The “Latest Thing”
Every five minutes my children ask me for the “latest thing”. They tell me that all their friends have it already and they can’t live without it. Our house is full of Game Boys, Play Station CDs and million other “latest things”.
But, the one “latest thing” we have refused to buy is a mobile phone. Our twelve-year-old wants one, and we’ve said “no”. He says he’ll only use it for texting and he really needs it for emergencies.
We don’t want him to have a mobile phone, because they may be bad for children health. Unfortunately, when I say, “I don’t want you to have a mobile phone, because you might get a brain tumour”, he tell me that he doesn’t mind.
Why do twelve-year-old boys only want things that are bad for them? We’ve already told him that he can’t listen to Rap music-the words are disgusting. And I’ve said not to beer with his meals. Right now, I’m saying no to everything.
Then a few weeks ago he asked for something called a BB gun. He says everybody’s got one. Of course they have. He shows me a website full of them and tells me it only fires plastic pellets. Finally, I say yes. I can’t believe I’ve said no to phones and yes to guns.
In October our son becomes a teenager, and I pray that research will find that mobile phones are safe– even better, that they make young people less moody-and more interested in personal hygiene. Until then, I’m saying no.
Daily Mail
Reading comprehension
I. Read the text once again and find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases.
новинка, отказать в чем-либо, отправлять SMS, чрезвычайные ситуации, безопасный, опухоль головного мозга, научные исследования.
II. Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones
T | F | |
1) my children seldom ask me for the ‘latest thing’ | ||
2) mobile phone is good for children health | ||
3) father says no to everything | ||
4) everybody’s got a BB gun | ||
5) father has bought a mobile phone | ||
6) boy needs a telephone for playing games |
III. Discuss the following:
· Who is the youngest person you know with a mobile phone?
· What are the arguments for and against letting young children have mobile phones?
· At what age do you think it’s okay for children to have a mobile phone?
You can find more information
http://englishplace.wetpaint.com/page/For+And+Against+Essay+-+Mobile+Phones
http://www.cam.net.uk/home/nimmann/eco/no-to-mobile-phones.htm
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/21033-the-case-against-cell-phones-in-schools
Listening
I. Mandeep Bains works for an airline catering service in Singapore. Their business is supplying in-flight meals to airlines. She receives a phone call at her office. Listen to the two parts of her telephone conversation and correct the message below.
Jackie Westingouse rang on Monday
Her company had problems with their phone lines, so we cannot get information about flights NOA 567 departing Singapore to San Francisco at 09:45 on Sunday, and flight NOA 1145 leaving at 22:30 the next day. She will email passenger numbers
II. None of the phrases below appear in the conversations. Listen to the phone conversations again, and write down the language used instead of each phrase below.
Say that again.
____________________________________________
There is the problem.
____________________________________________
Don’t speak so fast.
____________________________________________
I don’t know your name.
____________________________________________
The letter “e”.
____________________________________________
Do you understand?
____________________________________________
I don’t understand.
____________________________________________
I understand.
____________________________________________
Repeat the information.
____________________________________________
Speaking
I. Make up the dialogues using the following phrases and translate them into English.
Dialogue 1.
Соедините меня, пожалуйста с мистером Смитом / «Торговый Дом»/ До свидания / Чем могу помочь, / Нет, спасибо / Я позвоню ему еще раз / Говорит мистер Торренс из фирмы «Блэк энд Уайт»/ Что-нибудь передать ему,/ К сожалению (боюсь), г-на Смита нет сейчас на месте.
Dialogue 2.
Да, я подожду,/ Могу ли я поговорить с г-ном Филлинзом,/ Вы слушаете? Соединяю…/Боюсь, мистер Филлинз разговаривает сейчас по другому телефону/ Как передать ему, кто говорит,/ Вы подождете,/ Говорит мистер Дин.
II. Translate the dialogues:
A) Operator: Hello, Frank and Brothers, How can I help you?
Peter: This is Peter Jackson. Can I have extension 3421?
Operator: Certainly, hold on a minute, I'll put you through.
Frank: Bob Peterson's office, Frank speaking.
Peter: This is Peter Jackson calling, is Bob in?
Frank: I'm afraid he's out at the moment. Can I take a message?
Peter: Yes, Could you ask him to call me at. I need to talk to him about the Nuovo line, it's urgent.
Frank: Could you repeat the number please?
Peter: Yes, that’s, and this is Peter Jackson.
Frank: Thank you Mr. Jackson, I'll make sure Bob gets this message.
Peter: Thanks, bye.
Frank: Bye.
B)–Алло! Могу я поговорить с г-ном Коллинзом?
–Боюсь, его сейчас нет на месте.
–Не могли бы вы сказать ему, что звонил Марк Фишер?
–Да, конечно. Ему передать что-нибудь?
–Нет, спасибо. Я позвоню завтра.
c) Caller: Could I speak to Mr. Brown?
Secretary: Mr. Brown is not available right now.
Caller: Could you tell him Mr. Fisher phoned?
Secretary: Sure. Let me take down your number.
Caller: If Mr. Brown isn’t in, could I speak to someone else?
d)–Алло, секретарь г-на Тернера. Чем могу вам помочь?
– Здравствуйте, я бы хотел поговорить с г-ном Тернером.
– Кто говорит?
– Это звонит г-н Уилкинз
– Г-н Тернер будет говорить с вами через минуту. Он сейчас занят. Вы подождете?
–Да, конечно.
–Я вас соединяю. Говорите, пожалуйста.
e) Secretary: Hello, this is Mr. Green’s secretary. What can I do for you?
Caller: Could I speak to Mr. Green, please?
Secretary: I am putting you through. Go ahead, please…
Caller: Mr. Green? Hello.
f)–Алло, офис г-на Смита. Чем могу помочь?
–Я бы хотел поговорить с г-ном Райтом.
–Извините, Вы ошиблись номером. У нас таких нет.
–Извините.
g) Secretary: Mr. Wilson’s office. Can I help you?
Caller: I’d like to speak to Mr. McGregor.
Secretary: Sorry, you must have the wrong number. I don’t know anyone by that name here.
Caller: I am very sorry
Writing
I. Follow up the message you have read before in the Listening section. You are Mandeep, and you have to send an email to the head of Logistics, Lee Pheng, reporting all of the information from the call.
II. Write an essay on the following problems:
1. Mobiles “should have health warning”
2. Are mobile phones a health hazard?
Project work
“Mobile telephones have become very popular nowadays. However, some people say that their use should be restricted.”
Дата: 2018-11-18, просмотров: 535.