Pre-reading tasks

Task 1. With a partner discuss the following questions:

1. Do you know when the history of the English language started?

2. What tribes invaded Britain?

3. What was the name of the language from which the words England and English were derived?

4. What family of languages does English belong to?

5. Why is English considered to be an international language?

6. Do you think the majority of languages around the world will eventually die out?

7.Can you think of any aspects of life where English is or will be the only language used?

8. Can you think of some English words that people wouldn’t have known 50 years ago?

9. What do you think the origin of these new words is?

Task 2. The words and phrases below have all appeared in the English language in the last 20 – 30 years. Which of them have you never heard before? Work with a partner and discuss what you think they might mean.

Clamp (nand v), decaf (n and adj), gap year (n), hacker (n), quality time (n), road rage (n), scratch card (n), semi-skimmed (adj and n), spin doctor (n), retail therapy (n), GM food (n), bad hair day (n).

Task 3. Read the sentences below containing the words in task 2. Did you guess their meanings correctly?

a) I buy a scratch card every time I'm in the newsagent's but of course I never win anything.

b) We both have very demanding jobs, so weekends and holidays are the only time we can get some quality time together.

c) I prefer full fat milk but I'm on a diet so I'd better have semi-skimmed.

d) The party's spin doctors recommended that the Prime Minister flew to the scene of the disaster so that he could appear sympathetic.

e) I just hopped out to get some cash from the cash machine and when I came back my car had been clamped.

f) Retail therapy is cheaper then a session with a therapist – and you get something for your money!

g) I like a nice cup of decaf before I go to bed. Normal coffee keeps me awake.

h) Just ignore her bad temper, she's having a bad hair day.

i) James went to South America in his gap year and then to Oxford University to study archaeology.

j) David is a keen hacker. He spends most of his spare time trying to get into banks' security systems.

k) There's a lot in the news about GM foods because people aren't sure whether it's safe to change the genetic make up of produce or not.

l) I saw a case of road rage on the way home – a man jumped out of his car at the lights and threatened the driver behind him with a knife.

Task 4. Match these definitions with the words in 2. Make up sentences.

……………	1) A driver's uncontrolled, aggressive behaviour, apparently caused by the stresses of modern driving.
……………	2) A person who is employed by a political party to ensure that information is presented to the public in a positive light for the party. 3) Going shopping in order to cheer yourself up.
……………	4) A devise that is attached to the wheel of a car that has been parked illegally, so that it cannot be driven away
……………	5) a day of mishaps and general irritation
…………….	6) genetically modified foods or “Frankenstein foods” as they are popularly called
…………….	7) A person who spends a lot of time using computers for a hobby, especially to look at data without permission.
…………….	8) A card that you buy that has an area that you scratch off to find out if you have won some money or a prize.
…………….	9) Time spent giving your full attention to sb, especially to your children after work.
…………….	10) that has had a lot of the fat removed
……………	11) A year between school and university when some students earn money, travel, etc.
……………	12) with most or all of the caffeine removed

READING

1. Skim the text. Pay attention to the titles of the parts the text is divided into.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-13