Texts for Additional Reading and Discussion
Texts for Additional Reading and Discussion.
Text 1. An A fot Mrs. В
Ex. 2
1. d
2. f
3. g
4. h
5. a
6. c
7. b
8. e
Ex. 3
1. announced
2. take into consideration
3. anxiously
4. was determined to convince
5. fought back tears
6. misfits.
7. inspired
8. deserved
Ex. 5
1. Mrs. B announced that the pupils had to create a newspaper around the culture they were studying.
2. They wrote the names of three friends they wanted in their group.
3. The next day Karina found herself in the other group.
4. She felt tears because she did not want to be in that group.
5. She felt herself enjoying the company of these three misfits. She grew sincerely interested in learning something about them.
6. She learned that who we are is more important than what we are or seem to be.
Ex. 6
1. b
2. c
3.
4. b
5. b
6. b
Ex. 7
C
Ex. 8
A. 4
B. 3
C. 1
D. 2
Ex. 9
1. F
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. T
Ex. 11
1… with the English language and his lack of friends.
2… people didn’t understand that she was allowed to wear long skirts or dresses because of her religion.
3… wanted to be a fashion designer.
4… people that no one cared enough about to try to understand except Mrs B.
Ex. 16
Essay
If you are unsatisfied with your own appearance, this is not the reason to think that you are an outsider. Beauty can sometimes show its hideous face, for it is not very common. One can learn a simple fact, that appearances are deceitful. People’s eyes are attracted to beauty and it’s quite natural. We look at flowers, landscapes, pieces of art, and gracious movements of a ballet dancer with admiration. We understand why it is beautiful and the sight of the above – mentioned things brings us pleasure. People also think of a man’s/woman’s
Landscapes are parts of nature, pieces of art are created by gifted people; these objects are not alive, don’t possess an intellect, so it is much easier to define the essence of it’s meaning and purpose. Humans have divine gift of speech, abstract thinking and freedom of action. We can’t but agree that it’s very difficult to define, what is hiding behind good looks. Our mind is used to assume that beauty contains only good things. We forget that beauty can also be dangerous. This rule can be applied to some people that use their appearance to harm others for their own profit. Good looking people are called lucky and others that don’t fall under that category are extremely jealous as usual. “Why is my mark “unsatisfactory” if I worked on my term paper topic a lot? My friend didn’t even do a research and got a “good”. This is all because she is pretty”. No matter what your term paper topics arc and how well they are worked at, there still will be someone, who is way more successful than you are. That is a usual way to think. In most cases those who complain are right. But we want to draw your attention to the fact that “pretty” doesn’t necessarily mean “good”. This statement can be easily proved.
What we have to do is just a little psychological research. People are in the habit of using everything they possess in order to reach success. Pretty face and nice figure can also be used. There’s nothing bad in it, of course. We see famous movie stars and celebrities doing it every day. The story is totally different in everyday life. People who are attractive get used to the attention and admiration. They get proud and think that everything that they reach is due to the way they look. People who are attractive use their looks to get a job, to be promoted, to be excused from doing something they don’t want to. The only inconvenient thing for them is authority that they create. The atmosphere around them can not be ruined in any way. Once the reputation is ruined, nice looks will not help any more for they don’t matter from no on. But there are people who are equally pretty inside and outside. Such people are pride of the society and are respected greatly. Every one of us knows a lot of examples of above described phenomenon; there’s no need to do it here. It is quite possible that people can change so appearances won’t matter anymore.
Beauty is meant to serve to greater good, so a person always has a choice. And it is: to be good and respectable, but use fair ways that sometimes can be hard, or to go the easy way of manipulating people by using your gift, such as appearance. As for those, who suffer from being “one out of the crowd”, one can advice to show that you are special in a different kind of way. There must be a special talent that makes you a credit to your parents. Anyhow, we are to celebrate beauty, if it deserves it and to try to get it on the right track if its direction is messed up.
Text 2
Ex. 2
1. d
2. f
3. g
4. a
5. c
6. h
7. c
8. b
Ex. 3
1. darting
2. to calm him down
3. approached… released the horn over
4. dog tag
5. irrelevant
6. prank… leads
7. reuniting
8. injuries
Ex. 5
1. They saw a dog who had been hit by a car.
2. The boy’s dad stopped the car and the boy got out and started moving the dog off the road and then they coaxed the dog into the back of their car and took him home.
3. They phoned the owner.
4. She told them that the dog had been missing for two weeks and had travelled on the other side of the river.
5. Her husband came to take the dog back home.
6. Yes, the dog was happy to see him.
7. They received a card with a note thanking them for saving their dog.
Ex. 6
1. b
2. c
3. c
4. b
5. a
6. b
7. c
8. b
Ex. 7
B)
Ex. 8
A. 4
B. 3
C. 1
D. 2
Ex. 9
1. T
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. F
6. T
7. F
8. T
Ex. 11
1… a car hit a dog.
2… we were sitting not more than six feet from the tracks.
3… the dog had been missing for two weeks and had travelled on the other side of the river.
Ex. 16
Story 1
I have had my rescued Persian for almost 2 weeks (she is 8 years old / 1 owner previously). She still hisses, growls, swats and tries to bite me when I try to pet her. I have her in a small room so she docs become overwhelmed with a new environment. She is eating well and using her litter box, but doesn’t seem to want human interaction. Her previous owner said she was a very loving affectionate cat. They decided to get rid of her because they arc starting a family and do not want a cat around a baby.
Is there anything more I can do other than feed and keep her litter box clean? I go into the room several times a day and just try to sit close to her and talk sweet to her, but she isn’t warming up.
Story 2
I was going up a circular on ramp to the interstate when I noticed a momma cat running away. Then I saw them, the cutest little kittens ever and they were right on the edge of the road, trying to cross. I couldn’t help but stop only I was in traffic and half way up already. I did my best to pull to the side so that the others could pass (all blowing their horns) and with the hazards on I threw the truck into reverse (not advisable at night).
I pulled to the side, grabbed these two very cute but feisty kittens and put them into a box in the bed of the truck. I really did try to find the momma but no luck.
I wasn’t in the position to keep them so the next day I took them to the humane society and they assured me that kittens were very popular for adoption.
Ok that’s my kitty story.
Text 3
Ex. 2
2. f
3. h
4. a
5. b
6. c
7. e
8. d
Ex. 3
1. tiny
2. marine
3. renowned
4. vary immensely… creature
5. cays… accumulation
6. remnants
7. allocates
Ex. 5
1. The great Barrier Reef consists of more than 3,400 individual reefs and 700 islands.
2. The perfect environment for the colonies of tiny coral polyps is the continental shelf not far below the ocean’s surface, washed by the warm waters of the South Pacific Ocean.
3. The islands of the reef are of two main types: “low islands” and “continental islands”.
4. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef were declared the Marine Park.
Ex. 6
1. c
2. b
3. a
4. b
5. a
6. b
7. b
8. c
Ex. 7
C)
Ex. 8
1. T
2. T
3. F
4. T
5. F
6. TF
7. T
Ex. 10
1. and washed by the warm waters of the South Pacific Ocean, the perfect environment was created for the world’s largest system of coral reefs.
2. of more than 3,400 individual reefs and 700 islands stretching a distance of 2,300 km.
3. simple, primitive organisms that have lived in tropical seas for about 500 million years.
4. the Marine Park in 1975.
Ex. 15
Summary
The great Barrier Reef consists of more than 3,400 individual reefs and 700 islands stretching a distance of 2,300 km. The perfect environment for the colonies of tiny coral polyps is the continental shelf not far below the ocean’s surface, washed by the warm waters of the South Pacific Ocean.
Corals are simple, primitive organisms that have lived in tropical seas for about 500 million years. They are all the work of one type of creature.
The islands of the reef are of two main types: “low islands” and “continental islands”. Low islands are the coral cays formed by accumulation of sand and coral parts. Continental islands are the remnants of the mainland that have been cut off by changes in sea level.
The waters of the Great Barrier Reef were declared the Marine Park in 1975, helping to maintain and conserve a unique natural wonder.
Text 4
Ex. 2
1. c
2. d
3. e
4. f
5. g
6. b
7. a
Ex. 3
1. glamour
2. palms
3. ruckus a huge fine
4. put a lid
5. inculcated
6. familiarized
7. was called The German.
8. the cheerleaders
9. incompatible
10. genuine
Ex. 5
1. Sandra Bullock is adored in America because of her natural sincerity and slightly confused smile.
2. She was born in a suburb of Washington, D. C.
3. Her mother was an opera diva and her father was a part-time vocal coach.
4. No, she didn’t. She cut both her palms to avoid having to play the piano.
5. Her mother had inculcated in her a sense of beauty, gave her first lessons in acting techniques and familiarized her with onstage life.
6. She spent her childhood in Nuremberg. Since her childhood she was taught music. She felt very lonely because of forced music lessons and trips and tours with her mother. She had no time for children’s games, she had no friends.
7. No, she didn’t. She entered East California University but she didn’t study at university for a long time. She went to acting courses.
8. She developed an intensive programme to conquer artistic Olympus. She worked in cheap cafes for several years to pay for acting courses. She spent 3 years in New York and then moved to Los Angeles. There she played in a small performance and TV programmes and then starred in Hollywood films.
9. Yes, she is. She is a Hollywood star now.
10. She likes mountain climbing, Latin American dancing and the Internet.
Ex. 6
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. c
5. b
6. b
7. a
8. c
9. b
Ex. 7
A. 3
B. 7
C. 2
D. –
E. 1
F. 4
G. 5
H. 6
Ex. 8
B)
Ex. 9
1. T
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. F
6. F
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. T
11. T
12. T
Ex. 10
1… musicians… to see their daughter become a singer or a musician… lost her desire? for classical music.
2… when she was 12 years old… was on cloud nine.
3… entered East Carolina University. Set out to conquer New York.
4… is unlike the majority of Hollywood girls because of her natural sincerity and slightly confused smile.
Ex. 12
Julia Roberts Biography One of the few bankable female stars of the 1990s, actress Julia Roberts remained an iconic figure whose assured, winsome performances underscored her undeniable public appeal.
She was born October 28, 1967 in Atlanta, GA and was raised by her father, W>
Campaign. Immediately following graduation, she moved to New York City to pursue acting alongside her sister.
She caught the public’s eye as the wild, but vulnerable Daisy in “Mystic Pizza” (1988). The next year, she cemented her status as a rising star in “Steel Magnolias” (1989), appearing alongside such acting legends as Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field. Roberts earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work on the film.
After that, Roberts’ career really took off. But it was her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold opposite Richard Gere in “Pretty Woman” (1990) that propelled Roberts into the upper tier of Hollywood actresses. Roberts quickly became one of the highest paid stars – male or female – in the world, eventually raking in $ 25 million for a film. Equally in the limelight for a torrent of high-profile and often rocky romances, Roberts managed to maintain an output of projects that consistently topped the box office. Roberts then tackled a variety of dramatic and romantic roles in such films as “The Pelican Brief” (1993), “Michael Collins” (1996), “My Best Friend’s Wedding” (1997), “Stepmom” (1998), and “Notting Hill” (1999) with varying degrees of success. In 2000, she made a dramatic breakthrough with her powerful performance in “Erin Brockovich” (2000). In the film, she played the title character, a gutsy, struggling single mom. Based on a true story, Brockovich helped lead the fight against a California power company that allegedly destroyed a small town’s water supply. Roberts won several awards for the project, including her first Academy Award.
Since then, Roberts has taken some lighthearted roles, appearing with George Clooney in “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001) and “Ocean’s Twelve” (2004), as well as some emotionally challenging parts, such as “Closer” (2004) with Clive Owen and Jude Law. Roberts also made her Broadway debut in “Three Days of Rain” in 2006. Her most recent film, “Charlie Wilson’s War”, with Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman, was released in late December 2007. Roberts received a Globe Globe nomination in the Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture category for her portrayal of an anticommunist Texas socialite. Her character encourages Congressman Charlie Wilson to support freedom fighters in Afghanistan in their fight against the Soviet troops in their country. The film is based on a true story.
Roberts has been married to cameraman Danny Moder since 2002. In 2004, the couple welcomed twins – Phinnaeus W>
Ex. 13
Summary
Sandra Bullock fits the image of a Hollywood star perfectly. She is adored in America because of her natural sincerity and slightly confused smile.
She was born in a suburb of Washington, D. C. Her mother was an opera diva and her father was a part-time vocal coach. She spent her childhood in Nuremberg. Since her childhood she was taught music. She cut both her palms to avoid having to play the piano. She felt very lonely because of forced music lessons and trips and tours with her mother. She had no time for children’s games, she had no friends. Her mother had inculcated in her a sense of beauty, gave her first lessons in acting techniques and familiarized her with onstage life.
When she was 12 years old her parents moved to New York. After finishing school Sandra entered East California University but she didn’t study at university for a long time. She failed to conquer New York and moved to Los Angeles.
There she passed an incredible number of movies and casting tests and in 1989 played a small performance where she was noticed by a famous critic. Then
She played in TV programmes and then starred in Hollywood films. On the day of the premiere of the film ‘Speed’ she realised that she became a genuine Hollywood star.
Sandra has three more big passions – mountainclimbing. Latin Americandanc – ing and the Internet.
Texts 5
Ex. 2
1. e
2. h
3. f
4. b
5. g
6. a
7. c
8. d
Ex. 3
1. basement
2. to transmit
3. established
4. inventions
5. supervised
6. patented
7. profoundly affected
8. to accomplish
Ex. 5
1. The American inventor Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio.
2. No, he didn’t. Because of hearing problems he had difficulty following the lessons.
3. He saved the life of a station official’s child, who had fallen onto the tracks of an oncoming train.
4. He improved the telegraph by making it possible to transmit messages automatically.
5. In 1879 he invented incandescent electric light bulb.
6. Yes, he was. He not only designed important new devices, he created companies worldwide for the manufacture and sale of his inventions.
7. In his laboratory in West Orange he produced the commercial phonograph, the kinetoscope, the Edison storage battery, the electric pen and some other inventions.
8. He patented more than 1,000 discoveries.
Ex. 6
1. c
2. b
3. b
4. c
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. b
Ex. 7
B)
Ex. 8
A. 4
B. 2
C. 3
D. 1
Ex. 9
1. T
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T
6. T
7. F
8. T
Ex. 11
1. of hearing problems.
2. he left telegraphy and began a career of full-time inventing and running business.
3. he not only designed important new devices, he created companies worldwide for the manufacture and sale of his inventions.
4. more than 1,000 discoveries.
Ex. 14
1. When and where was Thomas Alva Edison born?
2. What happened when Thomas was 7?
3. What did he do from 1862 to 1868?
4. What career did he begin by 1869?
5. When did he move to New York?
6. Where did he move in March, 1876?
7. What did he invent in 1877?
8. When did he demonstrate his incandescent electric light bulb?
9. What did he supervise in 1882?
10. When did his wife die?
11. Where did he construct a new laboratory?
12. What did he introduce in 1913?
13. When was he appointed as president of the U. S. Navy?
14. When did he die?
Ex. 16
Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration
This is probably the most famous line uttered by the inventor Thomas Alva Edison. We can complete the quotation thus: “I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident. They came by work. ” Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. During all those years of experimentation and research, he never once made a discovery. All his work was deductive, and the results he achieved were those of invention, pure and simple. He would construct a theory and work on its lines until he found it was untenable. Then it would be discarded at once and another theory evolved. This was the only possible way for him to work out the problem. He speaks without exaggeration when he says that he has constructed 3. 000 different theories in connection with the electric light, each one of them reasonable and apparently likely to be true. Yet only in two cases did his experiments prove the truth of my theory. His chief difficulty was in constructing the carbon filament… Every quarter of the globe was ransacked by his agents, and all sorts of the queerest materials used, until finally the shred of bamboo, now utilized by them, was settled upon. None of his inventions came by accident. He saw a worthwhile need to be met and he made trial after trial until it came. He said: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10. 000 ways that won’t work. “, ”I find out what the world needs. Then, I go ahead and invent it. “
Want to be a genius? Well, it’s not that difficult – all you need to do is to devote 10. 000 hours to your chosen field, says a new study.
Researchers in Germany have found that genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration, and one has to practice just 10,000 hours to reach the top in their chosen discipline, the “Daily Mail” reported.
And, according to them, talent and luck are important, but it’s practice that
Makes the difference between being good and being brilliant.
The researchers at the Berlin’s Academy of Music came to the conclusion after looking at a group of violin students who started playing at around the age of five, practising for two or three hours a week. As they grew older, the amount of practice increased. And, by the age of 20, the elite performers had each totalled 10,000 hours of practice, while the merely good students had accrued 8,000.
“It seems it takes the brain this long to assimilate all it needs to know to achieve
True mastery,” lead researcher Daniel Levitin was quoted by the British newspaper as telling BBC’s “Focus” magazine.
Extracts from Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers: The Story of Success”, published in “Focus”, describe practice as being the key to The Beatles’ success.
In their early career the Fab Four would play eight hours a night, seven days a week while in Hamburg. By the time they hit it big, they had performed live an estimated 1. 200 times – more than most modern bands play in their careers.
