating potato chips, candy, and other processed food, and they want to be like their heroes. How do they do it? They eat the same food. I wish there were more characters like old Popeye the sailor, who ate spinach and not chips. Just because I like brown rice, beans, and fresh vegetables, I don't expect my children to eat this “health food”. I'm glad to cook traditional meals of meat and potatoes for them. I really can't be too upset with the kids because most adults aren't careful about what they eat. The other night, my wife and I went to a party where there was plenty to drink but very
little for us to eat. They served hot dogs and hamburgers. I can't eat hot dogs, with all those preservatives, and hamburgers are filled with chemicals so that they look good. Besides the meat, they had sugar-filled biscuits and cake, and, of course, chips. Terrible! I don't want the world to change because of me, but I think that people should realize that there are alternatives to eating meat. They always tell me that I probably don't get my essential proteins. But I feel better than ever and I'm sure that it's because I'm vegetarian. I would really like to see more television advertisements which show the benefits of good, healthy, natural food. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
M: What do you want to have for supper tonight?
W: Well, the refrigerator is empty, so we'll have to go to the supermarket.
M: Well, how about going out to eat to save the trouble? But... let's not go to the French restaurant on Broadway. Maybe it's the best in town but it's too expensive. W: There's a new Mexican place called Tortilla Flat. I don't know about the prices, though.
M: But we both love hot food. Why not take a chance? Where is the place? W: It's on Hope Street, just past the high school.
M: Oh, we'd better hurry. It'll take us a half hour to get there. It's already eight, and most restaurants around here stop serving dinner by nine or so.
W: Relax! I can be ready in five minutes. We'll get there in plenty of time. Section II
Dr. Young: Here's your diet, Simon. Remember to follow it carefully.
Simon: Is this all I can eat? One small glass of juice, one hard-boiled egg... That isn't enough! I'm going to be hungry all day! Can't I have any fried food? Dr. Young: I'm sorry, Simon. Not when you're on a diet. Simon: Can't I even eat bread?
Dr. Young: You can have some bread, but you can't have any butter. Simon: How about fruit?
Dr. Young: Fruit is OK, but don't eat too much because it's too sweet. Simon: What about pizza and spaghetti? Dr. Young: No pizza and no spaghetti.
Simon: How about potatos? Can I have potatos? Dr. Young: No, potatos are also fattening food.
Simon: Oh, boy! It's going to be a long six weeks! Section III
Visitors to Britain are always complaining about English food. But they do not really know what they are talking about because they rarely get a chance to eat it. Most of the restaurants in large towns have foreign owners and serve foreign food.
When visitors are invited to eat in an English home, their hosts often feel they must offer them something foreign and exotic. Those of us who do know English food are aware that at its best it can be really very good. On the other hand it is true to say that sometimes it is terrible. Part of the problem is that we are not really interested in food—we eat to live; we do not live to eat. So we don't generally spend the necessary time and effort needed to cook really good meals. We prefer food that is simple and easy to cook, or ready prepared food which only needs heating
up before eating. You can find the best English food in the country away from the large towns, where life is slower and people are not in such a hurry. But, of course, most visitors come to London. They come because they are interested in shopping and sightseeing. They do not come because of food, so why should they complain about it?
Unit Seven
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
Ellen: (She talks to Wang & Zhang.) You know, Robert and I are going to China this fall and we'll stay there for at least six months. You know, every culture has its taboos...
Wang: Yeah, that's right.
Ellen: ...and we'd like to learn something about Chinese taboos so we won't make stupid mistakes or offend people.
Wang: Ah, yes, in China there are lots of taboos and I think it's useful to know some of them. For instance, certain things are never given as presents.
Robert: Yes, yes, that would be very important to know. We've been racking our
brains in choosing gifts for our Chinese friends. So far, we've bought some nice plates, clocks and gift watches...
Zhang: Hang on! Did you say clocks?
Robert: Yes, what's wrong? I've bought some ornamental clocks, really lovely ones. They make wonderful gifts. I'm sure our Chinese friends will like them.
Wang: No, no, no, no, you should never give them as presents, especially to older Chinese.
Ellen: (She looks puzzled.) Why not?
Wang: Oh, you know, clocks have a funeral connotation.
Ellen & Robert: (They look even more puzzled.) Ah... (with their mouths wide open) Zhang: Well, it may sound strange, even absurd to you, but in China it's indeed the case. It has something to do with the pronunciation. The word for “clock” has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word “zhong”, meaning “the end of one's life”. Wang: Yeah, and similarly, always avoid the number “four” because the pronunciation of the word “four” is “si”, the same as the word for death. Robert: How interesting! Are there any other taboos which are pronunciation-related?
Wang: Erm... yes, if you're invited to a Chinese home on the eve of the Spring Festival, there is one dish you should not entirely finish eating. That is fish. Ellen: But isn't it true that the host is happy to see the dishes all finished, which means that the guests enjoy the dishes he fixes? Besides, unlike other dishes, fish is better eaten when it's fresh. Right?
Zhang: Yes, exactly, but on that particular occasion, you'd better be careful. You know, the pronunciation of the word for “fish” is “yu”, and Chinese would like to say “niannian youyu”, meaning “one must leave something for the next year”, indicating good luck for the coming year.
Ellen: It's so interesting! Can you tell us more about Chinese taboos?
Wang: Erm... let me see. Oh, yes, if you pay a visit to a Chinese family and you want to bring some flowers, you should never bring chrysanthemums which are a symbol of death.
Robert: All right. Please tell us more.
Wang: Ah, yes, if you're invited to a Chinese home for dinner, don't arrive exactly on time because the hosts may think you've only come for the dinner alone. Robert: When should we arrive then? Wang: Several minutes early. Robert: I see.
Zhang: Ah, there is one more thing I want to remind you of. You should not unwrap a present in front of the person who gives it to you.
Ellen: But that's what we do at home, so we can show our gratitude and appreciation right away.
Zhang: Yes, it's a cultural difference and that's why I mention it.
Ellen: Wow, China really is a fascinating country. Thanks so much for your advice; otherwise we might've made some mistakes and spoil our visit to your country. Robert: Yes, indeed. We'll keep those taboos in mind so that we will enjoy our stay more. Thanks again.
Wang & Zhang: You're welcome!
Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
(Terry Joyce talks about her experience of living and working in England, where she has been for the past eleven years.)
Interviewer: So, Terry. You've been in England for quite a long time now. Terry: Mmm.
Interviewer: What differences do you notice between England and the United States? Terry: Obviously the biggest difference is the people. The average Englishman is...mm cold and not very open. Interviewer: Oh.
Terry: In the United States it's very different. We start conversations with people in the street, in the subway; we're a lot more outgoing than people here. You know, when I first came, I couldn't understand why I was getting so little reaction from
people, but now I see that they thought I was overpowering and too friendly too soon. Interviewer: But, tell me: Does the Englishman improve as you get to know him? Terry: Oh, yes.
Interviewer: Oh, good.
Terry: Once you have made a friend, it's a friend for life, but it takes a very long time. I'll tell you something that I think is very important. An Englishman in America is respected. Everyone wants to talk to him. We're inquisitive. We love his accent and his country. But Americans in England are thought to be a little inferior because of their loud behavior and their language. One thing I've learned is that English people like a certain distance. When I was talking to someone, he would move away, you
know, move backwards, and I thought, “Do I smell? Am I boring him?” The reason is, you see, Americans stand closer when they're talking while English people like a certain distance. Listening II
Many centuries ago, a group of Jews landed in India and immediately went to the king. They told him that they were lost and wanted to settle in his kingdom.
In those days any foreigner was viewed with suspicion. So the king was hesitant about letting them in. He sent for one glass of milk and one glass of water. He asked the leader of the Jews to taste the milk. Then he poured out some milk and added some water. He asked the leader to taste the milk again and said, “What is the difference in taste?”
The leader said, “The second time the milk tastes terrible.” “That is because of the water added to the milk,” said the king, “The water dilutes the milk and spoils its taste. So too your addition will spoil the kingdom.” The leader of the Jews thought for a moment and asked for another glass of milk. He then added sugar to the milk and asked the king to taste it. “It tastes sweet,” said the king.
The leader of the Jews bowed his head and said, “Oh, Your Majesty! That is how we would like to live here: as the small amount of sugar which sweetens the large
quantity of milk and not as the water which dilutes the milk.” Pleased with him, the king granted them permission to stay. Part Three More Listening Practice One
Many Americans follow traditions meant to bring good luck in the New Year. Some people wear special clothes or eat special foods. For example, men and women who want to find their true love wear yellow clothing. Others carry silver in the hope of finding money.
People in many parts of the United States celebrate the New Year by eating
black-eyed peas. Cabbage is another vegetable that people eat to bring good luck and money. In the South, people prepare and eat a traditional food called Hoppin' John. It contains peas, onions, bacon and rice. It has this unusual name because long ago
children were said to like it so much they hopped around the room while waiting for it to cook.
Asian-Americans sometimes make traditional fortune cookies. These sweets contain small pieces of paper telling about a person's future. Some Americans from
Spanish-speaking families follow a tradition for the New Year that involves fruit. On January 1, they stand on a chair and eat grapes. Practice Two
A Hindu priest, rabbi and a lawyer were driving down the road when the car broke down. Fortunately, they found a farmhouse nearby. The farmer informed them that he had only one spare room, and that it had only two twin beds.
They were welcome to it, but one of them had to sleep in the barn. After much
discussion, the Hindu volunteered to go to the barn. A few moments later, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and the Hindu explained that there was a cow in the barn, and cows were sacred and he could not possibly sleep in the barn with a cow.
Annoyed, the rabbi volunteered. A few moments later, there was a knock on the door. The rabbi explained that there was a pig in the barn and that he, being very orthodox, could not possibly spend the evening in the barn with the origin of pork.
Finally, the lawyer said that he would go to the barn. A few moments later there was a knock on the door. It was the cow and the pig! Practice Three
Different cultures adhere to different business customs. For example, the British
consider it impolite to interrupt a visitor, even after all business has been done. Thus a visitor should know when to stop talking and when to leave.
Spanish business people need to see samples, so samples of products or services
should be offered whenever possible. Visitors also need to know that in Spain offices and retail establishments generally close from 1:00 p.m. to as late as 4:30 p.m. In addition, black shoes, not brown, are considered proper for business occasions. The Spanish historically have favored black.
In Scandinavia and Finland business guests may be asked to shed their clothes and join their hosts in a sauna. The invitation is a sign that a good working relationship has been established.
In Denmark, a visitor who is invited to a business associate's home should take flowers or some unusual food.
In Norway, the visitor is expected to send a gift the day after a dinner. In France, one sends flowers before visiting a home for dinner, but not
chrysanthemums; they're for funerals. More than flowers and gifts, the French expect a business visitor to give a party after major dealings.
In Germany, flowers are an appropriate gift to take to a business colleague's wife when invited to dinner, but not red roses; they're for lovers. Here men are expected to stand when a woman rises from the table and when she returns. Fortunately, German women have reached a silent understanding that when one has to be excused, the other women leave also. Practice Four
(An American traveler, John Smith, has just arrived in Britain. He wants to know something about British pubs, so he is talking with a British pub owner.) John Smith: Pub is a funny word. Why are pubs called pubs?
Pub Owner: It's short for public house, a place that has a special licence to sell drinks.
John Smith: Why do most pubs have signs hanging outside?
Pub Owner: Because until the beginning of this century, most people couldn't read. So a picture was best for showing travelers where they could get a drink.
John Smith: I see, but I've noticed in Britain that a lot of the pubs have the same name. I've seen three called The Red Lion. Why?
Pub Owner: Well, many years ago, huge areas of Britain were owned by a few
families, and innkeepers named their pubs after these families who each had their own family symbol. A red lion was the Gaunt family's symbol. The Tudors had a
greyhound. That's why so many pubs all over the country have the same name. Other pubs got their names from religious events, ways of traveling, sports, jobs, famous people, famous battles and so on. Studying pub names is a really good way of learning a bit about our history.
John Smith: Your pub's a “free house”. What's that?
Pub Owner: It doesn't mean that the drinks are free! Most pubs are owned by big breweries which sell only their own beer. But some landlords, like me, own their own pubs. We're free to sell any beer from any brewery. John Smith: This beer is lovely and different.
Pub Owner: We call it real ale. It's usually made by small local breweries so each type has a different taste. It's normally much stronger than the beer made by big breweries—when you're traveling round England you should try to taste some of the different types. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
Customs differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or on the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? What about table manners? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should you leave one in your lap, or on the table?
The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a woman or offer their seat to a woman, and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and in America. That is, if one is invited to a
dinner at 7 o'clock, the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay.
The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable—especially if they are your guests.
There is an old story about a man who gave a normal dinner party. When the food was served, one of the guests started to eat his peas with a knife. The other guests were surprised, but the host quietly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable. Section II
Throughout the world children are taught not to stuff their mouths with food, to eat politely at the table and not to be “piggish” with their eating habits. However, more and more countries have eating contests in which as much food is eaten as fast as possible, and no one cares about manners.
Today, eating contests have become a sport in many countries including Japan, the U.S., Canada, Germany, Thailand, England, Russia and Scotland. In the U.S., the best known eating contest is Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Each Fourth of July contestants gather at Nathan's restaurant in Coney Island, New York City's popular beach and amusement park. The contest was first held in 1916 and has been held each year except 1941 and 1971. The all-time world record is held by Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, who ate 50 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. Recently, a tiny Korean American woman, Sonya Thomas, came in fourth, eating 25 hot dogs in 12 minutes. This broke the women's record.
Sonya Thomas holds several eating records. She ate 23 pork sandwiches in 10 minutes at a contest in Mississippi, and at a competition in Indiana, she shocked the crowd by eating 65 hard-boiled eggs in only six minutes and 40 seconds. She thinks her biggest win was when she ate 36 dozen oysters in 10 minutes. Despite all the food she eats, Sonya weighs less than 45kg. She keeps fit by eating lots of rice, vegetables and chicken and walks on a treadmill four times a week. She also says that when she is not competing in a contest she likes leisurely meals. Section III
“You're going to the United States to live? How wonderful! You're really lucky!” Does this sound familiar? Is your life in this new country always wonderful and exciting? It is not easy to adjust to life in a new culture. These feelings are called culture shock.
There are three stages of culture shock. In the first stage, the newcomers like their environment. Then, when the newness wears off, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people etc. in the new culture. In the final stage of culture shock, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and again enjoy their life.
Some of the factors in culture shock are obvious. Maybe the weather is unpleasant. Perhaps the customs are different. Perhaps public service systems such as the telephone, post office, or transportation are difficult to figure out and you make
mistakes. The simplest things seem difficult. The language may be difficult. The food may seem strange to you and you may miss the familiar smells of the food of your own country. If you don't look like the natives, you may feel strange. You may feel like everyone is watching you. In fact, you are just self-conscious.
Culture shock may produce a feeling of homesickness, imagined illness, or even unreasonable fear. When people have such feelings, they sometimes feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves
from the unfamiliar environment. This solves the problem of culture shock for a short while, but it does nothing to help the person learn the culture. Familiarity and experience are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.
Unit Eight
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
Tony: Hey, Bill, you hear that? Eighteen million bucks! It'll be so cool to win it. Bill: Yeah. I'd be thrilled to death if I were the winner.
Michael: Why don't you try your luck and buy a lottery ticket? Tony & Bill: That's a good idea.
Elizabeth: Don't be silly. You guys are daydreaming.
Alice: That's right. It's a waste of money. By the way, you don't even have the money to buy a lottery ticket, Tony. You haven't returned the ten dollars you borrowed from me yesterday.
Tony: That's... that's exactly why I'm interested in the lottery. If I won it, I'd pay off all my debts.
Bill: Who doesn't want to be rich? Actually, I think it's not a bad idea if we buy one ticket for all of us. We could share the prize money if we won. For one ticket, it's only two bucks. I think we could spare the two bucks by skipping dessert at dinner time. Alice: Two dollars isn't a big deal. I just don't think we could be that lucky. I've heard about so many people who buy the tickets every week and still haven't won a cent. Bill: Come on, Alice! It may be our lucky day.
Elizabeth: Oh, I hope we'll be lucky, of course. Wait a minute! There's no lottery booth in this area. Where can we go and buy the ticket?
Michael: That's no problem. We can stop at the lottery booth, can't we? Elizabeth: OK, let's go. (outside of a lottery booth)
Tony: Liz, you're the treasurer. You should go and buy the ticket. Elizabeth: All right. But what numbers do we choose? Michael: Just let the machine randomly select them.
Alice: I don't trust the machine. Let's try something unique. Tony: What do you mean by “unique”? Alice: Like... Bill: Like what?
Alice: Like our lucky numbers.
Michael: I've an idea. There're five of us, and seven numbers on the ticket. Why don't we just use our birthdays and today's date, October 25?
Tony: That's a good idea. So mine's 23rd of May, that'll be 23 for me. Bill: I'm 14. Michael: I'm 7. Alice: I'm 2.
Elizabeth: I'm 28.
Elizabeth: OK, guys. Listen, so the numbers are 23, 7, 28, 14, 2, 10 and 25. Others: Yes, all right, here we go.
(They have had a good time at the park. It's evening now and the students are listening to the radio for the result of the lottery in the dormitory.)
Michael: So, Bill, what would you say we should do if we won the lottery? Bill: We could start a company like ...
Alice: Do you mean drop out of university? No way! Bill: What would you do then?
Alice: I think we should use the money to make a movie we could all star in. Elizabeth: I'll be scared to death in front of the cameras. I'd say we should travel around the world if we did win.
Tony: I would like to see the world too. I would also like to own the Houston Rockets. You know, I love the NBA so much.
Michael: But you're not ever going to be tall enough to make it to the NBA. I think we should buy an old castle in England and live there like kings and queens. Elizabeth: Shh..., be quiet please. The result is coming!
(TV news announcer: And now for this week's Power Ball jackpot. The numbers are: 02, 07, 10, 14, 23, 25, and...28! )
Chorus (excitedly): Oh, my God! I can't believe it! That's our numbers! Tony: Can't believe it! We won the lottery! (noisy excitement)
Alice: Who's got the ticket?
Michael: Liz, of course. She's the one that bought it for us.
Elizabeth: Hold on. It's...in the backpack. (She picks up her backpack and searches for a while. The others wait anxiously. Elizabeth takes out the ticket and checks the numbers. Her face suddenly turns pale.) Bill... Bill: Yeah, what?
Elizabeth: You said your birthday was on the 13th, right? Bill: No! It's 14th!
Elizabeth: I'm sorry. I thought I heard 13. Bill: No, you're kidding, right? The others: Oh! No! No!... Elizabeth: Sorry...
The others: Oh! No!...18 million...
Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
(Natalie Portman is from a little town. She is visiting her friend Lin Gang in Hong Kong. They are on a shopping trip.) (L=Lin Gang; N=Natalie Portman) Part I
L: Well, here's the store I was telling you about where you can buy really nice silk things to take back to your hometown. You said your sister wanted some skirts. N: I know just what I want to get but I just realized that I left my traveler's checks at your place and I don't have any money with me. L: That's OK. I've got my plastic! N: You mean your credit card? L: No, my bank card. Part II
N: How can you use that in a store? Is it like a credit card?
L: No, not really. It's a card issued by my bank. It's the same card I use at the automatic teller machine at the bank.
N: I still don't understand. We're nowhere near your bank. L: Let's go to the cashier and I'll show you how EPS works. N: What does EPS mean?
L: Well, it stands for “Electronic Point of Sale”.
N: OK. You just gave the cashier your bank card and she swiped it through her machine. Now what happens?
L: Now I just have to punch in my PIN on this little thing that looks like a calculator. N: What's a PIN?
L: A personal identification number.
N: So now the cost of my sister's skirts has been taken out of your bank account. L: That's right.
N: Don't you ever worry that someone might take all your money?
L: Well, they could only do that if they knew my PIN number. It's a neat system because you don't have to carry around a lot of cash. N: That's neat. Listening II
I know a man called John Smith who is a very unusual millionaire. What makes him unusual is that he has no money. He says the average millionaire never uses money and always gets other people to pay for taxis or drinks. This is because he is so used to thinking in millions that small amounts of money are not worth thinking about. But this does not mean he has no worries. On the contrary, the average millionaire worries constantly about his businesses. His great wealth also makes it difficult for him to be happy and comfortable with other people. Are they friendly because they like him? Or do they pretend to like him because they want his money? John Smith says he feels very sorry for millionaires, who, instead of being masters of their wealth, are slaves of their millions. In one way, however, John Smith always behaves exactly like a millionaire. I mean he never has any money and generally manages to persuade someone else to pay for his drinks. But unlike other very rich men, he gives back good value for money. He is full of jokes and fun. An evening spent with him is not cheap because he is usually very thirsty, but he always makes people happy. He does not give much thought for tomorrow. He is the happiest man I have ever met.
Whenever I meet him, he tells me, “In money I am not rich, but in peace of mind I am a millionaire.” And then the world's richest, penniless man usually adds, with a smile, “Do you have time for another drink?” How can I refuse? Part Three More Listening Practice One
Joshua: Dad. Allowance day. Can I have my allowance? Father: Oh. I forgot about that. Joshua: You ALWAYS forget.
Father: I guess I do. How much do I owe you? Joshua: Just $13.
Father: Thirteen dollars?! Why do I owe you that much? It seems like I paid you just the other day.
Joshua: No. You forget every Saturday, and it's been piling up. Father: Well, I'm not sure if I have enough cash.
Joshua: Go to the bank, Dad. You have lots of money.
Father: Lots of money, uh? Uh, well, I think the bank is closed. Joshua: Then, what about your secret money jar under your bed?
Father: Oh, I guess I could do that. So, what are you going to do with the money? Joshua: I'm going to put some in savings, buy Mum a gift for her birthday, and use the rest to buy books.
Father: Well, that sounds great, Joshua. Practice Two
My name is Joe Bob Cook and I live on an island now. It's very small, but it's all right because I have everything I need.
A few years ago I was living in a city and was working in a big office with a
computer. It was a good job, I guess, but it was very boring. Everything was always the same. And I didn't really like to work. I preferred to stay in bed asleep in the morning. And, of course, I never had enough money.
So one day while I was eating lunch, I started to think. “Why are some people rich and some people poor?” I asked. I was always working, but I certainly wasn't becoming rich. “Maybe I can rob a bank,” I thought, “or steal someone's jewels.” While I was thinking, I picked up a newspaper. There was a picture of a man the police were looking for. He used to work with a computer too, and at the same time he was also stealing a lot of money from the company. “Man!” I thought, “That's a good idea.”
So now you understand why I'm living here on this little island. There's a very big jail on it.
Practice Three
For reasons long forgotten, a 14-year-old girl in Cleveland got so angry with her
parents that she ran away to New York City. Cold and hungry, she was shivering on a street corner when a taxi pulled up. As some party-goers got out, a man in the group noticed the girl and, asking if she needed help, insisted that she join them for dinner in a nearby restaurant.
After hearing her story, the man took her to the train station and bought her a ticket back to Cleveland. “Whatever you desire,” he told her, “if you want it enough, you can make it happen.” Then he gave her $20 and his address and telephone number. If she ever needed anything, she was to call him.
She returned to her family, but could not find the paper with his name and phone number. Twenty-five years later, she found the lost paper in a diary. Ralph Burke received a letter and a check for $300. The woman asked that he accept it with the love and spirit in which it was sent. The idea, she said, wasn't to repay a “kindness that has no price”; rather, she hoped he would come to meet her family. Accepting the invitation, Burke was welcomed like a long-lost uncle.
Today he insists that one should perform those “simple acts of kindness” whenever one can. “Sometime, some way,” Burke says, “they always come back to you.” Practice Four
Narrator: It's a dark, cold, and rainy night. The taxi driver hasn't had a single passenger all day. When he goes by the entrance of the railway station, he sees a young man from the country coming out, carrying two suitcases. “Aha!” thinks the taxi driver, “Here's an opportunity to make up for the rest of this bad day.” He quickly opens the door of the taxi.
Driver: Where do you want to go, sir? Hayseed: To the Continental Hotel.
Narrator: Hearing this, the taxi driver loses hope for a big fare. The Continental Hotel is hardly two blocks away. The most the hayseed will give him is one dollar. What bad luck! The driver then decides to take a long trip around town and then back to the Continental Hotel. So he does, and after a long time they arrive at the hotel. Driver: You owe me thirty dollars, sir.
Hayseed: What? Thirty dollars? Do you take me for a fool? You're trying to cheat me.
Driver: How dare you accuse me...
Hayseed: Only last week I took a taxi from the station to this hotel. I know how much the trip should cost!
Driver: Oh...oh...all right.
Hayseed: I think I should call the police.
Driver: Oh, no! Please don't! I have a sick wife and four hungry children. Hayseed: All right! This time I'll let it go.
Driver: Thank you, sir. You're right. The trip isn't worth thirty dollars...
Hayseed: I know that. I may come from the country, but I'm as smart as you city folks.
Driver: Yes, sir.
Hayseed: I won't pay you a cent more than I paid for the other taxi last week... twenty-six dollars! Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
(Each Friday evening the TV station chooses a “Person of the Week”, someone who helps others. Two newscasters discuss this Friday's choice.)
Jim: Our “Person of the Week” is Mr. Percy Ross, whose newspaper column, “Thanks a Million”, is found in 200 newspapers. Mr. Ross lives here in Midville. Ann: Right. Every week about 7,000 people write to him, asking for money. He reads the letters and sends money to some of the people. He also answers 3 or 4 letters every week in his newspaper column. Jim: Who gets money from Mr. Ross?
Ann: Usually old people, sick people, and poor children. Jim: Good.
Ann: Sometimes he doesn't send money. He sends people the things they need—shoes, a smoke alarm, a hearing aid etc. Jim: Why does he give away his money?
Ann: When he was young, he was poor. He worked hard, and now he is a successful businessman. But Mr. Ross remembers when he was poor. He wants to help poor people.
Jim: He also wants to give away his money before he dies and wants to choose who gets it.
Ann: He is a good choice for “Person of the Week”. Section II
My brother, Henry, had an excellent job at a bank. I couldn't believe him when he told me that he had decided to give it up. Though I tried to make him change his mind, I failed completely.
“You should reconsider your decision,” I said. “You have already spent five years in the bank and you could have a wonderful career. You might become a bank manager by the time you're thirty-five.”
“I know,” Henry answered. “I've got no complaints with the bank. It's a pleasant job in pleasant surroundings and we keep civilized hours. The bank manager told me that my prospects were excellent.”
“Then why do you want to leave?” I exclaimed. “It's the money,” Henry said.
“But you're getting a good salary,” I answered.
“I don't mean that,” Henry said. “What do I do at the bank? Well, at the moment all I do is to count money. I find it very depressing.”
“What's depressing about counting money?” I asked, unable to follow the logic of Henry's argument.
“You don't understand,” Henry answered. “I enjoy counting my own money, but I hate counting other people's!” Section III
For a long time, Albert Smith had the reputation as a miser. But yesterday, people found they had wronged him.
Mr. Smith was known by other residents as the meanest man in the village. He was a farmer who also owned a building business, and made money on the stock market. A fellow villager, who had known him for more than 50 years, said, “He never spent money on himself. He never bought a new suit and he even mended his shoes with sticky tape rather than buy a new pair.”
A woman villager added, “He was the meanest man I ever knew. He got the greatest pleasure from doing his account books. He worked on them for hours. We thought he was planning to take his money with him.”
Mr. Smith died in October at the age of 85, and yesterday his will became known. He left $175,000 for the building of houses for his former employees, and $3,000 for a new village bus shelter. The rest of his estate, more than $200,000, went to charity.
Unit Nine
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
Shop assistant: What can I do for you, sir?
John: I want a refund for a half dozen shirts, immediately. (He says very angrily.) Shop assistant: What's wrong with them? John: Can't you see for yourself?
(The man hands a half dozen shirts over to the shop assistant.)
Shop assistant: Oh, they faded a lot, didn't they? Were all of them bought from our shop? Can I see your receipt?
John: Here you are! Can-I-get- my-money-back-immediately?
Shop assistant: (hesitantly) Er... but this sales receipt says you bought only one shirt from our shop. Yes, just this red one. And it was on sale.
John: Red? You call that red? It's PINK now! And, what about the other five? I read the instructions on the shirt carefully before washing it. It doesn't say a thing about the shirt shrinking or fading at all! When I put this in with the other five shirts into the washing machine, they all turned pink.
Shop assistant: Sorry, but we can only exchange this single shirt you bought here with a new one for you. It's really too bad about the other five, but you didn't buy them here, and we just cannot do anything for you about...about them.
John: What do you mean? There is no doubt that this shirt that I bought here is of very poor quality. It shrank badly after washing, and the color faded on everything in the washer! It ruined the rest of the new shirts! That really bugs me! My whole family has been buying clothes here for the last ten years! What do you mean by saying that you just can't do anything about the other shirts, mm?
Shop assistant: I'm very sorry it happened, you know, but we just cannot give you a refund for a shirt bought on sale. And, it's just not possible to pay you for the fading on the shirts bought from another store.
John: I want to see your manager, now, right now! I can't believe this!
(The manager comes over and the assistant walks towards him, murmuring, “ Mr. Anderson, this gentleman wants a refund for six shirts bought at our store, but he only
bought one shirt at our store, and it was on sale.” He looks at the shirts and picks out the shirt which faded on all other shirts.)
John: So you are the manager? Look what happened! When I washed this red shirt, it shrank so badly that I couldn't wear it any more. But, even worse than that, it ruined the rest of my new shirts by fading on them.
Mr. Anderson: (He smiles.) We are very sorry about that. OK, I think we can replace that red shirt. And also, you can choose five additional shirts at no cost to you. Of course, they'll have to be the same price or less than the red one you bought last time. We do value your business and hate for you to be unhappy with us. I hope to see you soon.
John: Mm, that sounds more than fair, and of course I'll see you again. Shop assistant: What colors would you like? I can help you with that.
John: I would like the yellow, and the red, and the blue one and the brown one... Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I Dialog 1
(Maria Alma is looking round the shops in Athens before she catches the afternoon flight back to Zurich. Maria is looking for a pair of shoes.) Maria: Excuse me. Do you speak English? Assistant: Yes, madam. Can I help you?
Maria: I'm looking for a pair of blue shoes to wear with a dress. Assistant: Blue?
Maria: Yes, you've got some in the window at 1,450 drachmas. Could I try them on, please?
Assistant: What size are they? Maria: 38.
Assistant: Just a moment, please. Yes, here you are. Maria: Are they leather? Assistant: Oh, yes. Maria: I like the style.
Assistant: Do they fit all right?
Maria: They feel a bit tight actually. Have you got a larger size? Assistant: We haven't got those shoes in a 39, I'm afraid. Maria: Have you anything similar in blue that would fit me? Assistant: No, we haven't. I'm sorry.
Maria: I'll leave them then. Thank you very much. Dialog 2
(John is in a shop.)
John: I'd like some nice lamb chops, please. Assistant: English or New Zealand? John: Is there much difference in price?
Assistant: The New Zealand is a little cheaper, but of course it's not quite of the same quality.
John: Could I have a look at the New Zealand? Assistant: Of course.
John: They look fine. Six please. Assistant: Two pounds thirty, please. John: Thank you. Dialog 3
(Helen is buying bakery goods.)
Assistant: Good morning.
Helen: Hello. A large wholemeal loaf, please. Assistant: Thank you. 57 pence please. Helen: And a half dozen soft white rolls.
Assistant: Do you want the ones with sesame seeds?
Helen: They're for hamburgers, so yes, that'd be all right, wouldn't it? Assistant: Yes.
Helen: Yes, that's fine. Assistant: Anything else? Helen: No, thanks. Not today. Listening II Part I
Jack: Welcome to “At Your Service”, the consumer program that gives you advice when something goes wrong with goods or services you've bought. If you have a
problem which you'd like us to help you with, here's the number to ring: (01)2468041. That's (01)2468041. My name is Jack Mills, and with me to answer your questions today is the head of the Consumer Aid Association, Mary Smith. Part II
Jack: Now let's go straight to our first caller, Mr. Black from London. Good morning, Mr. Black. How can I help you?
Mr. Black: Well, I was looking for a second-hand car and I saw an advertisement in the local newspaper and it was the car I wanted. It was £1,150 and it was described as perfect. I went to see the car. It looked very good, so I bought it... Mary: Mr. Black, could I interrupt? Mr. Black: Yes, please.
Mary: Did you pay the full asking price for the car? Mr. Black: Yes, I paid £1,150 for it. It seemed all right when I bought it. But a few days later, I had some trouble starting it, and when it was started, it didn't run very well. So I took it to the local garage. They had a good look at it and they said everything was wrong with it. It had been damaged in an accident and the repairs hadn't been very good. So it wasn't worth the money I'd paid for it. In fact, they said it was only worth £400. That's a lot less than I'd paid for it. So I went back to the man, but he didn't really want to listen and I don't know what to do now.
Mary: Mr. Black, the most important point here is: Was the seller a dealer or was this a private sale?
Mr. Black: I don't think he was a dealer.
Mary: Well, unfortunately, with private sales the buyer has very little protection under the law. Did the man say that the car was perfect? Mr. Black: Yes.
Mary: When you bought the car you bought it understanding that it was faultless and that there was nothing wrong with it at all? Mr. Black: Yes, yeah.
Mary: I'm sorry to be a little pessimistic, Mr. Black. I think it's probably worthwhile making a claim under the Small Claims Procedure. It may be your best choice. Mr. Black: I see. Thank you very much. Part Three More Listening Practice One
W: Hello. Worldwide Flowers. Mrs. Green speaking.
M: This is Jim Kelly. I'd like to order some flowers and have them sent to my home. W: Fine, Mr. Kelly. What kind of flowers did you have in mind?
M: I'd like to send a dozen red roses.
W: A dozen red roses. Our long-stem red roses are selling for twelve dollars a dozen this week and they're really quite nice. M: All right then. I'll take those.
W: I'll need your complete address with the zip code, Mr. Kelly.
M: The address is: 43 Pennsylvania Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana, 47401. W: What would you like us to put on the card?
M: Hmm, just something simple. How about: All my love, Jim? W: OK. Now, when should they arrive?
M: They should be there before six in the evening on September 12.
W: That should be no problem. Just one more question, Mr. Kelly: How do you intend to make payment?
M: You can put it on my Visa card. The number is: JK 4096239. The expiration date is April 5, 2007.
W: Let me repeat your card information: Visa card number JK 4096239, and expiration date: 4-5-07. Is that correct? M: Yes.
W: And how does your name appear on the card? M: James William Kelly. W: Is that K-E-L-L-Y? M: That's right.
W: OK. Thank you for calling Worldwide Flowers. We'll have those dozen red roses delivered before 6 p.m. on September 12. M: Thank you very much. W: You're welcome. Goodbye. M: Bye.
Practice Two
(Alberto and Charlie are in the supermarket. )
Alberto: Let's tear the shopping list in half and meet later on.
Charlie: Okay. You pick out meat and produce. Let me get canned goods and packaged goods.
Alberto: Fine. See you later.
Charlie: Hey, wait a minute, Alberto. I need your advice. The list says milk. How much milk?
Alberto: A gallon, I guess. So long.
Charlie: Wait! The next item is bread. What kind? How many loaves? Alberto: Oh, get two or three loaves of white bread. Bye.
Charlie: Just a minute. Tomato soup is next on the list. What brand? How many cans?
Alberto: It doesn't matter. Buy three or four cans of Mrs. Smith's or Ready Quick Soup. Okay?
Charlie: No, hold on. What kind of cereal do I buy?
Alberto: I don't care. Get a box of corn flakes or a box of rice cereal. Goodbye, Charlie.
(Later, Alberto sees Charlie.)
Alberto: Charlie! How much food do you have there?
Charlie: Well, I'm a smart shopper. There are a lot of bargains in this store.
Alberto: I don't believe this. You have six cartons of eggs, about ten bars of soap, five jars of peanut butter, six quarts of ice cream, eight packages of frozen corn... Charlie: There's more food in the bottom part of the cart.
Alberto: But, Charlie, we don't have a thousand dollars, and this store doesn't give away food.
Charlie: That's too bad. Grocery shopping is a lot of fun—until it's time to pay for everything. Practice Three
M: Can I help you?
W: Yes. I'm looking for a tape recorder. Do you have any on sale?
M: Yes. How about this Musikord? It's stereo, and it's on sale for only $.99. W: $.99? No, that's a little too expensive. I didn't really want to spend more than $75.
M: $75. Well, we have this Panasound. It's very good and it's also stereo. W: It looks very heavy. I want something smaller than that.
M: Too big? Then take a look at this little Sonic Walkman. The sound is really good. You put on these headphones, and you can carry it anywhere.
W: You need the headphones to listen to it, right? But actually, I want to be able to use it without headphones also. I want to be able to listen to it at home with my kids. M: I see. And you only want to spend about $80, hmm? Well, this Goodnote is only $59.50. That's a good price.
W: Aha, it's certainly about the size I am looking for. And it's stereo? M: No, it isn't. But it does have a very good sound. Listen.
W: Oh, no, I definitely want stereo if I'm paying this much money.
M: OK, I think I know one that might be just what you're looking for. How about this Supersound? It's on sale too, and it's only $74.99. W: And it's stereo, right? M: Oh, yes, it's stereo.
W: Perfect. I'll take the Supersound then. M: Great. Will this be cash or charge?
W: Can I give you a check? Oh gosh! I don't seem to have brought my checkbook with me!
M: You don't have your checkbook?
W: Well, no. Do you think you could just hold it for me just until tomorrow... Practice Four Speaker A:
Now open: Harry's Discount Warehouse, opposite the bus station!
Come to Harry's where you'll find the lowest prices in town. Hundreds of color TVs, cookers, fridge-freezers and a huge range of other electrical goods all at super
discount prices. Harry's friendly and expert staff are ready to help you six days a week from 9 till 6.
And we guarantee that if you find the same product you've bought at Harry's cheaper anywhere else in town, we'll not just match that price but pay you the difference plus —£5 in cash! So you can't lose. Speaker B:
If we had 20 minutes to tell you about all the amazing bargains in menswear and ladies' fashions at Martin Young's Summer Sale, we could perhaps begin to do it justice. But as it is we've only got 20 seconds, so the only way you can find out what you'd be missing is to go along to Martin Young's yourself. The Summer Sale starts on August 8 at 9 o'clock.
Don't miss it—it may be the smartest move you'll make. Speaker C:
New Cold Water Brite washes better and saves you money. Brite: the new e
nergy-saving powder that makes hot-water detergents old-fashioned. Brite will keep your woolens feeling soft and your whites looking snowy white. Look out for the money back offer on the large size box. Send back the tops from just 3 boxes and we'll send you a crisp new £1 note.
Cold Water Brite: the new idea in washing powders and a new way to save. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
(The following account took place in a small town in England quite a few years ago. ) Mrs. Ford looked at her shopping list.
“I want some butter and some cheese,” she said. “And a packet of biscuits.” “Is that all, Mrs. Ford?” the grocer asked.
Mrs. Ford looked at her list again. “No. I want some sugar, some flour and a packet of tea.”
“Sugar, flour, and tea,” the grocer said and put them on the counter. “And a tin of tomato soup,” Mrs. Ford said. “We haven't any tomato soup,” the grocer said.
“What are those tins on that shelf?” Mrs. Ford asked.
“These, Mrs. Ford?” the grocer asked. “They're tins of tomatoes. Do you want a tin?” “No, thank you.”
“Is that all, Mrs. Ford?”
“Yes, thank you. Please send them to my house. Oh, and I want a dozen eggs, too, but don't send them. I'll carry them.”
“We can send the eggs, too,” the grocer said. “No, thank you,” Mrs. Ford said. “Your new delivery boy is very careless. Last week he dropped the eggs on my doorstep.” Section II
Ted: I believe you have a 1982 Toyota for sale. Bill: That's right.
Ted: Can I ask you a few questions about it? Bill: Sure. What would you like to know? Ted: Well, what condition is it in?
Bill: It's in good condition. It's just been repainted. And the tires are only six months old.
Ted: And what color is it? Bill: Dark blue.
Ted: Uh huh. How many miles does it have on it? Bill: About 60,000.
Ted: Does it have air conditioning?
Bill: Well yes, but it's not working too well. Ted: I see. And is it a two-door or four-door? Bill: It's a two-door.
Ted: And you're asking $4,500? Bill: That's right, or the nearest offer.
Ted: Well, I'd like to come and have a look at it. Could I see it tonight?
Bill: Sure，I live at 08 Grange Street. Could you come after 7:00? Someone else is coming at 6:30.
Ted: All right. And my name's Wilson. Bill: Fine. Thanks, Mr. Wilson. Section III
Oh, no! Here comes Mrs. Smith with her four children. Every Friday night, it's the same story. The supermarket manager is watching them from the service counter, his hand on his head.
Mrs. Smith is smiling, pushing her cart up and down the aisles. Sue, the youngest, is sitting in the cart, screaming. Mrs. Smith isn't listening. She's at the meat counter, picking out some chicken. Sue is crying louder and louder. She wants ice cream. Mike is helping his mother. He's putting food in the cart when she isn't looking. He's adding biscuits, potato chips, and cakes. The produce manager is talking to Helen. He's
telling her she can't eat the bananas. He is taking a bunch of grapes from her, too. One of the employees is walking toward the manager. She is angry: She's pulling a child after her. While he was running, Tom knocked over five bottles of cola. Another employee is mopping the floor.
Thank goodness, Mrs. Smith is finished. She's walking out of the store, pushing her cart. Her children are following quietly behind her.
“Goodbye,” Mrs. Smith is smiling at the manager. “We'll see you next week.”
Unit Ten
Part One Viewing, Understanding, and Speaking Video Script
P: Hello, Dr. Roger's speaking. Yes, er, that would be fine. Ah...I'm available late this afternoon. 4 o'clock...4:30. Fine, OK.
(There is a knock on the door.) Come in. Come in, please. OK, I'll get back to you later on. All right, bye.
Hello, there, nice to see you all again. So, er, how are things these days? All right? OK, so we've got Jack, Diana, and Katrina, is it? Codney, OK. Then, all right? Girl A: Oh, Doctor, I don't know why, but I get angry so easily these days.
P: Well, there are many things in your life that may make you angry. For example, when you suffer an injustice, or when someone offends you or hurts you, you may get angry. But anger affects people in different ways. Some people get angry easily while it may take others a longer time to get angry. Anger is something that you can't avoid. You have to accept it as a normal part of life. But it is a powerful emotion. If it isn't handled well, it might have destructive results for both you and your loved ones. Girl B: Then, how should we deal with it?
P: Well, it is important to express your anger safely, or in a healthy way. If you feel out of control, walk away from the situation temporarily until you cool down. Do something physical, such as going for a run, or exercising, or screaming at something, like a tree or a car. Try to find out why you feel angry. Once you've identified the problem, it's easier for you to control your emotions. But many people express their emotions in harmful ways. They have little control over them and tend to explode in rages. Some even choose to suppress them. That can really be harmful. Girl A: Doctor, do you think screaming is a good way to handle anger?
P: When you are very angry and don't know what to do, shouting may be helpful. But it's a bit too emotional. You could go out for a walk instead of shouting. Then you might feel better.
Boy: Doctor, sometimes I'm angry but I can't tell why. And I find that I can't get over it easily because nobody can share my feelings. I really feel frustrated. Can you tell me how to deal with this problem?
P: You can often improve your mood if you go to some place by yourself. There you may talk out your anger. You may even cry. If... if you find it hard to deal with anger by yourself, you may come and visit me. Maybe I can help.
Girl B: Yeah, I have a question. I know that anger is bad for our health. And I also know that we shouldn't get angry too often. But when something really unpleasant happens, I can't control myself. What should I do then?
P: I think in most cases you get angry because others misunderstand you or do
something wrong to you. So you can't help getting angry. The problem is that you are unable to keep your emotions under control. I think, to solve this problem, first you should learn to be tolerant and forgiving. And then think of the good things in your life, and of the good times you've had. That may help you to reduce your anger. Talk to your friends. That may make you feel better. Do you have any other questions? Boy: Do you think it is good sometimes to write down what we feel on a piece of paper?
P: I think it works for some people. That may help you to understand how and why you get angry. It's a good way to release your anger sometimes. After a little while, you may calm down.
Boy: Now we've learned some ways of controlling anger. Let's try and see which is the best way for each of us. Thank you, doctor!
P: Well, thank you all for coming. Well, that's all our time for today. Thank you. Part Two Listening, Understanding, and Speaking Listening I
Dr. Harris: How are you feeling?
Linda: Awful. I've got a sore throat and a headache.
Dr. Harris: Well, I'll take your temperature and see if you've got a fever. It says 102. You do have a fever. Do you have a cough? Linda: No.
Dr. Harris: An earache? Linda: No.
Dr. Harris: A stomachache?
Linda: No, just a sore throat and a headache, and I'm really depressed.
Dr. Harris: You've probably got the flu, and that's making you depressed. I'll just examine your throat and listen to your chest. Your throat's a little red, but your chest sounds OK. You should stay in bed and drink a lot of water. I'm going to prescribe some pills for you. Take one four times a day for ten days. OK? Linda: OK. Thanks, Dr. Harris.
Dr. Harris: Not at all. Take it easy, Linda. You don't want to be sick for your wedding...Oh, wait a minute! Don't forget the prescription for your medicine! Listening II
Mary is a college student. She works hard and she usually gets good grades. She
doesn't do very well in biology, however. There are so many things to memorize. She just can't keep everything straight.
Monday she had a biology exam scheduled for the afternoon and she felt very nervous. In fact she was so nervous that she started to feel really sick. She had a terrible headache and she felt hot all over.
“What can I do?” she asked her friend. “I just can't take my exam this afternoon.” “Why don't you go to the campus doctor?” her friend suggested. “He can give you a note and you won't have to take the exam today.”
“That's a great idea!” Mary said and went off to see the doctor.
After the doctor had examined her, he asked Mary, “Do you, by any chance, have an exam this afternoon?”
“Yes, I do,” she answered. “How did you know?”
“Well, you have a sickness all right. It seems we're having an epidemic of it this week. It's called EXAM-ITIS. You'd better hurry along now so you won't miss your exam!” Part Three More Listening Practice One
Research shows that simply setting aside some time to enjoy the beauty of nature can lower your blood pressure, protect your bones and more. If you haven't walked among fallen leaves, gazed at the beauty of the sunset or strolled along the shores of a quiet lake or pond, you are missing some excellent health benefits. This conclusion has been reached by a group of scientists at Texas A & M University.
When the researchers took a group of adults out for walks, they discovered that
regularly spending just five minutes a day with Mother Nature lowered blood pressure an average of ten points. The reason? Looking at the trees and grass, feeling the wind on your cheeks and the like is so comforting that it reduces stress immediately. “We know stress and blood pressure are linked,” says researcher Dr. Jim Varney. In
addition, he and his assistants found that just visualizing your favorite scene—like the beach or a cloudless blue sky—could make you feel less anxious.
Another study showed that people who spent time outdoors reported that their pain from arthritis nearly disappeared while they were walking, gardening, or even reading there. “Nature provides a distraction, so you're not thinking so much about the pain,” Dr. Varney explains. It has also been found that being outdoors helps your body produce enough vitamin D needed to absorb the calcium that makes your bones stronger. Practice Two
Many of us find strong feelings arising from within us, feelings that make us feel ashamed. It may be a deep anger, or even hatred, towards a parent, a former friend, or ourselves. It may be a fear of failure or of an uncertain future. We may be shocked and stunned by powerful lusts or compulsions. Or perhaps we are secretly consumed with guilt, because of things we've done, or that have been done to us.
Often we are tempted to deny and hide these feelings, even from ourselves. We think that admitting such negative feelings would make us bad people, so we try to distance ourselves from them. Sometimes we try to bury our pain with alcohol, food, work etc. But feelings which spontaneously arise from deep within us are NOT morally good or bad; they do NOT make us good or bad. We are not responsible for what we
spontaneously feel; we are only responsible for what we DO with these feelings. Feelings are echoes rising from the depths of our souls. They offer an honest reading of our inner selves. Oftentimes intense feelings are rooted in, and receive their energy from, important, though perhaps “forgotten”, past experiences.
To deny our feelings is to deny an important part of ourselves, to cut ourselves off from our roots. These are OUR feelings, and we need to acknowledge and own them. Facing unpleasant feelings can be painful, sometimes seemingly overwhelming. But denying or hiding these feelings leaves them festering within and poisoning our lives. When we repress negative feelings, we give them power. We need to deal with what we feel if we are going to heal. Practice Three
Now a holistic counselor at Stanford University, Jane Kidde was shocked when she first learned she had Hodgkin's disease. An active, energetic wife before she fell ill, Kidde was told she had six months to live.
Following surgery and experimental radiation, she took to her bed, despairing and in pain, so sensitive to noise that she could not stand the sound of television, music, or even people talking. At last she reached the point where “the only thing I had left was the quiet and the silence.” And in that stillness, she says, “Inspiration came.”
Without anyone guiding her, she decided to picture herself accomplishing goals that were still attainable. “Sometimes I could look ahead for just ten or fifteen minutes,” she recalls. “That was a goal. Holding on to the wall to go to the bathroom, that was a goal.”
Gradually, she began to visualize more ambitious goals: getting around in a wheelchair, taking walks, visiting the hairdresser and going shopping. And she
focused on having a positive attitude of “creating the consciousness of possibility”, of asking not “Why me?” but “Why not me?”
That was 22 years ago. Over time, Kidde became convinced that her mental exercises had made the difference—so convinced that she wanted to help others do the same. She now teaches meditation, relaxation, and visualization to cancer and AIDS patients.
Those techniques help you to “let go and stop struggling for control of your life and your fear,” she says, adding, “I've seen miracles.” Practice Four
Bad and good moods make life interesting and build character. However, we often have little control over when we feel emotions. But we can have some control over how long an emotion will last. More than 400 people were asked about their strategies for escaping bad moods. This research provides valuable information on how to change a bad mood.
Of all the moods that people want to escape, anger seems to be the hardest to deal
with. When a car passes you dangerously, your thought may be: He could have hit me! The more you think, the angrier you get.
What should you do to relieve anger? One myth is that expressing it makes you feel better. In fact, researchers have found that's not true. Outbursts arouse the brain, leaving you much angrier, not less.
A more effective technique is “reframing”, which means consciously thinking of a situation in a more positive light. In the case of the dangerous driver, you might tell yourself: Maybe he had an emergency. This is one of the best ways to stop anger. Going off alone to cool down is effective, especially if you can't think clearly. Many men cool down by going for a drive. Exercise, such as taking a long walk, is even better. Whatever you do, don't waste time pursuing angry thoughts.
These techniques can also ease depression and anxiety as well as anger. Also, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation are effective against bad moods. Part Four Testing Yourself Section I
As you arrive at your work place, do what you can! Greet your colleagues; that is called friendship.
Give everybody the best of yourself; that is called sincerity. Program and organize your day; that is called reflection.
Now that you have planned everything, begin to work; that is called taking action. Trust that everything will be OK; that is called faith. Work with happiness; that is called enthusiasm. Give the best of yourself; that is called excellence.
Help those with more difficulties than you; that is called compassion.
Understand that not everybody is at your level; that is called tolerance. Receive praise with reticence; that is called humility. The most important thing you have, that is called love. Section II
Doctor: Hello, Teresa. And what seems to be the problem?
Teresa: Well, I'm not feeling very well at the moment. I'm preparing for exams and I've been staying up late at night studying. This morning I got out of bed very early to do some more work, and I passed out. My flat mate found me on the floor. I came round after a few seconds.
Doctor: Mm. Have you had any other symptoms?
Teresa: I've been pretty nervous. I have an occasional headache, and my eyes hurt sometimes.
Doctor: Well, it sounds you've probably been overdoing your study and you're
overtired. I don't think there's anything to worry about, but I think you should take it easy for a while and try to get plenty of sleep.
Teresa: Yes, I haven't been getting much sleep lately.
Doctor: I'll give you something to help you relax in the evenings. And just try to have a few early nights.
Teresa: Thank you, doctor. Section III
A girl of 11 suffers fits of shaking and crying whenever class time approaches. Gemma Maisey has been given permission to stay off to be treated at a special unit. She started her secondary education at Parkway school half a year ago. But she had to take six weeks off because of a rib injury and became nervous about going back. Headmaster Andrew Hunt allowed her to go back to lessons gradually. She was allowed to attend only two classes a day. However, after another period off with flu, Gemma has attended school just twice in the past three months. She said that the thought of school made her feel ill, and made her start shaking and having panic attacks. The crying and shaking can even last as long as half an hour. She has to be sent to a special education center for anxious and phobic children. Gemma's mother said the whole situation was a nightmare.
The term School Phobia was coined by an American psychiatrist in 1941 but more and more cases have been recognized in the past few years. Up to two percent of under-16s have been diagnosed. But some experts say of 100 children diagnosed with this disease, some simply don't want to go to school because of the situations such as bullying. A phobia is just a fear of something such as heights that you shouldn't have. The same can't be said of school.
因篇幅问题不能全部显示，请点此查看更多更全内容