Try to picture each of the characters and describe them.

Listening II

A VICTORIAN FAMILY

You are going to listen to a conversation between Annie, a young girl, and her grandmother. Answer the questions.

a) What are they talking about?

b) How many brothers and sisters did Annie’s grandmother have?

c) Which of them did she like most of all?

d) Which of her brothers and sisters looked older than their age?

e) What was her mother’s name?

Listen to the conversation again and complete the chart below.

Person	Age	General appearance	Features	Eyes	Hair	Build	Character
Annie’s grandmother (when a child)		pretty			fair
Alice	2 years older
James
Henry
Robert
Emily
Mother
Father

Make up a conversation with your group mate who wants to know about the members of your family and the family likeness.

Part IV

Discussion

While doing the tasks that follow, make sure you use the active vocabulary.

Read the following statements. Say whether you agree with them or not, explain why.

BEAUTY CONTESTS

1. I never watch beauty contests. They are like a cattle market! I think they insult the intelligence of women. No woman with any self-respect would ever enter a competition like this. I find them totally degrading.

2. I certainly don't take them seriously. They are harmless fun, really. I mean, you see prettier girls every day in shops and offices. But people earn a living from their intelligence or from their abilities. Why shouldn't they make money from their appearances.

3. I occasionally watch them, but I don't think I'd like them if I were a woman. After all a lot of girls would just look as good with the make-up, clothes and lights. Anyway, beauty is only skin-deep. I often feel irritated when I'm watching a beauty contest. The values are false.

4. I always watch them I like looking at pretty girls. I’d rather watch a beauty con test than a programme about politics. There is not enough glamour in the world. If you don’t like it, you can always switch off the television.

Think over the following questions. Come up with your arguments.

1. How important is the way we look in our everyday life? Does it matter at all?

2. Why do people take pains trying to beautify themselves: to have a better figure, bigger eyes, etc? Can’t they just accept themselves as they are?

3. Who does appearance matter more for: men or women? How can you account for it?

4. What do you think of the existing ideals of male and female physical beauty? Are they something that inspires you or something that makes you feel inferior and worthless just because you don’t match them?

5. What do you think of beauty contests? Do they really help reveal genuine beauty?

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14