Grammar: Infinitive: Infinitive Constructions

 

Objectives: By the end of this unit, students should be able to use active vocabulary of this theme in different forms of speech exercises.

Students should be better at discussing mass media.

Students should know the rule of non-finite form of the verb: the Infinitive and fulfill grammar exercises.

Methodical instructions: This theme must be worked out during two lessons a week according to timetable.

Lexical material: Introduce and fix new vocabulary on theme “Mass Media”.

Define the basic styles in mass media and its role in our country. Discuss in groups ‘Mass media in democratic society’. Observe the last world news. Speak about the rights of journalists.

Grammar: Introduce and practice the Infinitive Constructions. Revise the use of the Infinitive Constructions.

 

Mass Media

 

No doubt, is an important part of our life. People from different walks of life have become nowadays listeners, readers, viewers. Or in other words, reading newspapers and magazines, watching TV, listening to the news on the radio are our main means of getting information in all its variety. Newspapers with their enormous circulation report different kinds of news. They carry articles which cover the latest international and national events. Now people buy newspapers also for the radio and TV programs which they publish. There are special newspapers which gave a full coverage of commercial, financial and publish affairs. There are newspapers and magazines for young people. They give a wide coverage of news, events and reports on education, sports, cultural life, entertainment, and fashion. There are a lot of advertising programs now, sensation material, too. They represent the views of today’s youth. Radio broadcasts are valued mainly for their music programs (Europa plus). TV, radio, press reflect the present day life. Their information may vary from social and economic crises, conflicts, wars, disasters, earthquakes, to diplomatic visits, negotiations, from terrorism, corruption, to pollution problems, strikes, and social movements. Much information is published concerning official governmental decisions. TV is the most popular kind of mass media now. Viewers are fond of watching variety show, films, sports, plays, games, educational and cultural programs. We have many different channels, including commercial channels. There are many interesting and exciting programs, but at the same time too often very primitive films are televised. I mean horror films, thrillers, detective films with all their cool-blooded atmosphere of violence and endless crimes and murders.

Mass media are one of the most characteristic features of modern civilization. People are united into one global community with the help of mass media. People can learn about what is happening in the world very fast using mass media. The mass media include newspapers, magazines, radio and television.
The earliest kind of mass media was newspaper. The first newspaper was Roman handwritten newssheet called "Acta Diurna" started in 59 B.C. Magazines appeared in 1700's. They developed from newspapers and booksellers' catalogs. Radio and TV appeared only in this century.
The most exciting and entertaining kind of mass media is television. It brings moving pictures and sounds directly to people's homes. So one can see events in faraway places just sitting in his or her chair.
Radio is widespread for its portability. It means that radios can easily be carried around. People like listening to the radio on the beach or picnic, while driving a car or just walking down the street. The main kind of radio entertainment is music.

Newspapers can present and comment on the news in much detail in comparison to radio and TV newscasts. News- papers can cover much more events and news.

Magazines do not focus on daily, rapidly changing events. They provide more profound analysis of events of proceeding week. Magazines are designed to be kept for a longer time so they have cover and binding and are printed on better paper.

Vocabulary:

Aerial - A radio antenna, especially one suspended in or extending into the air.

Column is a recurring piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. Columns are written by columnists.

Editorial, leader (US), or leading article (UK) is an article in a newspaper or magazine that expresses the opinion of the editor, editorial board, or publisher.

Editorial board is a group of editors, usually at a print publication, who dictate the tone and direction that the publication's editorials will take

Ex. 1. A) Scan the text and formulate the main ideas. Read the text again carefully and retell it close to the original.

B) Answer the questions:

1. What kinds of mass media do you know?
2. What was the earliest kind of mass media?
3. Why is the television so exciting?
4. What is the reason for widespread use of radios?
5. What advantages do newspapers have over the other kinds of mass media?
6. What is the difference between a newspaper and a magazine?

Ex. 2. Fill in the gaps with the type of the film.

1. A movie that makes you laugh is _________________.

2. A movie that makes you scream is ________________.

3. A movie that is exciting with lots of guns and explosions is an ____________movie.

4. Movies about future or space are known as _____________films.

5. A movie about real life is ___________.

6. An _______________film has cartoon characters.

7. A film about lots of travelling and exciting or dangerous events is ______________.

8. A film about love is _____________.

Ex. 3. A) Read the news. The words written in bald have few meanings. How do you think, what is their meaning in these sentences?

euronews Chile’s minister of Mines has been in touch with trapped miners by telephone, through a narrow shaft piercing the 700 meters of rock straight down. The leader underground said the men were well, and they cheered and sang the national anthem.	Rock- 1) (n) the hard substance which the Earth is made of. 2) (n) a small piece of rock that had broken away from a mountain or a cliff. 3) (n) loud music with a strong beat that is played using instruments including electric guitars and drums.
euronews Drilling to begin on shaft to rescue trapped miners. A new video of Chile’s trapped miners has beenbroadcast showing the 33 men, sending greetings to their families.	Trap- 1) (n) a device for catching animals. 2) (v) to trick you so that you do or say something which you did not want to. 3) (v) when something falls onto you or blocks your way, preventing you from moving.
euronews In Chile four survivors of a plane crash in the Ands Mountains 38 years ago have arrived at the mine where 33 miners have been trapped. They met with the families to offer them encouragement and support for the ordeal ahead.	Survive – 1) (v) not to die 2) (v) to manage to continue in spite of the difficult circumstances 3) (v) (to survive someone) – to continue to live after they have died
euronews The 33 trapped Chilean miners were able to communicate with their loved ones on Saturday (September 4) through a video teleconference system. Silvia Segovia, whose brother is among the trapped miners, said that she was happy her brother seemed to be in good condition	Communicate – 1) (v) (with someone) - to give them information 2) (v) to talk to each other 3) (v) to make someone aware of idea or feeling to them.
euronews Thirty-three trapped Chilean miners were able to watch the Chilean national squad’s friendly against the Ukraine over a fiberoptic line	Squad- 1) (n) a section of a police force that is responsible for dealing with a particular type of crime 2) (n) group of players from which a sports team will be chosen 3) (n) a small group of soldiers.
euronews The arrivalof Esperanza, a baby girl at the Copiapo maternity clinic has, quite literally, given hope to one of the 33 trapped miners in Chile.	Arrival - 1) (n) your arriving at a place is the act of arriving there. 2) (n)beginning to exist or become available 3) (n) someone who just arrived at a place.
euronews Rescue workers in Chile could be just a day away from reaching 33 trapped miners. A drill known as Plan B is said to be less than 100 meters from the men.	Drill - 1) (n) a tool for making holes 2) (v) to make a hole using a drill 3) (n) a procedure which a group of people especially soldiers, practice so they can do something quickly and efficiently.
euronews The operation to rescue the 33 trapped miners in Chile has begun successfully. Florencio Avalos was the first to be pulled out of the San Jose mine, shortly after midnight local time. Mario Sepulveda followed him to the surface about an hour later. The third miner, Juan Illanes has just reached the surface.	Mine - 1) (pron.) The first person singular possessive pronoun. 2) (n) a place where deep holes or tunnels are dug under the ground in order to extract minerals. 3) (n) A bomb hidden in the ground or in water which explodes when something touches it.
euronews The operation to rescue the trapped miners in Chile has been a complete success. All 33 men have reached the surface safely. The rescue team has also made the trip to the surface. The last man to leave was the first who went down to the miners, Manuel Gonzalez.	Surface - 1) (n) – the top part of something or the outside of it. 2) (n) The surface of the situation is what can be seen easily rather than what is not immediately obvious. 3) (v) to come up to the surface of the water.

B) Answer the questions:

Who are the heroes of the news? What happened to the miners? How do you think, what has left behind the official news?

C) Pairwork. Do tasks and act out your story in front of your classmates:

- Make up a dialogue about a story with the trapped miners. Imagine that you are:

a) a miner that was trapped under the ground;

b) a miner’s wife;

c) a rescuer.

- What would you feel and how would you act?