British Writers and Literary Places

British literature is very rich. You can always find a city, a town or a piece of country connected with a famous writer.

William Shakespeare, Britain's greatest playwright, was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon. Stratford is now the second most-visited town in Britain. People come to see the house, where he was born, Grammar school, where he went to, his plays, performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the theatre named after him, his tomb and other places, connected with his name.

In the early 1590s Shakespeare went to London. He set up his own theatre, the Globe, where his company performed his plays. It was a wooden theatre in London. An exact reconstruction of the Globe is being built and visitors can now experience what it was like to go to the theatre 400 years ago.

Charles Dickens was probably the most popular novelist in the English language in the 19th century. When he was only 12, Charles had to leave school and work in a factory. His novels often tell the stories of young children who work hard to escape a life of poverty. Many of the stories were set in London, and his novels show how the city changed during his lifetime.

London was to Shakespeare and Dickens what Paris was to Balzac. It held them in its thrall, was both their canvas and their inspiration, their workshop and their raw material. Today, despite the ravages of time, traces of their London — shipwrecks of the past — still abound in the City of London.

Jane Austen spent her short life in Hampshire, near the south coast of England. She was born in 1775 and died in 1817. Her novels describe the everyday life of people in the upper-middle class circles she knew best. Her characters spend most of the time in the countryside, doing little or no work. Occasionally they go to London; sometimes they go to Bath, a fashionable town. Today in Bath one can visit Jane Austen Centre. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, the visitor can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work. She paid two long visits here towards the end of the 18th century, and from 1801 to 1806 Bath was her home. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, preserving in its streets, public buildings and townscapes the elegant well-ordered world that she portrays so brilliantly in her novels. Her famous novels are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1818) and Persuasion (1818). Her intimate knowledge of Bath is reflected in her two last novels. She never married, died at the age of 42, and is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

Charlotte Bronte was born in 1816 and died in 1855. Her best-known books include Jane Eyre (1847), Shirley (1849) and Villette (1853). She was the oldest of the famous Bronte sisters. All three were novelists, and they grew up in a remote house (now a museum) at Haworth in Yorkshire. All three sisters died very young, but many visitors come to see the museum, which tells them about sisters' life and work.

If you go to Oxford, you can visit Alice's Shop. The Alice in Wonderland Shop was the Victorian sweet shop frequented by Alice Liddell and immortalized by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass. Writing under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll, a young Oxford mathematician and clergyman named Charles Dodgson spent warm summer afternoons recounting his story, Alice in Wonderland, to the young Alice Liddell. This shop provides a fascinating window onto the world of Lewis Carroll and Alice and how this was transformed into the magical world of Alice in Wonderland.

There are a lot of other places in Britain connected with literature. They are everywhere. In Scotland many places are connected with Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns. In London one can visit famous Baker Street and the museum of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. And the British take care of such places and keep up their traditions, which are connected with these memorials.

 

1. What famous British writers and poets do you know? 2. What are they famous for? 3. Have you read their books? 4. Who is your favourite writer and why? 5. What places in London are connected with Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare? 6. What places in Stratford arc connected with William Shakespeare? 7. What places in Britain are connected with Jane Austen? 8. What places in Britain are connected with Charlotte Bronte? 9. What places in Oxford are connected with Lewis Carroll and his story "Alice in Wonder­land"? 10. How do British people honour their famous writers and poets?

 

 

Dialogues

l.

— I know you are fond of classical music, aren't you?

— Sure. I'm keen on it. And you?

— So am I. Do you know Russian composers and pianists well?

— Yes, and why?

— I'd like you to guess the name of the great Russian composer and pianist. I'll tell you some facts from his biography.

— OK. I keep my ears open.

— He was born in Moscow in 1872 and died in Moscow in 1915. His works include three symphonies, piano concerto, a Poem of Fire for orchestra, piano and organ, ten piano sonatas and 58 of other piano works, preludes, impromptus, mazurkas, nocturnes and others. He visited England on several occasions, notably in 1913 and 1914, when his Prometheus was performed. He believed that each harmony was correlated with a distinct colour.

— I know who he was. He was the world-famous composer and pianist Skryabin. I admire his music. And now it's my turn to tell you about a famous English composer and your turn is to guess his name.

— I'm eager to listen to your story.

— He was born in England in 1913 and died in 1976. His father was a dentist and a music lover; his mother played the piano and sang. He began to play the piano and composed his first musical piece when he was five. His greatest achievement was creating operas. He is famous for using children's voices in his music. Among his best works is the sombre War Requiem expressing his hatred for war and death.

— I think he is great Benjamin Britten whose music can be enjoyed by music lovers of all ages.

— We are both right. And I think that our countries can be proud of these outstanding musicians and a lot of other famous people who bring fame to our countries.

 

2.

 

— Almost all young people are fond of music. And what about you? Do you like music?

— 1 can't imagine my life without music. Music reflects our mood and emotions. It is the soundtrack of our life, isn't it?

— Yes, you are quite right. But different people like different kinds of music.

— Exactly! Tastes differ. For example, my mother is fond of classical music. She likes quiet lyrical piano pieces by Chopin and Prokofiev, which are full of enchanting melodies. But her favourite piece of music is The Seasons by Tchaikovsky. This music reflects the different states of nature so truthfully that she is always carried away by it.

— And my father's taste is quite different. He enjoys rock music. and his favourite groups are Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Queen. He says their music is passionate and breathtaking.

— Do you share their tastes in music? What are your musical preferences?

— I wouldn't mind listening to classical music, especially I am fond of ballets and operas. My favourite ballet is Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. Thanks to amazing music, this ballet leaves an unforgettable impression. But I don't like hard rock. 1 find it too noisy and dreadful. Do you agree with me?

— I am sorry, but I can't agree with you. Not all rock songs are noisy. In my opinion they are full of energy. Besides, there are a lot of tuneful, eloquent songs too. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin is the best example. As for classical operas and ballets, they usually put mc to sleep.

— So what kind of music do you prefer?

— I like new rhythms and new styles and I enjoy modern rock musicals. My favourite musical is Jesus Christ Superstar composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. When it first exploded onto the West End stage, it was clear that the musical world would never be the same again. It is packed with hit songs that can't leave us indifferent! And do you like modern music?

— Yes, of course, but I prefer pop music to hard rock. I like catchy and torch tunes. I don't have any favourites, but I enjoy such groups as The Beatles, ABBA, Modern Talking. As for Russian groups, I can't but admire Mashina Vremeni and DDT. Their music helps me to relax and escape from everyday problems.

— Have you ever been to the concert of a pop group?

— No, I haven't, but I'd love to.

 

3.

 

— Do you like reading?

— Of course, I do. I am fond of reading. Most of all I like reading about the history of the world and about famous people. 1 also like romantic stories with a happy end.

— As for me, I prefer reading whodunnit stories. I've got a large collection of such books. These books are certain delight. They are gripping and absorbing. Sometimes they entertain me.

— I agree with you. One English author said: "Some books an to be tasted, others to be swallowed or digested." This quotation tells us how to read books of different kinds. If you are fond of crime stories, you'll "swallow" them — you'll read them quickly. Most travel books are "to be tasted". And historical books should be read! slowly and carefully. If a book is on important subject, and the subject you're interested in, you'll want to chew and digest it.

— Sometimes I think, I'm a bookworm. I can read the whole! day if the book is interesting and absorbing. I know that some people read for instruction, and some for pleasure, but not a few read foe habit. I belong to that company. I think that reading is just a drug that we cannot get without.

— And have you ever been to the British Museum library?

— Yes, I have. I saw the Round Reading Room there. There] are some 30,000 reference books on the open access in the Reading j Room, a tiny fraction of the British Library's collections, which number over 13 million volumes. I was impressed greatly when I] saw it.

— Unfortunately, I wasn't there. But I hope to go there soon. \ Bye-bye. See you later.

— OK. Bye.

 

4.

 

— What an international organization of writers do you know?

— I know an international organization called PEN.

— Do you know who founded this organization and when?

— It was founded in 1921 by the English novelist John] Galsworthy.

— Why does it have such a name?

— The name PEN is an acronym standing for "poets,! playwrights, editors, essayists and novelists".

— And what does the word "acronym" mean?

— It means a word, which is formed from the first letters of alls words it stands for.

— What are the functions of this organization?

— PEN promotes freedom of expression for all writers! regardless of their nationality, race or religion, or of the political system. PEN supports writers who are being persecuted on oppressed by their government.

— Does this organization give literary awards?

— Yes, it also gives literary awards, holds conferences and publishes newsletters.

— How can a person become a member of this organization?

— To become a member of PEN an author must have published at least two books, one of which shows considerable literary distinction.

— And where is PEN headquartered?

— It is headquartered in London, and there are more than 80 PEN Centres situated in about 60 countries in the world.

 

5.

— People have various reading preferences, and there are plenty of books to suit each taste. And what about you? Do you enjoy reading?

— Well, I can't say that I am a bookworm, but I love sitting for one or two hours reading books. Usually I like to exchange books with my classmates or borrow books from the library.

— So do I. I consider reading to be one of the best ways of spending free time. And what kinds of books do you prefer?

— Actually, I enjoy reading quite a range of books. But I suppose if I had to choose one for a desert island, I would choose a historical novel or an adventure book. These books usually have interesting story lines and unusual endings.

— As for me, I prefer science fiction. I like stories about imaginary people and events in the future. In science fiction the impossible is presented as possible. Isaac Asimov, Arthur Clark and Ray Bradbury are my favourites.

— What about a particular book that you've read recently and you've really enjoyed?

— Well, I think it's Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is the burning point of paper. The action of the novel takes place in not very remote future but the life of the characters is quite different from ours.

— And who are the characters in the book, I wonder?

— The central character of the novel is Guy Montag, an enthusiastic fireman, who meets a girl, cherishing old views and traditions. Against his own will Montag begins to think and comes to interesting conclusions. The novel is exciting, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I particularly admire this book because it stresses once again the great value of books and reading.

— I can't but agree with you that reading is very important both for us and for future generations. Some people started to think that we get all information we need from radio and TV, so we don't need to read books. But that is not true at all! Reading makes a full man. Books teach us to be honest, kind and sympathetic.

— I am of the same opinion. We can't do without books. They help us to learn better at school and to prepare for our future career. I am thinking of becoming a computer programmer. The uses of computers and computer networks are growing rapidly, and I am glad there are a lot of books on computers.

— You are absolutely right. Books must be our friends during! all our life though our reading preferences can change. When 1 was a child, I was keen on fairy tales about animals, and now I like ttfl read historical novels. Walter Scott is my favourite writer.

— Oh, he is an outstanding English writer. Have you ever read any of his books in the original?

— No, not yet. I'm not so good at English. But I would be happy to read some of his books in future.

 

 

Writing

1.

1 February Dear Jane, I'm happy to tell you about the performance I saw two days ago at the Globe. It was wonderful! I liked it so much that I have already booked the tickets for the next play. Do you like theatres? Do you have theatres in your town? How often do you go there? What performances do you prefer? What was the last performance you saw about? Looking forward to hearing from you,   Mary

2.

17 February Dear Mary, How nice of you to write me about your last visit to the theatre. I'd like to tell you about theatres in my town. There are two theatres in our town. One theatre is the professional one, and the other one is amateur. As for me, I'm a theatre-goer. I try to go there twice a month. The performances are different. To my mind, some of them are great, and some are not. I like comedies because I prefer to relax at the theatre. The last comedy I saw there was the comedy about teens. It was very funny and I enjoyed it very much. Are you a theatre-goer? Do you like comedies? Could you tell me what comedies are on at your theatres? Hope to hear from you soon,   Jane

UNIT 7

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Learning About the World

There are a lot of different ways of getting new information. In the past the only way to learn about the world was travelling. The first travellers were explorers who wanted to discover new lands. Nowadays millions of people travel around the world cither for pleasure or on business. Travelling has always been a part of people's education. It teaches people about art and culture of different countries. It teaches them to be understanding. Besides, you can improve your knowledge of foreign languages. In my opinion, travelling is the most pleasant way of learning about the world. It's always interesting to discover different ways of life, to visit different museums, to try different food and to listen to different music. In brief, when we travel, we can learn a lot of things that we can never see and learn at home.

But to travel around the world you need a lot of money. That is why the main source of information for millions of people is mass media. Mass media includes newspapers and magazines, advertising and radio and, of course, television.

Television is a reflection of the modern world. It gives you an opportunity to travel all over the world, to see different people and to learn about their customs and traditions. Television keeps you informed about the rest of the world. When you need immediate information about the latest world events, you switch the TV on. There is always a great variety of programmes on TV current affairs programmes and documentaries, plays and feature films, talk shows and TV games. A lot of people like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. Besides, TV has the power to educate and broaden our minds.

Some people think that the only way to be in the know of everything is to read newspapers and magazines. If you get on a bus or catch a train during the morning and evening "rush hours", when most people travel to and from work, you will see a lot of реорle with their heads in a newspaper or a magazine.

Newspapers are packed with the latest news, information, fashion and facts. They cater for a variety of political views, interests, and levels of education. Papers are generally divided into "quality: papers", or broadsheets, and "popular papers" that are half the size of a broadsheet. But the size is not the only thing that makes them different. "Quality papers" are serious, with long, informative articles, while "popular papers", known as "tabloids", have a more sensational reporting style and contain more human-interest stories than news. In Russia we also have these two types of newspapers. For example, Jzvestiya or Kommersant are broadsheets. They contain political, business and cultural information. Such tabloids as Megapolis-Express and Express Gazeta contain the latest gossip, sensations and crossword puzzles. People choose a paper according to their tastes and preferences. Though newspapers don't react to events as quickly as TV, they usually provide us with extra details, commentaries and background information.

There are also a lot of magazines and other periodicals. Whatever your interest, there is likely to be a magazine about it - from sport, cookery and farming to religion, computers, cinema and more. Young people below the age of 18 do not buy newspapers, but they do buy magazines. Girls enjoy magazines about pop music, clothes, fashion and make-up, whereas boys prefer to read about sports, cars and computers. As far as I am interested in fashion, I enjoy reading Yes. It is a monthly magazine for girls containing the latest information about our favourite pop, film and soap stars, brilliant fashion and beauty, sports and romance. It approaches interesting subjects with intelligence and good humour. Besides, there is a lot of useful advice on various areas of life.

Still, many people prefer the radio. It's good to listen to the radio in a car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house. Listeners can tune into all kinds of stations: pop or classical music, news, sport or foreign radio stations. People cart often call in and ask questions about everything from cooking or car repair to politics or health. Callers often get a chance to give their opinions on the air. Besides, radio has fresher news than newspapers. They are informed every half-hour.

The Internet has recently become another important source of information. It is a computer system that allows millions of people around the world to receive and exchange information about almost everything. The main use of the Internet is to find information — for your schoolwork or job, or just to find out more about your hobbies, sports or current events. All the latest information is available to you in your home, at any hour of the day and night. It's much faster and easier to surf the net in search of information from all over the world than to travel to libraries in dozens of countries.

However, the real world of the Internet may not be as perfect as it seems. With so much information available, finding what you want can take you hours. Multimedia web pages with photographs arc attractive, but they make downloading slow and boring. Besides, there is too much advertising instead of real information.

With so many modern forms of getting information such as radio, TV and the Internet, people read fewer books, newspapers and magazines. Nowadays most people consider television their most important source of information, and a majority ranks television as the most believable news source. In my opinion, we can't say exactly which source of information is the best. It depends on what kind of information you need. However, I don't think we should forget the educational value of reading a good book.

 

1. How do you get information about the world? 2. Can travelling help you to get information about the world? 3. When and where do you like to travel? 4. Why is visiting museums interesting and useful? 5. How often do you visit museums? 6. What can museums and places of interest tell you about the world? 7. Do you think TV programmes can help you to learn at school? In what way? 8. What sort of information do you get from newspapers and magazines? 9. What are the main types of newspapers in Great Britain? 10. What newspapers and magazines do you read? 11. Do you like listening to the radio? Why? 12. What can help you to learn better at school? 13. What is the best way of learning about the world?

Computers

There is no doubt that computers have become an important part of our everyday life. We can do almost everything with the help of a computer. It's much easier to edit and print documents using a PC. Besides, the World Wide Web allows us to access the latest information very quickly. If you want to travel abroad, you can find in the Internet the information about the country and its hotels. You can even buy things sitting at home and using your computer.

Interaction with the world is a great advantage of a computer. You can chat on-line and make new friends with people from all over the world. Besides, it's a chance to practise your English. And if you want to send a letter, clicking the mouse will be much more convenient than buying a stamp and an envelope and finding time to make a trip to the post office.

There are very few companies today that don't use computers. We must know how to work on computers, that's why computers have become a main part of school education. We have computer classes at many schools where we study computer science. 1 believe that within the next few years schools will begin to use laptop computers instead of books.

More than that, computers help us to do our homework. When I have to make a report for my Biology class or to write a composition, the first place I look for is the Internet. Besides, there are a lot of educational programmes that can be really useful in our work.

However, many teachers think that students who rely on computers to do all their work are being cheated out of mind-expanding experience. I can't agree with them because our home tasks are more complex today, that's why the way we work out problems and find solutions must become easier.

Of course, there are computer addicts that spend all day long in front of computers playing games, watching films or even reading books on-line. I don't believe that computers will replace printed books in the future, because printed books have certain advantages over electronic media. First of all, they are cheaper and easier to use. Secondly, printed books don't need electricity, and you can take a book with you wherever you like, even to bed. What's more, a printed book is better for human eyes than a computer screen. So I think that printed books will coexist with computers and will always be a part of human culture.

Yet we must admit that a lot of young people find virtual reality more attractive than their everyday life. Computer addiction makes them neglect school work and their everyday responsi­bilities. I can't say that I'm a computer addict though I like to play computer games and to watch films on computer. I understand the consequences of computer addiction, that's why I try to control my computer use.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that computers have introduced wonderful possibilities for people, but of course, we shouldn't totally rely on them.

1. What do you think about the future of computers? 2. How can we use computers in our life? 3. Will computers be able to replace printed books in the future? Why do you think so? 4. What do you think about computerized education? 5. In what school subjects can computers be especially important? 6. Do computers save our time? Why? 7. Are computers really dangerous? 8. How often do you play computer games? 9. What is your attitude towards computer addiction? 10. How can we help computer addicts?

The Internet: Pros and Cons

Just ten years ago very few people heard about the Internet. Now it is nearly as common and useful as the telephone. As more and more people use the Internet, as it becomes cheaper and faster and easier to use, there will be new things on the Internet that we cannot imagine today.

On the one hand, the development of the Internet will bring new opportunities to many people. Now, with the Internet, the place where you live may become less important than who you are and what you can do. In the future we'll be able to find a job in any part of the world. What is more, the Internet will allow a lot of talented people to show the world their achievements.

Today most operating systems are the work of hundreds of programmers and they cost thousands of dollars. In 1991 Linus Torvalds wrote an operating system alone, and he gave it away. Now, with the help of many programmers who work together on the Internet, his Linux system has grown into a serious rival to the products of the industry leader, Microsoft.

It costs almost nothing to deliver software over the Internet. If programmers are willing to give their work away, and if programs are as good as their commercial rivals, the days of paying for software could soon be over.

What is more, the Internet is a great opportunity for people to report on the world. Using just a cheap PC, Matt Drudge nearly ended the career of US President Bill Clinton. He wrote the story about a sexual relationship between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky and put it on the Internet. Soon a million people a day were looking at his Web site. With the Internet the future belongs not to traditional journalists, but to ordinary people with a story to tell.

But on the other hand, the possibilities of the Internet may seem frightening. For example, Vladimir Levin worked for a computer firm in St. Petersburg. From there, using the Internet, he was able to break into Citibank's computers in the USA. He moved more than $10 million to other banks all over the world. Most of the world's money is stored in computers. Clever criminals are likely to use computers and the Internet, not guns to steal it.

As the Internet becomes increasingly important to governments, it also becomes a stage for people who oppose them. The information wars of the future may be fought on Web sites.

Some people argue that the Internet is dangerous because it a addictive. A lot of people, and especially teenagers, spend hours chatting or playing games on-line. What is more, teenagers and even children look at sex pictures on the Internet. It is true that like photography, cinema and video before it, the Internet is growing partly because it is a way for people to find sexual material that they cannot easily obtain in any other way. Anyway, there axe many ways for parents to prevent their children from seeing anything си the Internet that the parents do not like.

To sum up, it's impossible to say now what the Internet will be like in the future or how it will change our lives. But we must admit that the World Wide Web offers people great opportunities, and we must try to make the best use of it.

 

1. When did the Internet appear in Russia? 2. Do many people use the Internet nowadays? What for? 3. What does the Interne allow us to do? 4. Does the Internet save our time? 5. What are the disadvantages of the Internet? 6. How do you think the Internet will change our future? 7. Do you use the Internet? How? 8. What is your personal attitude towards the Internet?

Dialogues

1.

— Mike, how many channels are there on the British TV?

— Well, we have four main channels: BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4. And what about Russian television?

— Oh, we've got over ten channels on our TV, so everyone can choose whatever he likes to watch. As for me, my favourite channel is STS. It shows a lot of entertainment programmes and helps me to relax after a hard working day. And what about you?

— My favourite channels are BBC1 and ITV, because they offer a lot of sports programmes. I'd like to get satellite TV, because it has a channel devoted to sports and also the music channel, MTV. But my parents say the subscription is too expensive.

— We've got satellite TV in Russia too, and it is also very expensive. But we have special channels, devoted to sports and music, which are free of charge.

— How lucky you are!

 

2.

 

— What TV programmes do you like to watch most of all, Kate?

— There are quite a lot of brilliant programmes on Russian TV: talk and game shows, comedies and cartoons, police series and soap operas. I can't say exactly which programme I like best of all. Well, perhaps it's "Anshlag".

— "Anshlag"? What is it about?

— Oh, it's a very funny programme which consists of humorous stories and songs presented by Russian humorists. This programme is now hosted by Regina Dubovitskaya.

— I like humour programmes too. Does Russian TV show British humour programmes?

— Of course, it does. We always watch with pleasure such British programmes as "Mister Bin" and "Benny Hill's show". And what is your favourite programme, Gloria?

— I am fond of soap operas. British TV broadcasts a lot of different soaps, but my favourite one is "Neighbours".

— Why do you like it?

— Well, it is about the life of Australian teenagers. I like to watch it after school. It is very exciting and helps me to relax. Besides I like to discuss with my friends what will happen to characters.

— We have a lot of soaps on Russian TV too. My Mum really enjoys watching soaps. As for me, I prefer detective series. In my opinion, they are more fascinating.

— Tastes differ.

—

3.

 

— Do you like to read newspapers?

— No, not really. They usually have long boring articles. The only thing to read in the newspapers is TV programme.

— I completely agree with you. Newspapers are for adults. My father says that newspapers help him to be in the know of everything. But I prefer to read magazines. They are more interesting.

— You are quite right! Whatever your interest, you can find a magazine about it. As for me, I am keen on computers and computer games. That's why I like to read such magazines as Chip and Game.exe. They are packed with the latest information about computers and computer games.

— I am with you there, but I wish there were more magazines for boys. If you don't like football magazines or computer games magazines, there is nothing for you to read.

— That's because boys are usually interested in sports and computers. But I am sure new magazines will appear soon.

4.

— Television is much spoken about these days. Are you for or against watching TV?

— I can't say that I am a telly addict, but I watch TV two or three hours a day. In my opinion, there are a lot of brilliant programmes on TV.

— I don't watch TV as much as you do. My parents say that watching TV hurts eyes and is harmful to our health. Besides, I don't usually have much free time on weekdays. But on Sundays I like to watch TV.

— What programmes do you especially like watching?

— Most of all I enjoy detective series like "X-files" or Kamenskaya". It's exciting to follow the story line and to conduct

investigations together with the characters. I particularly enjoy watching films about mysterious and supernatural events. And what about you?

— It would be rather difficult for me to choose my favourite programme because there are lots of good things on TV. You just have to look for them. Well, I like old films, cartoons, comedies and thrillers, pop concerts and humour programmes. I even enjoy soaps!

— Soaps? They are long and boring! I can never understand people who rush home to watch their favourite soap. I never watch soaps.

— Well, 1 agree that soaps show life unrealistically, but they are not harmful really. The acting is pretty good there. They help me to escape from boring everyday life. I just use them to relax.

— But there are a lot of other interesting programmes on TV that broaden our minds and expand our outlook: documentaries and wildlife programmes, talk shows and quizzes. They are clever and informative, aren't they?

— Of course, they are. I can't but agree that many of the programmes are made in good taste and with great professional skill. The only thing that really irritates me is the amount of advertising on TV. When I sit down to watch the show and I am really enjoying the story, suddenly the film stops. I find it really annoying. What is more, advertisements are misleading because they don't talk about the products' defects.

— As for me, I don't take advertising seriously. Some adver­tisements are really funny. Besides, we shouldn't forget that commercial channels get most of their money from advertising. I think everything has its pros and cons.

— The same can be said about TV. Of course, TV has some disadvantages, but it is the main source of information and the best form of entertainment for millions of people.

 

5.

 

— What do you think is the best way of getting information about the world?

— It is a very difficult question. Perhaps, the best way to learn about the world is watching TV. It is a wonderful source of information. It allows everybody to follow the events in faraway countries without visiting them.

— I can't but agree with you. There are hundreds of various programmes that keep you informed about the rest of the world. What is your favourite programme?

— Most of all I enjoy watching "In the World of Animals". It is a very interesting educational programme. But for the television, I would not be able to watch extraordinary animals and to learn about their life and habits.

— I also enjoy watching TV, but I am fond of travelling too. While travelling we can meet different people and learn about their customs and traditions. We can see and learn a lot of things that we can never see and learn staying at home and watching TV.

— You are absolutely right! The best way to study geography is to travel. I enjoy visiting other countries and sightseeing. By the way, I always take a camera with me and take pictures of everything that interests me. Later I show them to my friends and relatives, But most of all I like visiting museums and galleries. They can tell us a lot about people's past and present.

— But we shouldn't forget about reading! Newspapers and magazines help us to be in the know of the latest news, fashions design and sports. Besides, they usually provide us with extra details and commentaries.

— Actually, I don't like reading very much. It takes so much time. Books themselves take up a lot of space at home. And newspapers... They make my hands dirty and the print is usually so small. I think we don't need to read books in order to learn. We live in a multi-media society. Let's take advantage of it and learn everything from TV, radio and computers.

— But how can we get information from computers?

— Haven't you heard about the Internet? It has become another important source of information. It's much easier to surf the Internet than to go to the library and find the necessary book or? magazine. You can also use the Internet to talk with people from different countries and to make new friends.

— Perhaps, you are right. Computers have changed our life for the better. So why shouldn't we make them work to our advantage?

— Hi! I've bought a new computer! It's the latest model, and it's working very fast.

— I hope you haven't bought this model to play the latest computer games, have you?

— Oh, no, I use my computer to find the latest information in the Internet. I think it's the best way to be in the know of everything.

— I agree with you. Everything becomes more complex today, so the ways we find solutions to our problems should become easier.

— Besides, I like to read books on-line. In my opinion, computers will soon replace traditional books because they can provide interesting pictures and additional information about the author. What is more, I don't have to go to the library in order to find the necessary book.

— Well, it's true that new technologies are capable of introducing changes in our daily lives, but I can say that books online can never compete with printed books.

— Why are you so sure?

— Because printed books are cheaper and easier to use. What is more, they don't need electricity. And one of the good things about a printed book is that you can take it to bed.

— Well, I can also take to bed my laptop computer. But of course, tastes differ and a lot of people will prefer personal relationship with printed books, so I think that books and computers will coexist.

— I completely agree with you. I am not against computers, but 1 think that they can be dangerous.

— Dangerous? What do you mean?

— I mean they can be addictive. New computer games create, virtual reality which some people find more attractive than everyday

reality.

— I see. These people don't realize that they have become hooked on playing computer games. In fact they've become computer addicts.

— Yes, they start spending large sums of money on computer magazines and software and neglect work, school or family obligations,

— Well, I am not a computer addict. I do my homework regularly.

— Don't you know that most sufferers compound the problem by denying it?

— I hope you don't want to ban computers.

— Oh, no, but I think it would be better to encourage parents to limit the amount of time their children spend in front of the computer. Besides, pupils must be taught not to totally rely on computers. They still need to jog their brains.

— I completely agree with you.

 

 

Writing

1.

48 Lenskaya Street Apartment 15 Moscow 129327 Russia   24 April 2005 Dear Paul, How are you? I'm fine though I'm very busy these days. I'm getting ready for my final exams at school. Thank you for your letter. It was interesting to learn more about American television. In you letter you asked me about my favourite TV programme. The series "The Code of Honour" is one of the few that I attempt to regularly tune into each week. A friend of mine talked me into giving this show, a try and I have never regretted it. It's about a team of young men who fought together in Chechnya. When they return to Russia, they become private detectives and continue their fight against dishonest and cruel people. I admire them because they are brave, strong and honest. I'm not a die-hard fan analysing every sentence, glance or breath of every character in every episode, but I certainly enjoy the show. A person who says this show has poor acting or plot development is most likely to be disappointed by any TV series. Of course, it's impossible to dot every "i" and cross every "t", but by and large the show remains at the top of its genre. The viewer's interest is caught from the very beginning of each episode and there is suspense till the very end. So if you want to see a good Russian action series, watch "The Code of Honour". The next season will soon begin. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon. Bye, Alexander Svetlov

2.

120 East 89th Street Apartment 42 New York, NY USA   1 October 2004 Dear Ms Smith,   I'm writing for help. I am only 14, but I think I'm seriously ill, as I have become a computer addict. Actually, I have been a computer addict since I was 11. Now I feel that I spend too much time in front of my computer. I often neglect my everyday duties. 1 don't do my homework regularly, and I don't care about my marks at school any more. As a result, my grades have become worse. Besides, I sometimes skip meals, and I don't sleep well at night, so I nearly fall asleep at school. Moreover, I often have headaches and my back also hurts badly. Mum says that I use my computer much more than it is necessary. I know that it's not normal, but I can't control its use, though I've tried to do it. My parents are threatening that they'll take my computer away. It drives me absolutely mad! What should I do? I need your advice and help. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,   Tom Brian

UNIT 8

YOUTH PROBLEMS

Teens' Problems

It's hard not to agree that teenagers nowadays have a lot of problems. One of the real problems is having no close friend. Several days ago I had my best friend, but now I don't. My friend was much more to me than just a person who I communicated with. We were as thick as thieves. We helped each other to survive and got along well. But some days ago we quarrelled, and now I'm at a loss what to do. Fortune turned its back on mc and I feel very disappointed.

I can't say that my parents don't understand me, they try to support me, but I think only time can heal me. Some young people are just sure that their parents don't want to understand them. It's a very serious problem. I'm sure that this point of view is absolutely wrong. Psychologists believe parents — child conflicts cannot be avoided in a society that is undergoing rapid change. In our society youngsters are at odds with their parents on a wide range of issues, from how late they can stay up to who they should marry. It's called a generation gap. But I think our parents are people who we can trust. In most cases teens don't understand their parents and become very nervous. When it happens, it's time to say "stop". And try to find in your parents more positive than negative traits. Our parents should understand one thing that today's children will become tomorrow's civilization. So they should obtain a child's understanding, they should find a teen's problem and help solve it.

The other very important problem is our school life. Teens are often under pressure in many ways at school — they are supposed to be "macho" — good at school subjects, able to stand up for themselves without crying. If they can't, they are "wimps" and often children will tease and bully them, especially at school. But all children are different — they have different needs and talents, likes and dislikes. Teens are not just "machos" and "wimps", they are rebels and conformists, extroverts and introverts. Our teachers and our parents should assure us that all these types are good, and it will reduce a lot of our problems.

There are so called "problem teenagers", who take drugs. A large number of teens use them very often. They are drug addicts. I don't have such friends and I think that there should be special programmes to solve this problem.

One more problem is connected with biorhythms. Not all people know what it is, and they begin to laugh at you and can offend you, when sometimes you are all fingers and thumbs, when you are accident-prone or when your temper seems to be on a short fuse. It is because we all have an internal "body clock", which regulates the rise and the fall of our body energies, and it's called biorhythms. So our teachers, parents and classmates should understand it and shouldn't pay attention to it because it's the law of our life and nature.

My other serious problem is to enter a good university and find a good job afterwards. Unemployment rates are extremely high — even qualified people with great knowledge can't find something good, but in spite of that I hope for the best.

I always want to impress people. But the first impression we make almost fully depends on what we wear and how we wear. Manners and speech are noticed next and character only later. Many teens have the same taste. They like to keep up-to-date with the changes in our society. They like to wear clothes which look good on and which you feel comfortable in. Being in fashion makes you feel good, in tune with the world you live in. But when you are at school, it is important to wear the right clothes, even formal ones and not to dress up. I understand it, but some of my classmates don't. They like to shock their teachers and parents and provoke them, and that's why they have some problems at school. So you should have some "clothes sense" to know and feel the types of things that are your style in formal situations (when you are at school) and at the parties.

As for me, I try to cope with all my problems alone or with the help of my parents. My parents are real friends and they understand me and try to help me or give a piece of advice.

So if someone denies all of the problems teenagers have, it's not right. Teens have a lot of problems. But the first thing we have to think about is the future we're building for ourselves and our children. The better we are now, the better our place will be when we grow up.

1. Do your parents understand you? Why do you think so? 2. What problems do you have with your parents? 3. What problems do you have at school? 4. What problems do teens have at school? 5. Is it fair to say that your parents don't understand anything? Why? 6. What do you know about a generation gap? 7. Do all parents help their children? Why? 8. In what way do teenagers try to impress people? 9. What problems do you have with your friends? 10. How do you cope with your problems?

Generation Gap

Sometimes our parents don't understand us. They don't under­stand some problems and things which are very important in teens' life; for example, the lifestyles of young people, piercing, tattoos, drugs, sex, relationship with friends and teachers. So sometimes teens can't tell them about their private life. Some parents don't want to understand modern views, ideals and system of values.

Elderly people usually compare their childhood and youth with the present, and regard old times as better, always talking about "the good old days". The young people, on the other hand, tend to think their times as the best. Teens look at the world with fresh eyes. Everything is new, interesting to them. Sometimes they cannot solve their everyday problems. But they want to cope with them by themselves. So adults shouldn't prevent them from making their own mistakes.

People are said to become wiser with age. Sometimes it is true and sometimes it is not. I think that you can meet a wise man among the old as often as among the young. It is false that when old age wisdom has come, useless illusions have disappeared. Sometimes when we talk to adults, a monologue is a preferred form of expressing your ideas in such talks. That's why some teens don't like to talk to adults.

I think that it's in people's nature to give advice. It seems to people that giving advice they can help somebody or put somebody on the right track. But if a person takes their advice and fails, he can blame an adult all of his life.

Our parents have their own ideas and views that their children don't share and understand. They think that their children won't find their place in life. They often say that now teens are very difficult to socialize with and dumpy. But children should settle all problems peacefully because they are their parents. They brought them up with loving care. And if children come to their parents for advice and help, they will do their best and help children to cope with problems and difficulties.

 

1. What is a generation gap? 2. Why do teens tend to think their times as the best? 3. Do you share this opinion? Why? 4. Do you always follow your parents' advice? Why? 5. Do you agree that people become wiser with age? Why? 6. Do you agree that it's in people's nature to give advice? Why? 7. Is it necessary for children to share their parents' ideas? Why? 8. Is it necessary for children to understand their parents' ideas? Why? 9. What about you? 10. Do your parents do their best and help you to cope with problems and difficulties?

Youth Takes More Risks

It is said that the most beautiful period of our life is when we are teenagers.

It seems that teens have no problems, as they don't work, take care of their families or have any other responsibilities. But this is not true. They have many problems in fact, because the teens take more risks. You can see that our young people are more similar to people abroad in many aspects of life.

A turning point is an event which changes your life and attitude. There are several such turning points in the life of an average person that are worthy of mention.

Smoking is one of the most common addictions that for years have been socially acceptable. There are passive and active smokers. People who don't smoke but are forced to be in the company of smokers are passive smokers and are even in a worse situation. The smoke from other people's cigarettes influences their health more negatively than that of active smokers. But some teens think that they look more mature when holding a cigarette.

Drug addiction is another problem of the twenty-first century. They try once or twice a cigarette with a narcotic inside, then they change to injection, and day by day they become totally dependent on this deadly habit. The young people look for some supernatural experiences; they hope to find a sense of life and pleasure and happiness in taking drugs, and they don't even notice how quickly they fall into addiction.

But youth embodies the future of society, and our generation tries its best to improve life on our planet. So we should have our own opinion in such situations and not to be smoke and drug addicts.

1. What problems do you have? 2. Who helps you to cope with your problems? 3. Why is taking drugs a very serious problem? 4. What is one of the common addictions of the century? 5. Why are all these problems very serious?

Russian and American Teens

It is widely known fact that America and Russia are different countries with different cultures, and therefore can be compared.

The first thing to be discussed is the family. The number of children in a family is discussed. There are certain advantages and disadvantages of being an only child. The advantages are: an only child has his or her own room, doesn't have to share things, he or she is always the centre of attention. The disadvantage is that аn only child is spoilt and lonely.

In America the idea of responsibility is very popular. Children have to do chores around the house, such as washing up, shopping, mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage. But some Russian parents find it cruel to have their children work.

Another strong American value is independence.

There are certain differences in school life in America and in Russia. In America you can choose your own classes. But in America students don't have as much homework as in Russia. So, American schools differ from Russian schools in student choices and amount of homework.

American students like hanging out with their friends. They do sports in their free time. Most American students combine doing homework and relaxing.

Another distinctive feature of Americans is that most American high school students have a job, usually a part-time job. Thus they gain experience and make some money. More American students work. Some jobs of American students are: delivering newspapers, baby-sitting, working as a camp counsellor, or in a cafe, etc. Maybe this is what makes them so independent from their parents at such a young age. It isn't always easy to keep a job and still do well in school. But American children learn early that you have to work hard to win. Winning is a part of the American way of life.

Extracurricular activities are basketball, football, baseball, track and field, sometimes chess, drama, riding, music, etc.

Then in American schools there are classes on religion. About 40% of Americans go to church every week.

Most American children are full of energy and confidence, ready to go out and make their own way in the world.

A serious problem is taking drugs, but the truth is that fewer and fewer young Americans are trying them.

Typical American teenagers are in fact very ordinary. They think their teachers make them work too hard, they love their parents but sure they don't understand anything. They think that their friendships are the most important things in their lives. "America," wrote Emerson, the nineteenth-century writer, "is a country of young men." That's not quite true anymore. The population is growing older. Fewer and fewer babies are being born, and baby-food factories are closing down. America does not belong to young people anymore in the way it did only twenty years ago. Young people today have to fight harder to get the kinds of jobs and homes they want. Maybe that is why young Americans are more serious now than they used to.

1. What is different in the cultures of the USA and Russia? 2. What are advantages and disadvantages of having one child? 3. Do you have brothers or sisters? 4. What do American teens usually do at home? 5. What are your chores? 6. What is different in school life in America and in Russia? 7. What do you usually do in your free time? 8. Do you combine school with a part-time job? Why? 9. What are extracurricular activities in American schools? 10. What are your extracurricular activities?

 

Success in Life

In my opinion materialism is not a bad point of our society. 1 try not to be too materialistic, but I think everyone is a little bit. We live in a competitive world where success is important, so people become more materialistic. I think the way you look is really important especially for teenagers who want to be a part of a group. So it's natural that people think of money and possessions.

On the other hand, materialistic people think that money is everything in the world and being rich is the only way of being successful. It's important for them to have designer labels and fashionable things. Some people can even kill others to have more money or possessions. In this case we can say that money is the root of the evil. However, there are very important things in our life that can't be bought, such as love and friendship.

Of course, you know that there are a lot of people who have little money. Lack of money can cause real problems, such as bad health, stress or even crime. But many people are poor. They never waste money and they spend it on the essentials. More than that, they learn to find unusual in usual things, and this makes their life interesting. I don't think that money is the only way of being successful in life.

But it cannot be denied that money is an essential part of our life. There are a lot of rich people, but not all of them are materialistic, for example, Bill Gates. You wouldn't look twice at him if he passed you in the street because he looks like an ordinary person. He likes fast food and casual clothes. He is always on the company campus. But Bill Gates is not snobbish or ambitious. More than that, he is a noted philanthropist who donated a lot of money to non-profit educational organizations. Yet he is one of the most successful men in the world.

To get success in life you should be creative, intelligent, hard­working. You'll never get success if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself.

The only thing I want to say is that you needn't be rich to be happy. A clever person can always find beauty in ordinary things. And I think that only such things can make you happy.

1. Why is materialism not a bad point of our society? 2. Why is it natural that people think of money and possessions? 3. Can we say that money is the root of the evil? 4. Are poor people materialistic? Why? 5. Are all rich people materialistic? 6. What traits should you have if you want to get success in life? 7. Do you have all necessary traits? 8. Are you a successful person?

 

 

Teenagers and Money

Thirteen-year-olds do not spend as much money as their parents suspect — at least not according to the findings of a recent survey. Money and Change. The survey included three hundred teenagers, 13—17 years old.

By the time they reach their teens, most children see their weekly allowance rise dramatically to an amazing national average of $8. Two thirds think they get enough money, but most expect to have to do something to get it.

Although they have more cash, worry about debt is increasing among teenagers. Therefore, the majority of children make an effort to save for the future.

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