Text 9 AN INTERVIEW
Study and learn by heart!
a matter of minutes – минутное дело
be left behind – быть оставленным позади
benefit of sth – польза от чего-то
deny - отрицать
get in touch with – связаться с
in the middle of nowhere – у чёрта на куличках
keep up with – не отставать
time-consuming tasks - затратных по времени задач
to overuse – злоупотреблять; чрезмерно использовать
be left behind – быть оставленным позади
benefit of sth – польза от чего-то
deny - отрицать
get in touch with – связаться с
in the middle of nowhere – у чёрта на куличках
keep up with – не отставать
time-consuming tasks - затратных по времени задач
to overuse – злоупотреблять; чрезмерно использовать
I. 1. Read the article and say in 2-3 sentences what it is about.
Journalist: Do people in your country depend a lot on technology for communication?
Businessman: Yes. Everybody’s using all kinds of phones, mobiles and internet services. I think the benefits of the computers cannot be denied. They save valuable time and space. Time-consuming tasks such as checking bank accounts can now be done in a matter of minutes and a large volume of information is economically stored on tiny disks. In addition, with immediate access to the Internet, we can always keepup with global and current issues and explore the world from the comfort of our homes.
Journalist: Do you manage to keep up with the development of technologies?
Businessman: I think the fact that methods in business have moved ahead at such speed has meant that we generally have to keep up with it all, whether we want to or not. Otherwise, we’ll be left behind. In fact this need to keep up has also entered the home, where a lot of people spend much money on computer equipment when all they do is play games.
Journalist: How different would everyday life be without technological means of communication?
Businessman: Of course, life would be very different without all these means of communication. For those working in the world of business, life would be much more difficult as it would take much longer to get in touch with other companies and to come to an agreement on important matters. Basically, if we didn’t have email systems at home or mobile phones, etc., it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I mean, we survived before, didn’t we?
Journalist: How do you feel about mobile phones?
Businessman: I personally find them useful and necessary. They’re convenient if there’s an emergency on a business trip or when you’re in the middle of nowhere or need to contact the police or your family for example.
Though, I do feel that they are overused in many cases. Think about how many people spend hours just chatting about silly, unimportant things or looking through sites for no special reason even at work.
2. What are the benefits of the computers? Read aloud the extract which says about them.
3. How do businessmen benefit from using technological means of communication at their workplace?
4. When are technological means of communication misused?
Journalist: Do people in your country depend a lot on technology for communication?
Businessman: Yes. Everybody’s using all kinds of phones, mobiles and internet services. I think the benefits of the computers cannot be denied. They save valuable time and space. Time-consuming tasks such as checking bank accounts can now be done in a matter of minutes and a large volume of information is economically stored on tiny disks. In addition, with immediate access to the Internet, we can always keepup with global and current issues and explore the world from the comfort of our homes.
Journalist: Do you manage to keep up with the development of technologies?
Businessman: I think the fact that methods in business have moved ahead at such speed has meant that we generally have to keep up with it all, whether we want to or not. Otherwise, we’ll be left behind. In fact this need to keep up has also entered the home, where a lot of people spend much money on computer equipment when all they do is play games.
Journalist: How different would everyday life be without technological means of communication?
Businessman: Of course, life would be very different without all these means of communication. For those working in the world of business, life would be much more difficult as it would take much longer to get in touch with other companies and to come to an agreement on important matters. Basically, if we didn’t have email systems at home or mobile phones, etc., it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I mean, we survived before, didn’t we?
Journalist: How do you feel about mobile phones?
Businessman: I personally find them useful and necessary. They’re convenient if there’s an emergency on a business trip or when you’re in the middle of nowhere or need to contact the police or your family for example.
Though, I do feel that they are overused in many cases. Think about how many people spend hours just chatting about silly, unimportant things or looking through sites for no special reason even at work.
2. What are the benefits of the computers? Read aloud the extract which says about them.
3. How do businessmen benefit from using technological means of communication at their workplace?
4. When are technological means of communication misused?
II. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.(3)
1. Where does the action take place?
2. What happened to the furniture in the grandmother’s room?
3. Why were Martin and his friend scared?
1. Where does the action take place?
2. What happened to the furniture in the grandmother’s room?
3. Why were Martin and his friend scared?
Script
Martin: OK! That’s the end of the class. Don’t forget your homework for tomorrow! Student A: Wow, 1 liked that ghost story! Do you think it’s true?
Student B: Oh, no, I don’t think so. It’s just in a book.
Student A: Let’s ask him. Do you believe in ghosts, Martin?
Martin: Oh, er... Well... I did have a strange experience once.
Student A: Really?
Martin: Yes... My grandmother has a big, old house near London... She was in the garden and my friend and I were in the living room and suddenly we heard a noise upstairs. It wasn’t a big noise. We thought maybe a mouse or something. Anyway, we went upstairs and... it seemed to be coming from my grandmother’s bedroom.
Students A and B: Did you go in?
Martin: Yes, we went inside and well, it was amazing really. All the furniture in my grandmother’s bedroom was on the left side of the room, and the carpet was on the other side of the room.
Students A and B: Oh!
Martin: And this furniture is really heavy — a very heavy wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a bed — these things would take four men to lift and it was really scary!
Students A and B: Wow!
Martin: And all we heard was a tiny noise... for no more than around a minute. My grandmother said it happened once before, too. The really strange thing is... she didn’t seem to mind!
Student B: Oh, no, I don’t think so. It’s just in a book.
Student A: Let’s ask him. Do you believe in ghosts, Martin?
Martin: Oh, er... Well... I did have a strange experience once.
Student A: Really?
Martin: Yes... My grandmother has a big, old house near London... She was in the garden and my friend and I were in the living room and suddenly we heard a noise upstairs. It wasn’t a big noise. We thought maybe a mouse or something. Anyway, we went upstairs and... it seemed to be coming from my grandmother’s bedroom.
Students A and B: Did you go in?
Martin: Yes, we went inside and well, it was amazing really. All the furniture in my grandmother’s bedroom was on the left side of the room, and the carpet was on the other side of the room.
Students A and B: Oh!
Martin: And this furniture is really heavy — a very heavy wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a bed — these things would take four men to lift and it was really scary!
Students A and B: Wow!
Martin: And all we heard was a tiny noise... for no more than around a minute. My grandmother said it happened once before, too. The really strange thing is... she didn’t seem to mind!
- What do you appreciate most about your family?
- Do you get on with your siblings/grandparents?
- What questions will you ask a British teenager about his/her family?
- Give a piece of advice on how to have a close and happy family.
- What does a good family atmosphere mean to you?
possible response
1.