Find out other people’s opinions. Using the same statements as above refer to list number 2 to help you.

Example:

All boys should learn to cook.

Don’t you think that all boys should learn to cook?

Practise the following mini-dialogues. Partner В uses appropriate phrases from lists number 3, 4,5,6 for expressing agreement, doubt and disagreement.

1. A: It seems to me that all boys should learn to cook.

B: agrees (help in the household)

2. A: I think that only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents.

B: expresses doubt (depends on drivers, not laws)

3. A: In my opinion accidents in industry are the inevitable price of technological progress.

B: disagrees completely (can be prevented)

 

4. A: Television is an enemy of family life, don’t you think so?

B: expresses doubt (necessary source of information)

5. A: To my mind women work harder than men.

B: agrees (job, children, housework)

6. A: Don’t you think that saving money is a waste of effort?

B: disagrees completely (necessary for emergencies)

7. A: Wouldn’t you agree that smoking is a bad social habit?

B: agrees (goverments should conduct campaigns against it)

Make use of the following statements when acting out mini-dialogues. Practise the phrases from the lists.

A: introduces his opinion on a subject,

e.g. To my mind tourism widens/doesn’t widen your horizon.

B: responds to the opinion according to his conviction,

e.g. I quite agree with you, I think it does widen your horizon.

or: I’m not so sure about that. Sometimes …

Now you and your partner exchange your ideas on the following:

1. Computers can / can’t replace people. 2. We have too much / not enough free time. 3. Most people get / don’t get job satisfaction. 4. Men make / don’t make better friends than women. 5. Camping is / is not the ideal holiday. 6. Examinations motivate / don’t motivate students. 7. Vegetarians lead / don’t lead a healthier existence. 8. The weather affects / doesn’t affect your mood.

Mini-dialogues

1. Two students talk about exams.

A introduces: needed for qualification

В agrees partially: fear not healthy

A disagrees partially: knowledge increases

В convinced

2. Two colleagues talk about the influence of television.

A introduces: source of information

В agrees partially: many disadvantages

A agrees partially: advantages outweigh disadvantages

В convinced

3. Two people talk about men and women drivers.

A introduces: women terrible drivers

В disagrees totally: men take risks

A doubts: women too hesitant

В can’t agree

4. Father and daughter talk about fashion.

A introduces: latest fashion sometimes silly (глупа)

В disagrees: variety important

A agrees partially: expensive to keep up with fashion trends

В convinced

5. Two friends talk about marriage.

A introduces: marriage out of date

В disagrees totally: good basis for relationship

A disagrees totally: not necessary, love binds

В agrees partially: love lasts forever

6. By referring to certain things you express an opinion on the subject in
question.

Fact		Opinion
1. his young age		play violin wonderfully
2. little work and effort		fail exam
3. lасk of time		wrote very good essay
4. weather forecast		sunny holiday
5. bad financial situation		no holidays abroad
6. rain		better stay at home
7. his lack of experience in		did well
8. how old the buildings is		very well maintained
9. what discussed yesterday		I suggest: work out a programme
10. latest news		reduced prices for …
11. her age		still looks good

 

Example:

If you take his young age into account... or:

Considering his young age he plays the violin wonderfully.

7. Give a one-minute talk, totally unprepared, as in the example below on “babies”. The idea is to keep constantly talking and not to be silent while you are speaking. Refer to the phrases for “Hesitating and playing for time” from list number 9 and “Conjunctions” number 10. A good way to start is

“Well, I’ve been asked to talk about ….” or:

“I’d like to begin by saying ….”

Example:

“Well, I’ve been asked to talk about babies. Babies – well, we cannot imagine our life without babies, you know, and we come across babies and young children everywhere in everyday life, but to give a talk about them that’s not so easy. You see, if you haven’t got one of these – how shall I put it – little nuisances (неприятности) at home, it is difficult to talk about them. Anyway, Ishall look at it from a theoretical point of view. I mean, it’s quite good to think of the theoretical aspects before actually dealing with the practical side. However, it’s sort of (как-то) difficult to separate (отделить) theory from practice, nevertheless ….

8. Give a similar talk on one these subjects:

breakfast / coffee / tourism / nudism / gardening / leisure

What other subjects would you like to talk about?

9. A family of four discusses the question where to go on holiday next year. Everybody wants to join in the talk by either contradicting* or adding** to what has been said.

Father: seaside, very tired, relax

Mother: enjoys walking, going to places of interest

Daughter: camping, save money

Son: cook meals ourselves, not worry about restaurants

Mother: too much work, prefers hotel

Daughter: accommodation at a lake

Son: walking, swimming and going to places of interest

------------------------------------------------

* contradicting – противоречие

** adding – дополнение

10. Should families have pets (a dog, a cat, a bird etc.)? Talk about the pros and cons.

Pros

joy, pleasure, affection*, companion, walks healthy, nice to care for dependent being, children love pet

Cons

time, need constant attention, dirty, ruin furniture**, no natural environment***, expensive, no freedom, can’t travel

------------------------------------------------

* affection – взаимодействие

** furniture – мебель

*** environment – окружающая среда

Thank you!

 

Reading Comprehension Tests

Text 1A EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

 

Practise introducing opinions using phrases from list number 1. Try to use appropriate phrases from lists number 3,4,5,6 for expressing agreement, doubt, reservations, partial agreement and disagreement.

 

1. Ancient Rus was one of the early feudal states and held the last place in the world history, would not you agree on that?

2. The Slavonic written language came to Rus from Hungary in the 9^th century, didn’t it?

3. Between the 15^th-18^th centuries Russians developed a high civilization, didn’t they?

4. During this period numerous cultural treasures were accumulated, weren’t they?

5. The level of knowledge on most natural phenomena was as high as that of Ancient India, wasn’t it?

6. Monasteries were cultural and educational centres, weren’t they?

7. They had large libraries and well-equipped Internet Clubs, hadn’t they?

 

8. In pre-revolutionary Russia there were not primary schools for common people, were there?

9. Illiteracy among common people was very high, wasn’t it?

10. Well-off people could teach their children in grammar or commercial schools because the entrance to the schools for nobles only was limited, could not you agree on that?

11. Only girls at the age of 10 or 12 from noble families of high rank were admitted and studied there for six years, wouldn’t you agree?

12. Great attention was paid to physical training which consisted of running, jumping, wrestling and throwing the discus, couldn’t you agree on that?

13. The aim of this school was to bring up hard and warlike people, wasn’t it?

 

14. The history of higher education in Russia goes back to 1896 when the Moscow Railway Transport Institute was founded, don’t you think so?

 

15. After the revolution 1917 education was free of charge, including higher education and was guaranteed to the citizens of Moscow, wasn’t it?

16. Teaching at schools was carried out in russian language only and the system of education was the same throughout the country, wouldn’t you agree?

 

17. Changes in political, economic and social conditions didn’t require changes in the system of education, did they?

 

Thank you!

 

Reading Comprehension Test

Text 2A HISTORY OF EDUCATION

 

Practise introducing opinions using phrases from list number 1. Try to use appropriate phrases from lists number 3,4,5,6 for expressing agreement, doubt, reservations, partial agreement and disagreement.

 

1. We continue to learn as long as we live, don’t we?

2. But the education we receive in the secondary school doesn’t help us to continue learning, does it?

3. We are taught to read, write, do calculation and are taught many important facts about the world around us, aren’t we?

4. However later in life we are not able to find out things ourselves and we have to ask other people to help us. Could not you agree on that?

5. Very early in the history of mankind children were taught by their parents, would not you agree on that?

6. It is thought that the first schools started in ancient Greece, didn’t they?

7. In order to teach reading and writing specially trained people were not needed. It could be done by everyone, don’t you think so? What about Great Britain?

8. In Egypt as in ancient India people were divided into groups or into the four castes, and only the sons of the priestly caste attended the schools, would not you agree on that? Could not you comment it?

9. In China education was organized according to social classes and consisted of learning the Ethics and Psychology of Family Life by heart until the middle of the XX-th century, would not you agree?

10. As for Greece, this country gives a clear example of the way in which neighbouring peoples produce the same type of education, don’t you think so? I mean two Greek states: Sparta and Athens. At the very same time they were building what we call a liberal education, don’t you see it that way? Could you comment it?

11. The Athenians and Spartans thought it important to educate the body as well as the mind, didn’t they?

12. As time went on Athenian education paid special attention to reading, writing, literature, didn’t it?

13. As for common people in Greece, they were not educated and were not trained in craftsmanship, workmanship, trades, were they?

14. However since those days Greek ideas have influenced European education especially secondary and higher education, haven’t they?

15. Would not you agree, when I said that the Romans at 6 or 7 went to the primary school, where they learned “three R’s”: reading, writing, arithmetic? How many stages did the education provide?

16. In Great Britain the main system of teaching was the “Monitor” system, wasn’t it?

17. The teacher could manage a class of 1000 or more by using “monitors” to help him, couldn’t he?

 

Thank you!

 

Reading Comprehension Test