Comprehension. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Which way of completing each of the following sentences agrees with the text? Some sentences may be completed in more than one way.

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger dreamed of being the best body builder in the world

a) when he was a little boy.

b) when he was fifteen.

c) when he was twenty.

2. He stopped taking part in body-building
competitions because

a) he believed he had won the
championship too often already.

b) he was afraid that he might lose the title if
he tried again.

c) he had no serious competition.

3. According to Arnold Schwarzenegger,
America is the country where

a) nothing can prevent people from fulfilling
their dreams

b) everybody is Number One.

c) the chances to be economically successful
are better than in any other country.

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger became a successful
businessman because he

a) was business-minded.

b) took courses in English and business.

c) became a real estate agent.

5. Schwarzenegger maintains that emotions

a) provide the energy that leads to success.

b) have to be suppressed if you want to be
successful.

c) prevent you from concentrating on your
primary goal of making money.

6. Schwarzenegger thinks that popularity

a) is the key to success.

b) has to be subordinated to success.

c) is as important as being successful.

7. Schwarzenegger believes

a) that poverty and hunger make people
dream of success.

b) that people should never be content with
what they have achieved.

c) that hungry people are dreamers unable to
achieve anything.

Florence Scala

Which of the following statements are true and which are false according to the information given in the text? Correct the false statements.

1. When Florence Scala was young she did not
'believe in the American Dream.

2. As a small girl she was afraid of school
because she could not speak English.

40 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP

3. When Florence Scala thinks of her childhood,
nostalgic memories come to her mind.

4. Her parents worked for a tailor who lived on
the same street.

5. They were afraid that their children might
turn into hooligans.

6. During the trade union wars in the cleaning
industry her father went on strike.

7. Her father avoided getting involved in the
fights that took place in the neighborhood.

8. Her father was unusually well-educated.

9. He never really had the time to fulfill his
dream of going to the Grand Canyon.

10. Her parents were somewhat prejudiced
against black people.

11. Today the community she grew up in has
changed a lot.

12. Looking back on her efforts to save the
neighborhood, Florence Scala now thinks
she wasted her energy.

13. Florence Scala thinks that the American
Dream promotes selfish attitudes.

14. She believes that technical progress has led
to a less humane world.

4. Evaluation

Use the following scale to determine to what extent Arnold Schwarzenegger, Florence Scala and her parents would agree or disagree with the following statements. How do you feel about these statements?

strong agreement agreement undecided disagreement strong disagreement

1. All people are given equal opportunity in
life.

2. Everybody has a chance to succeed if he or
she only works hard enough.

3. Money and material wealth are what matters
most in life.

4. Winning in competitions is one of the most
important things in life.

5. Self-reliance is more important than concern
for others.

6. Being popular is as important as material
success.

5. Comment on a Cartoon

Comment on the following cartoon and show how it relates to the American Dream. Give the cartoon a title.

THE JOV NINTHS a AflN6

WHAT HAPPEN5 IF fOU PRACTICE FOR TUI£NT'CYEAR5,ANP THEN ENP UP NOT 0EIN6 RICH ANP FAMOUS

Reproduced by permission of United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

AMERICAN BELIEFS AND VALUES 41

6. Comprehension Survey

A Discussion of American Beliefs and Values — Section 1

Let us find out how the value systems of Andrew, Mark, and Mike differ. Have a look at the statements below and decide who holds which view.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-26