Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №7/2009

Ideas for Discussion

1. (A) Fur coats and hats: pros and cons. Use the ideas and write a few words about this problem:

production of fur coats and hats involves unacceptable cruelty to animals; fur trade helps families survive in many regions in Russia; fur is not fashionable; furs are much healthier than artificial materials and they fill you with a feeling of peace

Sample

The well-known slogan goes, “fur is murder”. Production of fur coats and hats involves unacceptable cruelty to animals. Owing to something that is the result of murder is not recommended by the principles of feng shui.

On the other hand, fur is a necessity in some climates. Without fur you will freeze. Furs are much healthier than artificial materials and they fill you with a feeling of peace. The fur trade helps families survive in many regions in Russia. If there were no fur trade, many regions in Russia would die.

Animal rights groups lead the anti-fur movement and involve celebrities in their campaigns. Celebs try to lower the reputation of fur and to show that fur is not fashionable. But it’s difficult to convince people to do completely without fur.

2. (I) Is sending an e-mail the same as writing a letter? Use the ideas and write a few words about e-mail etiquette (“netiquette”):

don’t need to start with… don’t need end it with…

start the message with no greeting

reply promptly

writing in capitals is unacceptable

e-mail isn’t very private

a phone call is safer

Sample

Sending an e-mail isn’t the same as writing a letter. When you e-mail someone, you don’t need to start with ‘Dear Mr. ..., or end it with ‘Yours sincerely’. Starting with ‘Hi, ...’ or ‘Hello, ...’ is fine, and you just end it with your own name. However, it’s also acceptable to start the message with no greeting.

You should reply promptly. As e-mail is such a quick and easy way to get in touch with people, they usually expect a reply within a day or so, even if it’s just to confirm you’ve received their message.

A few things are unacceptable in an e-mail. One of them is writing in capitals. It is regarded as shouting.

It’s also important to remember that e-mail isn’t very private. Don’t say anything really confidential. Sometimes a phone call is safer.

3. (A) Changing jobs every few years: pros and cons. Use the ideas and write a few words about this problem:

advance in the company

to stay with one company for their entire career

employer helps the employee to develop his full potential

employee feels that he has outgrown his job

to find a suitable work situation

to achieve a higher position

an acceptable pace of advancing

Sample

Some people stay with one company for their entire career. They believe that they should work hard, learn all about the company and advance in the company. If the employer helps the employee to develop his full potential the employee may stay in one company. The employee knows that the employer is watching out for his career and his career is advancing at an acceptable pace.

Other people believe that an employee is responsible for his own career. They build a career by changing jobs every few years. If the employee feels that he has outgrown his job he moves to another company, perhaps to achieve a higher position, to develop in new directions, or to find a work situation that is more suitable to his personality.

Both these systems have advantages and disadvantages. Everyone decides for himself what to do to have the best career.

4. (A) Globalization: variety in unity. (Разнообразие в единении or Unity of Variety – единение разнообразия?)

Use the ideas and write a few words about this problem:

Modern communications have brought us all closer together

Computers create a new kind of neighbourhood

English plays an important part in the sharing of a common culture

Our own culture will be swamped by a universal popular culture

Own culture faces the threat of extinction

Music and movies have universal appeal.

Sample

Modern communications from the jumbo jet to the Internet have brought us all closer together. People can not only visit different countries but study or work there. We can chat online with people thousands of miles away. Computers create a new kind of neighbourhood. We wear the same clothes and drive the same cars. We also have language in common.

English plays an important part in sharing a common culture.

The strong force in international culture is art. Music and movies have universal appeal.

Though many people worry that their own culture will be swamped by a universal popular culture, I don’t think that there is a threat of extinction.

By Youdif Boyarskaya ,
School No. 814, Moscow