Richard MacAndrew

Instant
Discussions

Richard MacAndrew
with Ron Martinez

.,, H E I N L E
I. CENGAGE Learning"
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I nstant Discussions © 2003 Heinle, Cengage Learning

Richard MacAndrew, Ron Martinez ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright
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lsBN 13: 978-0-7593-9630-2

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Permission to photocopy The authors

All of the students' material in this book is Richard MacAndrew has taught in Finland, Sweden, Maylaysia and the

intended for photocopying. Permisson is hereby UK. He is now a full-time writer of ELT materials, but gets back into
the classroom whenever possible. He has previously written Eng/i.sh
given to photocopy all such pages for use by
individual teachers in their classes. No private or Observec/ (Heinle/LTP 1992), Tc7boo5 onc/ /55ues by OU P, CUP and Macmil-

institutional copying which could be construed as lan Heinemann.

re-publication is allowed without the permission Ron Martinez, a native of San Francisco, is an EFL author, teacher and
of the copyright owner. teacher trainer with extensive classroom experience in the United
States, Spain and Brazil. He is currently working as a materials de-
veloper for GEL-LEP Schools in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is the author of
Conver5c7t/.c)n Lessons fo r H e i n I e / LT P.

The authors would like to thank Michael Lewis, whose enthusiam start-
ed this project, and jimmie Hill, who kept things together to the end.

Disclaimer
The publishers and authors would like to make it clear that any views
expressed are solely to provoke classroom discussion and do not reflect
their own personal views or attitudes. Teachers are encouraged to refer
to the Introduction and unit-by-unit notes for guidance on handling tis
material.

Acknowledgements
Cartoons reproduced by kind permission of:

Punch Ltd: the cartoons in units 1, 3, 9,14,19, 23, 29, 33, 34

Private Eye: the cartoons in units 4, 6,11,13,13,18

The Oldie: the cartoons in units 2, 5,10,15, 26, 40

Printed by Seng Lee Press, Singapore

7 8 910-1110
 Introduction
Introduction The left-hand page usually provides the basic
material for a lesson, while the right-hand page
J7¢sfcz7¢£ Dz.scg4ssc.o7zs is a photocopiable resource of
provides extension or follow-up work.
40 discussion lessons for teachers to take into the
classroom with minimal preparation. The Methodology
material is a resource from which teachers and This material is designed for both experienced
classes can select topics of interest. The topics and less experienced teachers. You should note
chosen occur widely in everyday life and fall into that a few topics are of a controversial or
a number of different categories: sensitive nature and teachers should be careful
1. The unusual when using these.
These .inclnde.. Incredible stories and Neighbottrs
Teacher's notes have been kept to a minimum and
comprise only a few short notes, warnings about
from hell.
particularly sensitive units, the answers and
2. A fresh look at old topics
occasional extra ideas.
We have tried to approach traditional classroom Units usually begin with a lead-in discussion to
topics from a new angle. For example, in a unit introduce the topic. Ask students to think silently
on the environment we ask, `Who really cares about the questions for a few minutes before they
about the environment? Is it really that important start talking. We recommend that students work
to save a two-centimetre-long lizard that a year in pairs or small groups throughout the initial
ago nobody knew existed?' stages of a lesson so that they get the maximum
3. Ethical problems opportunity to participate. During pair work or
Unlike Tczboos cz73d Jss%es, the sister volume to group work you can move around the class
this book, which looks almost exclusively at monitoring what is happening . You can help out
controversial and sensitive issues, J7?sfcz7¢£ with language where necessary and decide
D¢.sc#ss¢.o74s deals with very few such topics. whether and how a topic should be opened out
However, we have included some for those for discussion by the whole class. As a teacher,
teachers whose classes like to get their teeth into you should obviously remain neutral throughout
a tough topic. For example, we examine the any discussion, allowing students to express their
problems of IVF treatment for childless couples in own views and reach their own conclusions. With
A matter of birth and death., we disc;ass prayer .LrL the more sensitive topics in this collection it is
TZ7e Poaver o/Prczygr. These subjects should be important that students are not pressured in any
approached with care and used only with classes way into discussing or revealing things about
of sufficient maturity and sensitivity. themselves with which they are in any way
unhappy. The material obviously encourages
4. The topical
students to express their views and experiences.
We have tried to include some issues which would
However, a student who wishes to remain silent
not have been included in older coursebooks:
must have their right to do so respected.
internet dating in Tfoe cZcz£¢.7€g grz77¢e,. the use of
mobile phones in J'777 o7¢ £¢e frczg.7¢. Using the internet
5. `Different' topics Because we have chosen topical and popular
These topics are different from the `unusual' since subjects, it will almost always be easy to find
they are quite likely to feature in everyday related material by a quick search of the internet.
conversation. However, they are topics that are You can easily supplement your lessons with such
not often found in standard coursebooks. For material.
exaLmple, To tip or not to tip? and Royalty.
Richard MacAndreui
How a unit is organised Ron Martinez
Most units follow this pattern:
left-hand page: introductory discussion and one
or more short texts
right-hand page: language work and further
discussion
 Contents
Teenage rebellion
Talking about young People and hou) they rebel against their parertts and school rules.
Incredible stories
Some stories in the neuispapers seem too amazing to be trtte.
Naming and shaming
Txlhat is the best punishmeut for a crime? One modem sohaion is naning and shaming.
Neighbours from hell
Everyone has had i;hem! But uihat do you do about them?
5 What's in a name?
Where do our naves come from and why do u!e choose the nanes we do?
6 You've got mail!
Emails have come to rule our lives. Houi do uie use the internet?
7 Price and value
Everything has a Price, but does it have a uahae? How match do u)e spend?
8 Are we all criminals?
At soii'ie time in all our lives u/e have been tei'ri:Pied to conanit a crii'Iiie.
9 Thingsthatgobumpinthenight!
Haunted buildings, ghosts -many People believe they exist.
10 LMnglonger
As life expectanay inoreases, many problems arise.
11 Givingtocharity
TX7hich charities are uiorth supporting cmd uihich are not?

12 Jewelleryformen
More and more men are ujearing jewellery. Is this a trend uie shottld encourage?
13 Who cares aboutthe environment?
Some issttes are worth fighting for3 but some are fairly minor. Twhat are our priorities?
14 The powerof prayer
Hou) many people pray and what benefits does prayer bring?
15 Revenge is sweet!
How strong is our desire to get ottr ou)n bacle? Probably stronger than uie think!
16 Amatterof birth and death
Couples uiho cannot have children try other means. Vlbat are the ethics?
17 Folkwisdom
V{ihere do our folk sayings and traditions come from?
18 l'monthetrain!
The growth in use of the mobile Phone has beets Phenomenal. Hou) do you use yours?
19 Children and discipline
Houi should Parents and teachers discipline children? Twhat is acceptable?
20 Evereatendog?
Some cultures eat animals which others don't. What is acceptable in your culture?
21 Ahealthy lifestyle
Deciding uihat constitutes a healthy lifestyle ~ does it depend on exercise3 diet or ujhat?
22 Publicfigures, private lives
Should people in pttblic life be allowed to keep their private lives private?
23 Holidays from hell!
Sharing stories about different aspects of the u)orst holiday you have ever had.
24 Thedatinggame
Meeting a partner through lonely hearts ads and the potential problems.
25 Newspapers
Discussing the content of newspapers, neuispaper language and different neu/spapers.
26 Totipornottotip?
Different cultural traditions of tipping and personal experiences.
27 Royalty
Should countries with monarchies keep them? Is i± better to have an elected Presideut?
28 Fashion
Talking about fashion and the famous and Personal fashion preferences and statemerits.
29 ls itrighttoeatmeat?
The arguments for and against becoming a uegetarian.
30 The exploitation of animals
The ethics of using animals for eutertainmerit and sport -particularly bullfighting.
31 Whygetmarried?
More people are divorcing or remaining single longer -the pros and cons of marriage.
32 Ihatemyboss!
The Problems emplayees have u/ith bad bosses. Txihat makes a good boss?
33 Scams-howcan people be sostupid?
Some People are Very easily fooled. Twhy do some peaple spend money on scans?
34 Badhabits
Some People3s bad habits are an±i-social. Twhich ones are we Prepared to admit to?
35 Killed byaflying duck!
Many eueryday activities can result in injury or even death.
36 Survivors!
Different extreme sitttations and hou) u)e would react if we u/ere inuolued.
37 Doyouspoilyourkids?
What do uie mean by `spoiling' children? Discttssion of Parenting style.
38 Doyoudrive?
Driving, cars, speed cameras, driving tests.
39 Special days and dates
Differeut countries have different public holidays and some days have special significanc,e.
40 Wheredoyou live?
Talleing about houses and planning the ideal home.
 Teenage rebellion

Discussion
Look at this questionnaire about what you, and people you know, did, or do, as teenagers. Tick the
appropriate boxes.
You A friend Someone in your family
Drl D wore an earring or earrings.
0g D wore rings on other parts of their body.
DD I always wore black.
g0 D wore very unusual clothes.
DD I had an unusual hairstyle.
DD I started smoking before they were 14.
gD I dropped out of school or college.

Compare your answers in pairs. [n what other ways do young people express rebellion?

Reading THE HEADMASTER'S VIEW

1. Read the following news item which appeared W€ have been trying to resolve the issue of
in 77]e Daj/y re/egraph. Discuss the questions Ashley's pink hair since before Christmas.
below in pairs: Initially, we were assured that she would return it
Schoolgirl Ashley Wallace, 16, was furious
to the natural colour over the holiday but since
when the headmaster of her school, Neil Watts, Christmas her hair has remained pink.
Our code of conduct clearly states that pupils are
50, ordered the school photographers to
expected to bring credit upon themselves by their
change the colour of her hair from pink to
appearance and we do not feel that pink hair
brown in the final prints of the official school
fulfils this requirement.
photographs.
Despite this we have acted very reasonably. We
1. Why do you think the headmaster wanted the have not excluded Ashley from school and we
colour of Ashley's hair changed? have allowed her to attend normal lessons in the
2, Why do you think Ashley was furious? final year of her exams.
3. Why do you think Ashley dyed her hair pink? We also allowed her to be in the photograph for
2. Now read the views of Ashley and the the whole year group. However, we feel strongly
headma;ter and answer the questions below. that, as the photograph is a record for the school,
Ashley's hair colour does not bring credit upon
ASHLEY'S VIEW the other pupils and the school. Therefore, we
I couldn't believe it when I realised what they had asked the photographic company to tone down
done to me. I was so annoyed that I went straight the hair colour in the photograph.
to the headmaster and complained. 1. Why was Ashley furious?
My hair was a mousy brown and it looked 2. What did she t:hink the school should have
ridiculous because you could still see all the pink done?
through it. All of my friends were asking what I 3. How long had Ashley had pink hair?
had done to my hair. I was just fuming. 4. How did the headmaster feel about her hair?
The school should have given me the option 5. In what ways did he feel the school had been
either to be in the photo and have my hair reasonable towards her?
airbrushed or not be in it. If I had been given the
choice, I would rather not have been in it at all.
One thing is certain - there is no way I am going
to change my hair colour now!

1 Tleenage rebellion Instant Discussions

Discussion Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups: Discuss these situations in pairs:
1. Who do you think is right -Ashley or the 1. Jessica wears old black clothes all the time. She
headmaster? Why? has rings in her ears and her eyebrows. She has
2. Are there any better solutions to the problem dyed her hair black and uses black eye make-up.
of Ashley's hair? What are they? Her brother is getting married soon. Her mother
3. If a 16-year-old arrived at school one morning wants her to wear something different for the
with pink hair in your country: wedding. Should she? And if so, what?
what would her friends say? 2. You have invited your neighbours and their
what would her teachers say? children to a party at your house. Their 15-year-
what would the headteacher say? old son arrives wearing shorts, black tights, an
orange Tshirt and has a number of chains round
Language different parts of his body. Should you say
1. Ashley uses quite informal language. Find the anything about the way he is dressed? If so,
informal expressions she uses to say these more what?
formal phrases:
3. Mark's 18-year-old son usually has shoulder-
a. I sought an inanediate meeting u)ith the head. length hair. Mark has insisted that he gets it cut
b. I u)as extremely ttpset. before a family wedding. He arrives at the church
c. I have no intention of ... with short hair - dyed bright green. What should
2. Find the more formal expressions the head Mark say or do?
uses to say these less formal phrases:
4. Jenny is 16 and gets good results at school. She
a. VIJe'ue been trying to sort out ... wants to leave school at the end of term, get a job
b. First> u)e were told ...
(any job will do), and move into a flat with three
c. pupils ought tb show a bit of self-respect ... of her girlfriends. Should her parents persuade
d. vie haven't throu)n Ashley out of the school. her to stay on at school? If so, how?
... u/e'ue let her come to school as usual ...
5. Mary accidentally finds cigarettes and beer
3. Put these sentences into more formal English: hidden in her 14-year-old daughter's bedroom.
1. I was so cross that he did not sort out the Should she say anything to her? If so, what?
problem of the timetable. Have these or any similar situations happened to
2. There's no way I'm going to let him into my
you or anyone you know?
classes again.
Compare your answers with other groups.
3. I'm going straight to the boss.
4. We've decided that your son should not come
back to this school. Protest
5. First, I'd like to make it clear to you that Some forms of popular music are influential in
classes will take place as normal. shaping teenagers' opinions. Look at these
quotations and discuss the questions:
`Yottr sons and your daughters are beyond your
command. Your old road is rapidly agin3.'
(Bob Dylan,The Tines They Are A-changin',
1964.)
Are these lines relevant today?
Do all teenagers rebel against their parents?
Do you know any who haven't?
<If I'm more of an infottence to your son as a
rapper than yott are as a father, you got to loole
to yourself as a parent.'
(Ice Cttbe, in an interview in 1990.)
Do you agree with this or not? Why?
Is there anything parents can do to stop their
c`| think be's swallouied his father." teenage children rebelling?

Instant Discussions Tieenage rebellion 1

Discussion
Work in small groups. Discuss these questions:
1. What is the most extraordinary true story you have heard or read recently?
2. Who was involved and what happened?
Compare your answers with other groups.

Reading
Read the stories below. Six are true and two are false. Decide with a partner which are which.
r`.-.___'._-.__--fu__--_„-.__
RAN EVICTED rmEE sEx cHAzi¢GE
A German man was evicted from his The €fty Of Sam
Bsriin beeaHse h© laughed tco muc provide free sex change a
too loudly Rudi Bauef$ 52, was force employees who have work
leave his home after nei8hbours for at least ene„ year, Opponents Say the
complained. measure will just gncourag& people
New UNlvERsrr¥ couRSES apply for jobs with the city in order
a free sex change.
New degree courses on offer at §Sme of
Britain'§ universities inclnde: g8if at STuex HEAm
Bininghan, theeiogy and water resources A woman a

Discussion
Discuss these questions in small groups:
1. Which story do you find most extraordinary? Why?
2. Do any similar things happen in your country.) For example, have people been evicted from
their homes for unusual reasons? Are there any university courses you consider strange?
Are there any unusual world championships held in your country?
3. Think about the people involved in each story. What do you think are the reasons behind their
actions?

2 Incredible stories Instant Discussions

Language 1 Discussion
1. Complete the table below with words from the Work in pairs or small groups. Make up stories to
texts above: go with three or four of the following headlines.
Write a paragraph or two for each story. Make the
VERE NOUN stories as unusual as you can! Then compare
manage management your answers with those of other groups.
Contest
1. NEIV FUEL FOR CARS OF THE FUTURE
repeat

guide
2. ROBBERY WITH LOVE AND PEACE

launch 3. COMPUTERS THAT THINK

Operate
4. THE SHORTEST CD EVER
OPPose

collect 5. MAN BITES DOG

ascend 6. TWO NEW OLYMPIC SPORTS

descend
7. NEW NATIONAL FLAG APPROVED
2. Think of other nouns, as well as the words
from the text, which could go in the second 8. STRANGE MEETING IN SAHARA DESERT
column.

Language 2
Complete the text below using the correct forms of words from the exercise above:

SECOND VICTORY FOR LANCASHIRE

This year's hill climbing .......... (1) between the University of South Yorkshire and
Lancashire College of Education took place last Saturday at Whernside. Teams from each
university were expected to complete the .......... (2) and .......... (3) of both
Whernside and lngleborough ,.......... (4) badges from a number of checkpoints on the
way. Lancashire College of Education .......... (5) last year's success, winning by four
minutes. Alex Bolton ,.......... (6) of the Lancashire team, said afterwards: "We would
like to congratulate our .......... (7) on a hard fought race. It was a narrow victory. We
would also like to thank our coach, Helen Wright, whose .......... (8) and support has
been an important factor in our victory."

" And don't forget your optician's a;ppointment.»

Instant Discussions Incredible stories 2

 Naming and shaming

Discussion
1. Match the following punishments to the definitions below:
1. a fine
2. a prison sentence
3. a suspended prison sentence
4. community service
5. tagging
6. the death penalty
7. corporal punishment
8. solitary confinement
a. you go to prison
b. you have to pay money as a punishment
c. you have to spend some time working for the local community
d. you are beaten or punished physically in some way
e. you are killed (for example, by hanging, electrocution, or some other way)
f. you can live at home, but if you commit another crime, you will be sent to prison
9. you are kept in prison on your own - away from other prisoners
h. you have an electronic device fitted to your body so that the police always know where you are
2. Discuss these questions in pairs:
1. Which of the above punishments are used in your country?
2. What other punishments are used?
3. What is the reasoning behind each different type of punishment?
4. Which punishment is the most effective? Which is the least effective?

Reading
Read the article below and then answer these questions:
1. What sentences were given for a) shoplifting b) drunk driving?
2. What does one woman think are the benefits of these sentences?

LET THE PUNISHMENT whose daughter he ran over. At the bottom of

FIT THE CRIME! each cheque he had to write `For causing the
In a number of courts in the US `naming and death of your daughter. '
shaming' is working. If you are found guilty Shamed offenders often do not like their
of shoplifting, you may expect a fine or a shon sentences - and that is the point. `Shame makes
prison sentence. but you might actually receive you stop and think,' says a woman with a
a totally different punishment. You could have recent conviction for theft. `It gave me
to spend a couple of weeks walking up and humility, which helped me. And if other people
down the street outside the store you stole see the sign, maybe they'11 think twice before
from, carrying a sign that reads: `1 am a thief. they commit a crime.'
Do not steal! This could be you.' The only question is: how far will we go down
This somewhat eccentric sentencing policy has this road? Will each town revive its public
an effect. Consider the drunk driver forced to stocks? Will we soon b€ going along {o throw
confront the consequences of his actions every tomatoes and rotten eggs at convicted
week for five years. His sentence was to write a criminals? And is this a step forward or
one-dollar cheque every Friday to the man a step back?

3 Naming and shaming Instant Discussions

Discussion
Look at these statements about the article you read. Decide if you agree or disagree.
1. I don't think humiliation is a good way to 3. I think the punishment for shoplifting is far too
punish people. In schools we don't humiliate lenient. A few weeks in prison would be much
children any longer when they misbehave. We more effective.
shouldn't do it to adults either. 4. These types of punishment are a step back
2. The punishment for the drunk driver is not towards the middle ages. Surely civi]isation has
enough. It's a clever idea, but this man should progressed since then. What will these people
also be spending a substantial time in prison. want next? l'ublic hangings?
Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

Language
Find these words and expressions in the text above:
sentence an offender corwiction
cause the death of ... commit a crime a f ine
Prison a orii'riinal find someone guilty of . . .
Complete the text below using appropriate forms of the words and phrases above:
Darren Jackson, 31, of Oxford Road, Abingdon was ........... (1) yesterday of
..................... (2) Abigail Hunt while driving under the influence of drink. Judge
Barbara Mowat ........... (3) Mr Jackson to a £1000 ........... (4) and three years in
....... (5) saying: "You have ........... (6) a very serious crime. And what is worse, you
have a previous, similar ........... (7). You may think you are unlucky. I think you are a
shameless ........... (8). I am giving you a harsh sentence in the hope that it will be a
warning to other potential ....... (9)."

Correct the wrong endings to this sentence:

Heshouldbe locked.
put in bars.
sent in prison.

Discussion
ln an effort to stop petty crime, your government
want:s to develop a new and radical system of
punishments for dealing with minor criminals.
Work in pairs and devise suitably imaginative
punishments for people who:
1. steal stationery and pens from their employer
2. break the speed limit when driving
3. leave a restaurant without paying the bill
4. pick pockets
5. park illegally
6. steal mobile phones "Excuse me, madam>
For example: but I have reason to suspect . . ."
People who steal mobile phones should..
~ be made to u)orle in a call centre for two years.
-spend one day a week for a year cleaning public phone boxes.
-be fitted uiith an electronic device that blocles mol)ile phone signals for a distance of ten metres
from the u/earer.
Compare your answers with other groups.

Instant Discussions Namingandshaming 3

 Neighhours from hell

Discussion
Tell a partner if you have ever had any of the
following problems with a neighbour:
1. They were making too much noise.
2. They regularly held wild parties.
3. They left smelly rubbish on the street.
4. They lit bonfires in their garden.
5. They threw rubbish on to your property.
6. They kept dangerous animals.
Tell your partner what happened and how you
reacted. What would you do if a neighbour did
any of the things above?

Reading
Read the newspaper article and answer the
questions below. What five things do the "Houi are you getting on ujith yottr neighbours noui?"
Thompsons say that Miss Hill has done to
annoy them?

SHE ATE OUR FISH! to carry bags of shopping 50 thought they could have been
Moving to Blades Farm deep in metres to their house. stolen by a cat or a bird," said Mr
the Oxfordshire countryside three This was followed by a dispute Thompson* "but that evening She
years ago should have been a over land. When Mi$8 Hill had a barbecue im her garden and
dream `com€ true for Bill and replaced a fence between the two she kept shouting to ns that che'd
Glend& Thompson, But it was not propertiess the Thompsons got some lovely fish. I knew they
to be. Orferd County Court heard accused her of stealing a strip of were our fish. SheSs completely
land from them. A few w^eek§ later mad.„
%eesiernde::h£°u:,%:8acuacmnen£%±,W:t3: she cut down a tree which the The ThQmpsons, want to move but I
had led so a cycle Qf hatred and Thompson8 allege was theirs. She are unable €o sell their house while
violence< then bought a large Alsatian dog, the fend continues. They are now
At first the Thompsons found which Mrs ThompsQn cledrms has seeking £65,000 compensation
Miss Hill ffiendly, if slightly attacked her Qn more than one from Miss Hfil for the lCiss in
eecen€ric. However, a shared occasion Value Of their home. "I can3t
driveway to hath their houses soon "She knows I hate dogs," said Mrs understand what the prc!hlem is,"
led to the fast disagreemeni> Thompson. "She dQesn't need ere protests Miss Hill. "I havem't done
Miss Hill became increasingly and only bought i{ to frighten me." angiving wro-m±. ` The Th6inpso+us
unhelpfui about keeping the drive The last straw came when some used to be quite friendly hut now
clears often heaving her car parked fish disappeared from a pond in they're just causing trouble."
there and forcing the Thompsons the Thompsons' garden. "We The gase cominues.

L
Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
How do you think Miss Hill might try and show she has done nothing wrong?
If the Thompsons are correct, how do you think the judge should deal with the situation?
If you were in a situation like the Thompsons, would you go to court? Or would you try and deal with
the matter in a different way?

4 Neighboursfrom hell Instant Discussions

Language Expressions
1, Study this sentence and answer the questions Complete the following common expressions
below: from the text:
AIgunerits had led to a cyc.Ie of hatred and 1. It should have been a ...... come true.
Violence. 2. It soon ...... to the first disagreement.
3. They had a dispute ....., land.
a. Find three other words meaning `arguments'.
4. It attacked them on more than one .......
5. That was the ,..... straw.
6. They just ...... trouble.
Note: people who cause trouble are known as
b. Which of these words would you use about troublemakers.
arguments between families or countries that last
for a long time? Questionnaire
2. Study this sentence and answer the questions Answer the questionnaire below:
below:
1. It is two o'clock in the morning and there is a
The Thompsons accused her of stealing a strip of very noisy party going on in a flat across the
lclnd. street. You have to get up at six to catch a plane.
a. Find three other verbs which mean `to say that Do you:
you think something is true'. a. roll over and keep trying to get some sleep?
b. call the police?
c. go and join the party? (Well, missing four
hours' sleep isn't too bad!)
d. do something else?
b. Which of these verbs is often used of someone
defending themselves? 2. The new baby in the house next door often
c. Why are these verbs often used in newspaper cries in the night. That's not a problem. What
articles about court cases?
wakes you up is the father shouting at the baby.
Do you:
a. ring social services and report him?
Discussion b. call the police and tell them?
Discuss these questions in small groups: c. talk to the baby's mother and find out if
1. What laws are there in your country governing everything's OK?
relations between neighbours? d. do something else?
2. What happens in the following situations? 3. Your neighbour's garden is a mess. It's like a
a. you want to build an extension on your
jungle -full of rubbish and rats. Do you:
house. a. ask him politely to do something about it?
b. your neighbour puts up a new fence and b. report him to the local council?
`steals' a few centimetres of your garden.
c. wait till he goes on holiday and then buy some
c. you want to put up a shed in your garden.
powerful weedkiller and rat poison?
d. your neighbour has a dog that barks a lot d. do something else?
during the day.
e. you want to go on your neighbour's land to 4. You are having a party in your garden one
repair your house. surmy summer's afternoon and your neighbour,
f. your neighbour paints his front door a who was invited to the party but didn't come,
horrible shade of bright orange. decides to light a bonfire so that the smoke blows
over your garden. Do you:
9. your neighbour decides to keep pigs in his
a. take your guests inside and ignore your
garden.
h. a tree in your neighbour's garden starts to neighbour's behaviour?
block off a lot of light from your house and b. go round and ask him to put it out?
c. find your garden hose, lean over the fence and
garden.
put it out yourself ?
d. do something else?

Instant Discussions Neighboursfrom hell 4

 What's in a name?

Discussion
Write down your five favourite and five least favourite names for boys and girls:
Favourite boys' names:
Boys' names you don't like: ................................................

Favourite girls' names:

Girls' names you don't like: ................................................

Compare your answers in small groups and discuss why you like or dislike these names.

Reading
Read the text below about where names come from. Think of some examples of names in your
language from as many of the sources listed below as possible. Compare your answers in pairs.

Where do names come from? Days and position. in the family

Thaditi®nal names These concepts are particularly common in

Traditional names are those handed down Afriean names. For example, the name Esi
from long ago through a particular culture. means 6Sundayt and `Kunto` means third
These names may once have had a meaning, child. These ideas are unusual in w€stem
but that will now be a minor factor in their culture, although ,the American actress
choice and use. From Germany there are Tuesday Weld is a notable exception.
names like Frederick and Matilda; from Family names
Scandinavia ingrid and Gustav; from Slavic These have become more commonly used as
culture Pavel and Kazimiera. first names in recent times: for exampleS
Cc!fflcro# Mackintosh and B€`JG/./gy Sills.
Scriptural and religious names
Many names are scriptural names. From Vocabulary words
Christian scriptures Matthew and Mary are Many new names are also created from
examples from the New Testament; Jacob and ordinary words. Jade (Jade J&gger) and
Rebecca from the Old Testament. Islam gives River (River Phoenix) are well-known
us many forms of the name Muhammad, and current exanptes.
of his descendants, for example Oman and
Variations
Fatima. Ibrahim and Mariam are examples
And, of course, the total is considerably
from the Muslim scripture, the Koran.
increased by the number of variations of
Hinduism brings us Krishna and Sj{a, the
each name that can be created. Robert can
names of traditional Hindu deities.
also be Rob, Robbie, Bob or Bobby; Jessica
Names from myth®]ogy and literature can be Jess or Jessie. And boys' names can
Daphne and Hector are examples of names be made into gir]sS names. Robert becomes
which derive from Greek mythology; Arthur Roberta, Nicolas becomes Nicola or Nicole
and Elaine from Arthurian legend. or Nicky or Nikki.
Shakespeare gave us Cordeliat and Jessica.
H=__`
Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner, then report to the whole class:
1. Tell a partner the origin of your names. What about your parents' names?
2. Is there a tradition in your family of using names of grandparents for children?
3. If you have children, why did you choose the names you did?

5 What's in a name? Instant Discussions

The origin of names
Work in pairs. Match the names on the left with
their origins on the right:
Nan es Origin
Cara Slavic
Andrew Celtic/Gaelic
Pavel Japanese
Fatima Welsh
Tokala Vietnamese

kue:::iti-Rrfitiicsfn
Duc Greek
Washi Native American
Chloe Arabic
Some names have special meanings. For example,
Andrew c.a.n mean brave, little one, moral, good,
eagle, a.nd fox. Ca[a. ca.n mean sweet melody, ``Yes, uie are Mr and Mrs Smith, butt uie
daughter of the Prophet, aLnd third child. u/ant to book in as Mr Pearson and Miss
Does your name have a special meaning? Jones, just to make it more exciting."

Discussion
Discuss these questions in small groups:
1. Which first names are most popular in your country at the moment?
2. Were the same names popular amongst your parents' generation? What names were popular then?
3. Which are more popular in your country -birthdays or name days? What happens on these days?

Language
Here are 8 verbs and 8 adjectives we use to talk about things we do or do not like. Mark them in the
following way:
+ like very much -dislike o no strong feelings

I love... I quite like... beautiful awful

I loathe... I don't mind... ugly OK
I hate... I adore... gorgeous Strong
I'm fond of ... I detest... powerful pathetic
Work in pairs. Do you like the following names or not? Use the words and phrases above to help you
talk ahoout t:hem. For exaimple.. I just love Anastasia. I think it's a beautiful name.
Hil da Bernard Jemima Madonna Roger Cynthia
Arnold Dol ores Gwyneth Russell Wayne Edith

Discussion
Work in pairs. Decide which of the following ideas you want to discuss. When you are ready, tell the
rest of the class what you think:
1. Changing names: Everyone knows that Marilyn Monroe's real name was Norma Jean Mortenson.
Why did she change it? Why do people change their names? Would you like to change your name?
Should women be forced to change their name when they get married?
2. Nicknames: The former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was known by two nicknames -
Maggie or The Iron Lady. It is common for schoolchildren to give each other nicknames such as
Ears (for someone with large ears); Curly (for someone with curly hair). What nicknames can you
remember from school?
3. Pet names: Can you think of typical names in your country for the following animals?
a dog a cat a fish a pet bird

Instant Discussions What's in a name? 5

 Y®u've got rmail!

Discussion
Answer these questions. Then compare your answers with a partner.
1. Do you send emails? Who to? Why?
2. Do you use the internet? If so, how many times a day? What for?
3. Do you surf the net? Which websites do you visit most often?
4. Do you visit chat rooms? Who do you chat to? What about?
5. Do you have your own website? If so, what is on it?
6. Do any of your friends have their own websites? If so, what are they like?

Reading
Read the text below, Give three reasons why emails are `dangerous']

BIG BROTlmR Is READING youR EMAm*s people had written, but fioi reedly thought abofit.
Emails ~ so easyt but so dangerous. First of allS One problem is that a joke doesn.t always wSck
how do you write one? Short, like a note or a in an email. People dQn9t always get it. You can
message? - but that can seem a bit familiar or put one of these :-) ro make snre that pcopl€
even impolite. Start `Dear X' -like a letter? - real€se something's a joke, Or if it's a rudf joke
but that seems a bit formal and long-winded. put ;-) But, unless they know you very well,
Becatise Of their speedo emails seem to expect people are just as likely {o find it offensive or
informality, brevity and wit, stupid as they are to find it furmy.
But you must be careful. Emal}s are also a trap. Many British companies now have a cl
They combine the informality of the spoken word open policy of menitoring emails. Fflr them it is a
with the legal force of the written word. And direct way tQ try and avoid claims Of sexism,
unlike real documents you can never really get racism and unfair dismissal, For the individual
rid of them. They are always there somewhere in this may seem like an invasion of privacy - but
the computer. increasingly often, they are don't be too critical* Admittedly, the polity is
appearing in court. Cases Of divorce, sexual there €o keep ire company ant of cout, but if it
harassment and unfair dismissal have all been stops you making a fool of yourself as well, it
decided recently on the evidence of emails that can't ke too bad.

True or false?
Read the text above again and mark the following sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. There are no rules about how to write emails.
2. The good thing about emails is that you can delete them so quickly.
3. Emails are a good way of sending jokes.
4. Many British companies now monitor employees' emails.

Discussion
Answer these questions. Then discuss your answers in pairs or small groups.
1. What sort of style do you use when you write emails?
2. Do you reply to emails immediately or do you wait a while and think about what you want to say?
3. Have you ever sent an email that offended someone by mistake?
4. Do you send people jokes by email? What about pictures?
5. Do you print out your emails or do you leave them on the computer?
6. Is it right for companies to monitor their staff's emails? Is this an invasion of privacy?

6 You'vegotmail! I nstant Discussions

Language
1. Match the verbs on the left with an appropriate
Problem page
word or phrase on the right: Work in pairs ®r small groLlps. Look at these
problem page fetters and discuss the
music questions below each one,
acD Letter 1
online Dear Anrae
I've receutly sbaited going out with someone
a website
I met tharongh au iutermct dating site. "e're
the internet going to stait meeting my fofiends and fiamily
a password scan. Should I tell them itow we met? 0¥
sh®utd I ask him to lie anti squ we mck in a
your computer
more conventional wuty? What tie yoon thit\k?
Amanda
2. Complete the text below using words or
phrases from the exercise above: 1. Do you have a friend who meets people
When I get home from college, the first thing through an internet dating site? What kind
I do is ........ (1) my computer, key in my of people use this method of meeting
........ (2) and ........ (3) to check my people?
email. Then I log off and start my homework. 2. What are the advantages and
I don't often ........ (4) the internet. When I di'sadvantages of meeting people this way?
do, I usually .....,.. (5) websites that I know 3. What advice would you give to Amanda?
- often those of my favourite bands. Sometimes Why?
1'11 ........ (6) some new music and maybe Letter 2
........ (7) my own CD. Dear At\ne
I'm in my final ye3\r at college. One of my
friends has bcett cowing tots of his filral
caurse"ork ftom iutemct sites. I think hers
goittg to gce a rcatty go®ut gratie even th®ngtl
he's ctoue n®tte of the "Ofk himself. i'rm
angry about this and wonder if I sh®ulct tett
the cotlege exutnSrittes. What do you Thittk?
M''*e
1. Do you think there is a difference between
using the internet for research and copying
large amounts of text from websites?
2. Do you know anyone who has stolen large
amounts of text from the internet to use in
college cour§ework? Is cris theft?
`Ccan't talk nouj - ism chatting." 3. What advice would you give to Mike?
Letter 3
Dear Anne
Discussion My teenage son speends ldes af tiine in
Which of the following is the most serious chatrooms on the intemth I'RE w®ttied tltat I
problem with the internet? don't know who he's ±alkittg to or wtiat ite's
1. Teenagers spending too much time on it. talking atwut. What can I d® about this?
2. Buying things with a secure system of {raey
Payment. 1. What kind of thing do you think Tracy is
3. Children seeing unsuitable material.
worried about?
4. I'eople using work time to send personal
2. Do you think there are any benefits to her
messages.
son spending so much time in chatrooms?
What do you think should be done about any or 3. What advice would you give to Tracy?
all of these problems?

Instant Discussions You've got mail! 6

 Price and value

Discussion
What would you normally spend on:
a new shirt a hi-fi system a pair of shoes
food for a week a one-week holiday a party for your friends
What do you think is a reasonable amount of money to spend on:
a haircut a wedding decorating a bedroom
a flat a car a nanny/childminder for a week
a coat for a child a night out a year's membership of a gym
Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

Reading
Read the article below and compare what the stars spend with what you thought was reasonable. How
do you feel about it? Choose from the options below.
a. I think it's disgusting and wasteful that they spend so much money.
b. They've earned their money. If I was a movie star, I'd do the same.
c. Sometimes it's wasteful, but sometimes they're just doing what they have to to keep in the business.
Do you have a different reaction? If so, what?

THE PRICE 0F EVERYTHING, THE VALUE 0F NOTHING!

Vcrr!.€fty' magazine, the American film industry cosy'. The Beckharns then spem £3m on
`hible'g recently published the astonishing `fact.
refurbishment including £20,000 on fibre optic
that an American movie star needs £36.65m to lights to recreate the night sky in Brooklyn's
maintain a movie-star lifestyLe. Figures quoted bedroom; while Madonna had a £200tooo glass
include £1.5m a year on entertaining; £720,coo kitchen installed. £8m a year to run a house.
a year on hair, make-up and grooming; and Cars: well, allow anything up to f l50,000 -a
£280,000 on holidays. Ferrari for Mr Beckhani, please. Weddings:
Celebrity in Britain comes a little cheaper but Madorma spent £1.5m on hers, whereas the
will still leave most of us gasping. Take celebrity Beckhams' was cheap at only £500,000.
grooming: a visit to a top stylist will cost £125: a CThildren: don't ask. Ho§p}tal fees a{ the time Of
personal trainer £695 for 12 sessions (you can't the binh a{ £1~2$000 & night, nannies at £1,OcO a
just join the gym at £1,750 a year!), And what week {including the solicitor {o mat(e sure they
about that weekly pedicure and manicure, the don.t sell your story to the papers), and as for
legwax+ and a Swedish massage every week? It children's clothes! A Gucci baby leather jacket is
all adds up to about £30.000 a year. £9cO.
Homes and home life is always the biggest Then there's clothes. Staff, holidays` PR people -
expense. Guy Ritchie and Madorma spent over all at prices you and I probably wouldn't believe.
£5m on their London home; the Beckhams a British movie stars still aren't in the same ]eagL&e
modest £2.5m for a seven-bedroom mansion in as their US counterparts but at £15m a year to
Hertfordshire. Mrs Beckham describes it as `very keep it all going, they`re not doing too bedly!
:

_. . _. ._____ ,`_______ i

True or false?
Are the following sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the passage above?
1. On average British movie stars spend more on grooming than American movie stars.
2. The Beckhams spent more on redecorating their home than the house itself cost.
3. Gucci baby clothes are not very expensive.
4. On average, American movie stars spend more money maintaining their lifestyle than British movie
Stars.

7 Price and value Instant Discussions

Language
Put these adjectives in the correct box:
cheap Valuable extravagant
pricey inexpensive invaluable
expensive exorbitant economical
worth/costing a lot worth/costing a little

Cross out the wrong word in italics to complete these sentences:

1. £2000 a night! -That's an exoyaz.fcz7t£/expe7zsf.t;e price for a hotel.
2. She's so exfr¢tJczgcz7€£/exorbz.£cz7zZ. She bought a painting that cost over £20,000!
3. £18 for a CD -That's a bit expc7zsz.c/e/cJczJa!czb/e, isn't it?
4. You really must get that diamond ring insured. It's very P7`z.cey/„cz/#czZ7/e.
5. Give Jim a pay rise. W6 can't let him leave the company. He's ¢.77y¢J»czb/e/eco7¢o77€c.ccz/.
6. £12 for an excellent bottle of wine -That's quite ;.7zcJ4/#¢bze/¢.7¢expe7?sz.z/e really.
7. We had a great meal and it was so c¢gczp/P7'z.cey. Only £10 per person for three courses.
8. He only paid £25 for his suit! He's very c4ec!P/eco7?o77#.ccz/.
9. I was going to order a hamburger, but it was £10! I thought that was a bit Prg.cry/cJ¢/»¢b/e.

Discussion
Answer these questions. Then compare your answers with a partner.
1. In her will your grandmother leaves you a valuable painting of her grandmother which you have
never really liked. What do you do?
a. put it in the attic, but keep it because it is part of your family history?
b. hang it in your living room to impress your friends?
c. sell it because you would like the money?
d. something else?

2. You win £10,000 in a competition. What do you do?

a. spend it on a fantastic holiday for you and your partner?
b. invest it?
c. use it to start your own business?
d. something else?

3. You go into your local music store to buy the latest CD by one of your favourite bands. You can
buy a normal version of the CD for the usual price; or you can buy a limited edition of the CD
signed by all the members of the band, for twice the normal price.
a. If you were buying a CD for yourself, would you buy the normal version or the limited edition?
b. If you were buying a birthday present for a friend, would you buy the normal version or the
limited edition?

4. Match the following amounts to the items below:

£28 million £10,000 £13,500 £1,3 84,000 £30,000
a. A pair of pistols owned by George Washington.
b. A very rare Rolex watch.
c. A first edition of Hczrry Po#er cz#d T4Je Pfo¢./osoP47cr's Sfo77e, signed by the author.
d. A Rembrandt painting.
e. A stage costume worn by Elvis Presley.

Instant Discussions Pr.Ice and value 7

 Are we all criminals?

Have you committed a crime?

First answer the following questions on your own:
1. Have you ever stolen anything from a shop?
2. Have you ever taken something from your place of work or study -some paper or a pen?
3. Have you ever photocopied something at work or college without permission?
4. Have you ever not paid in a car park when you should have done?
5. Have you ever sent a private email while you were at work or used the office phone?
6. Have you ever kept something that you found?
7. Have you ever not declared something you should have done on your tax form?
8. Have you ever broken any traffic laws -speeding or parking, perhaps?
Now compare your answers with a partner,

Reading
1. Read the two articles and answer these questions:
1. What did Stacy Truman do with the money she found?
2. What did John and Darius Herbert do with the money they found?

CLEANER JAILED HONESTY PRAISHD BY POLICE

Stacy Truman, 35. a cleaner at the Two toys who handed in a supermarket
Basingstoke branch of the Mid-West carrier bag containing £1,6cO in cash
Bank, was jailed for ten months for the were praised by the pctice yesterday.
theft of £40,000 from the bank. Finding Jchn Herbert, 11, and his brother Barius,
the safe open one moming, Ms Tunman 8, found the bag in a busfu on their way
tock the money in what she described in to school and took it to the }eeal police
court as a `moment of madness.. She then s{atioH. Police identified the bag from
flew to France where she started spending other contents as belonging to a laeal
the rmoney. Two days latert sdicken with councillor. The hoys were given a reward
guilt. she returned to Britain and gave of f l60S which they are intending fa
herself np to the Basingstoke police* spend on football shirts and computer
promising to pay back the money she gangs.
had already spent. The judge said that
her crime demanded an immediate prison
seritence. Her solicitor described the
sentence as harsh and said she would
be appealing.

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. If the boys had kept the money, would anybody have found out?
2. Do you think their reward was too much, too little, or about right? Why?
3. If the money the boys found had been yours, would you have given them a reward?
4. How did Stacy Truman think she would get away with her crime?
5. I)o you think her prison sentence was too lenient, too harsh, or about right? Why?
6. What would you have done with the money in each situation?

8 Are we all criminals? Instant Discussions

Language 1 Discussion
rfuatch the phrases underiined in the sentences to Recent figures in Britain suggest that more than
the meanings in arf below: one in five people would not give information
about a crime to the police. Numbers varied
1. A woman answering to the thief's description
according to the type of crime. Nearly one in ten
was caught on Cciv.
said they would not give information -even for a
2. The police are looking into a number of rape or a murder. Almost a third said they would
burglaries in the area. not give details of people using drugs. Would you
3. The thieves broke into the warehouse and stole contact the police if you had information about
some valuable carpets. the following crimes:
4. We thought he would go to prison, but he gQ± 1. a murder?
away with a fine. 2. a rape?
5. As it was his first offence, the judge let him off 3. a burglary at a friend's home?
with a waming. 4. a burglary at the home of someone you don't
6. I thought we'd lost that book, but it turned up like?
in a box in the attic. 5. young people using drugs in the city centre?
a. enter illegally 6. the son of a friend who is using drugs?
b. escape with a very light sentence 7. children buying alcohol underage?
c. iavestigate 8. a shopkeeper selling alcohol to underage
d. match children?
e. appear
f . let someone go free Moral dilemmas
Discuss these questions with a partner:
Language 2 1. You find a carrier bag full of money in a
Complete this conversation with the correct form public toilet. Do you:
of the underiined verbs in 1 above: a) keep it?
A: Have you heard? The police have caught the b) leave it there?
thieves who .......... (1) Jack's house. c) take it to the police?
8: That's great. But it's been ages since the d) do something else?
burglary -how did they catch them?
2. You see a friend of yours removing a computer
A: Well, the police were .......... (2) a bank
from your place of work/study. Do you:
robbery that happened last month. They found
a) assume she's stealing it, but say nothing?
a couple of guys who .......... (3) the
b) assume she's borrowing it and say nothing?
description that the bank clerk gave them. So
c) tell the boss/principal?
they searched the flat where these guys were
d) ask her what she's doing?
living. They didn't find any money from the
e) do something else?
bank, but unfortunately for these guys a video
recorder and a CD player from Jack's house 3. You see someone shoplifting in a supermarket.
•......... (4). Do you:
8: Wow! What's going to happen now? a) tell one of the assistants?
A: Well, the thieves are saying that they don't b) tell the shoplifter to put it back?
know anything. The stuff was given to them c) do nothing?
by a friend who's gone to live in Australia. d) do something else?
8: That's not a very good story. 4. You discover a phone box that lets you make
A: No, but I think they may .......... (5) it. free international calls. Do you:
Apparently, the police want to .......... a) call all your friends who live abroad?
them ....... (6) with a warning. They don't b) tell everyone you know about it?
think they'll win if the case goes to court. c) tell the phone company?
8: That's terrible. They really should be going to d) do something else?
prison. Jack was off work for weeks after it
happened. Compare yollr answers with other pairs.

Instant Discussions Are we all criminals? 8

 Things that go bump in the night!

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Are there any buildings or places near where you live which people believe are haunted?
Where are they? In what way are they haunted?
2. Do you know any ghost stories which people believe to be true? If so, tell a partner.
3. i)o you believe in ghosts? Why/why not?

Reading
Read the article and answer these questions:
1. What are the I)uncans claiming?
2. What does George Deakin say?
3. What does Angela Cooke say?

BUYERS CAN.T SLEEP

A young couple who bought a 300-year-old cottage cottage in the late eighteenth century.
in Applefield. North Yorkshire are taking the sellers `1 didn't believe in ghosts before I lived here,' said
to court because they were not told the property was Mr Duncan, a nniversity lecturer. `1 thought it was
haunted. all mbbish - but there is defmitety something here.
James Duncan. 28. and his wife Betty, 25, are There are sudden changes in temperature and foul,
demanding repayment of the £46,000 they paid for unexplainable smells; things move of their own
the cottage. They claim that they became aware of accord; and we sometimes wake at night with the
an `evil presence' after they moved into the cottage. sensation Of hands around our throats. I've been
They also leant from a number of local people that scared stiff at times.'
the cottage had a spooky reputation. Angela Cooke, who sold`ine cottage io the Duncans.
App]efield resident George Deakin, 72, who has said: `This is complete nonsense. I lived there for
lived in the village all his life, remembers his ten years. I never saw a ghost and I never heard
grandfather telling of a boy being strangled in the about any reputation.'

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. In Britain, if you sell a house, you have to tell the buyers about any important information that
might be relevant. Should sellers have to tell buyers if a house has a reputation for being haunted?
2. Is this case about the paranormal or the forces of evil? Or are the Duncans hypersensitive or perhaps
just a bit crazy?
3. If you were the judge in the case above, what would you decide? Why?

Language
ln the article above James Duncan says: `l've been scared stiff at times.' Look at the expressions
underlined below and mark them in the following way:
F = The speaker was frightened. S = The speaker was just surprised.
1. When he took it out of the bag, I couldn't believe my eyes.
2. It suddenly charged towards me and gave me the fright of my life.
3. I heard it on the news last night. You could have knocked me down with a feather.
4. I wasn't expecting it at all. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
5.1'11 never do that again. It frightened the life out of me.
6. You should have seen their faces. It took them completely by surprise.
With a partner discuss what you think `it' might refer to in each example.

9 Thingsthatgobumpinthe night! Instant Discussions

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Decide which of the following are real and to what extent you feel they
really exist:
spaceships from other worlds ghosts
black magic the Bermuda Triangle
angels the Loch Ness Monster
witches faith healing
extra-sensory perception fairies
communicating with the dead crop circles

Compare your answers with other groups or pairs.

"The story goes that he once lived in this house and he bung
hinself through loneliness, but uie jttst ignore him."

Reading
Read this article and discuss the questions Read this advertisement and discuss the
below: questions:

HAVE A HAUNTED HOLIDAY!

GHOST HUNT
A team of scientists and volunteers led by Tal(e an 18-day tour of the US, stay in
Dr Richard Wiseman of the University of haunted hotels and visit spooky places! Put
Hertfordshire has been investigating together your own persona]ised trip chosen
Edinburgh's ghosts. Only volunteers who from our carefully-compiled list of the most
knew nothing of Edinburgh.s ghostly amazing paranormal experiences the US has
history were selected, and they were taken
to offer.
• Feel the ghosts of Gerald and Diane in
both to places that were believed to be
haunted and to places with no reports Of the Hotel de la Poste in New Orleans.
• Hear the pathetic sighs of Alice in the
ghosts at all. A high frequency of unusual
Hotel F!osario, Orcas Island.
experiences was reported in places with a • Experience sti.ange happenings inThe
reputation for being haunted. These
Logan Hotel, New Hope, Pennsylvania.
experiences included: sudden falls in • Meet face to face the blue-eyed girl in
temperature; feelings Of being watched; Resurrection Cemetery, Chicago.
being touched on the face; having one's
Call 0800-635-5747 and ask for your free
clothes pulled; and seeing strange figures. 'Haunted Holidays' brochure.

1 . Have you heard of investigations like this in 1. Would you go on a holiday like this?
your country? Where and when? WhyIvhy not?
2. How would you explain the findings of the 2. Do you think this tour would be an interesting
investigation? experience or a waste of money?
3. Would you like to take part in such an 3. What sort of people do you think go on
investigation? Why/Why not? holidays like this?
4. Find more holidays like this on the internet.

Instant Discussions Thingsthatgobumpinthenight! 9

 Living longer

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. If your great-great-grandparents were still alive, what questions would you like to ask them?
2. Would you like to live to the age of 120? Why/Why not? Make a list of the benefits and
disadvantages of having such a long life.

"Txle're hoping to be reeycled."

Reading
Read the text and find the answers to these questions:
1. What do Dr Harris and Professor Baker agree about?
2. What problem do they foresee?

DEAD WOOD Recent work, however, suggests that

A recent article in the joumal genetic engineering could extend
Sc!.g;ice by Dr John Haris, professor that figure much further by reducing
of bioethics at Manchester the ageing process.
University. suggests that ageing, and SHch a scenario would have
possibly even death. may soon no profound implications especially for
longer be inevitable, a theory advanced teehnologjcal societies. "It
supported by Professor Edwin Baker is possible that we would have to
of the University of New Maiden. reconsider the idea of the absolute
Up till now scientists have believed sanctity of hnman life," said I)r
that even if medical science found Baker. "Some form Tof `generatiena}
cures for the major life-threatening cleansing ' would undoubtedly be
diseases, average life expectancy necessary to clear away the dead
would not be increased beyond 85. woes."

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. What is meant by the expressions `generational cleansing' and `to clear away the dead wood'?
2. Do you agree with Dr Baker? Why/Why not?

10 Living longer Instant Discussions

Language 1
Complete these expressions from the article:
a. medical ........ d. life -........ diseases
b ......... expectancy e ......... engineering
c. the ageing ........ f. the ........ of human life

Now complete the text below using the expressions.

Hippocrates, who lived in Greece around 400 BC, is often thought of as being the `father
of medicine' so I suppose you could say that he founded .................. (1 ).
However, it's probably true to say that it wasn't until the nineteenth century that medicine
began to have a serious effect on .................. (2). It was only then that doctors
leant how to deal with a number of .................. (3) and as a result people
began to live longer. Nowadays, of course ,.................. (4) is one of the latest
developments in medicine and I guess it is only a matter of time before scientists discover
how to slow down or even halt .................. (5) as well as treat or prevent a
variety of illnesses.

Discussion Famous quotes

Work in pairs or small groups. Work in pairs or small groups to discuss these
In many countries it is usual for elderly people to quotations:
live with their families. If people start to live to 1. `Life begins at 40.' (Twalter 8. Pitkin)
the age of 120, it suggests a situation where five What do you think he means? Do you agree?
or more generations could be sharing a house. 2. `Life, to be sure, is nothing match to lose.
How would you feel if you were living with your But young men think it is, and uie ujere
husband or wife plus 10 other people:
yot4ng.'(A. E. Housman)
your children (aged 2 and 4) Why do you think the writer said this?
your parents (45)
3. `Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.'
your grandparents (70)
your great-grandparents (95) (Shirley Conran)
The writer is talking about cooking. What did
your great-great-grandparents (120)
she mean? Can you finish this sentence in
other ways?
Language 2 Life is too short to ....
Look at the verbs in this conditional sentence:
4. `If I'd known I uias going to live this long,
If people /g.t;ed till they were over 100, we I'd have taleen better care of myself.'
avo"/d 4czz/e fo build more old folks' homes.
(Eubie Blake, aged 100)
We use the simple past //;.yed/ in the conditional Do you tak'e care of yourself with a view to
clause, then woq/d have to in the main clause. living longer? If so, how?
Make more sentences like this using these ideas:
1 . pay more tax Discussion
2. have bigger houses
ln some countries when a couple get married, the
3. work longer
husband's parents immediately move in with the
4. train more nurses and doctors
newly-married couple. There are organisations in
5. learn to live together these countries which run courses on `How To
With a partner, decide what we wow/d have to c/a Live With Your ln-Laws', Make a list of the
in these areas: advantages and disadvantages of living with your
in-laws when you get married.
jobs
housing
medical services
transport
pensions
Sport
entertainment

Instant Discussions Living longer 10

 Giving to charity

Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner, then compare your answers with others in the class.
1. How much money do you give each year to charity?
a) nothing b) uery little c) more than one uieele's wages
2. Which charities do you give to?
a) local charities b) riational charities c) international charities
3. If someone is collecting in the street for a charity, how much do you give them.)
a) nothing b) jttst some small change c) a decent amount
4. Are there any charities you would not give to? Why not?
5. There is a famous saying in English: C¢cz7`z.fy begc.7¢s ¢f 47o774e. What do you think this means?
1)o you have something similar in your country?

Reading
Read the four texts and answer these questions:
1. Which people do not give to charity?
2. Which person does give to charity?
3. Which person works for a charity?

Pete Vikki
No, I don't give to charity. I really don't There are a few high earners who are
think I'm that well-off. Sure, we're trying to extremely generous. One very wealthy
move house and we're considering moving to government minister is reported to have
a house that's worth a million and a half. given £47 millic;n tQ charity last year.
But if I look round the school playground JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has
when I take my kids to school I'm by no given the roya!tie§ of two books, worth
means the richest person there. In fact, I'm about £8 million, to a charity. But these are
probably somewhere in the middle. If I won exceptions. Figures show that the richest 20
a million pounds on the Lottery, I'd be pretty percent of individuals in Britain give less
disappointed. I mean, a million pounds than 1 per cent of their income; the poorest
really doesn't go very far these days, does it? 10 percent give 3 per cent of their income.
It wouldn't even get us the house we want. Overall, one in three people last year gave
nothing. Somehow, we fund-raisers have to
Michelle
change these figures.
Of course I give. How could I not? I havf a
roof over my head. I have clean water and Brian
enough to eat. I can see a doctor whenever I W€ used to be able to rely on the
need to. I can read, write, vote, watch government for things like health care and
television. I have a job. There are people education and pensions but nowadays we
who have none of these things. Of course I have to pay for these things out of our own
give. I have to. It's frightening that there are pocket. I paid about £40,000 in tax last year
some people who are not prepared to try and and I got nothing back for jt - so, no, I don't
improve the lives of those living in extreme feel very generous when it comes to giving
Poverty. away my money.

11 Giving to charity Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in small groups:
1. What reasons are given by the four people why
people do not give to charity? What other
reasons do you think people have for not
giving? Are these the real reasons?
2. How do you feel about Pete and Brian? Do you
think Michelle is caring and generous, or just
naive?
3. Do you think men and women have different
attitudes to charities?
4. How do you think charities could encourage
more people to donate to them?
Discuss these questions with reference to your
own country:
5. How many people give to charity?
a)most b)ueryfew c)aboutoneinten "13m sorry -we can take your mother's clothes,
6. Do people collect money on the streets? but not her."
7. Do you have door-to-door collections?
8. How generous is your government to the Third
World? Discussion
1. Work in small groups. You have won a mi[lion
Language pounds to give away to the charity or charities of
Look at the following underiined expressions your choice. You can give it all to one charity or
from the texts above: you can divide it up between a maximum of four
different ones. Here is the list of charities. Decide
I've gQ± nothing ba£!s for it . . . how you will divide up the money. Then share
... when it comes to diving awav my money. your ideas with other groups.
use the correct form of these phrasal verbs in the 1. a charity doing research into cancer
sentences: 2. a charity which looks after homeless people in
give bacle pay bach your town
give away get by 3. a charity for children from poor backgrounds
give out get ouer in your country
4. a charity that helps the poor in Africa
get back give up
5. a charity to train guide dogs for blind people
1. She's so generous. She's always ........
6. an international AIDS charity
money ....... to good causes.
7. a charity for old people in your town
2. I had to borrow £1001ast week, but I .......
8. a charity for the victims of a recent
it ...... as soon as I was paid.
earthquake in Latin America
3. She's been ........... leaflets encouraging
9. a charity that looks after cats and dogs which
people to give money to the earthquake fund. have been found in the street
4. I ........... a couple of hours each week to 10. a charity that helps artists who have financial
address envelopes for a children's charity. difficulties
5. Charity is all about giving -you shouldn't
2. Work in small groups. Choose a charity that
expect to ...... something .......
everyone in the group feels comfortable with -or
6. My parents really don't like accepting charity,
make one up. Design a poster for the charity.
but they just can't ........... any longer. Think about:
7. He couldn't ........... the bank so they
- what you want people to do
took away his house. - how to catch their attention
8. He's never really ........... the shame of - what images you might want on your poster
losing his house. - what information you might want to get across
Match four of the verbs with these meanings: - a slogan/catchphrase
a. recover from c. distribute - how people can give money/contact you
b. manage financially d.spend time Compare your answers with other groups.

Instant Discussions Giving to charity 11

 Jewellery for men

Discussion
Answer the appropriate questions below.
Now compare your answers in small groups. Try and make sure the groups are not all men or all
Women.

QUESTIONS FOR MEN QUESTIONS FOR WOMEN

1. Do you wear/have you ever worn 1. Do you wear jewellery every day or
jewellery? just on special occasions?
2. Make a list of all the jewellery you own. 2. Do you know any men who wear
3. How expensive is/was it? j.ewellery? What do they wear?
4. Why do you wear it? 4. Do you think that generally men look
5. Are there other items of jewellery that you good in jewellery?
would like to own and wear? What? 5. Would the type of jewellery a man wears
6. Would you wear any of the following? influence your attitude towards him?
a) more than one ring 6. Which of the following do you think men
b) an earring should not wear?
c) a necklace a) earrings c) brooches
d) a brooch b) necklaces d) toe-rings

Reading
Read the article below and answer these questions:
1. What type of jewellery does David Beckham wear a lot at the moment?
2. Why does Mona Drewitt think that David Beckham wears this kind of j.ewellery?
3. How popular are wedding rings amongst British men?

DIAMONDS ARE A BOY'S BEST FRIEND world that you're rich. £t's also a secret challenge:
`Are yon dsing as well as me?' `I'm sure that David
Did you see David Beckham on a German TV chat
show the other night? Really? Did you notice what Beckham'§ taste is a conscious way of displaying his
he was wearing? He looked as if he'd bought half a wealth,' says Mona Drewitt.
jeweller's. shop on the way to the §"dio. `He seems But dces such a display show caste and style or is it
to be just crazy about diamonds the.¥e days,I says just plain naff? Do real men wear jewels and rings?
Mona Drewitt from Hatton Garden, London's street Whilst most British men, even if they could afford
for j8wellers. And she's right eso,OcO of diamond- i{, would nco go for Becks! diamond-studded
§"dded watch, diamond-sendded crosses on his €arsS accessories, many wear a ring on their little finger,
a diamond-smdded ring on his lieele finger. He Qr a weddiffig ring, or sometimes, daringly, both»
probably had most of one £100,OcO weskiy wage However, John Morgan, author Of Debrett's IVcvij
packet dispersed abouit his body as he stepped into Guide to E€iqasette and Modern Manners "amg:.
`The higher up the sueial ladder you goo the more
the studio that night.
Or course, wearing your wealth is a tradition among resistant people are to male jewellery. I wouldn't
nomadic people; like canying your money around recommend jt to any®ne^' That sounds like a red
with you because you don't trust banks. Displaying card and back to the dressing rcom for Mr David
showy and expensive jewellery tells the rest of the Beckhan!

12 Jewelleryformen Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. What do you think about the amount of jewellery that young sportsmen and other celebrities wear?
Does it show good taste or bad taste?
2. Why do people sometimes `wear their wealth'?
3. Do you think men should wear jewellery? Why/Why not?
4. What about women? Do you think they can sometimes wear too much jewellery?

Language
Label the pictures with the following words:
locket ring necklace broo ch bracelet ch ain earring

...,-. `...`

--f.-. €i.I
Discuss with a partner which of the items of jewellery above you like on men and which on women,
Which styles of the items above do you like?

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Look at the pictures below and discuss these questions:
1. Do you like what the person has done to themselves? Why/Why not?
2. If this person was a friend of yours and they had suddenly changed their appearance to look like
this, what would you say to them?
3. How would you feel if one of your children came home looking like this?
4. What would you say to them?
5. Would you ever do this?/Have you ever done this?

Instant Discussions Jewelleryformen 12

 Who cares about the environment?

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Make lists of:
1. any animals or birds that are endangered or protected in your country
2. any areas of land which are protected
3. any trees or plants which are protected
What is being done to ensure that these things are protected?

Reading
Read the letter below and answer these questions:
1. Who do you think the letter is written to?
2. Which of the following is the best summary of the writer's view of the environment?
a. We should do everything we can to protect it.
b. W€ really shouldn't worry about it at all.
c. We should be more thoughtful about what we protect.

Dear Sir

I follow your environmental news section with interest. However, as a

result of a number of recent stories, I believe that we have begun to take
conservation too seriously.
You report [hzit almost I,000 trees have been cut down in the north of
England to create a n.ature reserve for a tiny snail. Is this `sensible? The
snail was last seen seven years ago and nobody has seen one since. For
all we know. it might already be extinct and I,000 trees have been cut
down for no reason at all.
The world.s smallest lizard. measuring 2 cm t`rom nose to tail, has just
been discovered in the Dominican Republic and immediately placed on
the list ot. endangered species. Why? A week ago we didn't even know
it existed. Why should we `snddenly care so much about it now?
At Worthing. on the south coast of England, work has stopped on a sea
wall in order to protect the habitat of a rare flower, which was being
disturbed by the building work. How much will the people who live
there be disturbed if the sea breaks through the sea wall` damaging
property and possibly taking lives?
Yes, the environment is important -but more important is human
progress, the lives of other species, and a sense Of perspec`tive.
Yours faithfully

Rffiho4g
Read the letter again and answer these questions:
1. What three conservation issues does the writer mention?
2. What has been done in each case?
3. How does the writer feel about each issue?

13 Who cares about the environment? Iristant Discussions

Discussion Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups: 1. Work in small groups. Read and discuss each
1. How far do you agree with the writer? Give statement below. If everyone agrees with a
reasons.
statement, leave it as it is. If someone disagrees,
change the statement so that everyone in the
2. Can you think of any important environmental
or conservation issues in your local area or
group agrees with it. Use phrases from the
Language activity, if appropriate.
your country?
3. Describe them to a partner and explain the 1. I'lants and animals have been dying out since
arguments on each side. the beginning of time. It's natural. And it's
4. What is your opinion about what is happening pointless trying to stop it happening.
in these cases? 2. Humankind has always exploited the resources
of the planet - animal, mineral and vegetable.
Language It is nature's problem -not ours.

Look at the underlined expression with know in 3. Few species are worth saving: lions, elephants,
this sentence: giant pandas maybe; two-centimetre-long
For all u)e know. it might already be extinct. lizards, definitely not.

It has the meaning of this might be true but we 4. I'eople shouldn't get so angry about the use of
just don't know.I land. We need houses and factories. There are
Read these sentences and complete them with plenty of green open spaces around the world.
expressions from the box: If you need to be near one that badly, move!

a. You know as u/ell as I do that ...

b. He doesn't knou/ the meaning of the u)ord.

c. She's such a know-all.

d. you never lenoui ...

e. .„ houi uias I to know ...

f. I don't knoui about yott, but ...

1. Conservation? Don't talk to Gerald about

conservation........................,
2 ......................... I really can't
2. Work in small groups. All the items on the list
see the point of struggling to save species that below are threatened with extinction, You have
will probably die out anyway. the power to save just three. Which three would
3. We have to do something to keep people away you save and why?
from these birds' nests ..................
the Sicilian fir tree
someone will try to steal the eggs. the giant tianda
4. I didn't mean to embarrass her, but ........
th e Sentani rainbouJfish
................. she worked for a multi-
the Chinese alligator
national oil company?
the Virginia round-leaf birch tree
5. I hate discussing important issues with Rachel. the bou)head whale
a type of Sri Lanhan ant
6. I just refuse to eat hamburgers unless I make
the red uJolf
them myself. I mean ,...................
what they put in commercially produced ones. Compare your decision with other groups.

Instant Discussions Who cares about the environment? 13

 The power of prayer

Discussion
Have you ever prayed in any of the following situations?
1. when you have been ill?
2. before a meal?
3. when a close friend or relative has been having an operation?
4. before going to sleep at night?
5. when you have been in an aircraft that is taking off or landing?
6. before a sporting event -an important football match or race, perhaps?
7. when you have been rushing because you were late for something?
8. before a meeting?
9. after a success of some kind?
Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

Reading
Read the three short articles below and choose one of the following reactions for each one. Do you
have a different reaction?
a: That's just nonsense! I don't believe it.
b: That's fascinating. I can well believe it's true.
c: That's interesting, but I wonder.if there's another explanation.
Compare and discuss your reactions in pairs or small groups.

DEMAND FOR KORAN AND BIBLE PRAYER SAVES PLANE

After the teITorist attacks of i lth There was a lucky escape yesterday for
Septembert many booksellers throughout the 157 passengers and crew on board a
the UK reported a significant increase in KiteAir jet flying from the Philippines to
sales of the Bible. in some cases a rise of Hong Kong. Ash from the volcano,
as much as 25%. One inteme{ bookseller Mount Pina{ubo, blocked the air intakes,
reperted that their Bibles sales had not forcing the engines tQ stop. The pilot,
increased, but that there was more however, managed to restart them once
demand for copies of the Koran and the plane reached €]earer air and landed
books on the prophecies Of the plane 'safely at Manila aixprt<
; Nostradamus.* Soledad Garcia, a passenger on the flight,
said: `The engines seemed to Be stopped
for some fine. We all prayed that they
PRAY AND GET PREGNANT would s€art again. There were Muslims,
A scientific smdy on a group of women Hindus, and Christians on the plane. Our
undergoing fertility treatment suggests Gods must have heard us."
that prayer gives women a greater chance
of getting pregnant. In this study,
repomed in uha Journeil Of Reproductive
Medicine, wormem who "eTe prayed tor
had a 50% chance Of becoming pregnantS
compared with 26% for women who
were not prayed for.

*Nostradamus (1503-1566) was a French physician and mystic, famous for

publishing prophecies. He has many followers today. You will find lots of websites
devoted to his ideas.

14 The powerofprayer Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions about the articles in
pairs or small groups:
1. Are you surprised that sales of the Bible rose
after September llth 2001? Why/Why not?
2. Do you believe that prayer really has the power
to increase women's fertility or to help the
sick? Or do you think that the research is
flawed in some way?
3. Do you think prayer was in any way
responsible for the engines restarting on the
KiteAir plane?
4. What effect(s) do you think prayer has - on the
person praying? And on the object (person or
thing) of the prayer?
"Well> really! You'd think by now
Language held have picked up English!"
Look at the expressions below to do with
believing and disbelieving. Mark each expression
as follows:
8 = itexpressesbelief
Discussion
D = itexpresseslackof belief With a partner, choose one of the three areas
below. Discuss the questions, then report to the
1. I don't believe a word of that!
rest of the class.
2. I'm sure that's right.
3. I've no trouble with that. 1. Your own beliefs
4. I have my doubts.about that. Would you say that you are religious?
5. That seems unlikely to me. Do you pray? When? How often?
6. You're kidding. How about your friends and family?
7. I've always suspected that. Is there a tradition of religion in your family?
8. I can easily believe that. Is religion more important for the older or for the
9. I've never heard such nonsense.
younger members of the family?
10. I find that difficult to believe.
A recent survey suggests that 70% of people start
Read the following attitudes to prayer. Which of to pray when they get into difficulty. Do you pray
the expressions above best describe your own when you get into difficulty? If so, in what sort of
view? Compare your views with a partner.
circumstances?
• If someone is sick, it will help them if you pray
2. Religion in your country
for their recovery.
• Prayer is pointless. What are the main religions in your country?
How important is religion in your culture?
• If more people prayed, the world would be a
How important is religion in the history of your
far better place.
• A lot of people only pray when they're in some country?
What percentage of the population is religious?
sort of trouble.
• Atheists have just as good a life as believers. Is religion more important or less important than
• Prayer makes you feel better, but it doesn't it used to be?

actually make any difference. 3. Holy places

• Prayer is a natural human response to a serious Are there any places of pilgrimage in your
or dangerous situation. country?
• I pray 6 times every day. Have you been to any of them? Why?
• Prayer is just a form of meditation -nothing Do you believe that these places possess special
else. powers?
• If a lot of people get comfort from prayer, why Do you know anyone who has been cured by
knock it? visiting one of these places?

Instant Discussl.ons Thepowerof prayer 14

 Revenge is sweet!

Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner:
Have you ever been really embarrassed in public?
Was it your fault or did someone else embarrass you?What happened?
How did you feel? What did you do afterwards?

Reading
Read the first paragraph of this newspaper article about a vicar and choose the best headline below:
SCANDAL IN CHURCH
VICAR CHEATS ON LOCAL DOCTOR
DOCTOR ATTACKS CHEATING VICAR
r__~-_
i A married vicar has left his job after having
; an affair with the wife Of a local doctor. Dr
Mark Lueas, 36t interrupted the Rev David
Hughes during a church service to call him `a
liar, a chca{ and a shameless adul€erer' after
finding letters from Rev Hughes to his wife.

Discuss these questions:

1. How do you think Dr Lucas felt? "They sttspect arson."
2. How do you think Rev Hughes felt?
3. What do you think happened next in the church?
4. What do you think happened after the church service?
Read the rest of the article and answer these questions:
5. Did Dr Lucas go to the church so that he could embarrass Rev Hughes?
6. What did the other people in the church do?
7. Where is Dr Lucas' wife now?

Gary Buxton, a retired taxi driver, who was attending the church service, said:
SEverything went very quiet. We were all a bit shocked. Then David walked ot!t of

the church and no one has seen him since.' Dr Lucas said: `1 had not intended to
make a scene. But when he started preaching to people how to live their livest I saw
red. I have seen my solicitor and am seeking a divorce` I won't share a house with her
any longer. Not even for the sake of the children.' The Lucases have three children,
aged 12, 10 and 8. Rev Hughes and his wife have a grown-up daughter. Mrs Lucas, a
teacher at St Mark's Primary School, is believed to have left the ar;a with Rev
Hughes. Mrs Hughes was not available for comment.

Discussion
1. How do you feel about what the different people have done -Dr Lucas, Mrs Lucas, Rev Hughes,
Mrs Hughes? Have they behaved well, badly, or j.ust like normal people?
2. What would you have done if you had been in t:he church?
3. What would you have done if you were the vicar's wife -left him or stood by your man?

15 Revengeissweet! Instant Discussions

Language
1. Complete the text below with the correct form Of these verb phrases:
have an affair leave get a divorce work out be together split wp
I don't really understand Helen and James at all. They ........... (1) a couple of years ago when
James ........... (2) with his secretary. But then when that didn't ........... (3), he moved
back in with Helen. Then she ....... (4) him for her tennis coach and at that point I thought they
were going to ........... (5). Now they ........... (6) again and they seem to be as happy as
ever.

2. Complete the sentences below with appropriate forms of the following phrases:
paint the town red go red be caught red-handed see red
1. I'm not surprised he ............... He was extremely embarrassed.
2. He couldn't pretend he was innocent. He .................................
3. I couldn't help getting angry. When she accused me of lying, I j.ust ....................
4. We've really got something to celebrate. Let's ..............................

Discussion
Work in pairs. Discuss the questions below:
1. Are you generally vengeful or forgiving? Give examples.
2. If you were surfing the internet and you found a website like the one below, would you:
a) add it to your favourites - you know you will need it.
b) read it - it will help you with a present problem.
c) move on - it's a stupid site.

VENGEANCE-IS-MINE.COM

Has someorie treated you badly? Do you need to get your own back9

At vengeance~is-mine.com we are all too aware that some people are greatly in need Qf humiliation -
the pompous, the contemptuous, the violent, the thoughtless. They will all benefit from a little
anonymous payback. We do not encourage anything illegal, violent, or in any way damaging. \^fe do
not take responsibility for the actions of people who visit this site. We do encourage the victims of
revenge to rethink their behaviour. We do hope that the ideas you may find here will be useful.
1. ideas for I.evenge
2. classic revenge stories
3. things to buy
4. help our members

3. Can you imagine ever using anything on the list below to get revenge on someone? What might you
use the items for?
a box of melted chocolates an old love letter from a friend's ex-bay friend
itching pouider a photograph of a friend as a fat 5-year-old child
a bunch of artificial black roses an empty box for fiou)ers
a miniature tombstone a subseription form for a rude magazine
4. With a partner, decide what you would do in the following situations:
a. Your partner (boy/girlfriend or spouse) has run off with your best friend.
b. A friend borrowed £200 from you last year and has never paid you back. She is avoiding you.
c. You bought a car from someone you know and it keeps breaking down.
d. A friend borrowed a CD from you two years ago and has never returned it.
e. Your boss keeps giving you really boring, unpleasant jobs to do.
f. A colleague at work keeps telling everyone how wonderful he is.

Instant Discussions Revenge is sweet! 15

Discussion
1. Do you know any couples who are childless?
2. Do you think that more couples are childless because they don't want children or because they can't
have children?
3. Do you know any couples who have had IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment? Was it successful?

Reading
Read the article below. Mark these sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. Diane Blood died after a fight.
2. Stephen Blood is Liam's father.
3. Diane Blood was treated in Britain.

SECOND CHILD FOR DIARE refused to a]IQw Diane

Diane Blcod, the widow who spent two Elcod ro us
years fighting the courts for the right tQ husband permrssion
have a child using her late husband's writing. Hogiv€v€rf the appeal corn later
sperm, is now pregnant with a second derided that she could take the sperm
child also from his sperm. abroad for treaLtment ltnder EU law. Her
Diane'§ hu§band9 Stephen 81 three and a half
ill with meningitis in March 199
30. The Couple had tjeen i
fanity. VAle Stephen lay
hospital, Diane persuaded
remove and freeze a saint)
and Em

Discussion
1. With a partner, try to agree on one alternative from each of the following:
1. a. It was right that Stephen Blood's sperm was removed. He would have agreed.
b. It was wrong that the sperm was removed without Stephen's consent.
2. a. It was a disgrace that she could not be treated in Britain.
b. Britain is right to have such strict laws about this kind of thing.
3. a. Diane should not have been allowed to do this a second time.
b. It is crazy that governments should become involved. This is a matter for t:he individual.
4. a. It is wrong to bring children into the world with no father present.
b. A single mother can be just as good a parent.
2. How do you think the parents of Stephen Blood felt at the birth Of the first child? Do you think
they are happy at the idea of another grandchild?
3. What is the situation in your country?
a. The law is very strict and it is very difficult to do something like this.
b. The law is very progressive and Diane Blood would have had no trouble doing what she did.
c. My country has no official policy on things like this.

4. Are you aware of any cases like Diane Blood's in your country?

16 A matter of birth and death Instant Discussions

Language
Complete the text using the correct forms of the appropriate verbs from the box below:

exp eat give adapt

marry start fall
be raise lose

Jason and Annie ........ (1) in March 1990. Very soon afterwards they decided to ........ (2) a
family and Annie became pregnant very. quickly. Their first child, a son ,........ (3) born at the
beginning of 1991. Annie loved children and six months later she ........ (4) another baby. In
spring 1992 Annie ........ (5) birth to a baby girl. Tragically, however, there were complications at
the birth and Annie died a few days later. Jason gave up his job and ........ (6) the children on his
own for five years. Then he met Lucy ,........ (7) in love with her and they got married. Lucy loved
Jason's children but really wanted some of her own. After ........ (8) two babies in early pregnancy,
the doctors told her that she was unlikely ever to be able to have children of her own. As a result,
Jason and Lucy decided to ........ (9) a baby, which they did in 1999. Jason's son and daughter
think their new baby sister is wonderful.

Discussion
1 . IVF

Which of the options below do you think are acceptable courses of action for a couple who are unable
to have children?
• IVF treatment in which the mother's egg is fertilised with the sperm of her husband or partner
• IVF treatment using the mother's egg and sperm from a sperm bank
• paying another woman to have a baby using your husband's sperm
2. Adoption
What kind of people should be allowed to adopt children? Here are six different situations. Do you
think any of these people should be stopped from adopting?
1. a young man and woman in their mid-twenties who have been married for three years and cannot
have children
2. a lesbian couple in their thirties who want a child
3. a couple in their mid-forties who have just got married
4. a couple in their late thirties who have been married for twelve years and cannot have children
5. a couple of gay men in their thirties who want to bring up a child
6. a couple in their early fifties who have grown-up children by their first marriages, but want to start
a second family now that they have re-married
3. Many people adopt children from abroad. Which of the following is closest to your view?
1. It is better for children to grow up in a loving family in the West than in an orphanage in their
own country.
2. It is immoral to remove children from their own country and culture.
3. No child should be adopted by people from another country without the consent of the child's
natural parents.
4. This is a very difficult issue and it depends on the situation of the children and their natural parents.

Finally
Diane Blood gave birth to her second child, another boy, ]oel Michael, seven years after the removal of
her dying husband's sperm. All four grandparents were present. The baby was born in Britain, but Mrs
Blood had had to go to Belgium to be inseminated. One particular disappointment for Diane was the
refusal of the British authorities to allow her to put her husband's name on her children's birth
certificates. There are thought to be about 40 women in Britain in a similar situation to Diane Blood.
If you look on the internet, you will find more about the ethics of cases like this.

Instant Discussions A matter of birth and death 16

 Folk wisdom

Introduction
Read these two sayings and discuss the questions below in pairs or small groups:
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him houJ to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's ujarning.
1. What do the sayings mean?
2. Do you think they are useful?
3. What part of the world do you think they come from?
4. Do you have any similar sayings in your language?

Reading
Read the text below and answer these questions:
1. What do we know about Murphy?
2. What is the basic idea behind all of Murphy's laws?

MURPHY'S LAWS

lt was a man called Murphy, about whom we Seem to know nothing other than his
name and his pessimistic view of life, who f!rst made the profound revelati®fl tha€
if anything can go wrong, it will. This simple idea about the way the world works
has since planted itself in the human mind with a deep and lasting effect on the
way we live. From his first and most famous law ~ `lf anything can go wrong, it
will' - Murphy went on to develop his theories, €reat5ng other related principles
that govern our lives. Undoubtedly One of the most irmporiant thinkers of Sur time,
Murphy has seen to the very heart Of our existence and opened Our eyes to the
mysterious ways of fate. Murphy's inspiration is often Seen as a defifling moment ir!
global history, copied by many, but equalled by none.
• If anything can go wrong, it will.
• If there is a possibility Of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the
most damage will be the One to go wrong. Note: lf there is a worse time for
something to go wrong, it will happen then`
• lf anything just cannot go wrong, it will anyway.
• !f you see that there are four possible ways in which something can go wrong,
and take precautions against these, then a fifth way, which you have not prepared
for, will suddenly develop.
• Left {o themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
• lf everything seems to Be going well, you have obviously overlooked scime{hin8.

A further important rule to remember is:

• A knowledge of Murphy's Law is no help in any situation.

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss these questions:
1. How important does the writer say that Murphy's theories are?
2. How serious is the writer?
3. Can you think of any examples of Murphy's Law applying in your life or the lives of people you
know?
4. Do you have similar €laws' in your country?

17 Folk wisdom I nstant Discussions

Language Discussion
Sayings, proverbs and `Iaws' are often told using 1. Sometimes people claim that there are rational,
a form of conditional sentence. For example: or even historical, explanations for a lot of our
folk wisdom. For example:
If anything can go wrong, it uiill.
The idea that it is lucky to put a horseshoe over
Add to the list of sayings below with ideas from
our front door comes from a time when it was
your country/culture:
believed that witches rode on broomsticks
1. If you tell a dream before breakfast, it will
because they were afraid of horses. Putting a
come true. horseshoe over your door kept witches away.
2. If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad
luck. The idea of having seven years' bad luck if you
3. If your nose itches, somebody is coming to break a mirror comes from the time when mirrors
visit. were very expensive. If you broke yours, it would
take seven years to save the money for a new one.
2. Can you think of any rational or historical
explanations for these sayings?
1. The tail of a fox dead of old age brings good
luck.
Compare your sentences in pairs or small 2. Never touch a baby, a mother and a tombstone
groups. all in one day.
3. Nothing succeeds like success.
Discussion 4. Never argue at a crossroads.

1, Work in pairs. Complete the sayings below with 3. What about for these actions?
words from the box: 1. Touching wood.
2. Making the sign of the cross.
have Postpone grow show 3. Putting a tooth that has come out under your
see consists is h as pillow at night.
4. Making a wish when you cut your birthday
cake.
1. Children ...... more need of models than of
5. Shaking hands with your right hand (not your
critics.
left).
2. Don't let grass ...... on the path of
friendship.
3. Doubt ...... the key to knowledge. Some more sayings
4. People . ; .... their character by what they Here are some more sayings. Do you think there
laugh at. is any truth in any of them? Are they amusing,
5. Heroism .,.... of hanging on one minute insightful or just stupid? Do you have similar
longer. sayings in your country? What are they?
6. You can't ...... the whole sky through a The light at the end of the tunnel is a train.
bamboo tube. ` Those who know the least will always know it
7. Liberty ...... no price. loudest.
8 ....... today's anger until tomorrow. Beauty is only skin deep, fashion is even
What is the point of each saying? shallower.
Have you heard any of them before? An expert is someone with an opinion and a
2. Where do you think each saying comes from? word processor.
Match each of the above with the following Everything tastes more or less like chicken.
sources: There are three kinds of memory: good, bad and
Germany the p hilippines convenient.
Norway Spain
I apan France
Iran Native American

Instant Discussions Folk wisdom 17

 l'm on the train!

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss these questions:
1. Do you have a mobile phone? If not, why not?
2. How many people do you know who don't have a
mobile phone?
3. If you have a mobile phone, do you use it for both
calls and texting? How often?
4. What is the most embarrassing situation in which
your mobile phone has rung?
5. What is the most embarrassing situation in which
someone else's mobile phone has rung?
6. What is the most irritating ring tone you have heard?
`.-rfwi-wil6in€
7. What is the most amusing ring tone you have heard? "Hello -yeah -I'm on the train."

Reading
Read the article and tick (/) the correct sentence below:
The writer thinks: a. too many people have mobile phones.
b. mobile phones are fantastic.
c. people worry about how to behave with a mobile phone.

FULLY MOBILE
True stories or urban mythe? Everyone has tales about mobiles - but they always happen
to someone else.
Have you heard the one about the pregnant woman on the tralm? She was sitting opposite
some bloke9 who was talking noisily and at length into his mobile. She started to go
into labour and asked {o boITow his phone €o call her doctor He refused. Why? Well.
positively writhing with embarassment, he was forced to admit his phone wasn't real.
Or how about the boxer in a restanrant lendly negotiating the Serms of his next fight into
a phone whieh suddenly rang? Or th`e ltahian priest who inter"pted a religious ceremony
to take a call?
Everyone has a storys but almost everyone has a mobile too. Mobile ownership is now
well over 50% in the UK, and heeding ever closer to ffiuland where a remarkable 75%
Of the populatiori own a mobile.
ALre wg put off by potential health risks? No¢ What about the possitiiiity Qf being mugged
for our phone? It won't happen to me. Or how about the thought that we might look a
complete idiot on the 6.15 from Paddingten saying `rm on the train'. Good heavens, no!
Not me! For me they'rs an endless source Qf amusemefit and fasciriatien. In fact, I'm in
mobile heaven.

Discussion
Work in pairs. Discuss these questions:
`.,-
1. What risks or dangers are mentioned in the article? Can you think of any other risks or dangers
not mentioned?
2. Do you think the stories in the article are true or not? Do you know of any similar stories?

18 l'm on the train! Instant Discussions

Language 1
Study this sentence:
(She was) sitting apposite some bloke, who u}as
talking noisily and at length into his mobile.
`Bloke' is a slang word meaning `man'. Slang js a
kind of colloquial language which can make
speech more vivid and interesting. However, you
must be careful not to use it in inappropriate
situations. Match the underlined slang word in
the sentences 1 -8 to the definitions in the box
below:
1. You couldn't lend me some money, could you?
I'm skint.
2. Let's go somewhere else for a drink. I've just "Stiare the price of a cup of tea?"
seen the gQpe go in there.
3. And then she dropped her glass and spilt red
wine on their new carpet. She's such a plonker. Discussion
4. Just a minute! I must go to the |QQ before we
1. Read this short article and discuss the
80. questions below in pairs or small groups:
5.1'11 bring some food if you could bring the
booze.
6. iiink he was a bit pissg± He couldn't walk
i
A `sfubbom and anogent'
straight and he laughed too loudly.
airline passenger was jailed for
7. You should ask that g±±}z over there -the one
a year yes{€rday after refusing
with the green hat.
to switch #ff his mobile phone
8. ]oe's down at the police station. He Ei£!sed
some CDs in the new shopping centre and got on an intemarional Highi.
caught. Judge Anthony Ensor told the
shocked oil workerS Nell
a. stwpid person e. stole Whitehouse, that the sentence
b. drunle f. alcohol was intended to discourage
c. having no money g. lavatory other people who might be
d. Police h. man tempted to behave in a similar
fashion.

Language 2
i_+., 4, i
1. Does the article surprise you?
Complete the text below with appropriate forms 2. Does the punishment surprise you?
of the slang words from the exercise above: 3. Do you think the punishment is too strict or
I got on the train home the other day and this not strict enough? Why?
........ (1) with red hair got on and sat down 2. You have been asked to draw up a list of rules
opposite me. I knew he was a ........ (2) as for people using mobile phones in public. Work in
soon as he got out his mobile. He rang his pairs or small groups. Think about the following:
girlfriend and started talking to her. The whole 1. when and where it is appropriate to use them
carriage could hear what he was saying. After a 2. when and where it is not appropriate
while I realised he was ........ (3) as well.
3. the length of calls
I could smell the ........ (4) on his breath and 4. the type of conversations allowed
there was a bottl.e of whisky sticking out of his 5. ringtones
pocket. Anyway, the next thing I know a couple 6. possible punishments for breaking the rules
of ........ (5) got on the train and came up to
him. They asked him where he got the whisky.
He looked a bit embarrassed. So they arrested
him because they reckoned he ........ (6) it
from a shop just outside the station and they'd
got him on the security cameras.

Instant Discussions I'm on the train! 18

 Children and discipline

Discussion
Work in pairs. Make a list of ways in which parents and teachers discipline children. For each
punishment on the list discuss the following questions:
1. Is this a reasonable punishment to give a child in a civilised society?
2. What age of child is it suitable for?
3. Who can give this punishment to a child? Parents? Teachers? Other relatives?

Reading
Read these two letters. Which one do you agree most with? Why?

Dear Sir Dear Sir

C(hayik goodness the governmeylt has fiylallg
9 thiyik it is quite ridiculous that the
govewimeyit shoulcd be coyisideriyig legislcztiovi beguyi to see seyise regardiyig the puyiishmeyit
to bayi smGickiyig. Everu pareyit needs the right of childreyi! Let us hope that theg have the
to be able to give 6z child ca syviack, yiot iyi order coiArcige to cdo clwcau with the phqsical
tc) caiAse phqsico{l haryn or paiyi, but ynoy-e as cl puyiishwieyit of childreyl. We supposedlu live iyl
shock tactic to stop 61 child frorm m[sbehtaviyig a civilised society. eon we at last realise that
or ivi some ciy.cuyyistcances to stop them causiyig phgslcal pwiishmeyit is uyireasoyiable,
dcaynage to themselves or other people. Some degrading, meyitcallg hcarmful ayld completely

people 6il'gue th6it lcaws ay.e vieec]ed to stop uyl6icceptable iyi the 21st ceyiturg? Syyiackiyig,
excessive phusical puyiishmeyit, but they.e care iyldeed clylu form of phus-iccdl puylishmeylt,

quite clear laws dealing with assault ayid should be mGide illegcal imyyledicdtelu, ayid
bodi[u harm. gf a pareyit cai^ses phusiccal hc]rm parents c"d teacher.s who practise this
to a child, theyi the police carl use these lcaws to disgraceful activitu should be brought before
briyig the pareyit to justice. Jvlu father used to the coiAy+s.

give me the slipper ciyid it yiever did yvie anq £aura519y,y,

haryyi. What is all the fuss about?
C]ackwcallace

Make four true sentences:

would like to see all physical punishment banned.

Jack Wallace thinks the laws are acceptable as they are now.
Laura Flynn thinks smacking has more than a physical effect.
was smacked as a child.

Discussion
Work in small groups. Discuss these statements:
<An adult hitting a child of any age is not right arid there are much better avcrys to discipline children.'
Cchildreri should have the sane rights as adults. Adults cannot hit other adults, so they should not be
allou}ed to hit children either.'
Do you agree or not? Why?
Are there other, better ways of disciplining children?

19 Children and discipline Instant Discussions

Language
Study this sentence from the second letter. Notice
the phrasal verb with two particles ito do away
with' meaning fo ado//sh.
Let us hope that they have the courage to dQ
away uJith the Physical Punishment of children.
Match the phrasal verbs underlined in the
sentences lno with the definitions awl below:
1 . My brother was always in trouble but he was
too honest. If I was in trouble I always denied
doing anything wrong and I usually got away
ife it! •.-.,-..-.-. i -I --:i:.i--.-- i.-a,.-:-. -I-I.-=---i
2. When I look back on my childhood, I realise
my parents treated me really very fairly. "Frankly, I feel he ouer-disciplines
3. If I ran out of money, I would sometimes his animals."
`borrow' some from my mocher's purse.
4. Somet:inies I wished my dad would just give me Discussion
a smack. It would have been better than
Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss these
listening to him going on about `responsibility'.
questions:
5. I can remember :he first time I stood uD to my
1. Which, if any, of the punishments below do
dad. He wanted to punish me for coming back
after midnight when I was 15 but I just told you think are unsuitable for children above
the age of three?
him I wasn't a child any longer and he couldn't
tell me what to do. a. a quick smack on the hand
6. I don't exactly look down on parents who b. a quick smack on the back of the head
smack their children, but I do think that they c. a smack on the bottom
could find other ways of disciplining their d. a smack on the bare bottom
children if they really thought about it. e. a blow from a slipper on the bare bottom
7. I was really badly behaved when I was a f. a blow from a belt on the hand
teenager but I seemed to g:row out of it when I 9. a blow from a cane on the bottom
reached my early twenties-. Would it make any difference if the child was a
8. I didn't get into much trouble at school - boy or a girl?
except for once when I was caught fooling What other factors might determine whether a
around with some chemicals in a science particular punishment was reasonable of not?
laboratory.
2. Which, if any, of these punishments do you
a. to not run away from, to resist think is acceptable?
b. to escape without Punishment
a. sending a child to their bedroom for an hour
c. to consider inferior
b. not allowing the child to play with their
d. to think about something in the past friends for a week
e. to become too old to do something c. stopping the child's pocket money
f. to not have any left d. not allowing the child to watch TV for a
9. to behave irrest)onsibly week
h. to talle about something for a long time and in e. making the child stay behind at school to do
a boring uJay extra work
Work in pairs. Look at the sentences again. Are f. giving the child extra jobs around the house
any of them true for you?
3. At what age do you think it is no longer
Do any of them remind you of people you know
necessary or appropriate to discipline children?
or knew?

Instant Discussions Children and discipline 19

 Ever eaten dog?

Introduction
Mark the items listed below as follows:
0 = I have never eaten it. 2 = I eat it quite often.
1 = I have eaten it once or twice. 3 = I eat it a lot.

steak fish h or s e o strich b a con ch ic,ken/ e gg

dog eel or snake sh ellfish deer goose insects

Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

Reading
Read the article below and then answer these questions:
1. What did the writer do?
2. Why did he do it?
3. How did he feel about it?

CANINE CUISINE
Guess what? I've eaten dog. And not only did I eat i[. I ate it because I wanted to. I ate
three courses Of i{. I enjoyed it. And I don't care what you think. I was in SeoulS South
Korea, sent there to write some background articles before the §tas Of th$ 2002 World
Cup. rn[emational pressure on the Koreans {o Stop eating dog was not having eny
discemable effect. The Koreans were upset, understandably, a{ the hypacritical attitude of
`snail-eating, horsemcat-eating Westerners '. How, as an impartial journalist, could I write
an informed piece on dog-eating? Obviously I had to try some*
My taxi driver nearly had an accident when I asked him to take me to the best dog
restaurant in town. We§temers don't do that. The heed waiter looked surprised too, but
politely explained the menu tQ me.
You may not believe this, but af home I am largely vegetarian ~ though more from fear of
€scientific` farming metheds than from ethies. So parfely because Of that, and panly
because of memories of much-loved childhood pets, I hraced myself with aL couple of
boers before the food arrived.
I started slowly. But then. with increasing enthu&iasrm, I fucked ifito my starter Of
poshintang, a wonderful doggy soup; followed fry a yuekS dog slices; and thenjin-guk,
dog casserole. Yum !
Neighbouring diners watched with interest as this Westerm€r ap iated their fine Korean
cacies! Whilst not a sight they will ever see
timents - I must stress it was not an any guilt+

True or false?
Read the article again. Mark the following sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. The writer had been sent to research some articles on Korean cuisine.
2. Koreans rarely see Westerners eating dog.
3. The writer eats a lot of meat at home.
4. The writer liked dog so much he plans to make it a regular part of his diet.

20 Evereatendog? Instant Discussions

Discussion Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups and discuss the 1. Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss these
following questions: questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Do you think the writer needed to eat dog to 1. What is the most unusual thing you have ever
be able to write an article? eaten?
2. If you had been in the writer's position, would 2. What is the most unusual thing you have ever
you have eaten dog? been offered?
3. Would you ever eat dog? Why/Why not? 3. Are there any common sorts of food that you
4. Are there things which people in your country really hate? What are they? Why do you hate
eat that people from other countries find them?
unpleasant? 2. Where do you think the following things are
5. Is eating dog any worse than eating lamb or eaten? Match the country or region to the food:
veal? Whywhy not?
South Africa Burma
Colombia I apan
Language Canb o did C alifornia
Describing food 1. deep fried tarantula
1. Put these adjectives into the appropriate group 2 chocolate-dipped scorpion
below: 3. grasshopper marinated in soy sauce
4. deep fried ants
5. cockroach kebab
fatty tottgh delicious appetising
6. termites fried in tomato
tasty sweet bitter disgusting Have you ever eaten insects? lf so, what sort?
What did they taste like? If not, what do you think
rich spiny inedible mouth-watering they taste like?
3. Read these articles and discuss the questions:
sour bland oily tasteless
Sepp Blatter, President of FIEA,
has written to the South Korean
Football Association urging
a. to describe the general quality of food
them to be sensitive to foreign
feelings and to take dog off the
1

( menu during the w?.tlq_€r.P

b. to describe a particular quality of food 1. Is it acceptable for Sepp Blatter to try and stop
the Koreans eating dog? Why/Why not?
2. Does a sports organisation have any right to
2. In the box above, mark each adjective: try and interfere in the eating habits of a
+ = positive nation?
- = negative
i Brigitte Bardot¥ French actress
3. Choose a negative adjective from the box to and animal rights activis[, has
describe each of these foods: outraged the Koreans hy using
a. steak the World Cup to lead a
b. salad dressing campaign Against the eating of
c. coffee
d. curry
1. Does Brigitte Bardot have any more right than
e. lemon
Sepp Blatter to take this attitude? Why/Why
4. Think of other types of food which can be not?
described by the above adjectives. For 2. A Korean politician has said: `Foreign criticism
example: of dc>g meat reflects lack of understanding of
Oranges can be bitter. our nation's ancient culture.' Do you agree?
Frogs' legs probably taste disgusting. Why/ Why not?
Why not have a look at the following website?
www.tomatoesareevil.com
ls there one which you would like to set up?

Instant Discussions Evereatendog? 20

 A healthy lifestyle

Discussion
Put a tick (/) by the things that you think are good for your health and a cross (x) by the things you
think are bad for your health.

eating meat yoga crisps smoking sugar watching T\/

living alone tea alcohol running coffee vitamin pills
keeping a pet salt flying sunbathing stress being vegetarian

Compare your results in pairs or small groups.

Reading
Read the two letters and answer these questions:
Which writer a) follows the doctor's advice?
b) thinks the doctor could give better advice?

Dear Doctor Dear Doctor

I read your newspaper column every week I always find your column very
and, frankly,I think you've got it wrong. interesting. Over the years you have given
It`s not being healthy that makes us me very u5efu{ advice about how to live a
happy, it's the other way round. healthy life<
If someone is happy and enjoying However, sometimes I wonder how many
themselves and taking pleasure out of life, people follow yoLir advice. There must bg
then they are going to be healthy. Recent a lot of people who smoke and drink too
research shows that people who feel little much, who eat too much sugar and Salt
or no guilt about their lifestyle have less and fat, and who generally have a very
heart trouble, go to the doctor less often, unhealthy lifestyle.
and get ill less often. In other words, it's Surely the government can dQ something
not so much }affaa± we do as how we feel about these people. They are costing our
about it. health service huge amounts of money. !f
As a result,I think you should stop tellirig they looked after themselves properly,
people what is bad for them, what they they wouldn't need medical treatment so
shouldn't eat and where they're going often.
wrong with their lives. You should be
Ange]a M, (Brighton)
encouraging people to feel good about
\

themselves, be positive, worry less and do

what they want.
Andre;C,(Newcastle)

True or false?
Mark these sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. Andrew thinks health and happiness are not connected.
2. He has done some research into the effect of happiness on health.
3. He thinks the doctor should try to make people happier rather than healthier.
4. Angela thinks a lot of people ignore the doctor's advice.
5. She thinks the health service spends a lot of money on these people.
6. She thinks the government should let them look after themselves rather than provide a health
service for them.

21 A healthy lifestyle Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Who do you agree with most: Andrew or Angela? Both of them? Neither of them?
2. What are the most important points that they make?
3. To what extent do you `look after yourself properly'?
4. Do you eat the right food? Smoke? Drink? Take regular exercise?
5. Do you consider yourself to be healthy?
6. Do you consider yourself to be happy?
7. Do you agree with Andrew that there is a connection between health and happiness?

Language
ln 1, 2, and 3 there is one word which does not collocate well. Cross it out. Then use expressions from
the box to fill the gaps in the sentences below:

1.Her health is perfect.

excellent.
delicate.
major.
poof.
2.She is disgustingly
partially
reasonably healthy.
extremely
perfectly
3. It's a healthy environment.
climate.
bread.
diet.
Iifestyle. " Act:ually, madan> I can recommend everything."

4. I'm afraid my grandmother is in very ........ . . . She's almost 90.

5. The dry climate of Switzerland makes it a very .
6. What a great tan! You're looking ........... ....... ! Where've you been?
7. If you don't mind me saying, what you need is a .............- things like brown bread,
fresh fruit, muesli, that kind of thing.
8. My father's 75. He's got a few health problems, but nothing very serious. His health is
................. for a man of his age.

Discussion
With a partner, make up a questionnaire to find out how healthy people are.
1. First decide six questions.
2. Think of three different answers for each question.
3. Give marks for each answer.
4. Decide what total of marks mean that people are healthy or unhealthy.
5. Write some praise and/or advice for people based on their marks total.
6. Interview one or two people and note their answers.
7. Tell them how healthy you think they are.
When writing questions you might want to think about some of these areas:
people's diet - the kind of thing they eat their lifestyle - busy or laid-back
the amount of exercise they take their own health over the past few years
the amount of stress in their lives their past family health history
whether they consider they are happy whether they drink or smoke

Instant Discussions Ahealthylifestyle 21

 Public figures, private lives

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Are there any public figures in your country whose private lives are often featured in the press?
2. Who are they? Politicians? Film stars? Pop stars? Sportspeople? Who else?
3. Are any of them only `famous for being famous'?
4. What aspects of their private lives are reported in the press?
5. Do any of these people object to what is said about them? Why?

Reading
Read the newspaper article. Mark these sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. Natasha Davies was on a Caribbean island.
2. Tom Farrell was on a Caribbean island.
3. Tom Farrell has never met Natasha Davies.
4. The newspapers did not admit their mistake.

IT WASN'T ME!
A deserted, sunsQaked Caribbean beach. A
young couple lie sunbathing. They Chat. They
kiss. They cuddle. They are doing what any
young lovers would be doing.
A speed boat a mile off shore. A pair of ugly
old journalists with long lenses on their
cameras. They do what ugly old journalists do.
Three days later the story breaks: city lawyer`
Tom Farre]L, and Australian soap star, Natasha
Davi€s, pho(ographed on the beach. The
photos make the Sattirday tabloids and are
repeated in some Of the Sundays.
By lunchtime on Monday libel writs have hit
the desks of half a dozen national newspaper
editors. Sure, Farrell has been linked ``Surprise!"
romantically with Davies in the past. But on
this accasion` the papers have it completely
wrong. It wasn't him on the beach with
Davies. And they have the photos io prove it!
Despite swift apologies from all the papers
concerned, Farrell is seeking damages for Discussion
`emban-assment' and the `negative effect Qn
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
his personal and professional reputation'. 1. What seems to be the writer's attitude towards
Howevert FarTell has had well-daeumented the journalists who took the photos?
relationships with a number of actresses and 2. Do you approve of what they did or not? Why?
pep a.ass. And he is not usually unhappy about 3. Why does the writer think that Tom Farrell will
seeing his name in the papers. With such a not get very much money from t:he courts?
high-profile lifestyle. it will be interesting to 4. Do you think this is fair or not? Why?
See how much, if anything, he gets from the
5. In general, what does the writer's attitude seem
courts. But far more importantly> if it wasn't
to be towards gossip about the private lives of
him with Natasha Davies, then who was it?
famous people?
L-,_rd_~__~,.____-._~,(,~„,, ____ -___ -.,...- „-_~_~( -^ryr_v~~,____. ~m ~,, (\` v/ ^. ~ 6. Do you agree with this attitude or not? Why?

22 Public figures, private lives Instant Discussions

Language
Cross out the collocation in each group which is not natural:

1. a(n) casual 3.a fine

partial growing
intimate relationship well~earned reputation
sexual Poor
business broad
2. have 4. have
establish destroy
Open a relationship with ... damage a reputation
break off establish
maintain abolish

Complete the sentences below with complete expressions from the boxes above:
1. We just have a ......................... We never see each other socially.
2. The stories in the press about his behaviour have completely ................
3. She only started her company last year, but she has .................. for high quality work.
4. They were together for five years before she .....
5. I)on't buy one of those cars! They have a very . . . .................. for reliability.
6. After years of hard work, he has finally ........ ............. as the best lawyer in town.
7. We always try to ......... good ............ with our customers.
8. For years I thought we just had a fairly ........ ............. and then suddenly she asked
me to marry her!

Discussion
Use the three questions below to discuss the situations in pairs or small groups:
1. Can the story/photos be in any way considered to be `in the public interest'?
2. Should the press be allowed to publish the story/photos? Why/why not?
3. If the case goes to court, what should happen?

A famous pop star sells the excliisive pictures of his Jouma!ists discover that a member of the national
wedding to a well-known magazine. One Of the football team has ahgoing relationships with three
wedding guests takes some private photos and then women other than his wife.
sells them to a rival magazine.
Jouma!ists discover that a leading
A pop singer is photographed coming out of a.clinic been consistently unfaittiful to his wits and is
which specialises in plastic surgery. currently having an aifeiY with a w6!lknorarn a
A famous TV persona!fty, but one who is rarely Journalists discover that a disc iockey ®n national
mentioned in gossip columns, is photographed radio was under the influence of alcohol when
sunbathing topless on a private beach while on a recording 8 programme recently where the audience
holiday with her family. were all children»

Where do you stand?

The famous argue:
Everyone has Cthe right to respect for his Private and fanily life, his home and correspondence.'
(Article 8 - European Human Rights Act)
The press argue:
Eueryone has `the right to freedom of expression, freedom to hold apinions and`to receive and inpart
information and ideas u)ithout inerference by pttblic authority.'
(Article 10 -European Human Rights Act)
Who is right? Discuss the question in small groups.

Instant Discussions Public figures, private lives 22

 Holidays from hell!

Discussion
Work in pairs. Tell each other about the worst holiday you have ever had. Tell each other:
1. what went wrong and why
2. what you did about it
3. how you felt at the time
4. how things turned out in the end
With a different partner, decide if you should get compensation for the following complaints. Then
decide the amount you should get.

• One of my fellow guests killed two mice • Even though passengers changed places
which had come into the hotel dining room every day on our 14-day coach tour,I never
from the garden. got to sit in the front seat.
• The railings on the balcony blocked the • I saw a cockroach on a plate of cold meat
view of the sea when we lay in our on the buffet.
deckchairs.
• Because I was travelling on my own, I had
• While on holiday in India,I caught a cold to share a room with another man. He did
when the air-conditioning in the coach was not smell very nice. He snored, and during
switched off and the windows opened. the day he behaved strangely.
• I found an army of ants marching up the • I switched on the light in the middle of
side of my bed. the night and found io cockroaches on the
floor beside my bed. I've got a photo to
• I found an insect in my soup. After that,I
couldn't eat in the hotel restaurant. prove it !

Reading
Read the text and find out if you were right.

GERMAN HOLIDAY PROBLEMS

We have discovered a new sport in Germany, or maybe bed got 25% back. However, one eoctroach on the cold
it's a new business: we try and sue our holiday company buffet or an insect in a bowl Of soup is apparently not
in the hope of getting back some of the money we paid enongh to spoil a holiday. According to the judge `you
for the holiday. But when you lock at what some people can remove the insect and carry on as normal. '
complain about, you do begin to wonder why they went Mice RES no good at all^ They naLturally live all over the
on holiday in the first place. place, so if they find their way from the garden into the
Unsuccessful Claims came from the couple who were dining room, it's not really anyhodySs fault.
upset because the railings on their balcony blocked the Nor are travelling companions a source of refunds. The
seaview when they lay on their deckchairs. Also from man who ended up sharing a room with someone who
the Berlin man who never got to sit in the front seat on smelt bad, snored and f behaved strangely during the
his coach tour. Poor chap! day' had his claim refused.
The man who caught a cold because the air- While some of these claims are laughable, some do
conditioning on the coach was switched off and the demand attention. And some Of the stranger ores even
windows opened received a similar lack of sympathy. deserve sympathy - like the cruise passengers whose
Insects are a better bet, but by no means foolproof. The entertainmem tuned ant to be that tfamous' Briton,
woman who woke up to find 10 cockroaches on the Charles Winterton. a `master' of the five~stringed guitar
i floor by her bed got a 50% refund: and the man who and of imitating animal noises! So, next time you go on
i discovered `an army of ants' climbing the side of his holiday, it may turn out to be cheaper than you think!

23 Holidays from helll. Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss the following questions jn pairs or small groups:
1. Were you surprised by any of the courts' decisions? Which? Why?
2. Which (if any) of the claims do you feel were completely unreasonable?
3. Which of the situations would you have complained about?
4. Have you ever complained to a holiday company/travel operator? What about? What happened?

Language
Complete these expressions from the text above. Check that you understand what they mean -use a
dictionary if necessary.
1.in .... hopeof 2.inthe .... place 3.to .... acold 4. a .... of sympathy
5.by .... means 6.to .... aholiday 7.all .... theplace 8. to deserve ....

Complete this text using appropriate forms of the expressions above:

Dear Jill

Just got back from a u)eek in Devon. It uias ......... (1) the worst
holiday I'ue had, but it certainly wasn.t the best. Txle went there ...... /2/
getting a bit of sunshine and relaxation! Twell, the uieather owas OK, but
Dennis certainly knows how ......... (3). Of course he uiouldn't book in
aduance, so uie had to drive ......... (4) trying to find someu}here to stay.
As it u)as July, most Places u)ere full. Twe eventttally found a Very nice guest
house, but then he managed ......... (5). He3s auiful u)ben he's ill but I
really didn3t think he ...... any ...... (6). So he spent the u)eek
complaining about how he was feeling and I bad to listen to him. Vihen we
got bacle, uie had a tei'rible argument. He complained that I had shouin a
complete ......... (7) for his condition. So I told him I had never wanted
to go to Devon ......... (8). Fortunately, I think uie're friends again nou)!
Hope to see yot4 at the barbecue on Friday.
Loue
A,may

Discussion
1. Quickly make a note of your answer to each of the following questions. Then compare notes in
small groups.
1. What's the worst hotel you have ever stayed in?
2. What's the worst flight/boat trip/car journey you have ever made?
3. What's the worst beach you have ever been on?
4. What's the worst thing you have ever eaten on holiday?
5. What's the longest delay you have ever had while travelling?
6. What's the worst holiday illness you have ever had?
2. Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss each of the {
following quotations. What do you think they mean?
Do you agree or disagree with them? Why?
Travel broadens the mind.
To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.
He travels the fastest uiho travels alone.
Travelling is the rttin of all happiness. -i.-i__i.oof.
There's no looking at a building here after
seeing Italy.
I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for "Twell, one of t4s had to go and find the
trauel's sake. Tourist Information Centre. "

Instant Discussions Holidaysfromhell! 23

 The dating game

Discussion
Answer these questions truthfully. Then compare your answers in pairs or small groups.
1. Do you ever read `Lonely Hearts' ads in the newspaper?
2. Do you ever look at `Lonely Hearts' websites?
3. Have you ever placed a `Lonely Hearts' ad in a paper or anywhere else? If so, what
happened? Who replied? How did you follow it up? Was it a successful experience?
If not, do you think you ever would? Why/Why not?
4. Have you ever replied to a `Lonely Hearts' ad? What happened?
5. Do you know anyone who has ever placed a `Lonely Hearts' ad or replied to one?
What happened? Was it a successful experience?

Reading
Read the passage and answer these questions:
1. What has the writer done?
2. Why has she done this?

__ I_... ____-I _`_ ,

NOT ONLY THE LONELY

Wriferg 2S, dark hair, brown eyes, G§QH a was it a Stlcce§Sful ad? Well, I think 75
seeks reliable, intel!igeni, 3®-something i Specks for itself} SGme Gf the replies
for long walks, tons conversations and touching; sons wema sxpri±ing, some
term reEati®TEship. No time wasters. and some A few people
OK. So I did it! But then everyfoedy's iL Clen]y did not have
There are over two million people lt}gistered to realise they were needs. Others were, for a
with dating agencies - and that's the expensive variety of rsasens, clearly tansuitable. }n the
way to dQ it. So these must be at least twice as end I met i2. t}f these, 7 were liars, nsualiy
many using `Lenely Hearts' ads. The or Hglier than their phatas
the men and women who place these add areffl7t suggested; two were needs, missed at the 5Hitial
necessarily lonely. Talge me4 rm not. I'ye got far tco enthusiastic
wide circle Of friends, And an astivg sceia! fife. d on my haee; One frved

True or false?
Mark the following sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. The writer thinks that over four million people use `Lonely Hearts' ads.
2. Most people who use `Lonely Hearts' ads don't have many friends.
3. Professional women use the ads because they don't have much time for socialising.
4. Some people lied when they replied to the writer's ad.
5. She met her current partner through her ad.

24 Thedatinggame Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. What does the writer mean when she says `1 did it'?
2. Do you think the writer really does have a `wide circle of friends'?
3. Are `Lonely Hearts' ads popular in your country as a way of meeting new people?
4. How do you feel about people who place `Lonely Hearts' ads? Do you think they are
sad and lonely? Or are they just normal people who are too busy to meet the sort of
people they would like to?
5. If you ever placed an ad or replied to one, would you lie about any of the following?
a) your age b) your appearance c) your job d) your income e) your past

Language
Work in pairs. Put the sentences below in the correct order to make a story:
1. Mark fancied Lucy.

They got engaged.

They got on very well.
She had twin girls, Emma and Katie.
Mark proposed to Lucy.
They got married.
Lucy got custody of the children.
Lucy became pregnant.
He asked her out on a date.
Mark and Lucy started to have rows.
They started going out together.
They split up.
They fell in love with each other.
Lucy asked for a divorce.
Mark had an affair.
They went on their honeymoon.
Now use some of these expressions to tell a story which is true for you.

Discussion
1. Write a description of yourself in 25 words for a `Lonely Hearts' ad. Put together the descriptions
from everyone in the class and mix them up. Ask the teacher to read them out one at a time. Can you
recognise the writers? Has anybody lied? Here are some typical expressions from these ads:

solvent lady professional male looking for fun sincere and caring
own house down to earth intelligent guy likes dancing
with own teeth easy-going strong body biker
romantic blue eyes enjoys cinema athletic

2. Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:

a. In your country where do most people meet their partners?
in school/at work in bars and. nightclubs
at parties through their family
through `Lonely Hearts' ads some other way
b. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of trying to make friends through a
`Lonely Hearts' ad?

c. Are there any dangers involved in meeting people through a `Lonely Hearts' ad? What advice would
you give a friend who told you (s)he was going out tonight on a lonely hearts date?

Instant Discussions Thedatinggame 24

 Newspapers

Discussion
Discuss these questions with your partner. Give further details where possible.
1. Have you ever ...
had your name mentioned in a newspaper?
had your photo in a newspaper?
written an article for a newspaper?
had a photo you took published in a newspaper?
had a letter published in a newspaper?

2. Which newspapers do you read? Do you read a paper every day?

3. Why do you read thatpaper / those particular papers?

Reading
Read these two articles, which report the same incident, and answer these questions:
1. What happened to Cara Phillips?
2. Who saved her?

MIRACLE ESCAPE SCHOOL TRIP DISASTER AVOIDEB

Cara Phillips, 1 1, daughter of top medel A school trip to the River lhTharfe in North
Selina Phillipst had a miraculous escape Yorkshire would have ended in disaster
yesterday whilst on{ on a school trip. Cara yesterday but for the courage of teacher
was swept away during a river activity in the Denise Cafier,
rain-swollen River Wharfs in North The River Wharfs. rmning faster and dee
Yorkshire. than usual after the neeem heavy rains,
Luckily her cries were heard by teacher swept awfiy one Of her pupils, Cara Phimp
Demise Cartert who pluckily plunged into the aged 11, Ms Carter{ hearing the giri's Cries
raging tonent. Grabbing young Cara, Ms bravely jumped into the water and pulled
Carter, 36, managed to avert an almost girl to safety.
certain tragedy by dragging the terrified girl NGIth Yorkshire police will today be
to the river bank. +I am so grateful [o Demise questioriing staff and pupils about the
Carter, ' said Carats supermodel mum, incident. They win be trying to decide
Selina. `Her quiek-thinking and her courage had properly followed
saved my daughter's life. She's a wonderful the griidelines for sehQol trips, recently lai
woman.. down try the govefflment,

Language 1
Look again at the articles. Match the words and expressions on the left with the words and
expressions on the right which convey a similar meaning. Note that the matches may not be exactly
the same grammatically.

1. fain-swollen a. bravely
2. pluckily b.jumped
3. an almost certain tragedy c. pulling the girl
4. plunged d. a disaster
5. dragging the terrified girl e. running faster than usual after recent heavy rain

25 Newspapers Instant Discussions

Discussion Discussion
Read the articles again. Discuss these questions 1. Write down the names of 6 or 7 daily
in pairs or small groups: newspapers in your country Work in pairs.
Explain to your partner the following:
1. Which article uses the more colourful and
emotive language? 1. Which have the biggest circulation?
2. Which article mentions Cara's mother? Why? 2. Which are local, regional, or national?
3. Which article has a quote from Cara's mother? 3. Which are tabloid (popular and sensational)?
4. Which article is the more factual? 4. Which are considered to be `quality' papers?
5. Which article looks at the wider picture and the 5. Which contain the best news reporting?
consequences of what happened? 6. Which contain the most gossip?
6. Which article is more concerned with news and 7. Which contain the best sports reporting?
which with `human interest'? 8. Which do you read regularly?
7. Which is probably from a tabloid (or popular) 2. Work in groups of four. Choose one of the
newspaper and which from a `quality' paper? headlines below. Divide into two pairs. One pair
8. Which do you prefer? writes a short article from a tabloid newspaper
about the headline; the other pair writes a short
article from a quality newspaper about the
Language 2 headline. Compare your articles.
Complete these sentences with appropriate forms
of the following words and phrases:
PRINCESS HITS
editor TV guide PHOTOGRAPHER
obituary horoscope
crossu)ord Proprietor
Sports headline
article reuieurs MP'S PAST COMES
T0 LIGHT
1. Have a look at my ........ and tell me what
it says for today, will you? I'm a Scorpio.
2. Did you know Jason Matthews had died? I saw
his ........ in the paper this moming.
3. I'm never able to do the ........ in T4Jc i QL¥E¥¥'RS§PsRE%TKE
J7zdepe7£de7zf. It's just so difficult.
4. He's Canadian and I believe he was the first
foreign ........ of a British newspaper. )

5. I'm staying in tonight. Throw me the ....... TEACHER TO i

I want to see if there's anything worth MARRYSTUDENT i
watching.
6. If you're keen` on football and cricket, you
ought to buy T47c Dczz./y Te/egr4P¢. It has by far
the best ........ news.
7. When I saw the ........, I thought there'd
been another plane crash, but then I read the
........ and realised it had just been delayed
for 24 hours!
8. I don't think 1'11 bother seeing the new Fred
I)urkin movie. The ........ were terrible.
9. I was so angry about the government's plans to
raise taxes that I wrote to the ........ of Tfoe
Tz.773es. My letter was published yesterday
morning. Did you see it?

Instant Discussions Newspapers 25

 T® tip or not to tip?

Discussion
Discuss these questions with a par(her:
1. Is it normal to tip in your country?
2. When? How much should you give?
3. Do you always tip when you should?
4. How much do you give?
5. Have you had any good or bad experiences @'> \

when tipping?

Did you know?

In the 18th century, coffee houses in Britain had a
box on each table. A notice on each box read:
To J7¢s»re Pro7#P£7¢ess. Customers were encouraged
to put money in the box for better service. Soon
the money became known by its initials: TIP.

Reading
Read the statements below. Decide if you agree or disagree with each one. Then compare what you
think with your partner.

I only tip if I I never lenoui what to do. If

knoui I'm going my taxi fare comes to £10, I
bacle somewhere. just give the driver £10. But
Otherwise, there's if it comes to £6 or £7, I tell
no poiut. them to keep the change.
They must think I'm mad!

I eat out a lot on business. I'ue

had excellent service and truly
aulful service. I don't uiant
troi4ble. I leoue a 10% tip,
no matter u)hat the service
has beeri like. Just to be on
the safe side.

Where I come from, everyone

thinks uje're tight u)ith money.
That:'s nonsense! I tip everyone
eueryuibere -just to try and
break don/n people's prejudices
about us.

26 Ilo tl.p or not to tip? Instant Discussions

Language
Complete the following expressions from the quotes:
1. We wouldn't need to tip if employers paid a ....,.. wage.
2. I don't like to offend so I alwa.ys tip -just to be on the ....... side!
3. Some people have the reputation of being ....... with their money.
4. I hate it when I hear people saying, "Just keep the ....... ". It's so patronising.
5. There's no ....... in tipping people you're never going to see again in your life!
6. I never tip -no ....... what the service has been like. I just don't do it on principle.
7. I don't think one person can ....... down prejudices which are hundreds of years old.
8. In expensive restaurants you're paying through the ....... anyway!
Go back and underline the complete expressions in the examples above.

Discussion
Who would you tip? Tick the appropriate boxes:

1. a waiter in a coffee shop

2. a waiter in an expensive restaurant
3. a hairdresser
4. a taxi driver
5. your dentist
6. an assistant in a high street burger bar
7. a steward on an aeroplane
8. a hotel porter
9. the person who conducts your wedding ceremony
10. your doctor
1 1. a tour guide
12. a hotel chambermaid

Work jn pairs and compare your answers.

Now discuss these questions with your partner:
a. Should tipping be made illegal -after all, it's just an excuse for employers to pay less?
b. Should tips in a restaurant be pooled and shared between all the waiters? Or should each
waiter keep his or her own tips?
c. In Britain a recent court ruling says that tips added to a bill and paid for by credit card
belong to the employer -not the waiter. Do you think this is fair?
d. In Britain tips are taxed. Do you think this is fair?

What do you say?

What do you think British people say when they tip? Tick the expressions you think are possible:
"Thanks for everything. "
"Here's something. Buy yourself a drink."
"Keep the change."
"Here's your ten per cent."
"Here you are and thank you very much."

Nothing.

Instant Discussions Tot.Ipornottotip? 26

 F2Oyalty

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Does your country have a monarch or a president?
2. Who is the head of state at the moment?
3. What real power does the head of state have in your
country?
4. Do you think they are doing a good job or not?
_STU"!
6oAF.AN€
Why.)
5. Have you ever met the head of state of your
country? When? In what circumstances? ``.`

Reading
Read the article below and answer these questions: drench
1. Which piece of information do you find most "It's a really nice area."
surprising? Why?
2. Did any of the items make you laugh? Which? Why?
3. Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

TEN THINGS YOU DIDN'T • A recent opinion poll on the estimated at £300 million, She
KNOW ABOUT THE QUEEN popularity of the royal family, and her husband are now the only
• As reigning monarch, she has compiled at the Qu€en'S own members of the royal family who
request` di`scovered that `fewer receive money from the §{ate.
the right of ownership of all the
than 1 in 4 people thinks they are
mute swans on the River Thames. • She uses special black blotting
hard-working and only 1 in 10
This right has been handed down paper so that no state or personal
from medieval times. She is also thinks they are good value for
secrets are reve&led.
the only person in Britain allowed money.`
• She enjoys doing jigsaws and
by law to eat swan. • In the year 2000 she Stayed in a
rents them from a jigsaw Gluts,
• When she gives people presents three-bedroom suite in the Principe
di Savoia hotel in Milan. It cost • She also enjoys Scrat>b]e and
Of photographs Of herself and her
£4,3cO a night. She hired an €xtrn surfing the intemYet. Appaently, she
husband® the frame is an indication
room just for her shoes. never reads bocks unless they are
Of the status of the recipient. Silver
about horses.
frames are for Presidents; blue • She has a plastic duck and a small
leather frames are the next best; • It is said that she strangles -
crown in her bath.
then brown. Domestic staff receive pheasants while shooting in
unframed photos. • Her personal wealth was recently Scotland.

True or false?
Mark the following sentences T (true) or F (false):
1. No one except the Queen is allowed to eat swan.
2. The Queen has a large number of shoes.
3. The Queen no longer receives money from the state.
4. The Queen uses a fountain pen.
5. The Queen enjoys reading.

27 Royalty Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Which of the following opinions best sums up your country's view of the British royals?
They're really ihieresting. The Qtteen's great, but we're not interested in her family.
They3re all so boring. Come on, it's the 21st centwry uie're living in -not the l8th!
2. Can you read about them regularly in newspapers and magazines?
3. What sort of articles are written about them?
4. How do they compare with other royal families? For example, the Dutch, Spanish, or Swedish?
5. Do you feel the British royal family is a worthwhile institution or a waste of money?
6. If members of a royal family were visiting a town in your country near where you live, would you
go to see them? Why/Why not?

Language
Make more expressions from the boxes.

opinion wealth
election family
royal campaign
personal poll

Complete this text using the correct form of complete expressions from the boxes above:
A recent ................. (1) showed that the ................. (2) in Erefaria was not at all
popular on account of their enormous ................. (3). A national movement soon rose up
demanding to ................. (4) . Fearing for their lives, the king and his immediate family fled
the country. The army briefly took control, but the leading generals decided the best way forward for
the country as a whole was to ................. (5). The first ............... (6) went
smoothly and less than a year after the departure of the king, the people ......................,
........... (7) for the first time.

Discussion
Mark these opinions -agree / disagree / don't have an opinion. Then compare your responses in pairs
or in small groups.
agree disagree noopinion
• I'd rather have a president than a monarch. At least you can get I fJ rl
rid of a president if you don't like them.
• The problem with having a president is that it's a political office. DD
If you have a monarch they are above politics.
• If Britain got rid of its monarchy, tabloid journalists would have DD
nothing to write about.
• Having a monarchy is very old fashioned. We're living in the 21st I I
century now - we ought to get rid of these ancient institutions.
• I think it's terrible that someone should become a king or a queen I I

just because of an accident of birth.

• Just think of the amount of money spent on a presidential election I I
campaign. What a waste!
• Monarchy equals continuity -that's a major advantage, to my mind. I I D

Instant Discussions Royalty 27

 Fashion

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss these questions:
1. What sort of clothes do you wear most of the time?
2. Do you wear different clothes for work/study? In what way are they different?
3. What do you wear for more formal occasions and for parties?
4. Where do you buy most of your clothes?
5. Do you buy designer label clothes? Which designers?
6. Do you read any fashion magazines? Which?

Reading
Read the article. Match each of the summaries below to one of the paragraphs in the article:
Summary Paragraph number
What people wear and don't wear today
What fashion designers do
A very special dress

_--_-----

FASHI0N! - WHAT'S THE POINT?

i I, Bjbrk i§ on the catwak» Her skin is made Of bright red ostrich feathers. The 2,00C shiny
red glass beads attached to her top ring Hhe `little bells. She Sounds like a one-person bell
orchestra. And the beads are nct just ordinary beads. They are specially-Ordered microscope
slides, each individually hand-drilled and individually painted red. Exife®rdinary? Yes.
Radical? Yes. But what's the point?

2. This is the 2] st eentt!ry after all. Most people are happy with a T-shirt and jeans. a Shirt
and a pair of chino§. Even business executives, dress down these days. Clothes are casual:
easy to wear, easy to care for. Whereas the dress that Bj6rk wore, designed by Alexander
MCQueen§ took over a month to make and is One of only two in existsnce* The other is in
an exhibition in a musenm in London. Though, frankly, who else would want one?

3. For many people extreme fashion is just self~indrlgence on the part of the designers. They
are attention seekers, they make headrines, btm they douSt sail clothes. But for the designers
themselves. fashion is a way of airing ideas, Of making a statement. The clothes they design
are intended to provoke and chaHenge the way we live, think and are. C{aser to conceptual
an and less to do with the clothes industry, perhaps.

Questions in pairs
Work in pairs. Read the article again. Then take turns asking each other the following questions:
1. What is Bj6rk's skirt made of?
2. What is Bj6rk's top made of?
3. What do most people like to wear these days?
4. How do many business executives dress these days?
5. How many dresses have been made like the one Bj6rk is wearing?
6. How many people does the writer think would like a dress like Bj6rk's?
7. How do many people feel about fashion designers?
8. How do fashion designers see their work?

28 Fashion Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss your reactions to these questions with a partner:
1. How do you think Bj6rk's outfit sound;?
brilliant outr age ou s de cadent
2. If you arrived at a party and someone was wearing a dress like that, what would you think?
How embarrassing! Twhere cart I get one? Twhat a uiaste of money!
3. What would you say if you were introduced to them?
I just love your frock. VIlhat ARE you wearing? TX/ho's your designer?
Do you think extraordinary clothes really do challenge the way we live? Why? Why not?
Are fashion designers attention seekers or artists?

Language
Cross out the word in each of the boxes which is not a natural collocation:

street bein
current come back into
passing fashion leave fashion
factory 90 Out Of
high follow

Complete the sentences below with the correct form of a word or expression from the boxes:
1. You must get some new sunglasses. Those ones ............... fashion about five years ago.
2. The clothing industry has gone crazy this year. Everything from sports clothes to . . . fashion.
3. Alan must spend a fortune on clothes. Whatever he wears .... always .... fashion.
4. You don't see supermodels with rings in their nose or their eyebrow. It's very much . fashion.
5. I reckon I could wear my 60s tie-dyed T-shirts again now. They seem to have ..... . . fashion.
6. Everyone's wearing orange this summer. I'm sure it's I.ust a ........ fashion.

Discussion
Complete this questionnaire on your own first:

How fashion conscious are you?

Fill in the table below with appropriate brand/designer names.

brands you own you would like to own you would never wear
Jeans
T-shirts
jeans
trainers
dress / suit

And fashion isn't just about clothes! It's about other lifestyle things.
brands you own brands you would lil(e to own brands you would never buy
watch
mobile
CD player
Car
computer

Compare your answers in groups. Then vote for the person in your class who is the most / least
fashion conscious.

Instant Discussions Fashion 28

 ls jt right to eat meat?

Discussion
First answer these questions on your own:
1. Are you vegetarian?
2. Do you eat meat? How often?
3. Do you eat fish? How often?
4. I)o you know any vegetarians?
5. Do you know why they are vegetarian?
6. Are there many vegetarian restaurants where you live?
Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

Reading
Read the texts below and answer these questions.
According to the texts which person:
a. enjoys eating meat?
b. has been a vegetarian for a long time?
"Their protective colouring sometimes
c. enjoys watching animals?
d. thinks the other is a hypocrite? makes them Very difficut to hit."

IS IT RIGHT TO EAT MEAT?

YES NO
Some people think that in an ideal world we would all It seems a bit hypocritical to preach for the
be vegetarians. A lot of poor unfonunate animals treatment of animals -only to kill them and est them!
would therefore be able to enjoy their lives without the Of course we don't need to eat meat. I'm 82 years old
pmspeet of needless suffering and a premature death. and I've been a vegetarian since I was 25. Ihthat's
But the way I look a[ it is this. If we didn't eat meat, no more, I!m extremely fir and activ€* In factS I ran the
one would keep sheep, cows or any other animals that London Manathon last year~ Some people seem to think
provide foes. We would never t}e able to enjoy it's naerafal to eat meat -but thatSs not sc*. Sure, we used
watching young lambs and calves pla}ring in the fie}ds. ie eat meat in the past, but that was before we knew
Instead Of trying to encourage people io do something how ts grow sr±ough fmit and vegetables. AnywayS nat
whieh seems rather urmatural, why don]t we try and even all animals are vegetarian. Look at elephants, for
make sure that food ant mats are treated well? Being example, they live cm grass and hay; they are
vegetarian really isn't necessary. Let's just treat our enormously strong; and they live to a great ftge.
animals with a bit Of kindness and respect.

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Do animals really `face the prospect' of a premature death?
2. Are they ever aware that they are destined to be eaten?
3. What do you think would happen to sheep, cows etc. if:
a. the number of vegetarians increased dramatically?
b. everyone was vegetarian?
4. How well are food animals treated in your country?
5. Are you happy with the way they are treated?
6. Do you think it is hypocritical to treat animals well and then kill them and eat them?
7. Do you think it is really `necessary' or `natural' to eat meat?

29 ls it right to eat meat? Instant Discussions

Language
underline the following words and phrases in the text and notice how they are used:
the way I look at it is this of course u/hat's more
surer.. but... anyway for exanple
Now use these expressions to complete the following situations:
1. I've got a few friends who are vegetarians and they drive me mad sometimes ....
when I invite them round for a meal, I always make something which is vegetarian, but when they
invite me back, they never cook meat for me!
2. I know all the arguments, but ...............................- it's a symptom of the
growing affluence of society. Ask someone who is starving in Africa which they would rather
do -die or eat an animal. I know what their answer would be!
> ...... that's understandable ,...... we're not in their situation and we have a choice.

3 ............... we need a balanced diet! It's perfectly possible to be a vegetarian and

eat healthily. I'm not so sure about a vegan diet, however. Vegans always seem to look pale
and in need of a good steak!
4. I haven't eaten meat for almost 40 years and .............. I don't intend changing my
fundamental belief that it is cruel to eat another creature.

5. I always buy organic food. I just can't bear the thought of eating all the pesticides they spray
on fruit and vegetables.
> I agree with you. I hate the thought of what they do to our food. You're absolutely right.
............, there's not much I can do. I can't actually afford to buy organic stuff, so in
the end I don't really have a choice.

Discussion
Complete the questionnaire below, then compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU?

Answer the following questions. Then add up your score at the end.
1. Do you buy genetically modified foods? 4. What sort of fish do you buy?
a. Never. a. I never eat fish.
b. Only if there is no alternative. b. I usually buy wild fish.
c. It doesn't make any difference to me if they c. I usually buy farmed fish.
are GM or not.
5. Do you grow your own vegetables?
2. Given the choice between organic and non- a. Yes.
organic foods, what do you do? b. No, but a friend does and he gives me some.
a` I always buy the organic option. c. No.
b. I sometimes buy the organic option -unless
6. Where do you buy most of your food?
it is much more expensive.
a. from local farmers.
c. I always buy the non-organic option - it's
b. from local markets.
usually cheaper.
c. from supermarkets.
3. When you buy eggs, how often do you get
7. What sort of produce do you generally buy?
free range eggs?
a. Mostly fresh.
a. AItways.
b. About half fresh, half tinned or frozen.
b, Sometimes.
c. Mostly tinned or frozen or ready to cook.
c. Never.

•}i|6nou} eujos }! 6u!^!6 ue}s }snou ^iieej no^ 6}ee no^ |el|M }noqe ||8 |e aJeo not oa : LL ueu} sse|
•e^ojdur! pug fu} }snu Aiie©J no^ -§}!qeu poo6 eiuos e^eu not }seei |e |nq Je}}eq uonuJ op pinoo no^ :eL -[L
•}ee not ieuM e^ojdun! oi sAgM }noqe ¥u!uj. .Jeueq op pinoo not }nq Peq oot |oN :8|-?L
•noA ey!i eq o} sJel|}o epensjed o} fuj. .lee no^ }euM jo Ai!ienb eii} }noqe peuieouoo fue^ eJe no^ ieuop |ieM :a-oLu Jo 6L
•o uoe® Jo| I pug :q l|oee Jo| z :e l|oeo Jot c eJoos

toioos no^ p!P MOH

Instant Discussions ls it right to eat meat? 29

 The exploitation of animals

Discussion
Tick the it+ems in the list below that you have seen:

1. horse-racing 7. show jumping

2. dog-racing 8. adogshow

3. performing animals in a circus 9. afoxhunt

4. a bullfight 10. a cock fight

5. animals in a zoo 11. a performing bear or monkey

6. a dog fight 12. a pheasant shoot

Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

Reading
Read the two texts below. Which is pro bullfighting? Which is against it?

i Text 1 Text 2
Bullfighting i§ not just a sport; it is much more A bullfight may be a fighky hut it's not a
than that. For many Spaniards the bullfight is a futr figint. The bull has little chaliee of
proud part of their heritage. It ±s an an form defending itself, even less t® smrv]ve* Do
which reflects the most basic issue ro face man yoL! know wh&S happens before a fight?
- namely, survival and domination Qf the wild, No? Read on.
It is a ceremony which stirs up a variety of rich • There are reports that many bulls are
emotions: joy, danger, and glory, As a result, beaten and have heavy weights hung round
bullfighters are celebrated as national heroes their necks for weeds before a fight. They are
participating in a dangerous rin]al which at any already tired when they enter the arena.
moment may cut short their fame or even their • Bulls are kept in darkness for 48 hours
life. Far from losing popularity] more and rmore
before a fighL IRThgn they go oRt into the
people nook to bullfights in ee]ebration Of a arena they are therefore blinded by the
uniquely national tradition.
sunli8ht'
• Many bulis' hems have a few centimetres
31legally cm Off, Ths impairs th6ir co~
Questions in pairs ordination and prevents them from navigating
With a partner, take turns to ask and answer the properly.
following questions about the texts: • Rather than being a cican kill, the bvum is
toirmented and tired out before the matador ^
1. What do Spaniards feel that bullfighting
finally attempts to kill it.
symbolises? • Often the result of a bullrighf is not
2. How are bullfighters treated in Spain? inmediate death, but just excessive
3. How popular is bullfighting in Spain nowadays? mutilation. The final death blow, which i§
Why is this so? §xppesed to sever the spinal column,
4. What happens to bulls in the 48 hours before a frequently falls and a fully conscious but
fight? Why? paralysed beast is dragged from the arena.
• Bulls are not the only vietims. Horses are
5. How do bulls `navigate'?
often dmgged and hlindSQld€d before being
6. Are bulls always killed cleanly in a bullfight? taken into the anna. Their vceal cords are
Why not? sometimes cut so that their cries cannot be
7. Do other animals suffer in bullfights? heard try the Crowd.
8. What animals suffer and how?

30 The exploitation of animals Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. How far do you sympathise with the Spanish view of bullfighting?
2. Do you think bullfighting is an acceptable `sport' or should it be banned?
3. Should the EU be allowed to make bullfighting illegal in Spain, or not?

Language
Here are 10 expressions to use during a discussion. Complete the sentences using these words:
minute sti ck take interrup i listen
clearly anoth er s ometh ing misunder sto o d Point
1. I think you've got the wrong end of the ...... here actually.
2. Why don't you shut up and ...... for a minute?
3. I think you've ...... what I was trying to say.
4. If I could just say ...... at this point ...
5. Just a ....... I'd like to come in here if I may.
6. No, that's not my ...... at all. What I'm trying to say is ...
7. Sorry, but I must ...... you there.
8. Perhaps I haven't put this very ....... What I mean is ...
9. That's not the point at all. Look. Let me put it ...... way.
10. I'm afraid I have to ...... you up on that point.
Which ones would you use to correct someone?
Which ones would you use to make a positive contribution to a discussion?
Which of the expressions are rude?

Discussion
Where do you draw the line? Do you agree or disagree with these statements? Discuss them in pairs
or small groups. Try to use the expressions from the Language activity above.

Horse-racing and dog- It seems odd that `sports3 Fox hunting is just another
racing should be baaned. in uihicb one animal fights form of pest control.
They are not useful another (like cock fighting Nobody worries about
activities, they are just two or dog fighting) are illegal killing rats. There are too
differehi uiays of getting in most countries. After all, many foxes and they need
gamblers to spend lnoney. these animals fight each to be killed. Fox hunting is
other in the wild. The as good a way as any to do
sports should all be made it. If people u)ant to dress
legal. up in red jackets and have
3 6 million Pheasants were a Party at the sane time,
bred in Britain last year that's their business.
just for the start of the
pheasant shooting season.
Most hunters do not eat
the birds they leill so the
Performing animals in
circuses are unacceptable Dog shows shottld be
majordy of the dead birds
these days and yet people banned. They humiliate
are buried in specially dig
seem quite hatlpy about dogs. There is nothing
holes. This is a disgrace
show junping. Show more offensive than seeing
and should be stopped
jumping horses are nothing some of these dogs being
immediately.
more than performing shanpooed and treated as
animals. The sport should if they were children.
be banned.

Instant Discussions The exploitation ofanimals 30

 Why get married?

Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner:
1. In your opinion, what are the three commonest reasons people decide to get married?
2. Do you think marriage is `a thing of the past'?
3. Do you know someone who has had a long and happy marriage? Why has it lasted?
4. Why do you think there is such a high divorce rate in many developed countries?
5. Are married people treated differently from single people in your experience? In what ways?
Share your opinions with the rest of the class.

Reading
Read this newspaper article and answer the questions below in pairs or small groups:

LAST TO MARRY WINS!

A group of unmaried male friends in New Jersey made a strange bet 20 years ago when they
were all still at high school. They drew up a contract and set up a special bank account to hold
the money they had each bet.
The pot of money grew until it was several thousand dollars and Jchn Cheney was the lucky
winner -because he is now the group's last remaining bachelor He collected his winnings from
his friends at a pub last Saturday. "I guess 1 just haven`t found the right person," said Cheney,
i now 38 years old.
The whole story started when two of the group bet a six-pack of beer over which one would be
the last to get married. The group eventually grew to nine men® all 1981 graduates Of
Haddonfield Memorial High School.
"We all thought we'd be bachelors for a long tine," said Mike KOQntz, also 38< He was the first
member of the group to gec married, walking down the aisle in 1987. He always thought Jchn
would win the money. "He!s a real confirmed bachelor," said Mike.

1. What was the prize?

2. Why hasn't Cheney got married?
3. Why did they make the bet?
Do you think a group of young women
would have made the same bet?
Was John Cheney's wait worth it?
What is a `confirmed bachelor'?

"Belinda, u/ill yott make me the happiest

man in the world and divorce me?"

31 Why get married? Instant Discussions

Language
Divide the following expressions into two groups:
B = before marriage A = after marriage

1. go on honeymoon 12. propose to them

2. meet someone you like 13. have an affair with someone
3. talk about marriage 14. walk down the aisle
4. become friends 15. get engaged
5. get pregnant 16. start going out with them
6. meet their family 17. see a marriage counsellor
7. plan the wedding 18. get separated
8. have a stag / hen night 19. get divorced
9. have kids 20. find someone attractive
10. bring up children 21. start to get close
11. start having marriage problems 22. get back together again

With a partner, choose 10 of the expressions in the box and put them in the ideal order for you.

Discussion
1. ]n 2002, Rutgers University in the US released the results of a study which lists the top 10 reasons
men are waiting longer these days to get married. [n pairs or groups, discuss if you think each is a
valid argument.

Top io REAsONs wHy MEN ARE RELucTANT TO cOMMrr TO A&ARRIAGE

1. They can have sex outside marriage more easily than in the past.
2. They can enjoy the benefits of having a wife by cohabiting rather than marrying&
3. `They want to avoid divorce and its financial risks.
4. They want to wait until they are o]def to have children.
5. They are afraid that marriage will require too many changes And €ompromis€s.
6. They are waiting for the perfect soulm&te, and she hasn5t yet appeared.
7. In the US there are few social pressures ro marry.
8. They are reluctant ro marry a woman who already has children.
9. They want to own a house before they get a wife.
10. They want to enjoy life a§ a single man as long as they can.

2. With a partner, choose one of the following situations. Prepare your part in the conversation for 2
minutes, then have the conversation.
a. Your son/daughter is now 30 and you want them to settle down. Try to talk them into it.
b. You have been going out with your partner for 3 years and are looking for a bigger commitment.
Try to persuade them to think about getting married.
c. Your best friend is deciding whether or not to get married. Try to talk them into it.
d. Your best friend is deciding whether or not to get married. Try to talk them out of it.

Intercultural problems
With a partner, discuss the following:
1. Would you consider marrying (or are you already married to) someone from another country or
culture?
2. What special problems do you think arise from a marriage between people from different countries
or cultures?
3. Make a list of the benefits and drawbacks of such marriages.

Instant Discussions Whygetmarried? 31

 I hate my boss!

Discussion
ln pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions:
1. Have you ever had a boss you didn't like? Why didn't you like him/her?
2. Do you think it is simply expected that people dislike their boss.?
3. Which of the following would you do if you didn't like your boss:
a. resign and find another job?
b. discuss your problem with your boss?
c. go to the personnel department and raise the matter with them?
d. talk to your closest colleagues?
e. ignore the problem and hope your boss will leave?
f. something else?

Reading
Read the complaints below from a popular website. Decide which problem you most sympathise with.
Have you or someone you know ever been in any of these situations?

Compare your answers and share your stories.

32 I hate my boss! Instant Discussions

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Which of the six situations did you think was the worst one?
2. Did any of them seem `silly' to you? Which ones?
3. Which ones have very obvious solutions? What advice would you give?
4. Do you think all the people should just leave their jobs?
5. What would you do if you heard one of these complaints at work and realised it was referring to
you?

Language
1. Each situation had an expression in it that means the person could take no more. Find the missing
word to complete these sentences:
1. I'm ...... of this.
2. I can't ...... it any more.
3. Give me a ...... !
4. I'm finished ...... my job.
5. I've had ...... !
6. I don't know how much more of this I can .......
2. Do you have equivalents for these expressions in your language? Work with a partner and translate
them.

Discussion
So what makes a good boss and what makes a bad boss?
1. Work in two groups. One group should make a list of what makes a good boss, the other
should list what makes a bad boss.

GOOD BOSSES BAD BOSSES

1. A good boss is someone who ....... 1. A had boss is someone who ........
~,,,**,,a,,.*,a.t.®*®.,+,,.*.
+,,,~-,,,,,t,,.,,,.,,,*,,,,

2. A good boss always ...... I ....... 2. A bad boss always ............ ` « .

3, A good boss never 3. A bad boss never ........ » a ..,...

4. Some charac[erisrics of a good boss: 4. Some characteristics of a had boss:

A,+,v,,x+,,,,~,,,.4,,*,,
+*,,,,,,,,,,,,,1«,,,,,,,,*,,,+

2. When you finish, find a student who made the opposite list and compare. Do you agree?
Are good bosses like good teachers? Talk about the parallels and the differences.

Instant Discussions I hate my boss! 32

 Seams - how can people be so stupid?

Discussion
1. Look at this list of ways to spend your money. Tick the sensible ones:
I a college or university education I thelottery
D a new car • anewhouse
I renting a flat I getting your palm read
I yoga classes • psychic readings
I a big traditional wedding I playing the stock market
2. Compare the items you ticked in pairs or small groups. Give some other good ways to spend
money? And bad ones?

Reading
Read this quote and discuss the questions below in pairs:
`For years iny wife and I saved our money. Vie didn't have any leids. Txle u/ere going to
spend the money enjoying our retiremeut. But then she died. I was deuastated. Maybe
that's why they found it so easy. It must bare been like taleing candy from a baby.'
1. How old do you think the person who said this is?
2. Who is the `they' he refers to?
3. What do you think `taking candy from a baby' means?
Now read this man's story and answer the questions below:
Had - Part 1
George Stockton, 72, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has become the latest victim in a rise in money-making
seams aimed at the elderly. Stockton says a woman approached him with an offer to `put hin back in touch'
with his deceased wife. "I do miss her so, so much. The psychic offered me a new chance," lamented
Stockton, his eyes wateing. "I guess I was taken in by that." The woman, who Stockton says he met at
bingo, talked him into visiting her house where, for a fee of $50 initially, she would receive `messages'
from his departed wife, Linda. "She seemed to know so much about her. I thought it had to be real," George
recalls. "She lured me in and I fell for it, hook, line and sinker." The initial $50.fee increased to Sloo. The
psychic insisted that she needed to buy more special materials, and that each session took more work,
requiring higher fees. She had already managed to con him out of over $7,000. At one point, George nearly
gave uP.
1. Is this kind of thing uncommon?
2. How did George Stockton know the ivoman.?
Before continuing to read Part 2, discuss this question in pairs or small groups: What do you think
happens next?
Had - Part 2
I said, "Enough. That's too expensive. I've paid too much money already!" That's when she offered to
do an `incarnation. ' The `incamation' would allow Linda's spirit to enter her body. According to the
psychic, this would allow him to speak directly to Linda, as if she was really there in the room with him.
"This was an offer I could not refuse. I paid her the money." The `money' George refers to was his life

savings of $48,000. "It's all gone now. I have nowhere to go. I've been had!" Police are still searching
for the scam artist.
3. Why did she suddenly offer an `incarnation'?
4. How much money did she manage to get from George?
5. How much money does he have left?
6. Is what she did illegal? Does this happen in your country?

33 Scams -how can people be so stupid? Instant Discussions

Discussion Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or smal.I groups: 1. George Stockton's sad case is perhaps an
extreme one. Have you ever felt you've been
1. Do you think the psychic specifically chose `had'? What happened?
George Stockton? Why? 2. Look at these situations. Do you consider them
2. What techniques did she use to make him give seams?
her money?
cigarette advertising
3. The psychic managed to take over $50,000 in
home contents insurance
the end from George, and now the police are
beauty products
after her. But what if she had stopped at just
sales in shops
$500? Or $50? Should it be illegal?
double-glazing offers
revolutionary diets
Language spending on defence
Go back to the article and underline expressions psychotherapy
that mean `to fool someone'. Compare with a alternative medicine
partner. Then use the expressions you underlined self-help books
to complete these dialogues: anti-ageing creams
Dialogue 1 cosmetic surgery
pet funerals
A: Is thatyour newcar?
cures for baldness
8: Yes, that's right.
A: How much did you pay for it? 3. Can you think of any others? Discuss in pairs,
then as a class.
a, $15,000.
A: You've ............ !

Dialogue 2
A: You're getting married, George?
8: I'mafraidso.
A: Well, how did that happen?
8: I don't know exactly. Somehow, she
•................. it.

Dialogue 3
A: So, are you coming fishing?
8: Yes. I called in sick. I told him I had an
`extremely contagious' virus.
A: Do you think he ............ it?
8: I certainly hope so!

Dialogue 4
A: Have fun in Las Vegas. But be careful!
8: Why?
A: It's very easy to be ............
...... all the noise and excitement and
spend a fortune!
"It u)orked! VIle'ue sent each one home with a gerbil."

Instant Discussions Scams-howcan people be sostupjd? 33

 Bad habits

Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner:
1. Do you have any habits which you consider bad habits?
2. Do you have any old habits that you can't give up?
3. Did you use to have a bad habit that you've given up? How did you do it?
4. Are there any bad habits in other people that really annoy you?
Share your ideas with the rest of the class.

Reading
Read about these people with unusually anti-social habits and answer the questions below. Which one
is the strangest? What do they all have in common?

ls4 TONS OF RUBBISH FOUND IN in the woman's refrigerator and freezer, some in
SPANIARD'S HOME plastic bags. Another 24 catst many of them
SAN SEBASTIAN DE LOS REYES, Spain underfed, were also found. "It was foul, believe
(AP) - Workers with heavy equipment have me," caid police Capt. Marvin E. StGner Jr.
removed 154 tons of rubbish from a masts Andrey Weed, 50, was charged with anirml
home outside Madrid. The job tock two weeks abandonment and was awaiting tial.
tc} complete. 58-year-old Antonio VIllalha Neighbours said Weed had a soft spot for
refused repeated requests frorm neighbours and abandoned animals and habienally brought them
city officials to clean up his yard and house. It home, but became ovgrwhe!med.
Stank and there were rats in afid around the
MAN FOUND DEAD AT HOME -
houset the newspaper 8/ Pcrfs said. The house
LIZARDS EATING HIS BODY
was so packed with everything from tin cans to
DOVER, Del (AP) - Several pea lizards were
car pars that Villalba was forced to live in a
found eating the corpse Of their owner in his
(iny comparfuem in the back and reached it
throngh a tunnel he made in the "bhish. apar¢rnent* polfce said. Police were called to
Ronald Huff 's aparment in Newark® Del. on
Villalbat a widower who lived alone{ was taken
Wednesday after he failed to show up for work.
to a rmrsing home until the job was completed.
investigators said. Huff7 42, lived alone and had
DOZENS 0F DEAD CAffs DIScOVBREB last been seen on Sunday{ Seven Nile monitor
IN HOME OF EX-COP lizards, the largest measttring 6 feet longo were
CcOPER CITY, Fla, {AP) - A farmer peliee recovered and brought ro the SPCA. Director
officer was arrested after authorities found 67 John Caldwell said that the lizards are "alive
dead cats and dozens of other neglected felines and well''. He added that one of the reptiles
at a house authQriti€s said was used as an recovered was acting xaggressivelyt "actualfty
i `aninal retreat'. Police said the dent cats were going towards you -mouth open."

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Why did the authorities go to Antonio Villalba's house?
2. How do you know it was a big job?
3. Were all the cats in Audrey Weed's apartment found dead?
4. Why do you think someone would keep all those cats?
5. Do you think Ronald Huff was killed by his lizards?
6. What size were the lizards?

34 Bad habits Instant Discussions

Language Discussion
1. The following expressions are common ways to Work in pairs or small groups. What habits do the
talk about habits. Underline the verbs. following refer to?
a. It's a hard habit to break. 1. I'm down to two packs a day now.
b. I'm trying to cut down. 2. OK, just a drop.
c. I've been meaning to give up. 3. My nails never grow.
d. Once you start, you can't stop. 4. Get your finger out of there!
Do you have equivalents in your language? 5. He stays up all night watching.
2. Match the following to complete the bad habits: 6. I get on and I can't get off -I just surf all day
long.
1. bite your a. fingers
7. I just can't throw things out.
2. crack your b. knuckles 8. I can't resist a bargain.
3. grind your C. nose 9. I have a terrible sweet tooth.
4. pick your d. teeth
5. snap your e. hair
6. play with your f. nails

"Hoarder!"

Questionnaire -are you a hoarder?

Are you a hoarder? Do you find it impossible to throw things out? For some people, such as Antonio
Villalba in the article, this is a real problem -now officially recognised by doctors as an obsessive-
compulsive disorder. Some people find it impossible to throw anything away -even hoarding used
bottles, empty cereal packets, etc. But aren't we all in some small way secret hoarders? Tick which of
the following things you secretly hoard:

I ordinary plastic carrier bags

I carrier bags from famous shops

I empty wine bottles

I emptyjamjars
I old newspapers
• old magazines
I favourite old clothes

I programmes from concerts or plays

D pens
I old cosmetics
Find other people in the class who share your weakness. Are there other things which you are willing
to admit to hoarding?

Instant Discussions Bad habits 34

 Killed by a flying duck!

Discussion
Work in pairs. Rate the following everyday activities on a health-risk scale. Give each one a mark:
0 = no risk to your health 5 = very dangerous
taking a bath flying
taking a shower changing a light bulb
eating in a restaurant watching rv
kissing driving your car
taking a walk going camping
smoking hitch-hiking
Does everyone in the class agree?

Reading
The following are real news headlines, followed by extracts from real newspaper articles,
First, try to complete the headlines on your own before comparing with a partner:
a ............ FALLS ON MOVING CAR IN INDIANA,
KILLING TWO ADULTS AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN

b. MAN DIES AFTER BEING ........... IN THE IHAD IN

NEW YORK CITY STREET

c ............ FATALLY STRIKES MAN IT WAS SENT T0 HELP

d. JET-SKI OPERATOR DIES IN HIGH-Sl'EED COLLISION

VIHA...........
Now read the articles and then go back and correctly complete the headlines.

1. A dead tree fell on top of a passing car, crushing 3. An elderly man wandering jn the street was smick
the passenger compartment and killing a minister, and killed by a fire engine sent to help hirm, the
his wife and two of their children. "No wind. No authorities said. The fire engine was moving §iowly
storm. The chances of that tree falling at the time when it struck the elderly man while he was out
they were directly underneath it are astronomical," locking for the fne brigade. He died irlstantly.
said Hancock Counly Sheriff Niek Gulling.
4. A man dashing across a lake on his jet-ski at
2. A man died after he was punched in the head by about 55 mph was killed in a collision with a flying
another man while wanting along a New York City duck. "Our theory is that the bird was in the air and
street, police said. Nell Eddelson, 39, and a friend hi€ hid in the head," said David Baindas, an owner
were walking from a bar in Lower Manhattan's of a boat dealership. The bird's careass was foind
Tribeca neighbourhood around 9:30 pin on nearby and there were feathers ou the jet-ski's
Wednf sday. Another man approached, punched handlebars, said the Broward County Sheriff's
Eddelson in the head and ran off, police said. spokesman, Hugh Graf. .

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Were you surprised by any of these? Why/Why not?
2. Were all of these `accidents' or `unintentional'?
3. Could any of these have been easily prevented? How?

35 Killedbyaflyingduck! Instant Discussions

Language
Here are possible reactions to the four situations you read about. Which is the best natural reaction to
each?
a. I don't believe it. It just sounds amazing!
b. What a coincidence! The odds of that happening must have been incredible.
c. That's incredibly sad.
d. How awful! I suppose there are mad people everywhere.
Notice these different ways to react to amazing news:
What a + noun:
What a coincidence! What a terrible thing to happen. What an awful thing to go through!
How + adjective:
How awful! How amazing! How incredible! How unbelievable!
That's / That sounds + adjective:
That's amazing! That's terrible! That sounds awful! That sounds unbelievable!
Complete the following situations using words from the examples above:
1. Did you hear that a little girl was killed by a falling tree today?
> ...... awful! How did it happen?
2. There's been a crash on the underground and a lot of people have been injured.
> That ...... terrible. I hope nobody's been killed.
3. A friend of mine was backing her car into her drive when she ran over her dog.
> Oh, that's terrible! ...... awful thing to have to tell your children!
4. There's been an earthquake in Turkey and thousands of people have lost their homes.
> ...... terrible! I hope it's nowhere near where your friends live.
5. Have you heard the news today? A guy ran amok and shot 6 people in a supermarket in Sydney.
> ...... appalling! You wonder what gets into these people.
6. Something terrible has happened this morning. There's been a gas explosion in town.
> That ...... terrible! Do they know how it happened yet?

Accidents in the home Discussion

Did you know that most injuries to people happen Discuss the following in pairs or small groups:
within the four walls of their own home? Here are
1. Do you believe the kinds of events discussed so
some true statements about safety in the home.
Can you complete them using the following
far in this unit are pure misfortune, or do you
words? believe in fate?
2. Do you believe your life is in danger at.any
falling time? In what ways?
children
3. How do you feel about living:
kitchen
a. in an area which has a recent history of
hospital
violent earthquakes?
lethal
b. in an area where hurricanes or cyclones are
1. Almost 40°/o of all accidents which need an annual occurrence?
........ treatment happen in people's homes. c. near an active volcano?
2. Among the most dangerous rooms are the Do you think people in these areas take `a
the bedroom and the bathroom. calculated risk' or don't they think about it?
3. Almost 40°/o of all accidents in the home 4. Do you know anyone who likes to live
involve someone ......... dangerously? What do you think the term
4. The most serious danger in any home is fire. `adrenaline I.unky' means? What sort of people
It spreads fast and is often are they?
5. Accidents involving ..... often occur in 5 . tit may be that your sole purpose in life is to
the presence of an adult. serve as a warning to others.'
How do you feel about this remark? Could it
be true - or just uncaring?

Instant Discussions Killedbyaflyingduck! 35

 §urvivor§!

Discussion
With a partner, decide which three of these survival situations are the worst:
1. being lost at sea in a small yacht
2. travelling to do business in a country where you do not speak the language
3. losing your wallet, credit cards and passport in a foreign country
4. being lost in the middle of a forest
5. living in a dangerous part of the city where people are regularly mugged
6. having two fifteen-year-old nephews to stay for a weekend without their parents
7. being the only one at a party who doesn't know anyone
8. your car breaking down on the motorway

Reading
Read these newspaper articles and answer the questions below. Do you think you could have
survived?
r~'~J-~~ ~~ ~`w, \`r ~v+~y~~ ~ ymv` _v_ v»_ ..~~., in ,. ,

BOY USES BELT TO STOP BLEEDING

ABBEVILLE, S.C (AP) A hey whose leg GORMAN, Calif. (AP} A 25-year-old man
was severed by a train used his belt to stop who wandered into the Anggles National
himself from bleeding to death - a skill he Forest a month ago and got lost has been
]garned from his mother when she was found alive, police said.
studying to be a nurse. Sean Kelly, who was reporfed missing on
AIex Compton, 10, was crossing the tracks September 30th, was found by a hunter on
near his home on Monday when his foot got Monday about 60 miles nofih of downtown
caught on some rocks. has Angeles, sheriff s Depnty Michael
After the accident, he removed his belt 'and Lorenci said.
tightened it around his degh fo stop the Kelly was too weak to walk, sQ rescuers
tjleeding¢ rescue workers Said. He learned the transported hin try helieapter to Henry Maya
technique from his mother, Lisa Compton, Newhall Memorial Hospital, where he was
who had studied first aid at school. A treated.
neighbour found Alex beside the track. His Kelly told the hunter he had been lust for
leg was also found but dcotors couldn't re~ about two weets and survived by eating routs
attach it. and Bugs, Lorencj Said. TQ survive, he
Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley covered himself with din and branches at
§ald he had never known anyone to snrvive nigivt 1o keep wan.
such an aeeident. "Alex is a veryg very brave "We're all surprised that he'd been out there
child,`t A§hley §atd. "HeSs something special. for 30 days and that he survived," Lorenci
He heaps wanting to know bow he's going to saidt "It's not every dry that something like
ride his bieycle and how he is going tQ inn this happens."
and play with the other kids~"
LLOST MAN SURvrvES IN W0oBS
Work in pairs and mark the following statements:
T = True F = False NEl = Not Enough Information
1. Alex Compton lost both legs.
2. If Alex Compton had not used his belt to stop the bleeding, he would have bled to death.
3. Alex Compton struggled to get to the hospital by himself.
4. Alex Compton has already come to terms with this incident.
5. Sean Kelly went into the woods to go camping.
6. Sean Kelly was forced to eat insects.
7. Sean Kelly was amazingly well after being so long in the woods.
8. Sean Kelly is an exceptionally lucky person to have survived such an experience.

36 S urvivors I Instant Discussions

Language
Look at this sentence from the second article:
It3s not euery day that something like this happens.
Does this mean that it is very unusual or that it is commonplace?
Divide the expressions below into those that mean `very unusua]' and those meaning `more common':

very unusual more common

a. It was oiit of the ordinary.

b. It was a one-in-a-million chance.
c. It happens all the time.
d. It's hard to believe.
e. Imagine that!
f. It's not unheard of.
9. I think it's highly unlikely.
h. It's not the first time.
i. I'm not all that surprised.

Work in pairs. Use the above expressions to respond to the following:

1. Have you heard there's been an earthquake in central Turkey?
2. Someone's just been found alive after two months lost in Brazil.
3. There's been another bomb attack in Belfast.
4. There's been a massive pile-up on the M6 -nine people are known to have died.
5. Do you think the President will resign?
6. There's been a lot of flooding in Bangladesb.
7. All we need is one flake of snow and the trains are off !
8. They've found that girl who's been missing for six months -and she's alive and well!

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss the best ways to survive in these situations:
1. You are on holiday in Australia. You are swimming about a mile off shore. You have
just seen a shark about 100 metres away.
2. The small plane you were travelling in has crashed in the middle of the jungle. You are
unharmed, but you have no food or water.
3. You are in a busy street in the city. Buildings start moving. It's an earthquake!
4. You are on holiday - on safari in Africa. You are camping. A very large snake has
entered your tent.
5. You wake up, smell smoke and realise that there is a fire in your house.
6. You are trapped in a crowded lift -2 hours have passed and still no help has arrived.
We often read about people who lose their sight, their hearing, their speech, their sense of smell or
taste. If you lost one of your senses, which would be the most difficult to cope without?

Instant Discussions Su rvivors I 36

 Do you spoil your kids?

Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner:
1. Were you spoiled as a child?
2. What does `spoiling' a child mean to you?
3. How many of the following things do you consider `spoiling a child'?
a. Giving a five-year-old pocket money.
b. Taking a four-year-old child to Florida to see I)isneyworld.
c. Giving a child sweets every day.
d. Letting a seven-year-old child stay up till 11 at night.
e. Buying a cbild expensive toys.
f. Sending a child to a private school.
9. Buying a child the latest clothes.
h. Letting a child watch as much television as he or she wants.
What other things do you consider spoil children?

Reading
Read the following article, then answer the questions which follow:

MICHAEL JACKSON DANGLES BABY Jack.son held him in mid-air from the luxtirious
OVER BALCONY Ad]on Hcte}.
Berlin, Now 20, 2002. Last night the singer Many people have aired douBt§ abont
Miehael Jackson shocked his fans as he Jackson's treatment Of his thee children.
dangled his baby son over his fourth floor Whenever they appear in public, they wear
hotel balcony. It was not clear what Jacksonts masks so that nobody will reeQgnise them.
intentions were, but it looks as if he will Jackson claims to be protecting them from
escape a criminal investigation unless the exploitation by the mediat but they seem io
German authorities receive a complaint from live in a private wdrld9 unable to mix with
the genend public. other children. Although their millionaire
It was ironic that the singer seemed to be fathertwill mate snre they want for nothing,
putting his baby's life at risk while he was in they are growing up with no mother present
the city to receive a lifetime achievement and incapable of going anywhere without the
&ward and to attend a charity night for whole Jackson media cireu§ in attendance.
homeless children. In a written statement the Last year Jacksonts father, Joseph, apoke out in
singer said, "I made a terrible mistake. I got favour of spanking #hildren. ire maintained
caught up in the excitement Of the moment. I that there wouldn!{ be so much crime if parents
would never intentionally endanger the lives Of were prepared to punish their kids a little and
my children." take care that they stayed on the right track.
The child, Prince Michael 113 is Jackson'§ third Michael Jackson claims his father beat him and
and youngest. The boy, his tiny legs kicking, his brothers and sisters regularly when they
seemed to be covered with a white cloth as were growing up.
in_-"___rfuJ

1. Why did Jackson put his son's life at risk?

2. What is worrying about the way Jackson is bringing up his children?
3. What else do you know about Jackson and his children?
4. If you were rich and famous, how would you protect your children from the media.?

37 Do you spoil your kids? Instant Discussions

Language
Work in pairs or small groups. Which of the following collocations to do with children have a negative
connotation?
1. abuse a child 7. beat a child
2. adopt a child 8. discipline a child
3. bring up a child 9. raise a child
4. educate a child 10. mistreat a child
5. indulge a child 11. neglect a child
6. look after a child 12. spoil a child
Which of the above collocations describe these situations?
a. She's always giving in to that boy.
b. He taught me everything I know.
c. Where did you get those bruises?
d. They never say no.
e. They couldn't have any kids of their own, so ...
f. She forgot to pick her up from school again.
9. That's it! Go straight to your room!

Discussion
Use this questionnaire first in pairs, then discuss it in the whole class:

®®®®©©©©®©©®©®®®®®©©©©®®©©©©©©®®
© ©
©
: What is your parenting style? ®
® 1. Your son asks you for a motorbike for his 18th birthday. You think ©
© they'redangerous. ®
© ®
©
: :.. Y:: :¥f:rht]ombtuhyehT:t:r:;kre6n condition he gives up motorblkes. ©
© c.Youtell himtoforgetaboutit. ©
©
: 2. Your 1 3-year~old daughter wants to go to the movies alone with a ®
® 16-year-oldboy. ®
© a.You laughandtell hertodoherhomework. ®
® b.Youtell heroK, as longas heroldersistergoeswith her. ®
© c.You lethergoeventhoughyou don'tagreewith it. ©
© ®
® 3. You are the lucky winner of the state lottery -$50 million! ®
® a.You giveyour kidseverythingyou neverhad. ®
© b.You makeyour kidsstrugglebecauseyou had to. ®
© c.You givethemjustwhatthey need and no more. ©
© ®
® 4. Your 17-year-old son is going out on his first real date. ©
© a.Yougivehimadviceonsafesex. ®
® b.You give himyourcreditcard and say, `Haveagreatnight!'. ®
© ©
® c.You ask himwhere he'sgoingand offer him a liftand somecash. ®
® 5. Everyone in your daughter's class is getting tattooed. Your daughter, ®
© ®
18, wants to join the club. You don't like the idea.
® ®
@
: %.. ¥:: tae;:oh,eurteTya¥:re6j:i:.you want to approve the design first. ®
® c.You reluctantly give herthe money because you want her approval. ©
® ®
©©®®®®®©©©®®®®©@®®©©©©®®©©®©©®®®

Instant Discussions Do you spoil your kids? 37

 Do you drive?

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Do you drive? If not, do you intend to take a driving test at some time?
2. What sort of car do you have? What sort of car would you like if you had the choice?
3. Do you think a person's car says something about them? If so, what?
4. Do you think you are a good driver? Why/Why not? What makes a good/bad driver?
5. Have you ever had an accident? What happened?

Reading
Read this article. fvlark Mrs Dawkins' route on the map below and write in the names of the people who
live at each house.

i HOW NOT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

i :e8s-syoen¥;0;derE}]£%r:e. 3:r££hnesnh£:rnheuvsebr£:: £e¥ Vb!rno8ke

i his leg and could not drive for six weeks, he asked her
; to start the car in order to charge the battery. If he had
i known what was going to happen, he might have
i acted differently.

#itt¥:;e;;#¥ed:?iixk::¥;:¥¥:wi¥:Oar;c::i;:¥:eiso;;nr8d
i In an attempt to correct the situation, Mrs Dawkins
i selected Drive in the two-year-oid Peugeot 306
; Automatic and set off again, leaving behind a trail Of
; destruction. She careered over the road into the
i garden Of number 15 and knocked down the fence
between mos. 15 and 13. Narrowly missing the Volvo

i :fe¥r£::tTgaay±°ernwo¥°n;i.V:: a±:°al3o'u%hhe a§#::u;cniply

( not kimng any Of the valuable koi cap that live there.
AI this point she managed to fun out on to the road
btit once again lost control, crashing into the gates iffi Discussion
front Of number 16, owned by hfr and Mrs Wheeler,
Discuss these questions in pairs or small
and finally coming to a stop.
Daniel Hunt witnessed the whole event from his front groups:
room at no. 15. `It was like something ant of an old 1. Do you think all Mrs Dawkins' neighbours
silent movie,! he said. `1 just could not believe what felt the same way as Daniel Hunt?
was happening< When she drove into Mrs Beecham's 2. How do you think some of them felt?
garden at number 11, I had begun to think it was quite 3. Do you think they will understand that `it was
furmy and by the time she finally stopped I was all a terrible accident'?
laughing like hell.' Mrs Dawkins spent last night in 4. What would you have done if you had been
Worfuing General Hospital Suffering from shcek and Daniel Hunt?
minor injuries. She confessed {o being extremely 5. What do you think Mrs Dawkins will d.o
embarrassed and hoped that her neighbours would when she gets out of hospital?
understand that it her all been a terrible accident. 6. Do you know of anything like this ever
i_____ . _` _ _
happening in your country?

38 Doyoudrive? Instant Discussions

Language
1. Match the verbs on the left with an appropriate phrase on the right:
1. start a. the battery
2. have b. the gates
3. charge c. on to the road
4. put d. the car
5. crash into e. the car into reverse
6. turn out f. a driving lesson

Check your answers in the text.

2. Complete the text below with appropriate forms of expressions from the exercise above:
The day of my first driving test was the worst day I can remember! I was going to
.............. (1) first and then go on to take my test. My driving instructor
arrived on time and we got into my car, but nothing happened. It was dead.
I .............. (2) and eventually managed to ............... (3) . We set
off and just arrived at the test centre in time. The examiner got into the car and asked
me to drive out of the test centre car park. First of all I .............. (4) and shot
backwards about ten metres very suddenly. Then as I drove forwards .......... (5),
I .............. (6) of the test centre. At that point the examiner said: `If you don't
mind, Mr Williams, I think it would be better if you came back another day.'
I've never felt so humiliated.

Discussion
Answer the following questions on your own. Then compare your answers in pairs or small groups.

1. Speed cameras have just been installed in your town. Do you:

a. drive more slowly all the time now?
b. drive as usual, but slow down for the speed cameras because you know where
they are?
c. drive as usual - you always used to keep to the speed limit anyway.
2. You want to pick up a newspaper on your way to work but there isn't a parking
space outside your local newsagent's. Do you:
a. park illegally -you'll only be two minutes?
b. go to a different newsagent's?
c. wait till someone moves their car so you can park legally?
3. As you reverse out of a parking space you accidentally scratch the BMW parked
next`to you. Do you:
a. drive off quickly?
b. leave your name and address under the BMW's windscreen wiper?
c. scratch the other side of the BMW too so it looks like vandalism?
4. You are in a hurry, driving along a twisting country road behind an old man and
his wife who are going very slowly. Do you:
a. try and overtake even though it might be quite dangerous?
b. sound your horn to try and make the old fool let you past?
c. find a radio station you like and relax -you'11 only be five minutes late?
5. Someone accidentally, and quite gently, bumps into the back of your car at some
traffic lights. You both get out of your cars. Do you say:
a. `You idiot! This car's only three weeks old'?
b. `1'11 have your name and address, please. My garage'll be checking for any
damage'?
c. `Doesn't look too bad to me but I reckon it's probably worth a drink'?

Instant Discussions Do you drive? 38

 Special days and dates

Discussion
Work in pairs or small groups and discuss the following questions:
1. How many public holidays do you have in your country per year?
2. What sort of things do these holidays celebrate?
3. What do you do on these holidays?
4. Do you think the number of public holidays is too few, about right, or too many?
Compare your answers with another pair.

Did you know?

• The UK has fewer public holidays than any other European co`untry.
• Before 1871 only Christmas Day and Good Friday were official holidays
for everyone in Britain.
• There are now eight bank holidays in Britain.
• Northern Ireland has two extra days: March 17th (St Patrick's Day) and
July 18th (the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne).

Reading
Read the information below. Tick anything that you already knew:

idllilli Do you believe in coincidence?

Read this information abou€ two great Ljs Presidents.
• Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. • Lincoln.s secretary was named Kennedy. KennedySs
John F. Kennedy wzis elected ro Congress in 1946. secretary was named Lincoln.
• Abrchan} Lincoha was elected President in 1860. Jchn • The names Lincoin and Kennedy each contain seven
F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. letters.
• Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincolri, was born in • Both assassins were known by their thee names.
1808. Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was • Both names are composed of fiifeen lctters.
born in 1908. • Lincoin was sfaot at the theatre named Kennedy.
• Jchn Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was Kermedy was shot in a Lincoin car.
born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald. who assassinated • Booth ran from the theatre and was 6au8ht in a
Kermedy, was born in 1939. warehouse. Oswald ran from a warehouse and was
• Both Presiden*§ were shot on a Friday. caugr!t iri a theatre.
But thereSs more than jus€ coincidences about dates: • Both Booth and O§wald were assassinated before
• Both Presidents were shot in the head. their utals.
• Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. • A week before Lincoln was shQtt he was in Mormce*
• Both were assassittared by Southerners. Maryland. A week before Kennedy was shot. he was
• Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson. with Marilyn Mource.
i -. _-_.__.`_ ____-

Read the information again and make a list of things which haven't been mentioned (because they
obviously weren't coincidences). For example:
Kennedy didn't die exactly 100 years after Lincoin.
(In fact Lincoln died in 1865, Kennedy in 1963.)
Compare your answers in pairs or small groups.
How significant are the coincidences above? Are there any coincidences in your life?

39 Specialdaysanddates Instant Discussions

Discussion
Many people born before about 1953 can remember exactly what they were doing when they heard that
President Kennedy had been assassinated. Can you remember where you were and what you were
doing when:
1. You heard that Princess Diana had been killed in a car crash in Paris.
2. You heard about the terrorist attacks on September llth 2001.
What other events do you feel have had a similar impact?

Language
Complete the text below with words from the box:

procession fireu)orles party costumes games park

b an d cer emony ch tar ch fe stiu al me al h omes

Every year on 21st July our village has its own special ........ (1). It is called the
Festival of the Sea because the village is on the coast. The day starts with a ...... (2)
through the streets of the village. Everyone between the ages of 15 and 30 wears
traditional ........ (3) and there is a ........ (4) which plays traditional music and
songs. At about 12 o'clock everyone arrives at the ........ (5) and there is a special
........ (6) for the fishermen. After that, everyone goes back to their ........ (7)
for a special ........ (8). Later, in the afternoon, everyone goes down to the
........ (9) by the seafront. There are ........ (10) for the children and the
grown-ups play with the children and chat to each other. Then, when it starts to get
dark, there are ........ (11) and there is a big ........ (12) with music and
dancing. Everyone has a great time. Usually nobody gets to bed before about three in
the morning - not even the children.

Discussion
Discuss the following in pairs or small groups:
1. Do you celebrate any of the following in your country?
National Day
Independence D ay
the longest / shortest day of the year
either of the solstices (21st March, 21st September)
nave days
What do you do on these days?
2. What religious festivals do you celebrate? What is the religious significance of these
festivals? What happens on these days?
3. Are there other events, religious or otherwise, which you feel should be celebrated,
either with or without a public holiday.?
4. Your country has decided that there should be one more public holiday every year.
Work in small groups and decide:
when the holiday uiill be
uihat it is going to celebrate
ulhat official celebrations (if any) there should be
5. What has been the most important day of your life so far?
Compare your answers with those of other groups.

Instant Discussions Special daysanddates 39

 Where do you live?
_\
I-I-

Discussion
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups:
1. Where do you live?
2. What is your house like?
3. How long have you lived there?
4. Describe your favourite room.

Language
Match the words and phrases to the pictures:
treehouse wigwam lighthouse windmill palace log cabin

Reading
Look at the three advertisements below. Answer these questions:
1. Which is the most expensive / cheapest?
2. Which is the biggest / smallest?
3. Which property needs some money spent on it?

THREE EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES FOR SALE

-=-=ii¥i=

BLjilt in 2800, this is 8 rare chance to

acquire .a truly fautastis treehouse
with full living accommedatjon, act in -,I..``..-;,-..T`..i-,.-`.`:..`
beautiful countryside in south west
Scotland. Kifehen/dining rcom, living
room* four bedrooms, bathroom.
unbelievabl©! Price £90,000

40 Wheredoyoulive? Instant Discussions

Discussion planning a house
Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups: Work in pairs. You want to build a house. You
1. What do you think are the pros and cons of don't have enough money to build a house on
each of the three properties? your own, but you can manage it if you and your
partner do it together. plan the ideal house for
2. Which property do you chink is the most both of you to live in together. Think about and
unusual? discuss the points below and draw up a plan.
3. Have you ever seen or been in any properties
1. Where will it be? Will it have a view?
like these? Where? What were they like?
2. What style will it be in? Modern? Traditional?
4. Which would you most like to live in? Why?
3. What size will it be? How many rooms? How
5. Which would you least like to live in? Why?
many floors?
4. How will it be decorated? Simply? Very
Language traditionally? Plain colours? Flowery
Use house or home to complete these sentences: wallpaper?
5. Will it have a garden? What size? What style?
1. I hadn't met Sam before. He's great. We got
6. What about things like a swimming pool,
on like a ........ on fire.
sauna, tennis court?
2. I know the bridge looks a bit dangerous. But
don't worry - it's as safe as ......... Get together with other pairs and compare your
3. We stay at my sister's house so often -it's like designs.
a . . . + ..,, from .........
4. Yes, I suppose we had a good holiday. The Discussion
weather was good but the hotel was nothing to
Work in pairs or small groups. What do you think
write........about.
the expressions below mean? Do you agree or
5. No, no, put your wallet away. It's on the disagree with them? Why?
1. Charity begins at home.
6.Jamie, hi! Nice to see you. Come in! Make
2. An Englishman's home is his castle.
yourself at .........
3. There's no place like home.
Match each sentence above to the correct 4. Wherever I lay my hat, that's my home.
meaning below: 5. Home is where the heart is.
a. it was not very special
b. we liked each other
c. we are as happy as in our own home
d. it's very safe
e. be comfortable
f . it's free

!E!Earfl;.oH
"On a clear day you can see the ground."

Instant Discussions Wheredoyoulive? 40

 Unit by unit notes

1 Teenage rebellion Can the class think of any pop lyrics today which
shape the attitudes of young people?
Reading You could ask the class to ask their parents what
Elicit students' opinions on questions 1 - 3.
pop music was like when they were young. Were
Then read the texts about Ashley's view and the any of them part of the 60's generation?
headmaster's view.
Answers:
1 Ashley was furious because they changed the 2 Incredible stories
colour of her hair in the photograph. The stories in this unit can easily be added to
2 She thought the school should have given her from national and local papers or from the
a choice. internet.
3 She had had pink hair since before Christmas. Reading
4 He thought her hair did not bring credit upon The stories `Stuck in the Air' and `Back Into The
• her or the school. Records' are false:
5 He felt the school had acted reasonably by not Stuck in the Air
excluding her and by allowing her to attend This story was reported by the BBC and other
normal lessons. news agencies, but the airline later denied that it
was true.
Language Back Into The Records
1 a. I went straight to the headmaster. There is no guarant:ee that Ben Nevis bas not been
b. I was just fuming. climbed by someone walking backwards!
c. there is no way I'm ...
2 a. We have been trying to resolve ... Language 1
b. Initially we were assured .„ contestant, repetition, guidance, launch,
c. .„ pupils are expected to bring credit upon operation, opponent, collection, ascent, descent.
themselves ... Other possible nouns:
d. We have not excluded Ashley from school. manager, contest, guide, operator, opposition,
We have allowed her to attend normal collector.
lessons. Language 2
Possible answers: 1 contest
1 I was extremely angry that he was unable to 2 ascent
resolve the problem of the timetable. 3 descent
2 I have no intention of ever allowing him into 4 collecting
my classes. 5 repeated
3 I shall seek an immediate meeting with the 6 manager
director. 7 opponents
4 We have come to the decision that your son 8 guidance
should be excluded from this school. Discussion
5 Initially I'd like to clarify that classes will take You could display the stories around the
place as normal. classroom so that the class can read and discuss
them all. Make sure that one person in each
Protest
group is appointed to write the story down.
Elicit contemporary examples of youth culture Good groups should be able to work with 3 or 4
from the students. Find out how they feel about of the headlines. Weaker groups should do 1 and
the examples. if they do that in a reasonable time, ask them to
Bob Dylan was one of the most important singers do another.
of the 1960's. Note in the Dylan quotation `agin'
= `ageing'. Ask the class why they think protest The cartoon
was so common at that time. What were the Why is the cartoon funny? You could put students
issues of the day? (the Vietnam War, women's into pairs to make up a story based on it. They
rights, black rights, etc) must start: "Did you hear about the man who ..."

Unit by unit notes Instant Discussions

 Expressions
3 Naming and shaming 1 dream
Discussion 2led
lb 2a 3f 4c 5h 6e 7d 8g
Reading
Make sure students know what `stocks' are - a
wooden structure which held a criminal's legs and Cause

arms so that they could not move. This was . Questionnaire

erected in a public place so that people could Ask students to do the questionnaire on their own
throw things at them, eg rotten eggs! A very old before comparing their answers with a partner.
form of punishment in the UK -not used today!
1a The shoplifter had to walk up and down the 5 What's in a name?
street outside the shops he had stolen from with a
You could start this discussion with the names of
sign that read: `1 am a thief. Do not steal. This
could be you.' your class. Who has a common name? An
unusual name? A nickname?
1b The man had to write a one-dollar cheque
every week to the man whose daughter he killed. The origin of names
Cara - Celtic/Gaelic
2 She thinks they will make people stop and
Andrew - British
think.
Pavel - Slavic
Discussion Fatima - Arabic
|f you wish, this activity could also lead into a fr`,i, cf-Tokala -Native American
discussion about what are appropriate Kunto - African
punishments for schoolchildren. Meredith - Welsh
Language Duc - Vietnamese
1 found guilty 6 committed Washi - Japanese
2 causingthe death of 7 conviction Chloe - Greek
3 sentenced 8 criminal Discussion
4 fine 9 offenders You could suggest that students try an internet
5 prison
site to find the most popular names for pets. Type
He should be locked up/put behind bars/sent to in `names for pets' and you will be surprised what
prison. you find - everything from thousands of name
At the end of the lesson, ask the class if they think
suggestions for your pet lizard to `pet of the
naming and shaming is a suitable thing to do.
month' competitions! One of the main
Would it work in their culture?
distinctions seems to be people who give their pets
4 Neighbours from hell human names and those who give them `fun'
names.
Reading
The Thompsons` say that Miss Hill has:
- been unhelpful about keeping the shared 6 You've got mail
drive clear True or false?
- stolen a strip of land when she replaced a
1T 2F 3F 4T
fence
- cut down one of the Thompsons' trees Language
- allowed her dog to attack Mrs Thompson 1 visit a website
- eaten the Thompsons' fish. go online
surf the internet
Language switch on your computer
1 a. disagreement, dispute, feud download music
b. A `feud' is a long-running argument. You can key in a password
talk about a `family feud'. bum a CD
2 a. accuse, allege, claim 2 1 switch on 5 visit
b. claim 2 password 6 download
c. because they give the idea that something 3 go online 7 burn
may be true, but also that it may not be. 4 surf

Instant Discussions Unit by unit notes

Discussion Discussion
This is a good opportunity to bring in any current ln a multinational class you could ask students to
stories in the press relating to internet use or discuss what kind of things are sometimes
abuse. You could also raise the following topics: regarded as `normal' in one country/culture but
`criminal' in another. For example: possessing
• overall control of the internet
• to what extent parents should control their firearms, non-payment of fines etc.

children's use of the internet

• should the police and governments exercise 9 Things that go bump in the
tighter control over material that is available night!
on the internet?
Reading
1 The house that they bought is haunted,
7 Price and value but they weren't told about this by the sellers.
2 A boy was strangled in the cottage in the late
True or false?
eighteenth century.
1F 2T 3F 4T
3 It is complete nonsense. She lived there for ten
Language years and never had any problems.
worth/costing a lot: valuable, extravagant, pricey,
Language
invaluable, expensive, exorbitant ls 2F 3S 4F 5F 6S
worth/costing a little: cheap, inexpensive,
You could put pairs together into groups of four
economical to discuss their ideas about `it' in each sentence.
The following words are wrong:
The cartoon
1 expensive
The cartoon is by Ken Pyne, one of the UK's most
2 exorbitant
famous cartoonists. Do you think it is funny? Is it
3 valuable in bad taste? Why? Are there things we should
4 pricey not laugh at?
5 economical
6 invaluable 10 Living longer
7 pricey
8 cheap Reading
9 valuable.
1 They agree that ageing, and possibly even
death, may no longer be inevitable.
Discussion
2 There would be too many old people. This
a. £1,384,000
might mean that old people would need to be
b. £10,000 killed off to make way for younger people.
c. £13'500
Discussion
d. £28m `Generational cleansing' means getting rid of
e. £30,000 everyone of a particular generation. `To clear
away the dead wood' means to get rid of
8 Are we all criminals? something (or in this case some people) that is no
longer useful.
Readlng
Language 1
1 She took it and flew to France.
a. medical science
2 They took it to the local police station.
b. life expectancy
Language 1 c. the ageing process
1d 2c 3a 4b 5f 6e d. life-threatening diseases
Language 2 e. genetic engineering
1 broke into f. the sanctity of human life
2 looking into 1 medical science
3 answered to 2 life expectancy
4 turned up 3 life-threatening diseases
5 get away with 4 genetic engineering
6 let (them) off 5 the ageing process

Unit by unit notes Instant Discussions

The cartoon 2 1,000 trees have been cut down to create a
The cartoon is by Martin Honeysett, who nature reserve for the snail; the lizard has been
specialises in drawing old people. Is this cartoon placed on the list of endangered species;
funny, sad, or does it contain some truth? Would important building work has been stopped.
old people find it funny? 3 He thinks there are more important things than
these particular issues.
11 Giving to charity Language
lt might be useful to start this unit by listing lb 2f 3a 4e 5c 6d
important national and local charities in your
country.
Reading
14 The power of prayer
1 Pete, Brian (probably) Prayer and religion are `sensitive' areas about
2 Michelle which people have strong and emotional views.
3 Vikki Teachers should be careful which classes they
use this material with and be sensitive to the
Discussion feelings of all the students in the class.
1 Reasons for not giving (from the texts):
I'm not rich enough Language
Other people have more money than me. lD 28 38 4D 5D 6D 78 88 9D
We have to pay for things that used to be free. 10D
I pay a lot of money in tax.
Language 15 Revenge is sweet!
1 giving (money) away
Reading
2 gave (it) back
Note: a vicar is an Anglican priest.
3 giving out
The best headline is probably: VICAR CHEATS
4 give up
ON LOCAL DOCTOR
5 get (something) back
6 get by 5 No. He had not intended to.
7 pay back 6 They went quiet.
7 She has left the area with the vicar.
8 got over
The cartoon
a get over
Make sure students know the meaning of arson.
b get by
Why do people normally commit arson?
c give out
d give up Language
11 splitup
2 hadanaffair
12 Jewellery for men 3 workout
Reading 4 left
1 diamond jewellery 5 geta divorce
2 It is a way of showing everyone how rich he is. 6 are together
3 A lot of men wear wedding rings.
21 wentred
Language
2 was caught red-handed
1 tiara 2locket 3 necklace 4earring
3 sawred
5 bracelet 6 brooch 7chain 8 ring
4 paint the town red

13 Who cares about the 16 A matter of birth and death

environment? This can be a very sensitive issue. Treat it with
Reading care. It might be worth checking with a class in
1 A newspaper 2 c advance if this is a topic they would like to
discuss.
1 Saving a very rare snail, protecting the world's
smallest lizard (only recently discovered) and Reading
preserving the habitat of a rare flower lF 2T 3F

I nstant Discussions Unit by unit notes

Language (also of looking an idiot). Other potential risks
1 married concern the effects of radio waves on the brain,
2 start especially for young children.
3was
Language 1
4 was expecting
1 having no money
5 gave
2 police
6 raised
3 a stupid person
7 fell
4 lavatory
8 losing
5 alcohol
9 adopt
6 drunk
7man
17 Folkwisdom 8 stole

Introduction Language 2
The first is a Chinese saying about the importance 1 bloke/guy
of education, practical skills and teaching people 2 plonker
how to look after themselves. The second is a 3 pissed
British saying that suggests that if there is a red 4 booze
sky in the evening, it will be a fine day the next
day; whereas if there is a red sky in the morning,
the weather will be bad. The first has s6me claim The cartoon
to wisdom; the second has no great claim to What is the point of the two cartoons in this unit?
accuracy!
What is the second cartoon saying about people
Reading who beg in the street? Is this a valid or a cynical
1 Murphy was a pessimist. point of view?
2 Things always go wrong.
Discussion 19 Children and discipline
1 The writer says that Murphy's theories are of
vital importance. Reading
2 Not at all! Jack Wallace thinks the laws are acceptable as
they are now.
Discussion
Jack Wallace was smacked as a child.
1 have
Laura Flynn would like to see all physical
2 grow
punishment banned.
3is
Laura Flynn thinks smacking has more than a
4 show
physical effect.
5 consists
6see Language
7has lb 2d 3f 4h 5a 6c 7e 8g
8 Postpone Discussion
1 France The discussion could be extended by asking how
2 Native American attitudes to children change from generation to
3 Iran generation.
4 Germany
5 Norway 20 Ever eaten dog?
6 Japan
This can, of course, be a sensitive issue if you
7 Spain
have students from dog¢ating countries in your
8 the Philippines
class.
Reading
18 I'm on the train! 1 The writer ate dog.
Reading 2 Because he/she had to write an article about it.
The writer thinks mobile phones are fantastic. 3 He/She enjoyed it but wouldn't do it again.
Discussion True or false?
1 The writer mentions the risks of being mugged 1F 2T 3F 4F

Unit by unit notes Instant Discuss.Ions

Language Language
a + delicious, + appetising, + tasty, - disgusting, Cross out:
- inedible, + mouth-watering, - bland, - tasteless 1 partial 2open 3broad 4abolish
b - fatty, - tough, +/- sweet, - bitter, - rich, 1 business relationship
+/- spicy, - sour, - oily 2 destroyed his reputation
3 a tough b oily c bitter d bland e sour 3 established a reputation/a growing reputation
4 broke off the relationship
Discussion 5 poor reputation
2 deep fried tarantula = Cambodia 6 established a reputation
chocolate-dipped scorpion = California 7 maintain a (good) relationship
grasshopper marinated in soy sauce = Japan 8 casual relationship
deep fried ants = Colombia
cockroach kebab = Burma
termites fried in tomato = South Africa
23 Holidays from hell!
Language
21 A healthy lifestyle 1 in the hope of
2 in the first place
Reading 3 to catch a cold
a Angela M 4 a lack of sympathy
b Andrew C 5 by no means
True or false? 6 to spoil a holiday
1F 2F 3T 4T 5T 6F 7 all over the place
8 to deserve sympathy
Language
1 by no means
Cross out:
2 in the hope of
1 major 2partially 3 bread
3 to spoil a holiday
4 poor health 4 all over the place
5 healthy environment 5 to catch a cold
6 disgustingly healthy 6 deserved (any) sympathy `
7 healthy diet 7 lack of sympathy
8 excellent 8 in the first place

22 Public figures, private lives 24 The dating game

Reading Reading
lT 2F 3F 4F Make sure all students know that GSOH means
`a good sense of humour'.
Discussion
1 The writer doesn't seem to like them much 1 She has put an ad in a `Lonely Hearts' column.
-he calls them `ugly old journalists'. 2 Because she finds it difficult to meet single men.
2 Students' own answers. True or false?
3 `He is not usually unhappy about seeing his 1T 2F 3F 4T 5T
name in the papers.' Language
4 Students' own answers. Possible answer (there are many possible ones):
5 He doesn't seem against it - in fact he is
1 Mark fancied Lucy.
curious about who Natasha Davies' companion
2 He asked her out on a date.
Was.
3 They got on verywell.
6 Students' own answers.
4 They started going out together.
The cartoon 5 They fell in love with each other.
Ask students who the `William' of the cartoon is. 6 Mark proposed to Lucy.
This could lead to a discussion of the problems of 7 They got engaged.
growing up in the public eye or it could lead to a 8 They got married.
discussion of William's mother, Princess Diana, 9 They went on their honeymoon.
and the way the press hounded her - some might 10 Lucy became pregnant.
say, to her eventual death. 11 She had twin girls, Emma and Katie.

Instant Discussions Unit by unit notes

12 Mark and Lucy started to have rows. 27 Royalty
13 Mark had an affair.
14 They split up. True or false?
15 Lucy asked for a divorce. 1T 2T 3F 4T 5F
16 Lucy got custody of the children. NB: strangling pheasants is an act of mercy
administered to pheasants which have been shot
Discussion
You could ask students to bring in some ads from but not killed, when the Queen goes on a
their own newspapers and translate them. pheasant shoot.
Language
25 Newspapers appoint a minister; elect a government; found a
republic
Reading
opinion poll, election campaign, royal family,
1 She almost drowned, but had a lucky escape.
2 Her teacher, Demise Carter. personal wealth
1 opinion poll
Language 1
2 royal family
1e 2a 3d 4b 5c
3 personal wealth
Discussion 4 found a republic
1 the first 5 elect a government
2 the first - human interest 6 election campaign
3 the first 7 appointed a prime minister
4 the second
5 the second
6 the second is concerned with news; the first
28 Fashion
with human interest Reading
7 the first is probably from a tabloid newspaper; What people wear and don't wear today
the second from a `quality' paper What fashion designers do
8 students' own answers A very special dress
Language 2 Questions in pairs
1 horoscope 6 sports 1 bright red ostrich feathers
2 obituary 7 headline, article 2 2,000 shiny red glass beads
3 crossword 8 reviews 3 T-shirt and jeans
4 proprietor 9 editor 4 casual clothes (they dress down)
5 rv guide 5 one other
6 nobody
26 To tip or not to tip? 7 many people think they are self-indulgent
8 as art
In Britain it is customary to tip taxi drivers and
waiters. Occasionally one may tip hairdressers, Language
hotel porters and chambermaids. For taxi drivers Cross out: fa.ctory, leave
and waiters the average tip is 10-12.5% of the 1 went out of
total bill. For hairdressers and chambermaids the 2 high
sum is discretionary. Often in restaurants a service 3 is (always) in
charge is added to the bill, in which case it is not 4 street
necessary to leave a further sum of money.
5 come back into
Languaige 6 passing
1 decent 5 point
2 safe 6 matter
3 tight 7 break
29 ls it right to eat meat?
4 change 8 nose Reading
What do you say? a the first
In Britain people commonly say: `Thanks for b the second
everything' or `Keep the change' or `Here you are c the first
and thank you very much.' d the second

Unit by unit ncrfes Instant Discussions

Language To make a positive contribution you might use:
1 For example 4, 5, 7, 10.
2 the way I look at it is this, Sure (that's Number 2 is rude. Others may sound rude
understandable) but depending on your tone of voice.
3 0f course
4 what's more
5 Anyway
31 Why get married?
Be sensitive to students' feelings about using this
The cartoon unit. If any students in your class are recently
Make sure students know the meaning of divorced or separated, it might be better to
choose a different topic, The first page of this unit
protective colouring. You could use the cartoon to
is a light-hearted look at the topic.
remind them that some nouns in English can be
both countable and uncountable. For example: Reading
I love feeding the pigeons. 1 Several thousand dollars
I love pigeon. 2 He says he hasn't found the right person yet.
The first example refers to the birds; the second 3 Because they thought they'd all be bachelors for
a long time.
refers to them as meat.
A `confirmed bachelor' is a man who has decided
never to marry.
30 The exploitation of animals Language
This can be a sensitive issue if there are students
in your class from countries where bullfighting is
a popular sport.
Reading
Text 1 is in favour of bullfighting
Text 2 is against it.
Questions in pairs
1 Survival and domination of the wild.
A(B)
2 As national heroes.
10A
3 It is becoming more popular because it is a
llA
celebration of a uniquely national tradition.
4 They are kept in darkness so they are blinded
by the sunlight when they come out into the 32 I hate my boss!
bullring. Language
5 By using their horns. 1 sick 2 take 3 break 4 with 5 enough 6 stand
6 No. Often they become tired. Sometimes the
final `death blow' does not kill them. 33 Scams - how can people
7 Yes.
8 Horses are sometimes attacked by the bulls;
be so stupid?
sometimes their vocal cords are cut out so their Reading
cries cannot be heard by the crowd. 1 Perhaps in his 50's or 60's.
Language 2 Possibly a company sold him something which
was a waste of money.
2 listen 3 It means `very easy'.
3 misunderstood Part 1
4 something 1 Students' own answers
5 minute 2 They met at bingo.
6 point Part 2
7 interrupt 3 Because she realised it was her last chance to get
8 clearly any of Mr Stockton's money.
9 another 4 Altogether, over $55,000
10 take 5 None
To correct someone you might use: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9. 6 Students` own answers

Instant Discussions Unit by unit notes

Language Actual answers:
Dialogue 1: been had a tree c fire engine
Dialogue 2: talked me into b punched d flying duck
Dialogue 3: fell for
Language
Dialogue 4: taken in by
Possible reactions:
Discussion a = headline lb c = headline 3c
lt is very easy to find scam websites on the b = headline 2d d = headline 4a
internet - eg pet funerals.
1How
The cartoon 2 's / sounds
Make sure students know what gerbils are. Ask 3 What an
them why,the family had so many gerbils. What 4How
was the scaled (It is common in the UK fcjr 5How
children to be seat home at the end of a Party 6 's / sounds
u)ith a `puny bag' full of things lilee suieets. The
For more information on unusual ways that
jolee partly depends on stttdents lenouiing that the
children have been given an unwonted gerbil people die, visit: www.darwinawards.com
instead of a party bag! Houi will their parents Accidents in the home
react?) 1 hospital
2 kitchen
34 Bad habits 3 falling
4 lethal
Discussion 5 children
1 It stank and housed rats.
2 There was 154 tons of rubbish.
3 No - some were still alive. 36 Survivors!
4 They had 'a soft spot' for them. Be careful about using this unit if any members of
5 Possibly -it's not clear from the article. the class are particularly squeamish!
6 Up to 6 feet long (about 1.82m) Reading
Language lF 2T 3F 4NEI 5NEI 6T 7T 8T
1 bite your nails Language
2 crack your knuckles Suggested answers:
3 grind your teeth 1h 2bore 3iorh 4h 5dorg 6h 7cori
4 pick your nose 8b or e
5 snap your fingers
6 play with your hair
37 Do you spoil your kids?
Discussion
Reading
(possible answers)
1 He said he got caught up in the excitement of
1 smoking
the moment.
2 drinking
2 They wear masks in public; they don't mix with
3 nail biting
other children; they have no mother; wherever
4 nose picking
they go they are accompanied by the whole
5 TV addict
6 surfing Jackson entourage.
7 hoarding 3 Students' own answers
8 shopping 4 Students' own answers
9 eating sweets/chocolate Language
negative ideas are: 1, 5, 7,10,11,12
35 Killed by a flying duck! a indulging a child
Reading b educating a child
Possible answers: c beating/mistreating/abusing a child
a rock / tree d indulging/spoiling a child
b shot / punched e adopting a child
c ambulance / police car / fire engine f neglecting a child
d shark / swimmer / whale / boat g disciplining a child

Unit by unit notes Instant Discussions

38 Do you drive? 7 homes
8 meal
Reading 9 park
The following is a rough sketch of what 10 games
happened: 11 fireworks
12 party

40 Where do you live?

Language
1 lighthouse
2 log cabin
3 wigwam
4 treehouse
5 windmill
6 palace
Reading
1 The French chateau is the most expensive; the
treehouse the cheapest.
2 The chateau is the biggest; the houseboat the
smallest.
3 The chateau needs money spent on it - it is `in
need of some modernisation'.
Language
1 house
2 houses
Language 3 homethome
1 start the car
4 home
2 have a driving lesson
5 house
3 charge the battery 6 home
4 put the car into reverse
lt) 2d 3c 4a 5f 6e
5 crash into the gates
6 turn out on to the road The cartoon
Ask students what kind of building is in the
1 have a driving lesson
2 charged the battery picture. Would they like to live in that kind of
high-rise block? On the 10th floor? Or the 30th?
3 start the car
4 put the car into reverse
5 turning out on to the road
6 crashed intc) the gates

39 Special days and dates

Discussion (second page)
The death of Princess Diana was important in
Britain and in France, where it happened. Ask
students if she is remembered in their country.
Perhaps they remember the death of someone
important in their country. If so, who?
Language
1 festival
2 procession
3 costumes
4 band
5 church
6 ceremony

Instant Discussions Unit by unit notes

 Instant Discussions Photocopiable
Richard MacAndrew

Instant Discussions is a pho[ocopicible resource book ft]r teachers. It contaiiis 40

discussion lessons, which give students the opportuiiity to talk about iiiterestiiig,
important, clnd current issues. Each lesson consists of two pciges of texts, lcingiiage
work, disi`ussion que`stions ami activities.

Tlie tt)pics covereii in Instant Discussions cire those which ordimry people talk
about in e\'ervdav life. Some are serious; some are trivial; all are interesting. They
are topics whicli all students will have an opinion oil. The following 40 topics are
covered:

Teenage rebellion What is a healthy lifes[yle?

Incredible stories The private lives of public figures
Naming and shaming criminals Holidays from hell
Neighbours from hell Dating
Choosing names Newspapers
How we use E-mail Tipping
Price and value Royalty
Are we all criminals? Fashion
Ghosts and the supematural Vegetarians
The problems of living longer The exploitation of animals
Giving to chari(y Why get married?
Jewellery for men Problems with bosses
The environment Scams and why people fall for them
Prayer Bad habits
Revenge -a natural human instinct? The dangers around us
The ethics of IVF Surviving extreme situations
Folk wisdom Parentin8
Mobile phones Driving and cars
Disciplining children Special days and dates
Acceptable foods Houses

Instant Discussions is designed tt) bricige the gap between the classroom and real
life by giving students the opportunity to talk about things which really matter to
them on a personal level.
• 40 one-off stimulating lessons
• intermediate level aiici above
• unit by unit notes with aiiswers
• very motivating
• ready-made lessons for the busy teacher

Instant Discussions is the ideal way to supplement and extend standard courscL-
material. The lessoiis are carefully structured to be complete in themselves.

Other titles in the same series:

Lessons with Laughter 978-1-899396-35-1
Grammar with Laughter 978-1-899396-01-6
Instant Grammar Lessons 978-1-899396-40-5
Taboos and Issues 978-1-899396-41-2

.,, H E I N L E ISBN-L3: ]7B-I-75C]]-]E]]|]-E

ISBN-1,D: a-75]3-qL3D-E
I. CENGAGE Learning- 90000

Heinle, a part of Cengage Learning, is a leading provider of materials for English language
teaching and learning throughout the world.

Visit Heinle at http://elt.heinle.com

780759 396302
Visit our corporate website at www.cengage.com

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